May 26, 2020 a guy named George Floyd was at a convenience store and handed the cashier a fake $50 bill. During the subsequent police interaction it appeared that he took a drug while in his car. Once he was taken out of the car there were issues. He then started freaking out because the police were trying to put him in the back of the police car. Between the drugs and his anxiety he ended up on the ground. 3 officer’s had to hold him down. One officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt at his neck area with his knee on his neck. Video shot of the incident showed Mr. Floyd stating he couldn’t breath several times. Officer Chauvin remained on his neck area for over 9 minutes. Mr. Floyd lost his life that day.
This caused weeks and months of protests along with violent riots. Looting, burning of buildings, harassment of police and a divide in this country that I have never witnessed in my 53 years of life. The media continues to fuel the division. No matter what happens it is always the person resisting arrest who is the innocent one and the police officer(s) who are the criminals.
Today was the verdict reading in Officer Chauvin’s trial. He was charged with 2nd degree murder without intent, 3rd degree murder and manslaughter. He was convicted of all three crimes.
So, the title of this post is that no one wins in this verdict. George Floyd was not a martyr. He was a lost man who had made terrible choices in his past and the day he chose to try to use a fake bill he chose to make one more terrible choice by ingesting drugs then not being able to control his reaction to being arrested. Derek Chauvin made a terrible choice by trying to control a subject with his knee on his neck for way too long. One man lost his life that day and one man lost everything he had worked for and will now spend years in prison. With the hatred and anger that has risen up over the last year, who knows if Officer Chauvin will even make it out of prison.
The problem with this entire thing is that groups of people have put George Floyd on a pedestal. He was laid to rest in a gold casket. He had 3 memorial services. No one was willing to lay any blame on him. Subsequent rioting left innocent people dead. Crime has risen in major cities to the likes we haven’t seen in years because police are being told to stand down or they are weary about using any type of force to arrest a person. Also, criminals are getting slaps on the wrist. Groups of celebrities and sports people and politicians are paying bail for these criminals. Then they go right back out on the street and do the same or worse because they have no fear of any consequences.
There have been other shooting deaths over the last year. Most were justified but everyone is quick to blame the police and no one wants to blame the person who is defying police directives or resisting arrest or running from the police. No one wants to take blame for their actions. It is heartbreaking.
Tonight, even though the George Floyd supporters got the verdict they wanted, there will most likely be rioting, looting and hatred aimed at the police. It breaks my heart. We have politicians advocating for rioting and confrontation. We have the “President” of the United States calling George Floyds family and telling them he hopes that the right verdict is reached.
What Derek Chauvin did was not right. He deserves to have consequences rendered against him but was he given a truly fair trial? How were they able to find 12 men and women that had never heard of this incident or had no bias?
I know this blog is supposed to be about losing weight. But, the emotional part is a very major part of dealing with weight loss. The things happening in America right now have caused so much stress and fear to build up. Sometimes you just have to blog about it to release those emotions.
George Floyd didn’t need to die. Derek Chauvin didn’t need to be convicted of a crime. Police officer’s should be able to do their job. Everyone should be able to be stopped by the police, and police should not have to expect a person to try to fight them or flee a scene.
Do I know the answer’s? No. All I know is that God has been so far removed from America that people are letting satan rule their lives and decisions. God will win. He has not gone anywhere and when it is his time he will be step in and show his power and glory.
In the mean time I will just pray for our country and pray for eyes to be open and ears to hear the truth. God’s word!!!
Weight Goes Bye 