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Original poster

Derek Chauvin - the Aftermath

46 replies

TheresAnEyeInMeSoup · 22/04/2021 23:11

I know there have been multiple threads on this topic already, but I was wondering what will happen next.

Do you think in similar previous cases where police have killed unarmed citizens and had charges dropped or dismissed, that this will open up fresh investigations?

I'm thinking of Tony Timpa and Daniel Shaver, but admittedly there are tons of cases where the police have been caught on camera and you can't really defend their actions. Will Derek Chauvins trial have a knock on effect of some of these cases?

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NiceGerbil · 22/04/2021 23:31

Not for the old cases that have been to trial, no.

For families that never got that far it might encourage them to try again.

That's what I think, hadn't considered your question before.

Original poster
TheresAnEyeInMeSoup · 22/04/2021 23:36

I'm praying these cases and many similar cases are opened up for investigation again. At the very least police officers are properly vetted and trained. The shoot first, ask questions later policy baffles me. Or when they restrain people with excessive force. Like why can they not cuff people and leave it at that?

Its just so so wrong, it makes me feel so sad that this happens. I would love nothing more than to see justice for the countless others who aren't here to defend themselves. And of course their families.

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VeniVidiWeeWee · 23/04/2021 01:36

What happens if he appeals?

And wins?

NiceGerbil · 23/04/2021 01:57

Massive riots across the USA. Bigger than anything before.

Outrage from a lot of the population who aren't black, bigger than before.

A lot of countries and people around the world outraged as well.

That's what I think would happen.

Shelddd · 23/04/2021 06:20

Who knows. I gotta imagine police (especially white) are going to be a lot more careful in the usa since their actions are under a microscope right now. Probably lots of resignations. Might be a positive, will have to wait and see.

The real issue in policing in usa is not racism but over militarisation of their police force, a huge percentage of their police force are ex military (Chauvin himself is ex military) who served in their endless wars in ME, lots with PTSD. Plus police forces are buying surplus military equipment and getting trained by military contractors.

That's the real issue, but it's not the "in thing" to talk about right now.

JustAnotherPoster00 · 23/04/2021 06:46

The real issue in policing in usa is not racism

Cool story bro

Original poster
TheresAnEyeInMeSoup · 23/04/2021 07:03

I think as Gerbil said, if he appeals and wins there will be a backlash.

But the footage shows everything, I dont know how he could possibly win an appeal when the evidence speaks for itself. What is the point of officers wearing body cams if that footage would just be disregarded?

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Original poster
TheresAnEyeInMeSoup · 23/04/2021 07:05

And when did kneeling on people become a thing or has that always been the case and we just haven't known about it til now?

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Forestiere · 23/04/2021 07:17

When you think that the Civil Rights Act was passed less than 60 years ago (1964) which ended segregation, you know America still has a long way to go.

I was reading about the fear of black mothers if their sons get stopped by the police. As a white mother, its something that would never, ever, have occurred to me.

If Chauvin gets his appeal and wins there will be riots across America and beyond.

Original poster
TheresAnEyeInMeSoup · 23/04/2021 07:25

I was reading about the fear of black mothers if their sons get stopped by the police. As a white mother, its something that would never, ever, have occurred to me.

Yes, I've read about this too, it is truly awful and not something we ever have to think about.

GF's family were interviewed on This Morning this week after the verdict and they spoke a lot of sense regarding what they feel should happen in the police going forward. Officers who know the communities and the families in it was one point raised. Beat bobbies essentially.

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EvilOnion · 23/04/2021 07:28

I suspect it will go one of two ways and I don't think either will end peacefully.

  1. Chauvin will receive a sentence higher than the recommendation and be looked on as being made an example of which will incite the sympathisers.
  1. Chauvin will receive the recommended sentence and file an appeal claiming an unfair trial - have already heard that the jury was "unusually diverse" and debate about whether the electorate should have spoken out before sentencing (not the verdict). This may reduce his sentence further and incite the movement.

In reality i would like him to receive the recommended sentence served back to back rather than concurrently with no chance for parole.

I would like there to be better training for police in safely detaining a suspect without the use of weapons/force, a change of attitude and enforced policies to deal with institutional racism, a system that allows people to complain that actually follows these up and corruption to be done away with. Unfortunately I'm not sure this will happen.

I suspect that body cam footage is used more for police protection than that of the public despite the claims to say otherwise, that footage can "lost" or edited.

AntsMarching · 23/04/2021 07:32

@Shelddd

Who knows. I gotta imagine police (especially white) are going to be a lot more careful in the usa since their actions are under a microscope right now. Probably lots of resignations. Might be a positive, will have to wait and see.

The real issue in policing in usa is not racism but over militarisation of their police force, a huge percentage of their police force are ex military (Chauvin himself is ex military) who served in their endless wars in ME, lots with PTSD. Plus police forces are buying surplus military equipment and getting trained by military contractors.

That's the real issue, but it's not the "in thing" to talk about right now.

Have you seen the original press release for the George Floyd incident? It says:

"Man Dies After Medical Incident During Police Interaction."

The post begins by saying that Minneapolis Police officers responded to a report of a "forgery in progress," and notes that the suspect "appeared to be under the influence."

"Two officers arrived and located the suspect, a male believed to be in his 40s, in his car. He was ordered to step from his car. After he got out, he physically resisted officers. Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress. Officers called for an ambulance. He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center by ambulance where he died a short time later.

"At no time were weapons of any type used by anyone involved in this incident. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has been called in to investigate this incident at the request of the Minneapolis Police Department.

"No officers were injured in the incident. Body worn cameras were on and activated during this incident."

That was the first story and while it was all "technically" true, it didn't tell the story as witnessed from the video. Without the video, we would have all believed it was a fuss over nothing.

Be very careful about buying into the idea that racism isn't the problem. I'll grant you it's not the only problem, but it is still the main problem

Original poster
TheresAnEyeInMeSoup · 23/04/2021 07:52

Forgive my ignorance, but just exactly why did they restrain George Floyd for so long? Im not specifically referring to the kneeling. When they had him pinned to the ground were they supposed to be holding him their til an ambulance showed up? Is it because he didnt want to go into the police car that they restrained him outside for so long? I dont get what they were 'waiting for'.

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Original poster
TheresAnEyeInMeSoup · 23/04/2021 08:01

There*

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EvilOnion · 23/04/2021 08:28

It was unnecessary restraint.

He refused to get in the car and might have seemed agitated to so they got him on the ground, I assume to ensure their safety and to search for any weapons or incriminating evidence which would have been reasonable force had they cuffed him and gave him time to calm down before doing whatever they had to.

Unfortunately it would also seem that they wanted to make a show because he was a big black guy not doing what he was told.

Shelddd · 23/04/2021 08:43

Racism is not the main problem, white people in usa are killed at same rate by police officers as black people are (when looking at number of police interactions which is the correct metric).

Not saying racism isn't an issue but racism in usa and uk is probably somewhat equal... Yet you don't have anywhere near the amount of problems in uk that you do in usa.

Plexie · 23/04/2021 09:01

I think the 'ease' in convicting Chauvin was due to the amount of film footage of the incident. It was plain to see what happened (and measure how long GF was restrained for). Without that there would have been more dependence on conflicting medical reports to establish cause of death and witness statements where you have to judge whose version is the most reliable.

So I don't think there will be an increase in police prosecutions, or certainly not convictions, unless there is a lot of film footage.

Original poster
TheresAnEyeInMeSoup · 23/04/2021 09:12

He refused to get in the car and might have seemed agitated to so they got him on the ground, I assume to ensure their safety and to search for any weapons or incriminating evidence which would have been reasonable force had they cuffed him and gave him time to calm down before doing whatever they had to.

This is the bit that's gets to me. The full footage when he is outside the shop (i think) they have him in handcuffs and dat down beside a wall. This is after they've managed to get him out of a car IIRC. So he was cuffed at that point. I understand they probably wanted to get him into the police car, but surely when he was cuffed they had time to search him for weapons or anything incriminating. The whole restatinung things seems bizarre given the context. Even if they restrained him without hurting him it seems bizarre because he wasnt trying to run away not was he showing signs of attempting to hurt the police officers.

If they had called an ambulance, I dont get why they couldn't have just kept GF sat by the wall til the paramedic showed up.

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Original poster
TheresAnEyeInMeSoup · 23/04/2021 09:18

Restraining thing*

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Original poster
TheresAnEyeInMeSoup · 23/04/2021 09:21

The Daniel shaver footage too. When he was on the ground being compliant why didnt one officer cuff him then search him for a weapon. The officer was on a power trip, he even said "I'm not here to be tactful or diplomatic" and started barking ridiculous orders, getting more and more aggressive.

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Memedru · 23/04/2021 11:01

I watched a video yesterday, 2 police officers pull up to a McDonald's and approach a car parked up, the black man winds down his window, they ask him to turn the car off and get out, he doesnt a drives off, while he drives off both officers pull out there guns and start firing towards the car, the guy had just pulled out into a busy road, could see people walking and loads of cars!

There first action was to fire there pistols at a car in a busy street, the black man never pulled a gun out!

How no one was killed or injured

EvilOnion · 23/04/2021 11:09

@TheresAnEyeInMeSoup unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?) we'll never understand their reasoning.

They acted on an impulse and killed a man as a result.

Original poster
TheresAnEyeInMeSoup · 23/04/2021 11:28

I'm hoping the tide will turn regarding this. The gun laws are stupid too.

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Roussette · 23/04/2021 19:15

Just posted this elsewhere...

#BREAKING: The DOJ is preparing to charge Former MPD Officer Derek Chauvin for a 2017 attack on a black teenager where he was holding him down with his knee for nearly 17 minutes, as well as ignoring complaints from the teenager that he couldn't breathe, per
@ABC

NiceGerbil · 23/04/2021 19:29

Oh blimey.