A gathering of Black leaders and social justice warriors and friends of George Floyd gathered in Minneapolis to vent their frustrations, speak to the people, organize a plan of attack and reflect on Floyd’s tragic fate at the hands of four Minneapolis police officers.
While Civil Rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong was speaking, she was temporarily interrupted by a reporter who told her about the arrest of police officer Derek Chauvin. Staying on point with the message Armstrong said that arresting one officer is not enough.
That sentiment was reinforced throughout the gathering.
The speakers were flanked by a group of people including former NBA player Stephen Jackson, co-host of All The Smoke podcast, and a distraught “brother” of Floyd. Jackon was wearing a Black hoodie that read: RIP George Floyd.
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Each message was consistent in wanting all four officers arrested, charged, and eventually convicted. Protests have begun in other parts of the country. Reportedly the police have been breaking up gatherings in New York City and there are marches in Houston, Seattle, and the momentum is growing
OFFICER CHAUVIN CHARGED
Chauvin, the crooked cop who had his knee on George Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes, was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. CNN analysts say the charges are appropriate. With the murder charge, prosecutors don’t have to demonstrate intent, just depraved indifference.
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Former Officer Chauvin disregarded the risk and did something so dangerous that you knew murder could occur. The manslaughter charge lends itself to carelessness and a conscious disregard of the risk.
Protests are expected to continue tonight and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has addressed plans for safety.
No Presidential Assurances
The fact that Trump didn’t even mention Minneapolis in a public statement after insinuating that the protesters should be shot in a Tweet and also referring to the protesters as “thugs,” is further damaging to the fragile emotional state of African-Americans.
There has to be some trust for anything to be accomplished, and with Minnesota’s history of violence towards Balck males, the trust was lost long ago.
Said CNN analyst and ESPN Culture columnist LZ Granderson: “what makes it so difficult is knowing that when these things happen there’s a tendency to surround this individual (police) and protect him…the compoundedness of one incident followed by another cover-up that often goes all the way up to the district attorney’s office,” makes Black people untrustworthy of the system.
