The first day of the Derek Chauvin trial began yesterday morning at Hennepin County Courthouse, and the proceedings produced dramatic video and first-hand witness accounts of George Floyd's death.
I watched Day 2 as I flew back across this beautiful troubled country, after a stop in Boulder. We are oozing infection and feeling deep dull pain. Souls are shattered coast-to-coast.
This trial is coming at an inopportune time for Mr. Chauvin. Wrongful taking of life demands retribution. And here the evidence comes not just from the recollections of traumatized onlookers, but, by golly, there’s a movie. A 17 year old girl had the presence of mind to keep her phone camera running.
And she had the guts to tell those pussies in blue to stop what they were doing, to get off Mr Floyd’s neck, to check his pulse. Over the nearly 10 minute encounter her fear and frustration turns to anger: her tone and words change. The child realizes what the blue bois don’t: they are killing a helpless handcuffed man. She stands up to injustice and police on the scene in real time.
Defense counsel Eric Nelson continues to misstep, often repeating damaging witness testimony back to them during cross examination. Perhaps he thinks he can dull the impact by repetition. Not this time, counselor.
His impeachment of fire fighter Genevieve Hansen may have made technical points, and the judge had words with her at the end of the day for editorializing. But it’s all for naught. The jury gets it: Ms Hansen and the ones before her were forced to witness the slow strangulation of another human being before their eyes as they went about their usual day, taking a walk, skipping down the sidewalk, buying snacks.
They were not allowed to intervene. Their plaintive wails were ignored. Their pleas were scoffed at. They were not allowed to intervene to save the life of a fellow human being, a neighbor.
There is nowhere for that grievous pain and frustration to go but out. Their spirits are bruised, hearts hammered. There are scenes from that episode that they cannot erase from their memories. They haunt at night.
These folks will never be the same.
Low burning outrage is to expected. Tears from the trauma. And survivor’s guilt.
I was traumatized hearing from four witnesses and watching that video, and that pales in comparison to being at the scene and observing a killing in real time.
As I debarked and headed home I wondered what the State of Minnesota is doing to take care of these brave people who witnessed, recorded, reported and provided evidence against a cop who calmly and viciously killed a man in 9 minutes and 30 seconds.
They need support for post traumatic stress disorder.
As the firefighter/EMT Genevieve Hansen was told by the officer in charge at the scene, if she truly was a Minnesota firefighter she would know better than to question a cop.
If you aren't made physically ill while watching the George Floyd video, then very simply, you are not human.
I watched Day 2 as I flew back across this beautiful troubled country, after a stop in Boulder. We are oozing infection and feeling deep dull pain. Souls are shattered coast-to-coast.
This trial is coming at an inopportune time for Mr. Chauvin. Wrongful taking of life demands retribution. And here the evidence comes not just from the recollections of traumatized onlookers, but, by golly, there’s a movie. A 17 year old girl had the presence of mind to keep her phone camera running.
And she had the guts to tell those pussies in blue to stop what they were doing, to get off Mr Floyd’s neck, to check his pulse. Over the nearly 10 minute encounter her fear and frustration turns to anger: her tone and words change. The child realizes what the blue bois don’t: they are killing a helpless handcuffed man. She stands up to injustice and police on the scene in real time.
Defense counsel Eric Nelson continues to misstep, often repeating damaging witness testimony back to them during cross examination. Perhaps he thinks he can dull the impact by repetition. Not this time, counselor.
His impeachment of fire fighter Genevieve Hansen may have made technical points, and the judge had words with her at the end of the day for editorializing. But it’s all for naught. The jury gets it: Ms Hansen and the ones before her were forced to witness the slow strangulation of another human being before their eyes as they went about their usual day, taking a walk, skipping down the sidewalk, buying snacks.
They were not allowed to intervene. Their plaintive wails were ignored. Their pleas were scoffed at. They were not allowed to intervene to save the life of a fellow human being, a neighbor.
There is nowhere for that grievous pain and frustration to go but out. Their spirits are bruised, hearts hammered. There are scenes from that episode that they cannot erase from their memories. They haunt at night.
These folks will never be the same.
Low burning outrage is to expected. Tears from the trauma. And survivor’s guilt.
I was traumatized hearing from four witnesses and watching that video, and that pales in comparison to being at the scene and observing a killing in real time.
As I debarked and headed home I wondered what the State of Minnesota is doing to take care of these brave people who witnessed, recorded, reported and provided evidence against a cop who calmly and viciously killed a man in 9 minutes and 30 seconds.
They need support for post traumatic stress disorder.
As the firefighter/EMT Genevieve Hansen was told by the officer in charge at the scene, if she truly was a Minnesota firefighter she would know better than to question a cop.
They need 24 hour security too,