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One Person's Opinion
Author: Raine
Date: 04/01/2021 13:08:13
I have been watching the trial of Derek Chauvin. It's triggering. It's upsetting. It has been at some points too much to watch. I purposefully did not view the original viral video of his death last year.
I didn't know that it was a 17-year-old girl who recorded it on Memorial Day 2020. I didn't know she had her 8-year-old cousin with her that day. I didn't know an 18-year-old cashier tended to Mr. Floyd at the convenience store that day. I didn't know an off-duty EMT tried to save his life. I wasn't aware that people all around the incident saw what was happening, filmed it knowing they wanted to do more, but couldn't.
I can't remember all of the witness's names, but I see the faces. They are the truthtellers. They - like the family of George Floyd - were traumatized that horrific day. They witnessed a life snuffed out by the knee of police officer.
What broke me yesterday was watching a 61 year old man break down in tears during his testimony.
Every witness has expressed remorse and guilt. They have expressed a wish that they could have done more to save Mr. Floyd's life. Only one person has not: his name is Derek Chauvin. He willfully murdered a man.
That's not just one person's opinion. I happen to hold it. Justice for the Floyd family, for the witnesses who were also victims of an act of violence, and a nation needs to be served.
& 
Raine
I didn't know that it was a 17-year-old girl who recorded it on Memorial Day 2020. I didn't know she had her 8-year-old cousin with her that day. I didn't know an 18-year-old cashier tended to Mr. Floyd at the convenience store that day. I didn't know an off-duty EMT tried to save his life. I wasn't aware that people all around the incident saw what was happening, filmed it knowing they wanted to do more, but couldn't.
I can't remember all of the witness's names, but I see the faces. They are the truthtellers. They - like the family of George Floyd - were traumatized that horrific day. They witnessed a life snuffed out by the knee of police officer.
What broke me yesterday was watching a 61 year old man break down in tears during his testimony.
The witness, 61-year-old Charles McMillian, was the state’s 11th since the trial began in earnest this week. He described how he was driving by and saw police confronting Floyd ― previous testimony outlined how Floyd had been suspected of using a counterfeit bill ― and decided to stop.
“I’m a nosy person,†McMillian said. He testified that he got out of his car and attempted to persuade Floyd to go with the officers willingly in order to prevent Floyd from being harmed.
Once the incident was over and emergency responders had loaded Floyd into an ambulance, McMillian is shown on body camera footage engaging in a brief conversation with Chauvin in which he said the officer’s method of restraint was unnecessary.
“That’s one person’s opinion,†Chauvin replied. “We had to control this guy because he’s a sizable guy. It looks like he’s probably on something.â€
McMillian had recognized Chauvin because five days earlier, he said, he had told him something he repeats to police officers in the community, saying that at the end of the day, the officers always get to go home safely, but others may not.
"I don't have a mama either" pic.twitter.com/RNS2znYA9D
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 31, 2021
Every witness has expressed remorse and guilt. They have expressed a wish that they could have done more to save Mr. Floyd's life. Only one person has not: his name is Derek Chauvin. He willfully murdered a man.
That's not just one person's opinion. I happen to hold it. Justice for the Floyd family, for the witnesses who were also victims of an act of violence, and a nation needs to be served.
& Raine
