Darnella Frazier, the young lady who recorded George Floyd’s killing last year, reflected in a moving statement on what life has been like in the past 365 days. 

“A year ago, today I witnessed a murder,” the 18-year-old said in a Facebook post on Tuesday. “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,” she added. “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.”


Frazier’s video spotlighted the circumstances around Floyd’s death, which catapulted into global outrage. The incident sparked widespread protests and call for police reform. 

After witnessing Floyd’s death, the 18-year-old said that she experienced anxiety attacks when she saw police cars, along with moving from hotel to hotel because her home was no longer safe. 

“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,” she wrote. 

Frazier also said that while her video helped bring forward the truth, she feels a part of her childhood was taken away from her. 

On Tuesday, some of Floyd’s family, including his daughter, 7-year-old Gianna, and brother had the opportunity to meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House to discuss how to proceed in the aftermath of Floyd's death.

"It's a pleasure just to be able to have the chance to meet with them when he we had that opportunity too. We're just thankful for what's going on and we just want this (George Floyd Justice in Policing Act) to be passed in the future," Philonise Floyd, George’s brother, said at the meeting’s conclusion, CNN reported.

The NAACP also encouraged people to take a moment of silence at 9:29 a.m. ET on Tuesday, to honor the nine minutes and 29 seconds that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck.

As Blavity previously reported, Chauvin was found guilty of third-degree murder, second-degree unintentional murder and second-degree manslaughter. 

Frazier was able to testify in court against Chauvin, acknowledging that Floyd appeared to know his death was imminent. 

“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,” she concluded in her statement.

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