Last year, the custodial killing of a black man, named George Floyd, on May 25 shocked the world. A white Minneapolis police officer named Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck for about nine minutes. The officer didn’t let go despite the man’s cries of “I can’t breathe” and him calling for his dead mother. His crime? Floyd was suspected of using a counterfeit $20 bill.

Derek Chauvin has been charged with three counts, guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. The Hennepin County Judge, Peter Cahill, who presided over the trial, is due to pronounce Chauvin’s sentence at 13:30 local time on June 16.

Also read: George Floyd’s mural in Houston vandalised with racial slur

Chauvin did remove his knee off the man’s neck, but only after he fell unconscious. Floyd was later pronounced dead at the hospital. 

Although this wasn’t the first racial crime in the United States, this particular case sparked widespread protests against racism in the country and had a ripple effect worldwide. 

For one, the video of Floyd’s chokehold was seen and his cries of “I can’t breathe” were heard around the world. It was visible that the man was calm and didn’t resist the police action.

Right after his death, Minneapolis in particular and the US, in general, saw massive anti-racism protests in which the Black Lives Matter protesters marched for an end to racism prevalent in the society. 

Chauvin, along with three other officers, was sacked the next day of Floyd’s death and he was subsequently arrested on May 29. He was charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter.

Meanwhile, although the anti-racism protests were initially peaceful, at a few places they turned violent, marred with vandalism, loot and clashes with the police. 

The movement, however, wasn’t restricted to the US and soon spilled around the world. 

In the United Kingdom, protesters tore down a statue of Edward Colston, a 17th-century slave trader. In Belgium, symbols of King Leopold II, who colonised the Democratic Republic of Congo, were defaced. In a call against racism, people marched in several cities across Europe.

Also read: George Floyd case may spark US police reform, but hurdles remain

The movement also stirred a debate over more ethnic representation in popular culture.

Meanwhile, Chauvin was convicted of Floyd’s murder and can face up to 30 years in prison. He’ll be sentenced in June.