white policemen in Minneapolis, a city in the United States of America. It started like a mild drama that would eventually go away when police responded to a call about a man who allegedly used a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes. Seventeen minutes later, the drama had turned fatal and the man, George Floyd, 46, was pronounced dead in the hands of or is it under the knee of a police officer by name Derek Chauvin.
That was not enough to assuage the justified anger of citizens who felt that Floyd did not deserve to die the way he did for a matter that was alleged to be a mere civil offence. The Justice Department took over the case and two days ago, after almost a year, justice was duly served when Chauvin, 45, was found guilty of second degree unintentional murder, third degree murder and second degree manslaughter. Three other officers were charged with aiding and abetting murder.
Second, the Police department itself did not as much as try to be protective of its officers who had gone beyond the call of duty. They admitted that their officers erred, punished them departmentally by firing them to pave way for an unfettered investigation process. There was no attempt whatsoever to cover-up what was essentially over zealotry on the part of some misguided officers. There was no talk about protecting police image or making unwholesome excuses to justify murder.
Fourth, there was no undue politicisation of what happened in Minneapolis. Yes, there was a racial hue to it but all Americans came out in their numbers, regardless of race, colour or status to condemn the injustice that was done to a man.