Derek Chauvin, the former police officer convicted of the murder of George Floyd, agreed to a guilty plea this week on civil rights charges from the federal government. He is admitting he violated George Floyd’s civil rights on the night he killed Floyd.
I am listening to Season 6 of the Slow Burn podcast right now as they retell the story of the beating of Rodney King and the LA riots back in 1991. Thirty years apart, the problem still persists.
The cops who beat King were caught on video tape and were exonerated. The night Derek Chauvin squeezed the life out of George Floyd, he looked right at cameras pointed directly at him. He looked in a way that could have recalled 30 years of history.
“Go ahead. Film me. I will walk. We always walk.”
I am thankful this time a murdering cop didn’t walk. I’m thankful that this time a video could not be excused.
I am weary that it still takes video evidence. Weary that it took a leaked video to even arrest the men who lynched Ahmaud Arbery. Angry there is no action in the murder of Breonna Taylor.
We are dealing with entrenched systems. Change must come. We must keep pressing in.
Chauvin goes on the record to admit violating George Floyd’s civil rights. We are still dealing with people in very flawed systems. We have to keep working.
Apprentice 2 Jesus 