George Floyd the verdict....

i do have some concern for his welfare whilst in prison
I don’t. He’s going to experience terror. That same terror that George Floyd felt as he was being murdered.

25Avalon

I am concerned Chauvin may be being sacrificed as a scapegoat by the police. By which I mean have the police acted to protect themselves by coming out against him to get themselves off the hook? Have the police apologised, have they revised their training methods, have they stopped shooting unarmed civilians etc? The whole police system needs overhauling.

He’s being punished for committing murder - nothing scapegoat about that. Yes there are other culpable individuals and systems and let’s hope change comes about but I’m not hopeful. His guilt is not lessened if others unfairly go free. A scapegoat surely means someone innocent - he wasn’t .

One of his petty criminal activities was to buy opioid prescriptions made out for others and use them to get the drugs.

Hardly a hardened criminal.

In fact Floyd came across as a caring gentle man, whose addiction troubled him and who desperately tried to stop the addiction.

Whitewavemark2

One of his petty criminal activities was to buy opioid prescriptions made out for others and use them to get the drugs.

Hardly a hardened criminal.

In fact Floyd came across as a caring gentle man, whose addiction troubled him and who desperately tried to stop the addiction.

But actually, the truth of the range and extent of his criminal past are irrelevant when discussing the verdict. He was murdered because he was black and his murderer and his accomplices believed themselves above the law.

Suziewoozie I am not saying he was innocent. Perhaps I needed another word. Some say the police were brave in condemning him but the other side of the coin is they knew the whole of their Department would be in dead schtuck so they came out and threw stones at Chauvin so to speak. This could have been to deflect any blame from themselves. Lots of people are very anti police and will continue to be so unless their methods of policing are overhauled.

suziewoozie

Whitewavemark2

One of his petty criminal activities was to buy opioid prescriptions made out for others and use them to get the drugs.

Hardly a hardened criminal.

In fact Floyd came across as a caring gentle man, whose addiction troubled him and who desperately tried to stop the addiction.

But actually, the truth of the range and extent of his criminal past are irrelevant when discussing the verdict. He was murdered because he was black and his murderer and his accomplices believed themselves above the law.

Absolutely but it was brought up at the trial and in the right wing media. He was portrayed as a hardened criminal which simply wasn’t true.

And this is happening all the time the media manipulates the truth and therefore peoples opinions.

We see it all the time. Just look at what you see believed on GN. And this is just a tiny microcosm of British society.

25Avalon

Suziewoozie I am not saying he was innocent. Perhaps I needed another word. Some say the police were brave in condemning him but the other side of the coin is they knew the whole of their Department would be in dead schtuck so they came out and threw stones at Chauvin so to speak. This could have been to deflect any blame from themselves. Lots of people are very anti police and will continue to be so unless their methods of policing are overhauled.

I agree that it can be very convenient to think that having convicted him, everyone else is off the hook. It will be interesting to see what happens now to his accomplices. I also wonder what we’ll learn now about DC’s disciplinary/ complaints history?

One policeman in particular encouraged Chauvin. That needs looking at.

With regard to the police training etc. I think they certainly need looking at, but everyone agreed that Chauvin had received training on a yearly basis I think it was with regard to correct procedure and duty of care to those under arrest. He was fully aware of what the result would be when subjecting Floyd to the violence he perpetrated on him. He did not stop even after Floyd lost consciousness.

I hadn't seen the footage of him before being put in the car. He was clearly agitated, why didn't they give him time to calm down? It just struck me as SO unnecessary and all those people who kept coming forward and saying please get off him now Are the other two officers going to be charged too?

Prone restraint needs to be banned imo. There have been deaths in my county where police have prone restrained someone and they have died. They use them inside patient assessment units too, use them on young people with autism. It all needs to be stopped

Chauvin had a history of violence in his job as a police officer.

EllanVannin

Chauvin had a history of violence in his job as a police officer.

You do surprise me

The other thing people have brought up about the police evidence at the trial.

The questions they were asked were never ones of opinion but straightforward questions of fact.

So unless they were willing to perjure themselves and I couldn’t see then lying to such obvious questions, what they said was fact. Simple as that.

I am always wary of the motivation of those worldwide who choose a police career. Of course many are indeed decent people looking to make a contribution to society, and I have known several like that. But it was clear they stood no chance of promotion because they lacked the nastier streak that gets you to the top. I offer in support of this the recent Clapham Common vigil, where Ms Dick, despite the delicacy of one of her officers being the chief suspect in the murder that precipitated it, cynically chose to deploy resources to monitor what went on. An assembly of grieving, frightened and angry women needs careful watching? I don't think so.

Whilst I agree with this verdict - I do think there is a danger of turning George Floyd into a saint.

I don't think this is what anyone wants. However, it did take this man to lose his life for change to begin, so he will be remembered. What we all should want is justice for all.

We also need to bear in mind that our policing is policing by consent - the common consent of the public. In the US policing has a strong relationship between politics and the police. We have a movement in the politics of this country towards White Supremacy and also, in my opinion, English White Supremacy. We need to ensure that groups supporting these views do not gain power if we feel that the policing that led to the death of George Floyd - an example of what happens daily - is not to come here.

This is the first time a white policeman killing a black man in this state has been found guilty of murder. Before this the only time a member of the police has been found guilty of killing a member of the public it was a black policeman and a (very wealthy) white woman. In the US the law gives "qualified immunity" to law officers and in many States, the force investigates its officers.

Hopefully, all countries can learn from one another.

The two officers who were with Chauvin also have histories of violence between them.

JaneJudge

I hadn't seen the footage of him before being put in the car. He was clearly agitated, why didn't they give him time to calm down? It just struck me as SO unnecessary and all those people who kept coming forward and saying please get off him now Are the other two officers going to be charged too?

The other officers are being held and have been charged.

I hope Derek Chauvin is not going to be made scapegoat for institutional racism among the police.

Daniella Frazier is the name of the teenage girl who filmed the whole thing on her phone. Had she not done that, it’s unlikely this would have gotten as far as it has. She’s a hero and she helped get...not justice, because that just isn’t possible after what Chauvin did, but consequences.

Alexa

I hope Derek Chauvin is not going to be made scapegoat for institutional racism among the police.

He’s been found guilty of murder - that does not make him a scapegoat. I’ve just read on line that 3 other officers are to be tried together in August. Don’t know on what charges.

The only thing that crossed my mind this morning (and this isn’t excusing the police officers in any way) is I can’t imagine what it must be like policing a country where everyone you deal with potentially carries a gun. Having said that they are trained to deal with such situations. But it must make their job very difficult.

Alexa

I hope Derek Chauvin is not going to be made scapegoat for institutional racism among the police.

If he’d been found guilty of racism, then you could argue that he was a scapegoat, but he wasn’t, so isn’t.

Suziewoozie, they were charged with aiding and abetting murder. I don't know if other charges can or will be added now Chauvin has been found guilty.

What has changed is that the police actions can now be recorded by people and instantly made public.

This can now provide evidence of what happened, and indeed in many cases show a more truthful record than that admitted by the police.

We see this in the Floyd case, we saw it on Clapham Common and it can only provide greater justice imo.

PippaZ

Suziewoozie, they were charged with aiding and abetting murder. I don't know if other charges can or will be added now Chauvin has been found guilty.

Thank you