14 Comments

• Peter Wigley 21st Apr '21 - 5:22pm

  I’m very struck by the contrast between the 12 Minneapolis jurors who heard and saw what happened and voted – guilty – according to what they had heard ans seen, and the 43 Republican Senators who heard and saw how President Bush had incited a riot and voted – not guilty – not according to what they had heard and seen, but according to what they perceived to be in the interests of their party and their own self-preservation.

  No wonder so many politicians are viewed with contempt. We can see something similar in our own parliament almost daily.

• John Marriott 21st Apr '21 - 7:09pm

  The young lady (?), who shot the last mixtures of George Floyd’s life deserves a medal!

• Andrew Toye 21st Apr '21 - 10:29pm

  We should remain alive to institutional and sub-conscious racism in our own country and communities. The recent “independent” enquiry into the problem might as well have been written by Donald Trump. The only things missing are is famous catchphrases: that it is a “great big hoax”, or “fake news”. We are apparently a shining example to the world having “made Britain great again”. Pull the other one guys.

• Roland 21st Apr '21 - 11:32pm

  @Andrew Toye “We should remain alive to institutional and sub-conscious racism in our own country and communities.”
  Agree, it is hard being white etc. as we aren’t on the receiving end of the abuse and so don’t see things.

  However, I find it helpful to at times watch the non-PC TV footage from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s (when I was growing up) and cringe with embarrassment yet still feel good for just how far we have come – particularly as “we” lived through those decades and so could be expected to think some of that behaviour is okay.
  I’ve recently taken a liking to some ethnic comedians who have turned their anger into something that conveys their experience in a way that I can begin to understand, and so change some of my habits.

  I recently had an interesting conversation with an afro-carribean lady who was of a similar age to me, where we were able to share our very different takes on the early 70’s – I remember the single afro-carribean girl in my year (and entire school), to where we are today where my children have grown up with it being normal for classmates to be from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds.

• John Marriott 22nd Apr '21 - 8:53am

  Sorry about the ‘mixtures’ – should have been ‘pictures’ (my iPad sometimes appears to have a mind of its own, or is it just my failure to check my work?). Andrew Toye’s mentioning of Trump makes me wonder where he has been lately. Probably working on his handicap (that’s the golf one, by the way).

  As the Biden administration drills down on policing in the USA it will be interesting to see on which side of the fence the Republican Party decides to sit. Is it waiting to take its lead from the ‘Florida White House’?

• Mark Seaman 22nd Apr '21 - 12:09pm

  Considering that the Jury knew full well that a ‘Not Guilty’ verdict would have led to the city burning, and them and their families being hunted down and likely killed, the actual result is hardly surprising. What kind of US President says that he hopes the Jury make the ‘right’ decision? Imagine if Trump had said something like that… there would have been an uproar.

• theakes 22nd Apr '21 - 1:34pm

  The judge expressed exasperation with “elected offcials” who make comments such as what came from the Congresswoman from California, “it could be grounds for an appeal”. There is still a long way to go, reports, sentencing, appeals and more appeals. Let us keep our counsel rather than set off the New Years Eve fireworks.

• Charles Smith 22nd Apr '21 - 8:49pm

  The Minneapolis intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Ave., where just under a year ago George Floyd had gasped his last breath under the knees of a while police officer, was transformed Tuesday night into a scene of celebration and community relief.

  Some set off firecrackers, others danced, jumped and sang in unison. Those who gathered at what is now known as George Floyd Square were rejoicing in the guilty verdict of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.

  Hours earlier, Chauvin had been convicted of all charges in connection to the death of Floyd: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
  https://worldabcnews.com/in-minneapolis-a-burden-lifts-as-chauvin-verdict-brings-relief-jubilation-to-a-tense-city/

• John Marriott 22nd Apr '21 - 8:56pm

  @Mark Seaman
  What a cynical view to take. It couldn’t be that Chauvin was guilty as sin, thanks largely to his actions being filmed by a bystander. There was clearly only one possible verdict.

• Mark Seaman 23rd Apr '21 - 12:55pm

  Did any of the commentators here actually watch any of the police bodycam footage? If people are basing their opinions on coverage by the BBC then they really have been rather gullible. I would also re-iterate that no matter how one-sided any case is in the likelihood of a guilty verdict, the intimidating atmosphere brought to bear should never be acceptable.

• John Marriott 24th Apr '21 - 7:18pm

  @Mark Seaman
  Can you honestly have imagined what would have happened if the jury had found Chauvin innocent?

• Andrew Tampion 24th Apr '21 - 9:42pm

  John Marriott: “Can you honestly have imagined what would have happened if the jury had found Chauvin innocent?”
  What is your point? Are you saying that the Jury should have convicted Chauvin even if they were not satisfied that he was guilty of charges against him because of the possible consequences of finding him not guilty?

• Peter Hirst 26th Apr '21 - 12:21pm

  I couldn’t help feeling that that America or at least its criminal justice system was equally on trial as Chauvin. Focusing on individuals despite investigations makes us feel better and does little to prevent similar events. Corporate manslaughter is a criminal offence here so why not institutional also?

• John Marriott 26th Apr '21 - 6:13pm

  @Andrew Tampion
  My point is that, given the evidence of the damning footage shot by that young passerby, had Chauvin been acquitted there would almost certainly have been protests, and quite rightly so. Although I am far from being a fan, on this occasion I am happy to say; “Thank goodness for social media”.