Just saying, a lot of people tend to underestimate how much racism influences people's actions. Here's a quick test, what do you think the guy in the picture I attached does for a living? Stop reading and make a guess.
He's a Professor of Computer Science at Harvard. Definitely not what you had in mind, right? Now here's another guy dressed similarly:
Easier to believe, right? He has the exact same job.
It's little things like this that add up. There's a high chance that Chauvin saw him and instantly thought "here's another black thug, I gotta use maximum force on him blah blah blah". But the fact is, while he did have a shady past, he was actively working to better his community and was definitely turning his life around. Racism doesn't just include calling someone the N-word, there are plenty of micro aggressions black people face daily, and some of them snowball into things like the George Floyd situation.
Think about it, when you see a black person with a gun, what's your first thought? A criminal, maybe?
Compare that to white men posting pictures of themselves with guns, which most people just dismiss as them being "gun enthusiasts/gun rights activist".
People in the police force have these same biases and it leads to black people disproportionately being victims of police brutality.
Derek Chauvin was definitely a racist in addition to the other things you listed.
I don't know what I'd call him beyond murderer !!!
He was a bad cop and got what he deserved.
That said 99% of the cops on the job, do their job and serve the public like they should. There are bad apples in every profession.
I'd also add that virtually every publicized case recently of someone getting killed by police involved someone doing something that was against the law. If you don't want problems with the police, don't do illegal stuff and if you do and the cops find you, don't resist arrest ... it never ends well !!!
@bijouxbroussard I left a comment about that too. When a black person holds a gun they assume they're criminals. But when a white person straps a military grade rifle to their back in public, they say they're just gun enthusiasts. You can't win with them. And the worst part is, these people don't even realize they're being racist.
@bijouxbroussard I really do believe racism was exactly what went behind George Floyd's killing. I can tell you I was eye witness to how police handled a very intoxicated and belligerent family member in my neighborhood. I am certain he could have been shot with the way he was acting. Instead, the cops talked him down so to speak and they never even pulled out handcuffs. These guys cared and it makes me sad that all the George Floyds of the world don't get the same treatment. A lot of these people need help, not incarceration.
@somedude15 It is an example of how pervasive racism is, the way people try to excuse it or find a reason for it [b]not[/b] being what it clearly is. And so the racial divide will continue, unfortunately. 😞
Who knows what is in his heart....but brave of you to say your opinion. There are certain things that people just aren't allowed to say any more. Freedom of speech died a long time ago.
@shannp Fake morality is a common thing in the U.S. now. So many people looking for and hoping to find evil people everywhere....so they they can say "I am not like that." Fake. So transparent.
[image deleted] A memorial to the black people killed by police in the last couple years. Each one has a name and a date and location. It's not complete.
