The death of ex-convict and drug addict George Floyd last summer in Minneapolis set off protests and riots across the country.
Cities burned and liberal media newsrooms cheered; black power fists popped up all over and white folks decided they suddenly cared so much about racial justice.
For the rest of us (who were suffering under endless COVID restrictions and having our livelihoods crushed by lockdowns), adding in the danger of being randomly mugged or having your business burned wasn’t quite so inspiring.
Watching white liberal politicians (who’d ordered us all to say home) go out and march around with their fists in the air supporting looters and criminals didn’t give us warm fuzzy feelings, like it did for Rachel Maddow and Anderson Cooper.
In fact, it was straight-up bull-crap.
Now, the officer who kneeled on Floyd’s neck is going to jail; we’re supposed to believe this is some kind of resolution to the disturbing psychodrama and race war that the media tried its best to stir up.
Chauvin Gets Two Decades Behind Bars
Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin has been sentenced to 22.5 years in jail after being found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death.
None of his colleagues came to speak in Chauvin’s defense, with only his mom calling him “selfless,” and he’d had a history of repeated unjustified use of force. Just remember, we’re all supposed to believe his behavior is common and that most cops are racist.
Chauvin had 17 prior instances of using excessive force.
— NotSpaceMonkie (@Spacemonkie_42) June 26, 2021
Chauvin gave a statement at the sentencing, saying that he’s sorry for the Floyd family but stopping short of admitting what he’d done.
Prosecutors wanted 30 years, but 45-year-old Chauvin ultimately only got 22.5. It’s still one of the biggest sentences handed out to a cop for a killing. In fact, the standard for guilt on his charges was 12.5 years, but the judge in the case – a man by the name of Peter Cahill – said Chauvin deserves more time because of his “particular cruelty” in the murder.
Assuming he behaves decently in jail, Chauvin will be eligible for parole after around 15 years.
Floyd’s Family Reacts
Floyd’s family had hoped for a bigger sentence, but their lawyer Ben Crump said it was still at least some “accountability.” However Crump added that black Americans still “fear being killed by police,” so that means the overall systemic nature of the problem hasn’t gone away.
As Floyd’s sentence was handed down a crowd outside clapped.
Chauvin didn’t have much reaction on being taken to jail.
"It is particularly bad to commit a crime in front of children."
Lead prosecutor speaks at Chauvin sentencing: "The typical second-degree unintentional murder doesn't involve children standing feet away watching a 9 1/2 minute suffocation of a man begging for his life." pic.twitter.com/zVBzZJDBq9
— ABC News (@ABC) June 25, 2021
What’s Next?
Chauvin has been in Oak Park Heights max-security jail since his arrest in Floyd’s death. He’s been in isolation so that he won’t be murdered by other inmates.
As for the three other cops who were with him during the Floyd arrest and death, they go on trial early next year; they will also face manslaughter charges, as well as eventually be brought up on additional federal charges along with Chauvin.
