The trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s May 25, 2020, death is entering its second week. The first week of emotional testimony came from eyewitnesses—and the disturbing video of Floyd’s arrest from police body cameras. Experts expect this week to focus on police training and help answer the question of whether officers were following proper procedure.
Derek Chauvin, 45, is charged with murder and manslaughter. (See “George Floyd Protests.”) Chauvin, who is white, is accused of pinning his knee on the 46-year-old black man’s neck for over nine minutes as Floyd lay face-down in handcuffs outside a corner market.
Prosecutors say Chauvin’s knee killed Floyd. The defense argues that Chauvin did what he was trained to do and that Floyd’s use of drugs and underlying health conditions caused his death.
Multiple bystanders captured Floyd’s treatment by police on video. The scenes sparked protests that rocked Minneapolis and spread to other U.S. cities and beyond. Those videos, plus officers’ body-camera video and previously unseen eyewitness footage, came together to form a big part of the first week of trial.
Police Chief Medaria Arradondo will likely testify this week. Arradondo, the city’s first black chief, fired Chauvin and three other officers the day after Floyd’s death. In June, he called the incident “murder.”
“Mr. George Floyd’s tragic death was not due to a lack of training,” Arradondo said at the time. “Chauvin knew what he was doing.”
Soon after Floyd’s death, Minneapolis moved to ban police chokeholds and neck restraints. Arradondo and Mayor Jacob Frey have also made several policy changes, including expanding rules for reporting use-of-force incidents and documenting attempts to de-escalate situations.
Prosecutors intend to build the case that Chauvin improperly restrained Floyd. A duty sergeant and a lieutenant who leads the homicide division both questioned Chauvin’s actions.
“Totally unnecessary,” Lt. Richard Zimmerman, the longest-tenured officer on the force, testified Friday. He said once Floyd was handcuffed, he saw “no reason for why the officers felt they were in danger, if that’s what they felt.” He went on, “And that’s what they would have to feel to be able to use that kind of force.”
Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson peppered Zimmerman with questions about the threat a handcuffed suspect might still pose. Nelson has also suggested that bystanders shouting at police might have distracted them from Floyd and made them feel threatened.
Jurors heard several days of testimony from bystanders. Some choked up as they recalled feeling powerless to help Floyd. Some also expressed feeling guilt over his death.
The trial has been a horrifying reminder of human fallenness. Many people are following the proceedings closely. Some worry the outcome will not fit the crime. For others, the trial has been too much to bear. Eyewitness Kyra Walker says she had to tune out and shut down Twitter one day. “I had a moment where I just felt broken,” she says. “I realized I just didn’t have it in me to watch all this.”
(Steven Thompson poses for a picture next to a poster of George Floyd in Los Angeles Friday, April 2, 2021. Thompson is choosing not to watch the televised trial because of an underlying dread of how the trial will play out. AP/Damian Dovarganes)
@Christian B
You are the most insensitive person I have ever talked to. You didn't listen to what Aryelle said and you still have the audacity to say that?! You are a very foolish debater, you just say whatever you want AND IGNORE PROVEN FACTS! I have tried to be nice and understanding of you but you took it too far in your response to Aryelle, I lost almost all respect I had for you today. You claim to care about African-Americans but as soon as one disagrees with you and says that what you and blm do doesn't help them in any way you don't listen because it doesn't fit your narrative. If you really cared about African-Americans you would have listened to Aryelle.
@Christian B
I side and totally agree with what Asher just said. You are being totally ridiculous, cold-hearted, and doing exactly what this website says not to do, attack HER and not just her ideas. what in the world do you think the Civil War was for? Just to kill fellow Americans!??!?!?!?!? Come on man! Her skin is brown and I am sure she is proud of it. Black people can be so much fun! And I don't care what everyone says, I KNOW that everyone is equal and I treat them that way. God will deliver final judgement in the end, and let me tell you right now, He will judge you too, as well as every word you say on here. I think you should apologize to at least Aryelle, if not some of the rest of us. Asher, I give you right to put a very fiery comment on here! I sure am! This is not the first time Chrisrian has been very mean to Aryelle.
honestly
no i wont reallly I wont idc what u ppl wanna say bc no matter what I say it wont matter
@Christian B
im sorry for calling you a pea-sized brain(even though it's true) but I'm not sorry for anything else I said
@ARYELLE D
no ur not
ummm
im a she by the way...
@Christian B
ok if that's what you think.
in your words "IDC"
@Riley D
Was that firey enough for you?
Yikes.
This went down fast. What I am about to say is not meant to offend.
Aryelle and Christian, y'all were both harsh. Aryelle, I understand your frustration, but in an argument, the LAST thing you want to do is show your anger. It shuts the other person down.
Christian, Aryelle was wrong, but Asher is right. You don't try to listen to people if they agree with you. We try to hear your side of the argument, but you don't listen or respond directly to what we say.
Let's try to be kind and civilized.
@ASHER E
8|
That wasn't helpful. You just told him what to do. Like David P did and you argued about it. I get that you're mad, but this isn't being a good example.
Also, what color hair do you have? I'm trying to imagine what you look like when you're mad.
@Addie L
I apologized, Christian just doesn't care
Also, I was thinking about what Color ashers hair was too like I literally said to my sister ("i wonder if Asher has black hair"
I'll apologize again.
Christian, I'm sorry...
but you also need to apologize
@Addie L
I have light brown hair but I usually have a hat on. Right now it is my MAGA hat.
Yeah, that was not the best thing to say and I apologize to Christian for that. I have been holding in a lot of frustration with that kid and what he said to Aryelle made me lose self-control. I will do better in the future. I still hold my position that he should apologize to Aryelle though.
AWWWW
Great Addie, you now have us all apologizing to each other,
thank you Asher for backing me up, it warms my heart :-)
@Addie L
Well, I guess I still kept some self-control because I stopped myself from saying a few things that I would like to have said because they would have violated the rules.
@Asher E
you have my sister fangirling on you hard ( that's Ary D)
oop
My sis is a troll, she has been watching the comments on my computer with me as I type angrily (and now she comments the most ridiculous thing ever)
@Aryelle D
I hate to see someone attacked wrongfully like that so it was my second nature to back you up like that. Your comment about my firey attitude warmed my heart too.
oop
ashelle
@Cheylyn D
I am assuming that you are the older sister?
best teen debate duo
best teen debate duo
lol
yes
@Cheylyn D
Ok that last comment was too far.
@Aryelle D
No, it is just the classic older sibling sense of humor. I find it hilarious because I am an oldest sibling.
IMMM BAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!
the last time i commented was when the voting was happening.
Stupidest stuff ever
@Asher E
no she is legit like this all the time,there is noooooooo brake for her....
hehe
nope there isnt
@Aryelle D
That's how it is when you are an older sibling. No breaks.
PREACH
AMEN BROTHER
@Cheylyn D
I know, right
@Asher E
you're supposed to be on my side, man! this is utterly ridiculous!
useless fact
im not the only the oldest sibling...
I'm the oldest cousin
DUN DUN DUUUUUUN!!!!!!
@Aryelle D
This will be my last comment for a bit. I am on your side but I also understand and respect the ways of the oldest sibling being one myself. Neither of you is wrong or right so there is really no way to pick a side in this circumstance.
@Christian B
Woah. Christian, I want to say, sincerely, that not all people think they are superior to blacks. No one, I repeat NO ONE that I count as a friend thinks that. I don't think that. I am almost 100% sure that everyone on this site thinks everyone is equal, no matter their colour. The people who had slaves? They were twisted, horrible people. But even then, there were some who knew it was wrong and tried to stop it. I have never seen a movie of heard a radio drama where the slavers were the "good guys".
Now. If you don't care about what we think, THEY WHY DO YOU KEEP POSTING COMMENTS ABOUT IT. PLEASE. No one really wants to hear how little you care.
I think Aryelle D is really sorry for calling you a pea brain. Saying "no ur not" isn't very sportsmanlike.
Also, SAYING SHUT UP TO SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW IS OUTSTANDINGLY RUDE.
I am honestly beginning to not care what you have to say.
Oh wow y'all...
In a matter of minutes this thing gets idk 20 some comments.... aye aye aye XD
I have more freedom to say this than some of you, since I'm of oriental heritage 100%.
There was NO WAY slavery could have been abolished when the Founding Fathers were creating the rules for USA. They were split between the choice, and if they didn't let it go, USA would have been long gone.
Just saying, when I was a little kiddo, I called African Americans "Dark-brown skinned ppl". Rude as it sounds, that's not a far cry from truth. No offense. I have a hard time understanding why ppl get so upset with slaves. Research the wellfare act by President Johnson. That's why most African Americans have no inheritance.
Why do most Asians not have a hard time? Why do they live in nice houses etc?
They worked for it. An important part of our culture. My grandfather, upon coming to US, worked over 16 hours.
If you want more info, google Kathy Barnette, the mother of one of my friends, and ask her.
*sigh of relief*
Glad to see that in the space it took me to eat lunch things are going better. I would only like to say that telling someone that they need to apologize is the #1 way to get them to NOT want to apologize.
Cheylyn, you're cutting it close! XD Don't make them turn against each other just when everybody's feeling better! (I get the point, though, even if I disagree with it. XD)
I'm the oldest sibling too.
Asher, you're in a dangerous spot...
@ Family P
You're interesting me on how easily you seem to dismantle rude comments. How do you do it? And to back you up, I don't think I'm superior to any African American. In fact, when I was little, I played with them A LOT! A ton of Hispanics too. We'd have a blast together, WITHOUT KNOWING HISTORY SO WE'D THINK DIFFERENTLY. That's the best about being a little innocent.
@Addie L
I'm the youngest in my family, so I get a ton of knowledge and things at the dinner table. Also from other ppl.
oop
I was kidding about the sides thing
@ Everyone
I can't like BLM in the fact they're trying to kill off the police. My life was saved by the police.
My father was a child abuser. He hurt my mother, and if the cops hadn't come charging in I would have died. For sure. I was a premature baby.
@Addie L
I wasn't doing something malicious
that's just how my sister thinks
I couldn't care less about who is on my side...
unless it involves politics and racial problems
but anyway...back to the
but anyway...back to the subject at hand which is..................................
A POLICE OFFICER GETTING TRIED FOR DOING HIS JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hmph
I bet you wouldn't say that if we were face to face. Cause I'm a scary African-American teen when something racist is said to me.
@Christian B
That is a smack in the face worthy offense
so am i
lol
idc
ima say whatever tf i want idc where or to who
TBH
im actually offended that you would not only harass me with your mean comments, but you would also DARE target my sis, that's a death penalty
and also
You're just salty your name is Christian not Asher, girls go crazy for a guy whose name is Asher
@Christian B
You're just salty that you aren't smart enough to come up with any half-decent roasts yourself.
@Asher E
imagine ASHER i thought u were a girl oof. i mean ASHER..... dang
@Asher E
imma roast king bro just not here on wrldteen
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