Video footage circulating on social media captured Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey pausing at George Floyd’s casket during a memorial. In a moment of deep emotion, Frey dropped to one knee and sobbed, seemingly whispering something heartfelt. This scene highlights a stark contrast with Frey’s reaction following the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic School on August 27, 2025, where a trans-identifying shooter took the lives of two children and injured 17 others.
During the press conference after the school shooting, Frey failed to focus on the horrific violence that had just occurred. Instead, he directed his comments toward criticizing Christians who had gathered to pray, emphasizing his support for the transgender community in the wake of alleged insults. The shooting’s devastation—19 innocent lives lost, mostly children—was a far graver loss than that of Floyd, who had a troubled history detailed by court documents from Harris County, Texas. Floyd faced multiple criminal charges, including three drug offenses, two theft charges, and aggravated robbery; the latter resulted in a five-year prison sentence.
Floyd’s death in 2020 came after he ingested fentanyl and methamphetamine while resisting arrest for nearly 25 minutes. The Hennepin County medical examiner ruled his death a heart attack, attributing it to “fentanyl intoxication” and “recent methamphetamine use.” His troubled background starkly contrasts with the innocence of the children killed in the school shooting.
The shooter, identified as Robin Westman, left a manifesto marked by violent intent and anti-Christian sentiments. His writings and social media posts reveal a man consumed by hatred, idolizing mass murderers like Adam Lanza and Anders Behring Breivik. Authorities are now investigating the attack as both a hate crime and domestic terrorism due to the extensive anti-Catholic and anti-Christian material found in Westman’s possession.
Statements within Westman’s manifesto are chilling. He expressed a disturbing eagerness to kill, declaring, “I can’t wait to kill and kill and kill.” His weaponry bore inscriptions that underscored his extremist beliefs, such as “Where’s your God now?” and “Kill Donald Trump.” Antisemitic remarks also accompanied his arsenal, revealing a deeper layer of his troubled psyche.
The details paint a portrait of a deeply disturbed individual whose life was marred by mental illness. U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson noted the scope of Westman’s hatred, stating, “The shooter expressed hate towards almost every group imaginable.” Even amid this chaos, he only found kinship with other mass murderers, revealing a profound disconnect from humanity.
Early warning signs about Westman’s mindset had already emerged. A former classmate recalled that he spoke fondly of Hitler and described his demeanor as “demonic.” “I think we need Jesus. He needed him,” she stated, alluding to the troubled path he took that ultimately led to violence.
The responses to these two tragedies starkly contrast each other. While Floyd’s funeral brought out empathic responses from city leaders, the school shooting drew a different reaction. Frey chose to defend a marginalized community rather than address the frightening reality of the violence inflicted on innocents.
Research indicates that individuals in the transgender community often face elevated rates of mental illness, with over 60 percent experiencing serious conditions compared to less than 40 percent in the general population. This reality raises concerns, particularly when vulnerable individuals are encouraged to pursue hormonal treatments, which can amplify risks of aggression, mood swings, and even suicidal behavior.
Historically, the treatment for gender identity disorder involved therapy aimed at helping people reconcile their feelings with reality. In contrast, today’s approach prioritizes medical interventions, like drugs and surgery, often without adequate consideration for psychiatric health. This shift has created safety concerns that remain unacknowledged by those in positions of authority.
As the community grapples with the ramifications of these events, the need for honest reflection on mental health, violence, and public policy remains critical. The tragic losses in both cases underscore the importance of addressing the roots of such behavior while ensuring that all communities can find pathways to healing and understanding.
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