Do Not Pass Go...

 Good Morning!

In the words of Prince, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called 'Life.'”

And on the anniversary of his death, how appropriate for this post! 

Based on this title, I wonder if you can guess what this post is about?? What I don't want to do is beat you over the head with facts because I know you know what's going on this world, but I just felt so compelled to write and then I found this quote by MLK!

Look at God!

"Justice for black people will not flow into society merely from court decisions nor from fountains of political oratory. Nor will a few token changes quell all the tempestuous yearnings of millions of disadvantaged black people. White America must recognize that justice for black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society. The comfortable, the entrenched, the privileged, cannot continue to tremble at the prospect of change in the status quo."

—Martin Luther King, Jr., “A Testament of Hope”

April 20, 2021 around 3pm CST I was home watching CNN with a terrible headache, but I wanted to see, no maybe I needed to see it, because it was just announced that the jury had reached a verdict  in the case against former police officer Derek Chauvin. The man who killed George Floyd on May 25, 2020.

It was almost 4pm when the judge read off the verdict as rendered by the Jury...

    Count I: Second-Degree Murder; Unintentional killing while committing a felony 

    Count II: Third- Degree Murder; Perpetrating an eminently dangerous act and evincing a depraved mind 

    Count III: Second-Degree Manslaughter; Culpable negligence creating unreasonable risk 

Guilty.

Guilty.

GUILTY!!!

As the judge read off each count and then, "Guilty" I was overcome with emotions which shocked me because I just didn't know how tired I was. How much of a toll this has taken on me and my people. 

But this isn't justice. No. Not, yet. This is accountability. As many have pointed out because George Floyd should still be alive, today!

And I love Big Nancy P, but I do NOT agree with her words when she said that George Floyd sacrificed himself. There is only ONE that I know who sacrificed Himself and that was Jesus.

George Floyd was KILLED! I'm sure he'd be ok with the outcome, but I'm sure he'd be even happier if he wasn't the one lying there with that knee in his neck!

I think Derek Chauvin was almost as shocked as we were when they read off that verdict on the killing of George Floyd. 

But Derek Chauvin definitely pulled the, "Go to jail. Go directly to jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200" card  when the prosecution said that they wanted his bond revoked and for him to remain in custody until hearing (which is in June) Whew!  

Now, what does this mean? He's been convicted on all three counts; Count I is up to 40 years, Count II is up to 25 years, and Count III is up to 10 years.

Well, he will be serving all counts/charges concurrently. Meaning he will serve all three charges at one time. The actual sentences would likely be much lower, though, because Derek Chauvin has no prior convictions. Minnesota's sentencing guidelines recommend about 12.5 years in prison for each murder charge and about four years for the manslaughter charge.

Prosecution is working to make sure the Derek Chauvin serves more than the minimum recommended sentencing time, so we'll have to wait until June to see what the judge rules with that, I personally hope that it more than 15 years. But once they're finished with him, he'll be in prison for the rest of his life. They're bringing federal charges against him, as well. Civil rights charges, so this is just the beginning. 

And as far as the other three officers, well, they'll be on trial in August and charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter with the killing of George Floyd. Together. And the only reason why their trial wasn't going on now is due to COVID-19. August 23rd make sure to tune in!

I don't want to ask how many more black children have to be killed because more will fall; Ma'Kiah Bryant. She was killed shortly after Derek Chauvin was convicted. She was shot 4 times after calling the police FOR HELP! HELLO!?

 What happened to apprehending the suspects? It seems like they're shooting to kill to me!

I don't want us to turn our backs on law enforcement though because there are some out there who have taken that oath to protect and serve seriously! I know that there are good police officers out there. I KNOW good police officers, but when the bad cops are outweighing the good ones, who do we call? Ghostbusters??

May this trial speed up the need to reform the police department. May this trial bring about change in the police academy and training. And may this trail change the hearts of Americans!

Because we are all just trying to get through this thing called, "Life" without being murdered.

I was born black.

I will certainty die black.

BUT I don't want to die because I am black!

Justice begins, now. RIGHT NOW! 

And justice looks like regular traffic stops without having a gun pulled on you. Justice sounds like, shouting, "GET DOWN!" or "PUT YOUR HANDS UP!" without firing off rounds into my chest or my back! Justice looks like seeing our youth getting to grow up without being gunned down for being young and black!

Justice looks like never having to go through another 4-week trial with CLEAR evidence of an officer killing somebody and still having the chance of an acquittal or having no charges brought to them at all. 

We need justice. We deserve justice! 

The time for justice. The time for change is always right now!

Black. 

Lives.

Matter!

And we will continue to be a problem for those who refuse to recognize who we are in this world!

And you'd better hope Darnella Frazier isn't around!

I started with the words of Dr. King and so shall I end, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

 

Without further adieu...

...it IS a pleasure to meet you!