Floyd Trial - OJ Trial All Over Again
Another big trial started today - I watched the opening statements. The video was compelling.One problem with all of this will be that no matter the outcome, left and right, Republicans and Democrats will turn it once again from a horrible tragedy into another political football. There will be token condolences repeated but it will come down to a racial issue with red and blue taking sides.
Personally, I am not for camera use in trials like this. They turn everyone into a performer. Interviews will follow along with books and huge payments for both. Welcome to America.
If I were a jury member I could not help being influenced by that video. The last three or four minutes (I am guessing) showed that Mr. Floyd was apparently already unconscious - no struggle, in fact no movement at all. Still the knees remained in place. At what point did he actually pass?
During the break one of John King's guests (on CNN - a former police chief) observed that if the attending officers viewed the increasing crowd as a threat then they should have forced Mr. Floyd into a police vehicle and left the scene taking him to a safer place. They did not.
Murder might be difficult to prove but manslaughter sounds plausible. If this is the conviction it will not satisfy anyone in racial minorities. There will be more riots, looting, and injury - probably worse.
At least there were no gloves but in this case the knee fit - all too well.
#thebrewsterblock