George Floyd & The Derek Chauvin Trial
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was brutally murdered as a result of racial profiling done by the Police force of our city. With a knee to the neck for almost nine minutes, Floyd was taken from us too soon, leaving the country in shock and despair. His name has been rightfully displayed across our city and the country (as well as 60 other countries), causing protests that last through today, an endless fight for equality hand in hand with other victims of this detrimental abuse of power from police brutality. After almost a year of grieving and a rollercoaster of emotions, the trial against the inhumane suspect, Derek Chauvin, is here. We at Golden Mag want to give insight into the trial, provide resources and places you can donate, as well as offer suggestions for how to take care of yourself and be there for others throughout this nerve-wracking process. We stand with Floyd, his family, and other victims that could not make it to see the trial, such as Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and hundreds of other innocent lives that deserve to be with us today.
What You Need to Know About the Trial
Chauvin is being charged with manslaughter and second-degree murder. There is also word about a third-degree murder charge, but that is still up in the air.
This trial is going to last about three weeks, and today marks the first day: March 8, 2021.
Chauvin will in fact be present, but the biggest mystery is if he is going to testify or not.
Being that this is one of the biggest modern trials being held at Hennepin County Government Center, there will be National Guard and barricades surrounding the area. Be safe if you plan on being around or near the area.
There are areas designated for protests around the Government Center.
The trial will be televised and live streamed.
Thankfully, legal experts say that this case is in favor against Chauvin, due to the heart wrenching video at the scene. Unfortunately, the cases against the 3 other officers at the scene will be much harder to convict.
How to Take Care of Yourself
This is a hard time for a lot of people, specifically the Black community. Every inch of support is important, and even if you don’t have spare change to donate, there are petitions and you can spread the word and use your voice for those that no longer have one.
If you are going to protest, be COVID-cautious, and make sure that you are being safe, as that comes first. Keep water with you, a charged phone, a mask on, and be aware of your surroundings.
Mental health is important; this trial will be a hard and anxiety-inducing watch, so make sure that you are paying attention to your mental state and taking care of it.
Educate yourself on the subject. False information spreads like wildfire on social media, and this trial is worth knowing the truth about.
Resources to Check Out
Reclaim the Block, Equal Justice Initiative, Color of Change, and the Minnesota Freedom Fund are great resources to donate to if you are able to, and the links are provided below.
George Floyd is a name that will ring throughout the streets of our city and country forever. This trial is vital in the fight against police brutality, inequality, and injustice in the system. We stand with the endless number of victims of this catastrophic abuse and discrimination, and hope that Chauvin gets the highest sentence possible. We will update you all as the trial moves forward, and vow to use our voice as much as we can.