I’m writing this in May 2022
Before I say anything else I must emphasise that I see America as a highly divided society where, although in theory anyone can make something of their lives if they put effort into their education, etc. etc., in practice where you are born, your family situation and your racial heritage, whether caucasian, latino, first nation, asian or black plays a huge part in determining your life’s prospects.
The ripples of BLM are still with us and recent developments have only served to underscore my original thinking that the death of George Floyd was used to stir up racial hatred and violence. The riots and violence that ensued were quite disproportionate to the evnt that they puported to be demonstrating against. It was very much a blue touch paper moment.
However I strongly believe that the ensuing trial was predestined to find the officer guilty of murder, rather than accidental death, manslaughter, death by misadventure, or anyting else. He was in effect scape-goated for the societal sins of America.
This arrest was odd in that the officer’s used minimum violence as the full bodycam footage shows. But the knee on the neck undeniably inevitably caused his death. Throughout the officers are very calm and controlled. Even when they were sure he was dead. No shock. No surprise. It is very strange.
George has committed a crime. When approached by the officers he is, from the get go, clearly under the influence of something. His distressed attitude is bizarre. Also from the very start he resists arrest. Resists and resists and resists. The officers are heard trying to reason with him and treat him kindly and respectfully.
When first approached he is sitting in his own very small car. When they try to put him in the patrol car he complains that he is claustrophobic. He is highly agitated, won’t simply sit down. It is at this point that he starts to complain that he can’t breathe. Now is that an anxiety attack, the effect of the cocktail of drugs in his system, or something else?
He climbs right through the patrol car and out into the road. The officers try to get him back in the car for the second time and in the end give up and get him face down onto the ground. Again he starts “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe“. No knee, no real restraint. He already has a breathing problem.
He starts calling “Mumma“, then says,”my stomach hurts, my neck hurts”. After a couple of minutes he quietens down. It is at this point that out of camera shot one assumes that the officer has his knee on George’s throat. Bystanders are haranging the officers and at least once suggest that George can’t breathe, has stopped resisting arrest, one is heard to say get him up.