Age: 45
Occupation: ex-cop
Last Seen: jail
Bee-otched For: orange is the new blue
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Today at just after 5 p.m. in a courthouse near Minneapolis, history was made.
A white police officer, Derek Chauvin was found guilty of the murder of George Floyd, a black man, last year. He now faces a maximum of 75 years in prison for second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
In other words, Chauvin might not get out of jail until he's 120.
We've all heard the story. Floyd was a man who had a troubled life loaded with drug problems and trying to keep a steady job. After losing his job during the pandemic, he went to Cup Foods, a small grocery store in Minneapolis to buy cigarettes. The clerk looked at the $20 bill he paid with, and it was counterfeit. He called the cops and a crew led by Chauvin came over ASAP. Floyd resisted arrest, and when he fell out of the police cruiser, Chauvin placed his leg over his neck while Floyd yelled "I CAN'T BREATHE!" and also cried out for his late mother.
Nine minutes and twenty-nine seconds later, George Floyd's life on Earth came to an end.
To many, Floyd's death was the straw that broke the camel's back. With the deaths of Floyd, Breonna Taylor and more recently, Daunte Wright, people's overall opinions of the police have crashed into the basement. Of course, it led to rioting and looting, even here in Grand Rapids last Summer.
Some say that because of Floyd's death, it led to a rise in cancel culture. Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, Rastus, the Cream of Wheat guy and other black minstrel mascots were canned. Other races - especially Native Americans - even saw logos and names changed with Land O'Lakes, Mutual of Omaha and Eskimo Pie seeing changes while hell froze over when the Washington Redskins football team changed its name to the simple Washington Football Team. The Cleveland Indians baseball team will change its name in the near future as well.
But another thing is that our love for the men and women in blue have faltered since Floyd's death. But then again, it's nothing new. When George Holliday shot video of cops beating Rodney King in Los Angeles 30 years ago, he started somewhat of a revolution. Over the years, video cameras got smaller and more-affordable. Now, the smartphones that fit in our pockets can shoot video on par with what you see in a cinema.
Thanks to smartphones, we can shoot everything from cute cat videos to, yes, a cop beating up a black person because they're the KKK in a blue outfit. If George Floyd was a white man, yes, he would have been still arrested. But, he wouldn't have a cop kneel on his neck.
After the verdict was read, there wasn't any rioting. Instead, justice was served thanks to brave souls with smartphones taping the atrocity between Floyd and Chauvin. Because of them, we're breathing a little easier.
As for Derek Chauvin, I hope he rots in the worst hell possible for what he did. I hope to God that not all cops are like him and if they are, they'll rot with him.
ACAB, but prove me wrong.
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