After 10 hours of deliberation, jurors in the trial of Derek Chauvin reached a guilty verdict on April 20, 2021, for three counts of murder for killing of George Floyd.
Derek Chauvin was convicted of second and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter and will face up to 75 years in prison.
While this verdict is a positive and correct outcome, it unfortunately does not establish much precedent as the conviction of one police officer doesn’t change the systematic flaws that exist within our country.
The reality is the only reason that Derek Chauvin was convicted was because the murder was caught on camera. Not a police camera, but by a citizen.
Without this crucial piece of evidence, Derek Chauvin would be walking free right now and Floyd’s family would see no form of justice.
However, this verdict doesn’t even amount to justice — justice would be if George Floyd was still alive and breathing right now.
For centuries, Black people have witnessed the violence committed against them. Only now, with the presence of cell phones and media accountability, can a police officer like Chauvin receive appropriate punishment.
It’s deeply upsetting that even with the video evidence of Floyd’s murder and testimonies during Chauvin’s trial confirming that Floyd’s death was a homicide caused by cardiopulmonary arrest from neck compression, it was still questioned whether Chauvin would be found guilty or not.
Police brutality has been and continues to be an ongoing issue that plagues this country, and more often than not, these police officers can walk away with not even a slap on the wrist.
According to data collected by Philip Stinson, a criminal justice professor at Bowling Green State University, law enforcement officers kill about 1,000 people a year across the United States, and since the beginning of 2005, only 121 officers have been arrested on charges of murder or manslaughter in on-duty killings.
The verdict of this case is a victory. It does not, however, imply that similar circumstances will not occur in the future, and it does not bring George Floyd back to life.
Only due to citizen journalism with people pulling out their cell phones to take videos, can a case like Chauvin’s see a more appropriate end.
The system is not fixed based on the outcome to this case — far from it.
In order for real change to happen, there needs to be real infrastructural reform to police enforcement in the U.S. that will tangibly prevent instances such as these from happening in the first place.
Police need to undergo longer, more extensive training to be granted the position of authority that they have and weaponry they are allowed to handle.
But as much as police brutality is also an issue of unnecessary gun violence, Chauvin didn’t need a gun to take Floyd’s life. In fact, he didn’t need any weapons at all.
Bias dismantling training needs to be used to help ensure people of color aren’t continuously being unfairly and disproportionately targeted by the police.
Medical professionals have to undergo four years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school, and two years of residency to be able to be trusted with someone’s life in their hands.
Police cadets only have to undergo 13-19 weeks of training to become a police officer to be afforded the same trust, as well as the ability to take someone’s life.
It should not be the case that a police officer “mistakenly” shoots and kills a Black man because they pulled out their gun thinking it was their taser. And it should most definitely not be the case that a police officer can pin a man’s neck to the ground with his knee for nine and a half minutes while he yells “I can’t breathe” repeatedly until his death.
Racism without accountability has been at the forefront of societal inequality long before the Death of George Floyd. Holding those who commit these crimes accountable for their actions is a win, but will ultimately do nothing to stop racist behavior until systems of power decide for themselves that change needs to be made.
We should not have to hear another story of a Black American losing their life at the hands of those who are supposed to protect us.
There is no justice until police brutality is an issue of the past.
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3 Comments
The editorial,, while pointing out many accurate observations about our unfortunate history, it ignores the primary factor in matters of police brutality: the ineffective screening processes employed in HIRING people who should not be entrusted with the badge. No amount of training will fix a person who entered with a malignant heart. Good police officers want to see those who abuse the badge be found accountable. When we, the citizens, know that those who wield such enormous power will be held accountable; we have regained faith in our justice system. Good police officers begin with good people. Unless our local governments focus on hiring good people, in terms of integrity, morals, and honor, no amount of training can fix a soul the is rotten on the inside. That is where the focus needs to occur.
I agree with Nicholas. There are many law enforcement officers to whom “protect and serve” is sadly inappropriate, “I have power and I will use it to control you” is more like it. These officers need to be on a leash if they continue to work.
Hate crime laws seem worthless to me. Except for crimes of passion, maybe sometimes, every crime says “I hate you”. They have proven difficult to prove. Use abuse of power laws. It is generally obvious that certain people are in positions of power. Chauvin abused that power.
Hateful/power hungry people are not really racists, they will abuse almost anyone who offends them.
As an example use President Trump who was called racist, misogynist and the like. If you disagreed with him you were on the &%#$ list. VP Mike Pence proved that by thinking for himself.
Given some definitions of racism I could see where Mother Theresa might qualify.
You are right. He was only convicted because of what was on camera. This allowed for an emotional, not a legal or scientific, response from the jury. Witnesses from the prosecution were providing evidence that was actually beneficial for Derek Chauvin. Many legal experts were shocked to hear a prosecution, let alone anything more severe than manslaughter. Perhaps it has to do with the riots and direct threats to the jury. Maybe it was the openly biased jury member who was seen giving a speech at a George Floyd memorial march. Whatever the reason, rational people can see that this example of “justice” was meant to throw a single officer under the bus to save a city from burning.