It is nearly 24 hours since the verdict was reached. During that time, I am amazed at how many people are taking credit for the verdict. People who led protests in cities other than Minneapolis are taking credit. People from Portland, Oregon to Detroit to New York City. These protests raised awareness and I applaud the people who saw injustice and organized the protest. I applaud the people who peacefully protested throughout the summer and fall. Hopefully, they will change the culture in their communities, but let us give credit where credit is due. The verdict is a result of a few people who had the guts to step forward when they saw something that wasn’t right and they did their job.
First and foremost, Darnella Frazier, the 17 year old who had the presence of mind to record a video of the entire encounter on her cell phone so we could all see what happened. Without this video, many of us would have believed the statement released by the Minneapolis Police Chief on the night of George Floyd’s death. It read “Two officers arrived and located the suspect, a male believed to be in his 40s, in his car. He was ordered to step from his car. After he got out, he physically resisted officers. Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress. Officers called for an ambulance. He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center by ambulance where he died a short time later.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz who had the guts and wherewithal to reassign the case from the Hennepin County Prosecutor’s Office to the State Attorney General Office after receiving a request from 10 members of the Minnesota state legislature to transfer the case. In the request the legislators said. “Unfortunately, our constituents, especially constituents of color, have lost faith in the ability of Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman to fairly and impartially investigate and prosecute these cases,”
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, the lead prosecutor in the state’s case who presented a well thought out and well organized prosecution. His trump card was always the video and he played it often.
The team of prosecutors including Matthew Frank and Jerry W. Blackwell who presented evidence during trial and gave the rebuttal argument against the defense on Monday and the entire prosecution team who Mr. Blackwell said, ” had the courage and passion to “get into good trouble” by taking on this case. They stepped into the light and they shined,”
The witnesses who testified during the trial, including the chief of the Minneapolis Police Department to a 9-year-old girl who witnessed the arrest.
Judge Peter Cahill who did an outstanding job of managing the case from the bench. He was perfect for a case of this magnitude.
The twelve jurors who were put in a postion that they didn’t volunteer for but comes with being a citizen. They carried out their duties and rendered a verdict that they throught was right and just.
Our justice system because all the people above did the right thing. It would only take one or two of any of the above to not have done their job properly and this verdict may have been different.
We also cannot forget that three other officers may go on trial for George Floyd’s death. The cases will be significantly different than this case and the outcome may lead to acquittals or the cases might be settled out of court. Who knows. Justice will get another chance to win. However, in those cases justice winning may mean acquital.
The protests that occurred in Portland, Detroit, New York City and other cities will have no more bearing on the three future cases than they did on the Chauvin case. Future protests will have a bearing on the community they serve and they may lead to protests in other communities. All of which can raise awareness and make for productive dialogue which eventually can change the culture.
Stay Safe. Wear your mask properly. Wash your hands regularly. Social distance. Schedule your vaccine.
Quote of the Day: “For longer than there’s been a United States, two things have been true, Black Americans have served in all their country’s wars, and racism has prevented them from tasting the fullness of the very freedom many of them died fighting for.” Theodore R. Johnson, a Black retired Navy commander who now works at the Brennan Center for Justice
Orchid of the Day: Former Vice President Walter Mondale, 93, for a life well served. He was way ahead of his time.
Onion of the Day: Mother Nature again. Baseball games on April 21 should not be cancelled because of snow.
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