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The ongoing trial of a former Minnesota police officer charged in the death of George Floyd last year has the attention of people here in Floyd's birthplace of Fayetteville.

Floyd, 46, a Black man, died May 25, 2020, while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Prosecutors alleged in opening statements Monday that Officer Derek Chauvin killed Floyd by kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes; more than two minutes of which Floyd was unresponsive as a crowd filming the arrest pleaded with police to check his pulse. Three other officers have also been charged in Floyd's death. Their trials are set for August.

Floyd's sister, Bridgette Floyd, still lives in the area in Raeford.

In May, she told NBCs Today Show that she wanted to see the officers face charges in her brothers death.

They murdered my brother, she said. He was crying for help.

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Bridgette Floyd traveled to Minnesota on March 8 during the first day of trial proceedings.

That officer took a great man, a great father, a great brother, a great uncle..., she said during an emotional news conference last month. He really took a great father. He was so family-oriented. He loved his family. He loved his daughter. Gianna meant the world to him, and we will never get that back.

Darnella Fraizer, who was 17 when she shot the video of Floyd's death, testified during proceedings this week. Frazier is Black.

"When I look at George Floyd, I look at my dad, I look at my brothers, I look at my cousins, my uncles," said Frazier.

Waiting in line outside of the Department of Motor Vehicles at the Eutaw Shopping Center in Fayetteville on Thursday, Eileen Moore said she thinks Chauvin should receive the death penalty for his role in Floyds death.

I think theres enough evidence, and (Chauvin) was arrogant,said Moore, who is white.

Chauvin is charged with second-degree unintentional murder and third-degree murder. He also faces a lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter. The most he faces if convicted of the most serious charge is up to 40 years in prison.

Moore said she thinks its crap that defense lawyers said Chauvin was distracted by the crowd when Floyd became unconscious. She thinks the other officers who did not intervene when Floyd said he couldnt breathe are guilty by association.

Fayetteville residents Sidney and T.J. Thomas, who were waiting in line outside the DMV, said they think the video sparked a revolution.

National demonstrations protesting police brutality against African Americans came in the wake of Floyds death and reached Fayetteville last summer.

People are waking up and realizing the system is not really for us, said T.J. Thomas, who is also Black.

Sidney Thomas said there is no reason, Black people should have to continue to tell their sons or daughters how to act in the presence of police officers.

You shouldn't have to be afraid of the police or be afraid of being questioned or thrown to the ground, she said.

As defense lawyers have questioned whether illegal substances were in Floyds system at the time of his death, Sidney and T.J. Thomas said they dont think it justifies the way Chauvin restrained Floyd or ignored his cries that he couldn't breathe.

As a police officer, it doesnt give you a right to abuse your power and kneel down on someone, said T.J. Thomas, who said he did not think Floyd was a threat to the officers safety.

Sidney Thomas said she thinks Chauvin and those defending his actions should ask themselves one question.

How would if you feel if one of your children was on the ground down like that? she said.

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In an interview with MSNBC host Joy Reid on Monday, Bridgette Floyd said she thinks Chauvins actions were intentional and the family will get justice.

The world will never forget never forget what that officer did to my brother, because he was not trained to do such a thing as he did, she said.

T.J. Thomas said he is hopeful the justice system changes, so there arent repeat cases of Trayvon Martin an unarmed Black teenager who was shot by Florida neighborhood watch-volunteer George Zimmerman in 2012 or other Black people who have been shot by police or died in police custody.

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Though she said the police department has not reached out to her family since her brothers death, Bridgette Floyd told Reid she thinks rules will change when it comes to how officers detain and restrain suspects.

Maybe they dont know how to approach us, but its OK, because were going to get what were striving for, and thats justice, she said.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

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'The world will never forget': Fayetteville reacts to trial of officer involved in George Floyd's death - The Fayetteville Observer