Darnella Frazier is the young Black woman that recorded the horrific killing of George Floyd.
As reported on Madame Noire, Pulitzer gave Frazier an award in the Special Citations and Awards category. They gave her the award for “courageously recording the murder of George Floyd [with] a video that spurred protests against police brutality around the world, highlighting the crucial role of citizens in journalists’ quest for truth and justice.”
At the time, Frazier was 17. She walked to the corner store with her friend before seeing former cop Derek Chauvin murder George Floyd in cold blood. Frazier’s video was used as key evidence during the trial. As difficult as it might have been for her, we possibly wouldn’t have the justice we have today for Floyd without the video.
Darnella Frazier, the teen who filmed the police killing of #GeorgeFloyd, has won a Pulitzer Prize special citation.
Frazier was 17 when she witnessed ex-officer Derek Chauvin murder Floyd: "My video didn't save George Floyd, but it put his murderer away and off the streets." pic.twitter.com/5kAKNzO1nQ
— AJ+ (@ajplus) June 11, 2021
A few months ago, Frazier’s received the PEN America’s Benenson Courage Award.
Floyd was killed last year on May 25 after Chauvin had his knee pinned down on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. In heartbreaking footage, you can hear Floyd beg and say, “I can’t breathe.” He also called for his mother while taking his last breaths.