This afternoon, former police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts of murdering George Floyd. I planned to write a post later about it, but meanwhile I read Brendan’s piece, and … well, I couldn’t have said it any better, so I am re-blogging his. Thank you, Brendan.
Like with many people in the United States, and across the world, my heart was beating at a mile a minute as the judge in the Derek Chauvin Murder Trial read the verdict on all three counts:
Guilty.
Guilty.
Guilty.
After I heard the verdict, I was personally relieved. I know many others who feel relieved with the verdict as well, for it meant that George Floyd’s life mattered enough that the police officer who killed him went to prison.
However, in my own humble opinion (humble because I do not have to worry about police on a daily basis like my friends of color do), what we saw today was not justice for George Floyd. Justice would’ve been if George Floyd didn’t get killed at the hands of Derek Chauvin.
Instead, what we got was accountability. Namely, accountability for a chokehold that…
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Well this is disheartening:
BREAKING: Judge says that Rep. Maxine Waters may cause entire Chauvin case being overturned
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I’m not worried about it. All the judge actually said was that Ms. Water’s statements might give the defense grounds for appeal, but frankly I don’t expect that to happen, or even if it does, I think he’ll still be found guilty as charged.
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Good to get the right verdict, for once. Perhaps this might just mark a turning point, although I’m sure there will be a backlash.
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Hopefully, this will lead to changes in police departments all across the nation, but I’m not holding my breath. Still, it was the right verdict and hopefully a step toward much-needed change.
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Lets hope, Jill! I can not believe, because there is a structure built over decades, and if somewhere the wrong people in the offices … Michael
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For far too long, police have gotten by with it, but there have been so many cases over the past 10 or so years that now we are beginning to understand what our Black brothers have always known … that there is inherent racism in police departments across the nation. And you’re right … it starts at the top.
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Thats the problem, Jill! Looking away for years did not help. That doesn’t change by itself, because like-minded people only bring like-minded people into office. ;-( xx
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Lets hope someone now starts to address the systemic racism in all it’s manifestations. The Republican party could make a start by dropping these planned changes in law intended to deprive P/o/C of their right to vote. If changes aren’t made at the top then those further down the ladder will think they don’t have to either.
Cwtch
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Well, today Attorney General Merick Garland announced that the Justice Department is launching a wide-scale investigation into the Minneapolis police department to determine whether there is consistent use of excess force, and it is hoped that this will lead to changes. I think a similar investigation should be launched in every major city in this country … look what happened yesterday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio, when a cop shot and killed a 13-year-old girl. Sigh. Yesterday’s verdict was good news, absolutely, but it’s only a single small step and there is much more to be done. The Republican Party cannot be counted on for anything other than obfuscation, racism, and conspiracy theories these days … their only goal is power and money.
Cwtch
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