Derek Chauvin trial megathread (SENTENCED TO 22.5 YEARS IN PRISON)

[Calthrina950]

Looks like today is the day.

I caught parts of a CBS News Special Report about the first day of the trial this morning, before I left out for work. Opening statements were delivered today. I'm somewhat surprised that CBS (and presumably other networks) decided to show coverage of that, given that the networks usually aren't interested in such procedural elements. But then again, the George Floyd murder was an event of national and international prominence, and it does feed into the media's need for stories that drive ratings and profits.

[Calthrina950]

Looks like today is the day.

I caught parts of a CBS News Special Report about the first day of the trial this morning, before I left out for work. Opening statements were delivered today. I'm somewhat surprised that CBS (and presumably other networks) decided to show coverage of that, given that the networks usually aren't interested in such procedural elements. But then again, the George Floyd murder was an event of national and international prominence, and it does feed into the media's need for stories that drive ratings and profits.

Sorta like the OJ Simpson trial?

Arguably, yes. However, the OJ Simpson trial took place three years before I was born, so I don't have first-hand experience of watching it on television. But I've watched a number of documentaries about it, and I'm certainly aware of the disproportionate amount of attention it's been given over the past quarter-century.

[Calthrina950]

I'm really scared of the outcome of this trial.  The media and activists have already convicted Chauvin, anything less than life in prison will result in widespread rioting.  A full out not guilty verdict would be disastrous.  I guess on the bright side, it would show a large number of regular Americans how unhinged the left is, especially if this gets better media coverage with less going on.  Republican supermajority in 2022?

Your side literally beat a police officer to death in attempt to steal an election and you are calling the left unhinged? And be quiet about a Republican super majority, because it's not going to happen. The GOP will be lucky if it isn't pushed further into irrelevancy for supporting a terrorist attack on the Capitol.

There are more than two sides to politics in this country.

One side has the backing of half of Congress and it's not the far left.

Stop disingenuously moving the goalposts. You said he was "on the same side" as the capitol rioters. Reaching that conclusion based on his comment requires either making wild assumptions or just deliberately misreading what he wrote.

Moreover, I think it is wrong to assume that the GOP will be pushed into irrelevancy, when the results of this last election, and the response to the events at the Capitol, should provide us ample evidence that it is far from being irrelevant. Next year will give us additional proof to that effect.

[Calthrina950]

Excellent. Hopefully this is a turning point in how we treat police violence and overreach.

Agreed. Guilty on all three counts! George Floyd got the justice which was denied to Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Rodney King, and so many others.

[Calthrina950]

Why did so many people seem to think he'd actually get off? This jury was taken from one of the bluest places in the country; this isn't like past trials like this, they had video evidence. Unsurprising.

Because of the prior history of these trials (or non-trials, in the cases of those who weren't charged). If it weren't for the videotape of Floyd's death, Chauvin would have been acquitted.

[Calthrina950]

Excellent. Hopefully this is a turning point in how we treat police violence and overreach.

Agreed. Guilty on all three counts! George Floyd got the justice which was denied to Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Rodney King, and so many others.

In this case there were a plenty of videos from different angles with audio.

I've said that. That doesn't change the thrust or meaning of what I said here.

[Calthrina950]

Well, I guess I was wrong. Pleasantly surprised.

Red MA avatar doomers being wrong? Since when has that been surprising???

I wouldn't mock him. Given the prior history of these cases, pessimism was warranted. Thank God that we got the outcome we did.

[Calthrina950]

Keith Ellison is giving remarks on the verdict. He certainly has been vindicated now, as he was the one who determined the charges that were to be laid against Chauvin.

[Calthrina950]

Absolutely disgusting. George Floyd was not your magic negro.

What in the world does this mean?

A "kindly" black person who steps forward to help a white person or "enlighten" society. It is an odious and degrading stereotype, one of many that blacks have faced in popular culture over the centuries.

[Calthrina950]

Looks like he will not be released until late 2043/early 2044 when he is 67/68 years of age.

Chauvin is also facing federal charges, so it could be even later than that. But this seems to be the most logical release date. The Floyd family didn't get the maximum sentence that they had hoped for, but considering how few police officers are held to account for these kinds of crimes, this is a tough sentence.