Murderer Derek Chauvin sat in court all those dreary days of his trial looking like the cop who pulls over a ditzy disconnected drunk driver, his face an arrogant combination of sneer and smirk looking for all the world like the guy who a jury just can’t wait to convict of… something; anything. Deliberations took little more than a day in the jury room in Minneapolis.
The guilty verdicts he heard wiped both the sneer and the smirk
from his face. Guilty of second-degree murder. Guilty of manslaughter.
Guilty of third-degree murder. Bail revoked. Remanded. Park yourself in a
cell for sentencing in two months.
But George Floyd is still dead, killed while cuffed, on the hard
ground with Chauvin’s knee on his neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds. The
verdict was a verdict – that’s all – not a resurrection.
Minneapolis was tense before the verdict came in late on Tuesday
afternoon. National Guard, police and other lawmen and women were ready for
trouble, which surely would have come had Chauvin been declared not guilty.
One bad cop taken out of circulation. Others in the case awaiting
their fates. These crimes are supposed to be decided on the evidence alone.
They rarely are. They weren’t this time.
Outside Minneapolis – and maybe inside – how many similar cases
are waiting to happen for the next white Chauvin and the next Black Floyd?
And yes… it can happen to anyone of any race. And it will.
I’m Wes Richards. My opinions are my
own but you’re welcome to them. ®
Any Questions? wesrichards@gmail.com
© WR 2021
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