Like many I watched the verdicts being delivered in the Derek Chauvin trial last night, and gasped in surprise and relief that a man so obviously guilty of murder will serve a sentence for doing so.
As was made clear, at least in the BBC News Channel's prior reporting (which was excellent), Joe Biden had been in contact with the family of George Floyd before the verdicts were announced, and stated his desire for the ‘right outcome'.
The USA got that right outcome. I am relieved.
At the same time we live in a country where the Prime Minister is in denial with regard to the Black Lives Matter movement. Instead he organises reports that provide institutional support for racism. And he refers to those who care as woke, using it as a term of abuse, and ridicule.
I am under no illusion that the USA is going to see an end to the persistent pattern of killings by the police as a consequence of this verdict. It must, however, have an impact. The sight of Derek Chauvin leaving court in handcuffs cannot, and should not, have gone unnoticed.
I hope it is noticed here too. The UK's institutional support for racism is now a cause for national shame. It has to end.
Justice needs to be done.
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That’s the “first” verdict.
I’d wait and see if there is an appeal first..
I agree
Said in our living room by me about 5 seconds after I’d stopped gasping last night
As a retired lawyer who dabbled in criminal matters in his youth, I am well aware of the vagaries of jury trials (though I staunchly support the system as a counterweight to judicial myopia and police corruption), yet the extent of universal doubt about the outcome of this trial is the most worrying aspect. How could the result be anything but guilty when the world watched a video of this ruthless, racist torture and murder? The worry, of course, was soundly based on experience. Racist juries don’t convict white police officers of murdering non-whites. THAT is the really frightening measure of the mountain to be climbed. However, let us celebrate this small blow for justice and humanity. RIP George, my unlikely heroic martyr.
Well said
My takeaway was that the police (US and UK) need to change to root out the nasty elements; those who think and do get away with bad behaviour. Those people make it more difficult for the ordinary, professional and reasonable police officer to do his duty. We have a poor culture in policing because of that bias.
It is common in any grouping – deal with the bad behaviour and you tend to improve the group as a whole. It also take other members of that grouping to stand up for decency.
I am sure there are many reasonable Conservative MPs; but my are they hiding their lights under a bushel. None have called out the race report nor made any salient comments; preferring instead to hide behind the grouping no matter how bad they are.
I spoke to our MP recently and had a good conversation. I asked her to begin speaking about issues in a clear and thoughtful way, to get herself in the news and demonstrate/signal that there are things reasonable MPs can do to change the narrative and direction of this government. She won’t.
Evil abounds where good people do nothing.
Thanks
The verdict certainly looks correct for one individual officer, but what of the culture and training and line of command in his institution?
Have you noticed that where once a police snatch would be two officers hauling off their (recognisable) upright victim by the arms, now there are four carrying a person face down by arms and legs. Must be terrifying (fear of being dropped), and hard for others to know who it is.