MN - George Floyd, 46, unarmed, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 *arrests* #2

[Reasonable & Just]

The racial bias/overtones in this situation are what have created such an outrage.

How do we "know" that what these officers did was "racist"? Did they say any racial slurs during the altercation? Is it because their skin color is white, and the victim's skin color was brown, that automatically made the situation "racist"?

What if Chauvin is just an "Equal Opportunity" jerk? And treated all people in his custody with the same callous disregard? Would we have even been made aware of his treatment of Mr. George Floyd, if he had been white? Shrug, just another criminal who was causing trouble.

If there is a trial, expect more marches.

Nope, we don't know. But dehumanization is a huge red flag. And you have to dehumanize someone to be able to do that. The fact that his fellow officers - a rainbow of colors - didn't do anything, may point to intimidation. And his wife is leaving him, too. Racism can definitely be part of a relationship. So, maybe racism. Maybe not. We'll learn more about this guy as time passes. JMO.

 

[kaen]

George Floyd Criminal Past Arrest Timeline/History/Record of Robbery, Baggie, Gun Pregnant and All Details | The Courier Daily



Now my question is who was in that SUV.


JMO​

That person was interviewed with his lawyer when this first blew up. His video is the first that came out showing the initial interactions between Mr. Floyd and the killer new cop. He started filming when he saw the cops roll up. He didn't stick around after he saw the second car because he didn't want to get caught in the middle. I'll see if I can find a link to his interview.

ETA: New video shows beginning of police confrontation that led to George Floyd’s death

In this article is twitter link to the man who filmed the initial contact from his vehicle.

 

[Charlot123]

I don’t care if he was carrying a Hefty bag full of heroin, he did not deserve to die in the street being held down by a cop.

People like to keep pointing out that he had a record. Yeah. He did. Which means he was arrested, charged, convicted, and served time for the crime(s). Via the judicial system and either a judge or a jury. He was out of prison which means he had served his sentence.

Chauvin declared himself judge, jury and executioner.

I agree. You treat no one like this, no human being. It is abnormal, sadistic and dangerous.

If it took marches of protest to restrict chokeholds in some cities of US, then something good came out of it. But too late for Floyd.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Yes. It would be interesting to see his DD-214, discharge paperwork. But usually if they want you gone, no one can tell from the paperwork. But the chokehold makes more sense now, that is a military training indication. Not something provided at POST training.

There is something wrong with that guy, Chauvin.

BBM

And that’s just it. Often the military finds a way to let them go when something just isn’t right with a fella.

 

[Chikkamma]

I guess Floyd should have been more articulate. Instead of gasping "I can't breathe" he should have said: Excuse me officer, you may not realize it at the moment, but the compression of my diaphragm is making it very difficult for me inflate my lungs. Not to mention, the constriction of my carotid artery is also preventing what little oxygen I can acquire from reaching my brain. I feel as if I may shortly suffer from asphyxiation due to the above two facts.

"If you can talk, you can breathe" is shorthand for: I don't care if you're in distress, crybaby. It is also a fallacy, because when people feel like they are having trouble breathing, they skip right to "I can't breathe" as opposed to describing the particular degree of their desperation to get air into their lungs. IMO of course.

Excellent post. Those who continue reciting the “If you can talk, you can breathe” fallacy should read your words.

You can indeed be struggling for air and vocalize at the same time.

 

[Nadi]

Am I imagining it or when the video first came out everyone was shocked and horrified. Pretty much everyone was on the same page, but has time has gone on more and more victim blaming and justification type sentiments seem to be creeping in?

 

[Jax49]

Am I imagining it or when the video first came out everyone was shocked and horrified. Pretty much everyone was on the same page, but has time has gone on more and more victim blaming and justification type sentiments seem to be creeping in?

Not your imagination at all, imho. I've seen it with my RL friends...at first they were horrified. Then too quickly they went to looking for reasons to justify the murder. moo

 

[nightowl1975]

Cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest. When people can't breath, they can't talk. He was also positive for covid-19, and was full of drugs.

Autopsy shows George Floyd had COVID-19, meth & fentanyl in his system

Out of curiosity, your profile says you are a verified expert. What area is your expertise in?

 

[KR72]

People (not pointing at anyone here) all concerned with George Floyd's criminal record but not with Chauvin's 18 complaints against him?

 

[DropthePuck]

Apologies if this has already been shared:

One of the officers charged in George Floyd's killing was hired despite having a criminal record | Daily Mail Online

"Before he joined the force, Business Insider revealed that Lane had racked up a slew of traffic violations and became an officer despite having a criminal record. Lane was convicted of seven charges in total, among them obstructing legal process and one charge of damaging property."

More at link...

 

[Tobiano8th]

i stand with you George Floyd

 

[KR72]

Apologies if this has already been shared:

One of the officers charged in George Floyd's killing was hired despite having a criminal record | Daily Mail Online

"Before he joined the force, Business Insider revealed that Lane had racked up a slew of traffic violations and became an officer despite having a criminal record. Lane was convicted of seven charges in total, among them obstructing legal process and one charge of damaging property."

More at link...

'What was he supposed to do? Tell Chauvin to get off?', said Lane's attorney, Earl

Uh, yes?

 

[mickey2942]

Apologies if this has already been shared:

One of the officers charged in George Floyd's killing was hired despite having a criminal record | Daily Mail Online

"Before he joined the force, Business Insider revealed that Lane had racked up a slew of traffic violations and became an officer despite having a criminal record. Lane was convicted of seven charges in total, among them obstructing legal process and one charge of damaging property."

More at link...

Yes, that would be the same one who had a Grandfather who was a member of the Minneapolis PD.

That guy really needs to toughen up, quickly. He looked like he was crying in his mugshot. Not a good look.

He is angling to get out of this mess. Cooperating, meaning throwing everyone else under the bus. He was still in training.

How screwed up in the Minneapolis PD, when Chauvin is training junior officers?! It is like that movie, "Training Day".

 

[MyBelle]

Am I imagining it or when the video first came out everyone was shocked and horrified. Pretty much everyone was on the same page, but has time has gone on more and more victim blaming and justification type sentiments seem to be creeping in?

More and more video is being released plus the charging complaint has been released so some of us are changing our opinions about the nature of the charges based on the information about Mr. Floyd's intoxication and resisting arrest. I know for a fact police brutality doesn't just happen to black people and it also doesn't happen in a vacuum if other officers are present.

JMO

 

[kaen]

Am I imagining it or when the video first came out everyone was shocked and horrified. Pretty much everyone was on the same page, but has time has gone on more and more victim blaming and justification type sentiments seem to be creeping in?

I see it as well. Under the guise of justice, presumed innocence, or "the whole story" many people go back to their original inclinations and start to dismantle Mr. Floyd's behavior as somehow Mr. Floyd was responsible for the actions that he could not control. Mr. Floyd was imperfect absolutely. Intoxicated/high or not, what happened during those 8 minutes and 42 seconds was murder, plain and simple, no amount of looking at his past criminal history or his BAC on the day he died should take away from it. However, for many, Mr. Floyd's behavior will mitigate the guilt of the true aggressors and killers in this situation. He can't get away from his past but the killer cop can because why? It makes me sadder than sad. It becomes victim blaming but is portrayed as telling a truth that needs to be told. It is spoken from my perspective. Now, can we still call the killers "killers" and get justice for a man who was forced to breathe his last breathe under the knee of a cold-blooded killer, under the weight of two accomplices and under the watchful, murderous eye of man who kept the crowd at bay? Or does Mr. Floyd not deserve justice because he did whatever he did earlier that day while vile human beings are justified in doing the most inhumane things are given a pass or lessened responsibility?

 

[mickey2942]

I am so glad that video evidence is available. Although, video evidence was available for Rodney King, and the officers were not convicted. 30 years ago?

Chauvin is not going to have anyone who is going to stand up for him.

 

[kaen]

I am so glad that video evidence is available. Although, video evidence was available for Rodney King, and the officers were not convicted. 30 years ago?

Chauvin is not going to have anyone who is going to stand up for him.

I hope not the killer will not have some standing for him but I am disheartened at the seeming justification of "force" given Mr. Floyd's history. Is it possible that the killers will be given a complete pass? Probably not. However, Mr. Floyd's past seems to be useful for those who would support LE at most costs. Uggghhh.

 

[kaen]

I am so glad that video evidence is available. Although, video evidence was available for Rodney King, and the officers were not convicted. 30 years ago?

Chauvin is not going to have anyone who is going to stand up for him.

Not convicted in the first trial but convicted in federal court. Given light sentences which were appealed and raised to higher ones. IIRC.

 

[Mandos]

Apologies if this has already been shared:

'What was he supposed to do? Tell Chauvin to get off?', said Lane's attorney, Earl

Uh, yes?

And then Chauvin would've said no, since he's the senior officer on the scene with 20 years of experience and Lane is the rookie cop just off probation. I mean, Lane repeatedly asked if they could turn Floyd over on his side, expressing concern for Floyd's health, and was shut down by Chauvin every time.

It's a similar problem as the one that used to exist in the airline industry. Rookie first officer spots a problem and brings it up with the far more experienced captain and is ignored or shut down, eventually leading to the plane crashing. The Tenerife disaster, the most deadly crash in history, was a direct result of such a dynamic. As a result the airline industry introduced crew resource management. While retaining a command hierarchy, the concept was intended to foster a less authoritarian cockpit culture, where co-pilots were encouraged to question captains if they observed them making mistakes.

Crew resource management - Wikipedia

I think the whole incident, including the interactions of the rookie cops with Chauvin, underlines the dire need for culture change in police departments, including introducing a similar crew resource management system where rookie cops can correct senior officers without them being ignored by their seniors or blacklisted or ostracized by their colleagues afterwards.

 

[mickey2942]

@Mandos good luck with that. It still happens in the airline industry, medical field, and almost every other place of employment.