A Fair Trial—Right!
In Minneapolis last week jury selection began in the Derek Chauvin case. I want to know how it’s going to be possible to find 16 jurors (12 regular and four alternates) who can be fair and impartial in this case. Chauvin is the Minneapolis police officer accused of killing George Floyd, a Black man who was arrested for allegedly attempting to pass a counterfeit $20 bill in the purchase of cigarettes at a convenience store. After his arrest Floyd was handcuffed and ended up on a street curb where Chauvin, a white police officer, pinned him to the curb by kneeling on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds (Another report says it was seven minutes and 46 seconds.) and 1 minute and 53 seconds after he was dead. During this time Floyd repeatedly said he couldn’t breathe, but Chauvin continued to kneel on him until he ultimately died. Video of the event circulated throughout the major and social media for what seemed like unending days. At this writing six jurors have been seated, but how can anyone who has seen the video of Floyd’s death return anything but a guilty verdict. Chauvin is on trial for second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter, and providing that the jury brings in a guilty verdict, it can select one of the three. The punishments are as follows: second-degree murder—maximum of 40 years in prison; third-degree murder—maximum of 25 years in prison; manslaughter—maximum of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. The trial is set to begin on March 29, and it will be very interesting to see how it’s decided. Predictably the original event spawned a plethora of protests, and I’m sure the trial will ignite many too. Now I recently read where Chauvin pleaded not guilty to the charges. Apparently he hasn’t seen the video.
Is It Enough?
Let’s hope the city of Minneapolis has enough money in its coffers to cover the $27 million the Minneapolis City Council on Friday unanimously voted to award Floyd’s family in the wrongful death civil suit filed against the city. According to the lawyers representing the family, that is “…the largest pre-trial settlement in a civil rights wrongful death case in U.S. history.” Ben Crump, one of the family’s attorney’s, issued the following statement: “George Floyd’s horrific death, witnessed by millions of people around the world, unleashed a deep longing and undeniable demand for justice and change. That the largest pre-trial settlement in a wrongful death case ever would be for the life of a Black man sends a powerful message that Black lives do matter and police brutality against people of color must end.” True, but is that enough? How can you put a dollar amount on a human life? Of course $27 million is a lot of money, but Howard Stern gets $90 million for talking on the radio. Just saying!
First Dogs Gone–Temporarily
Champ and Major, the Bidens’ two German Shepherds, are going to spend some time back in Delaware, where the family home is, after Major was involved in what was described as a “biting incident.” Apparently one of the Secret Service members startled the dog, which subsequently reacted by taking a nip at the person. Last Tuesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, “Champ and Major are still getting acclimated and accustomed to their surroundings and new people. And on Monday the first family’s younger dog, Major, was surprised by an unfamiliar person and reacted in a way that resulted in a minor injury to the individual.” Psaki also said the injury was taken care of by the White House medical staff. At 3 years old Major is the younger of the two dogs (Champ is 13.), and Biden adopted him from an animal shelter in November 2018. According to CNN reporters who talked with some people at the White House, Major appeared to be a bit high strung in that he barked and jumped at members of the security staff. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened at the White House, however. Back in 2008 Barney, former President George W. Bush’s Scottish Terrier, was recorded as he bit a reporter, and former President Barack Obama’s Portuguese Water Dog, Sunny, sampled the flesh of a White House guest in 2017. Although Trump didn’t have any pets with him in the White House, animals living at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. were not at all uncommon. In fact Theodore Roosevelt and his family loved animals so much that during his tenure at the White House his veritable menagerie included a zebra, a parrot, bears, a lion, a hyena, a coyote, rats, and a one-legged rooster. Wouldn’t it have been fun to visit him? That zoo makes Bidens’ two German Shepherds look tame by comparison, and sources have confirmed that despite Major’s incident with the Secret Service, both he and Champ will be returning to the White House soon. That certainly should keep the security department on its toes.
Our Happiness Shot
Yes, my wife and I sallied forth to the Highlands the other day to receive our first shot of the COVID vaccine. And when it was over, we both agreed that it was one of the best shots we’d ever had. All the people involved could not have been nicer and more helpful, and the whole experience was so enjoyable that we can’t wait to go back at the end of the month. What better way to say goodbye to the month of March than by having a great shot. Cheers!
Ponder This:
The future, the present, and the past walked into a bar. Things got a little tense! ~Anonymous
