The killings both of George Floyd and Daunté Wright were the work of supposedly experienced officers charged with the in-service training of rookies.

I wonder if that role may not have stimulated the urge to impress the rookies with prowess beyond the needs of the moment. In other words, they may have been victims of a childish eagerness to excel in front of an admiring audience. The training of trainers clearly needs to include a reminder to resist that temptation.

This verdict is only the start of what will be a long journey … Crooks and Liars has a thread on the killing of a 16-year-old black girl who’d called them because she was being badly bullied by a group of other girls.

The cops clearly came ready to shoot. Might that not be attributable to their awareness that there are an awful lot of guns out there?

I share Ellen’s unease with regard to gloating over anybody’s misfortune (although it is sometimes awfully hard not to). However, the videos I saw last night felt more like a releasing of unbearable tension. A swooshing of breath expelled from America’s collective lungs. It has, in fact, been so rare to actually see justice delivered in cases of cops killing blacks (Crooks and Liars has a scoreboard that tells it all) that people simply did not dare to trust the system.

People like Gutfield are flailing in the wind that has started to blow towards greater justice for all. And I believe his so-called comedy hour is not doing well, soooooo ….

PS: Caught a glimpse of Ted Williams with Neil Cavuto and was impressed by his ability to push back on the usual Fox(not)News drivel. Calmly but tellingly. F(n)N must have realised that the Sambo-sort wasn’t cutting the ice any more.

Thanks Ellen. Once again, I feel privileged to participate in a small but perfectly formed forum where we feel able to politely disagree and everyone (including the lady-boss) listens and is open to adjusting their opinions as a result.

After listening to the Black ex-cop who confronted Gutfeld (post on the way), I understand better how Blacks feel this is an important milestone, as scooter and John said.

It’s not often that I disagree with you, Ellen, but I have to on this one. The death of George Floyd hit people in many different ways, and black folk in particular reacted with shock, horror, confirmation of their fears, righteous anger and deep depression. To some the verdict is a small victory in a huge war, to others it is personal satisfaction that a malicious sadist got what was coming to him.

However people are moved to express their feelings (short of further violence) is perfectly fine with me. This moment must give every police officer pause – their unquestionable, unaccountable ‘licence to kill’ will never be quite the same.

Ellen, I don’t see it as glee so much as relief and happiness that justice was done in this case. We have seen so many cases where justice was not done, and miscarried completely. People are filled with hope, that lo & behold, the system actually worked. We were all geared up for another acquittal and unrest afterwards. Personally I was not confident of this outcome, and have become extremely cynical of the American justice system that seems to place far more worth on white people’s lives (of which I am one) than persons of color. It shouldn’t be that way, but too often is.

I think he was guilty but as someone who worked as a paralegal for many years, this glee over Chauvin’s conviction and jailing sickens me. It’s a somber moment, as far as I’m concerned.

I am gladdened by this verdict. I hope Chauvin has a long time to reflect on his actions.

It’ll be solitary confinement or, at best, the exclusive company of child rapists and mother-killers for Chauvin now, hopefully for the rest of his natural life. And every police officer in the country will have that precious moment’s doubt before they act. Halle-frigging-lujah.

The judge sounded pleased with the verdict.

WOW.

Fox is already working on Chauvin’s appeal (blaming Rep. Waters and Pres. Biden and decisions by the judge).

But even Leo Terrell is saying Floyd’s death was wrong (even as he’s attacking Waters and Biden. “Nothing is going to please them.”)