EXTRA CREDIT — George Floyd murder trial verdict!!

Students!!   The conviction of former police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd is BIG, IMPORTANT NEWS!!  Write about it!  Earn up to 2 points on the final exam by writing a short post about it — you may respond to one of the articles below or any article you choose, or just tell us what you think about the case.  You may post it as a “reply” to this post, or as a standalone post (using the “plus” sign above, choose “legal news response” as the category).  Remember, you can also earn up to 2 points for summarizing and responding to any legal news articles, as explained in this assignment.  See “Articles” tab for some articles you might want to use.

12 thoughts on “EXTRA CREDIT — George Floyd murder trial verdict!!

  1. Guilty, Guilty, Guilty. One would think that it is time to celebrate But What now? You would think that this is a light at the end of the tunnel, yet there is not. There is still so much to do. I am happy that the family received the verdict that they wanted but this should not be a pause in a movement that is making strives. I am an officer’s daughter—my family and friends are officers. They wanted the same verdict because this “person” committed a crime using the badge. Yet We can not make one bad egg represent others that are doing what they are suppose to do and keeping the community safe. We must continue to make those accountable for their actions, do not matter who they are. I wish I could feel at ease, just not yet. I do applause the officer that stepped up and broke the broke line just what was right not because to protect someone who disrespected it.

  2. EDIT—- Guilty, Guilty, Guilty. One would think that it is time to celebrate But What now? You would think that this is a light at the end of the tunnel, yet there is not. There is still so much to do. I am happy that the family received the verdict that they wanted but this should not be a pause in a movement that is making strives. I am an officer’s daughter—my family and friends are officers. They wanted the same verdict because this “person” committed a crime using the badge. Yet We can not make one bad egg represent others that are doing what they are suppose to do and keeping the community safe. We must continue to make those accountable for their actions, do not matter who they are. I wish I could feel at ease, just not yet. I do applause the officer that stepped up and broke the blue line for what was right and not protected him because he was an officer– he murdered this man.

    • Thanks Daniella! I apologize for delayed response. This is a thoughtful, personal post, I appreciate your candor. I also share your mixed reaction of relief, but still not at ease. (Ever?)

  3. I rejoice with the Floyd Family for the verdict but I cannot celebrate this as an end to the injustice or even a giant step toward accountability. It remains to be seen in the coming months and years what concrete impact this will have on the debate, and on our lives, how will this verdict will change things moving forward, after all the big noise. While people are crying for help and trying to bring awareness, saying “Black Lives Matter” it is as if the Police is counterprotesting saying “ lets us shoot and kill without accountability, because we are the police”.The unwillingness of this institution to take a critical look at itself when it comes to the abuse of power is mind-boggling.

    The U.S department of justice overnight announced an investigation into Minneapolis police department, But lets not be distracted here, I refuse to accept the notion that systematic police violence can be dealt with on a case by case basis. This is a not Minnesotan problem, far from it, it is an american problem. And I believe it will take more than the federal govt sending its judicial watchdog to investigate police departments throughout the country because the solution in my opinion doesn’t reside in convicting cops, in holding them accountable. We want to be able prevent these from happening in the first place, so everybody can get back to their family safe and sound.

    • Thanks Nasser, and I apologize for my delay in getting back to you! As I indicated to Daniella, I share your mixed reaction of joy and hesitancy/trepidation. You make an excellent point that the DOJ investigation is helpful but probably not (nearly) enough.

  4. Concerning the George Floyd case I felt like justice was served; however I also feel like it was performative justice to appease the people, because this was a case being viewed by the world. It makes me wonder about the many other cases that did not get this amount of attention and pressure where is their justice. Why do people of color have to go to such lengths just to be seen as equal. I have faced my share of discrimination from both the police and white civilians and so I know that even if we “behave ourselves” we will face violence and mistreatment in America. This is a part of a bigger problem and its sad to live in fair of police and to have no one to turn to for help. Not all cops are bad but how can we discern who is who. I’m hopeful for better further with the precedent that this case will set but we should not have to lose black lives for us to get our rights. Justice would be these black people still being alive with their families and their loved ones.

    • Thanks Aaliyah! I apologize for my delay in getting back to you. This is a thoughtful, insightful response. I agree, it raises big, important questions about how hard certain individuals and groups need to work in order to achieve justice (as much as can be had when a life is wrongly lost).

  5. Im glad that they found chauvin guilty because the way they treated George while arresting him was as lf he was a wild animal. I watched the video how everything went down and it was so devastating. He was Crying for help, crying for his mom, his family and most importantly his life. I believe that the only reason why the court decided to put him in jail is because they were tired of the riots. The U.S department of justice would do try to do anything to prevent lawsuits and commotion. However, I don’t believe putting him a jail makes everything better there is more to just putting the murders in jail because who is it to say there wont be another incident. in matter a fact there was a cop right after this veridct a 16 year old girl got shot by the police after she called them for help. Things like that makes people upset. Police are suppose to use their training skills they learned at camp. However to them is act fast think about what happen after wards.

    • Thanks Alexandra, and I apologize for my delay in getting back to you! I share the mixed reaction that you and other students have expressed. Thank you also for reminding us of the horror, and poignancy, of the young woman being killed by police even as Chauvin’s verdict was delivered.

  6. I have so much thoughts about this… I dont even know where to start to be honest but after reading the article from the NY TIMES, I believe justice was accomplished but I cant shout out that this was the end of injustice or discrimination. Perhap to the officers and who ever was on their side, Floyd was another black person who all he does is commit “crimes” but to any other, he was a human being just like any of us and didnt deserve the treatment he had received. After seeing the videos all around social media, I was shocked to see how at this point of time, racism and injustice is still being committed in front of our own eyes just like years ago but in different ways and at that moment it got to me the fact that nothing has changed! Yes technolgy has changed, lifestyle has changed, anything could have changed but the way human beings treat one another has NEVER changed. Perhaps this wasnt about race but more of equity and how things was managed. After Floyds death, it was a moment of awakening in the world, almost everywhere there was protest going on,people wanting their voice to be heard. Hearing one persons voice made others raise their voice and one by one like a domino effect, everyone united as a nation like it should have always been. I remember that protest would get out of control that officers needed to be closing the streets where their departments were and stayed guarding. Remembering in 125 st , a protest was walking by and it made me realize how being united, gave motivation to shout out ” JUSTICE FOR FLOYD”! and I DID ! Although I couldnt be there with them protesting but I made my voice be heard to the extent that they heared me from my window and started cheering. At that moment, it gave me chills and so much motivation for a change. Ofcourse HE IS GUILTY! and there is nothing anyone can say to change that. This is a moment in history that will be remembered, everyone for once was united for the same cause and race was not important at all!

    • In the article “It’s been nights I stayed up apologizing and apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more and not physically interacting and not saving his life,” Ms. Frazier said.” Witnesses had restless night due to the fact that, this was an endless cycle unless our actions wasnt xhanged. Guilt was so harsh on them that they wished they could have done more to help but after years, we all united to make a change.

    • Thanks Sharon, this is a very powerful response! And extremely well-written. I apologize for my delay in addressing it. I am certain that your voice was heard when you shouted from your window. Most importantly, it motivated you to work toward positive change, which I fully expect you’ll achieve in the future.

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