MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Darnella Frazier, 18, who recorded George Floyd's death, says she's proud her video 'put his murderer away'

'I used to shake so bad at night my mother had to rock me to sleep,' she mentioned in her statement

Darnella Frazier, recognized widely as the teenager to filmed George Floyd's brutal murder and helped convict former police officer Derek Chauvin, has released her first full public statement about the incident. Frazier released the same on May 25, 2021 - the one-year death anniversary of George Floyd. In her poignant and heartbreaking statement, Darnella opened up about her personal trauma and reflected upon how 'dangerous' it is to be Black in America. 

Darnella Frazier's video went viral, sparking nationwide outrage against police brutality and systemic racism in the country. The footage showed Floyd, an unarmed Black man, pleading with officers as one of them, Chauvin, knelt on his neck for over seven minutes. The 46-year-old, in the video recording of the incident, was consistently heard saying he could not breathe and eventually became unconscious. The video eventually helped in the Derek Chauvin guilty verdict. Darnella earned several honors and accolades for the same. 

READ MORE

Who is Darnella Frazier? Teenager who recorded George Floyd's death receives PEN America award for courage

George Floyd's brother, Joe Biden, Oprah praise Darnella Frazier for recording viral 'I can't breathe' video

What does Darnella Frazier's statement say?

Till now, she had not spoken out much publicly about George Floyd's death, other than providing her testimony in Derek Chauvin's trial. Her first detailed statement depicts how the aftermath of Floyd's death affected her personally. 

"A part of my childhood was taken from me," she writes, adding, "I used to shake so bad at night my mother had to rock me to sleep." She also mentioned how the healing was harder because her family was homeless at the time, and the trauma affected her mother badly as well. 

Highlighting the plight of the Blacks in USA, Darnella mentioned how they are treated as thugs, animals, or criminals. "It changed me. It changed how I viewed life. It made me realize how dangerous it is to be Black in America," she said about witnessing Floyd's death from up close.

“ …. Even though this was a life-changing traumatic experience for me, I’m proud of myself. If it weren’t for my video, the world wouldn’t have known the truth. I own that."

Read her full statement here: 

"A year ago, today I witnessed a murder. The victim’s name was George Floyd. Although this wasn’t the first time, I’ve seen a black man get killed at the hands of the police, this is the first time I witnessed it happen in front of me. Right in front of my eyes, a few feet away. I didn’t know this man from a can of paint, but I knew his life mattered. I knew that he was in pain. I knew that he was another black man in danger with no power. I was only 17 at the time, just a normal day for me walking my 9-year-old cousin to the corner store, not even prepared for what I was about to see, not even knowing my life was going to change on this exact day in those exact moments… it did. It changed me. It changed how I viewed life. It made me realize how dangerous it is to be Black in America. We shouldn’t have to walk on eggshells around police officers, the same people that are supposed to protect and serve. We are looked at as thugs, animals, and criminals, all because of the color of our skin. Why are Black people the only ones viewed this way when every race has some type of wrongdoing? None of us are to judge. We are all human. I am 18 now and I still hold the weight and trauma of what I witnessed a year ago. It’s a little easier now, but I’m not who I used to be. A part of my childhood was taken from me. My 9-year-old cousin who witnessed the same thing I did got a part of her childhood taken from her. Having to up and leave because my home was no longer safe, waking up to reporters at my door, closing my eyes at night only to see a man who is brown like me, lifeless on the ground. I couldn’t sleep properly for weeks. I used to shake so bad at night my mom had to rock me to sleep. Hopping from hotel to hotel because we didn’t have a home and looking over our back every day in the process. Having panic and anxiety attacks every time I seen a police car, not knowing who to trust because a lot of people are evil with bad intentions. I hold that weight. A lot of people call me a hero even though I don’t see myself as one. I was just in the right place at the right time. Behind this smile, behind these awards, behind the publicity, I’m a girl trying to heal from something I am reminded of every day. Everyone talks about the girl who recorded George Floyd‘s death, but to actually be her is a different story. Not only did this affect me, my family too. We all experienced change. My mom the most. I strive every day to be strong for her because she was strong for me when I couldn’t be strong for myself. Even though this was a traumatic life-changing experience for me, I’m proud of myself. If it weren’t for my video, the world wouldn’t have known the truth. I own that. My video didn’t save George Floyd, but it put his murderer away and off the streets. You can view George Floyd anyway you choose to view him, despite his past, because don’t we all have one? He was a loved one, someone’s son, someone’s father, someone’s brother, and someone’s friend. We the people won’t take the blame, you won’t keep pointing fingers at us as if it’s our fault, as if we are criminals. I don’t think people understand how serious death is…that person is never coming back. These officers shouldn’t get to decide if someone gets to live or not. It’s time these officers start getting held accountable. Murdering people and abusing your power while doing it is not doing your job. It shouldn’t have to take people to actually go through something to understand it’s not ok. It’s called having a heart and understanding right from wrong. George Floyd, I can’t express enough how I wish things could have went different, but I want you to know you will always be in my heart. I’ll always remember this day because of you. May your soul rest in peace. May you rest in the most beautiful roses."

'An unthinkable burden for anyone, let alone a 17-year-old'

Twitter users reacted to Frazier's powerful statement by hailing her contribution and vowing to protect her. "Beyond her testimony, below is the first written statement by #DarnellaFrazier... No 17 yr. old should ever have to witness/document what she did..," filmmaker Charles Burnett tweeted. 

Washington Post reporter Amy B Wang wrote, "An unthinkable burden for anyone, let alone a 17-year-old. And those reading this powerful statement in the future may not be aware that Darnella Frazier endured all of this in a pandemic as well."

"This is heartbreaking to read, but the courage, fearlessness and bravery Darnella has shown is just breathtaking. I pray this young woman finds some semblance of peace," said The Atlantic author Jemele Hill.