Talk:Murder of George Floyd

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Frequently asked questions

Q1: Does it have to say "white" police officer?

A1: Yes, because almost all reliable sources emphasize the significance of this fact.

Q2: I read some information on the web that isn't in this article!

A2: When proposing anything to be added to the article you need to cite a reliable source; secondary sources are generally preferred over primary.

Q3: This article is biased (for/against), or (whitewashes/blames), (Floyd/police)!

A3: See our neutral point of view policy. Complaints of bias must be accompanied by specific concerns or suggestions for change. Vague, general statements don't help.

Q4: Why is this article calling it a murder instead of a death/killing?

A4: As a person was formally convicted for murder in a court of law, the article uses the term "murder", in line with the community guidance at WP:MURDERS.

Q5: Wasn't Floyd killed near a store called Cub Foods, not Cup Foods?

A5: The store is Cup Foods, and is not affiliated with the Cub Foods store chain.

Q6: Why does the article use such a graphic photo? Isn't it in poor taste?

A6: The lead image was determined by the community in a formal Request for Comment process. The RfC reached an "overwhelming consensus" that "...the image, despite it being traumatizing, should be kept per WP:NOTCENSORED, as it is an appropriate representation of the topic."

Q7: Why was my request or comment removed?

A7: Because of the frequency of meritless and disruptive requests, any further requests to describe Floyd's murder using other terms (e.g. "death", "overdose") or to change the name of the article accordingly will be removed without consideration, unless the request complies with all relevant Wikipedia guidelines and essays, including WP:Requested moves, WP:Common name, WP:Article titles, WP:Naming conventions (violence and deaths), and WP:Reliable sources. Anyone removing such requests should include a link to this FAQ in their edit summary.

Q8: Why do we not call the protests riots?

A8: Because most reliable sources call them protests, not riots.

Q9: Did he not die of a drug overdose?

A9: No, whilst fentanyl was a contributory factor, his death certificate lists his cause of death as "cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression".

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A news item involving Murder of George Floyd was featured on Wikipedia's Main Page in the In the news section on 28 May 2020.

Wikipedia

This article has been mentioned by a media organization:

Harrison, Stephen (June 9, 2020). "How Wikipedia Became a Battleground for Racial Justice". Slate.

The contentious topics procedure applies to this page. This page is related to post-1992 politics of the United States and closely related people, which has been designated as a contentious topic.

Editors who repeatedly or seriously fail to adhere to the purpose of Wikipedia, any expected standards of behaviour, or any normal editorial process may be blocked or restricted by an administrator. Editors are advised to familiarise themselves with the contentious topics procedures before editing this page.

Text and/or other creative content from Killing of George Floyd was copied or moved into State v. Chauvin. The former page's history now serves to provide attribution for that content in the latter page, and it must not be deleted as long as the latter page exists.

This article has previously been nominated to be moved.

Discussions:

RM, Death of George Floyd → Killing of George Floyd, Moved, 2 June 2020, Talk:Killing of George Floyd/Archive 1#Requested move 27 May 2020
RM, Killing of George Floyd → Murder of George Floyd , Procedural Close and one month moratorium, 2 June 2020, Talk:Killing of George Floyd/Archive 2#Requested move 2 June 2020
RM, Killing of George Floyd → Murder of George Floyd , Snow Close and six month moratorium, 2 July 2020, Talk:Killing of George Floyd/Archive 3#Requested move 1 July 2020
RM, Killing of George Floyd → Death of George Floyd, Not moved, 6 April 2021, Talk:Killing of George Floyd/Archive 6#Requested move 1 April 2021
RM, Killing of George Floyd → Murder of George Floyd, Moved, 20 April 2021, Talk:Murder of George Floyd/Archive 7#Requested move 20 April 2021
RM, Murder of George Floyd → Death of George Floyd Not moved and six month moratorium, 15 May 2021,Talk:Murder of George Floyd/Archive 7#Requested move 15 May 2021

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Frequently asked questions; please read before posting[edit]

This section is pinned and will not be automatically archived.

Does it have to say "white" police officer?: Yes, because almost all reliable sources emphasize the significance of this fact.

This article is biased (for/against), or (whitewashes/blames), (Floyd/police)!: See our neutral point of view policy. Complaints of bias must be accompanied by specific concerns or suggestions for change. Vague, general statements don't help.

Why is this article calling it a murder instead of a death/killing?: As a person was formally convicted for murder in a court of law, the article uses the term "murder", in line with the community guidance at WP:MURDERS.

Wasn't Floyd killed near a store called Cub Foods, not Cup Foods?: The store is Cup Foods, and is not affiliated with the Cub Foods store chain.

Why does the article use such a shocking photo? Isn't it in poor taste?: The lead image was determined by the community in a formal Request for Comment process. The RfC reached an "overwhelming consensus" that "...the image, despite it being traumatizing, should be kept per WP:NOTCENSORED, as it is an appropriate representation of the topic."

Why was my request or comment removed?: Because of the frequency of meritless and disruptive requests, any further requests to describe Floyd's murder using other terms (e.g. "death", "overdose") or to change the name of the article accordingly will be removed without consideration, unless the request complies with all relevant Wikipedia guidelines and essays, including WP:Requested moves, WP:Common name, WP:Article titles, WP:Naming conventions (violence and deaths), and WP:Reliable sources. Anyone removing such requests should include a link to this FAQ in their edit summary.

This section is permanently on this talk page and does not get archived. It is for mobile-device users for whom the the normal talk page header and FAQ are not shown.

Fentanyl[edit]

George died of a fentanyl overdose 2600:1014:B054:D65E:5852:9ACF:9DF0:5F7 (talk) 17:07, 26 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Not according to the court. Slatersteven (talk) 17:11, 26 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

No, he died from being murdered. – Muboshgu (talk) 17:11, 26 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

There has been new reports shown, he had prior heart difficulties and died from a cardiopulmonary arrest, not from suffocation. I believe it should therefore, be renamed as to not define it as murder but instead manslaughter or similar. Dingus1233 (talk) 11:02, 27 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

We do not overrule courts. O3000, Ret. (talk) 11:05, 27 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, but I do believe that our language could be a little less offensive, dont you think? Dingus1233 (talk) 11:10, 27 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Cardiopulmonary arrest means the heart stops beating and the lungs stop moving. That happens when you die. He was murdered. So we say he was murdered. O3000, Ret. (talk) 11:22, 27 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, but that happens in a similar way to cardiac arrest, not from choking or the inability to breathe. Dingus1233 (talk) 15:26, 29 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Which is why the death certificate lists "complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression", or (as RS put it "choking or the inability to breathe"). Slatersteven (talk) 15:28, 29 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Couldn't the drugs in his body also have had a noticeable effect? Dingus1233 (talk) 15:50, 29 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

We don't speculate here. There was a trial and several appeals. It was determined a murder. It's over. O3000, Ret. (talk) 16:34, 29 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Alright, but shouldnt it be mentioned atleast? Dingus1233 (talk) 19:16, 29 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

It is mentioned. O3000, Ret. (talk) 19:19, 29 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Please cite the reports. —Bagumba (talk) 15:58, 28 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Please see Talk:Murder of George Floyd/FAQ#Q4. A. Randomdude0000 (talk) 17:13, 26 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Do we need to add this to the FAQ? Slatersteven (talk) 17:12, 26 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

It appears so. Babysharkboss2 was here!! ^{Dr. Wu is NOT a Doctor!} 15:54, 28 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

It wasn’t a “murder”[edit]

Floyd wasn’t murdered, if anything it was criminal negligence. In reality it was an overdose 2600:8801:200:66D0:2063:76A0:2835:863 (talk) 01:49, 4 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Please see Talk:Murder of George Floyd/FAQ#Q4. A. Randomdude0000 (talk) 01:52, 4 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]