cajmonkey
Registered User
- Mar 29, 2014
- 3,541
- 1,162
We are where we are because of the disgusting actions of the police officers, not because of Floyd's past. Once Floyd was restrained, his past became irrelevant. At that point, the show was over and all the officers needed to do was to act professionally. Instead, they just sat there on a subdued man's neck for 400 seconds and allowed him to die, which created this entire shitshow. They had 400 seconds to act professionally, or even humanely, and refused. Nobody's past has anything to do with those crucial minutes when years of training failed four police officers. Or maybe they failed their training. That's where the focus needs to be, not on Floyd, who was just another unspectacular suspect who got in the way.
I disagree that his past actions were irrelevant, violent priors play a role in how cops treat suspects. I would also say that his current actions were also relevant. Both are relevant to how the situation played out, not whether the cop is guilty of murder. We know he's guilty.
I agree that the police ignored his pleas, and it ended in a tragedy. I agree that police training needs to be inspected.