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Outside the Hennepin County Government Center on March 31, 2021, in Minneapolis, Minn. (Kerem Yucel / AFP via Getty Images)

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The phrase Black Lives Matter hasnt cropped up frequently during the actual trial of police officer Derek Chauvin, who is facing manslaughter, second-degree murder, and third-degree murder charges over the death of George Floyd. But in many ways, the proceedings at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis mark a subtle sea change in how racial biases are treated in the courtroom, and show the profound impact that a year of protests challenging the police violence that Black people disproportionately face has wrought on the American legal system.

I am a scholar of juries, and my research has focused on the way citizens develop an acute understanding of their civic power when they serve on juries. Ive paid close attention to the Black Panther trials of the 1970s, the Central Park Five trials, the trial of George Zimmerman for the killing of Trayvon Martin, and recent cases in which Black Lives Matter has come up in jury selection. So seeing the ways in which racial bias has been approached during the Chauvin trial jury selection, and judging from the testimony of key witnessesduring a trial of a police officer no lessIve taken away a sense that something new is happening in this courtroom.

In many ways, the shifts are easy to see across our political culture. A Pew Research Group Study conducted in September of 2020 found that 55 percent of Americans supported the BLM movement, a slim but notable majority in a country not historically welcoming to racial justice movements. Democratic candidates for president addressed the protests for Black lives on the campaign trail, and President Joe Biden has already committed to expanding the powers of the Department of Justice to address systemic misconduct in police departments.

During jury selection for the Chauvin trial itself, all potential jurors were asked about their view of Black Lives Matter and the responses were strongly positive. More importantly, it was not unusual to hear jurors state plainly that they thought that Blacks and whites were not treated equally under the law. Rather than using these responses as a basis for dismissal, Judge Peter Cahill found them, in conjunction with other answers about the jurors willingness to respect the norms of the trial, to be consistent with the constitutional protection for the defendant of a fair and impartial jury. While both sides are allotted a certain number of peremptory strikes to dismiss any jurors who they think will not be favorable for their side and this was used by the defense against some potential jurors of color, the judges bar for qualified jurors set the tone in the courtroom. Put simply, he did not see support for BLM as an ideological position at odds with the responsibilities of being a juror. In fact, he seemed sympathetic to potential jurors who were distraught at how George Floyds death fit a pattern of abuse by the police. While he guides jurors to focus on the evidence presented in the courtroom and not on the media coverage of the incident, he also says they should use their judgment and common sense when deliberating to reach a verdictthese are attributes of the jurors worldviews that might be strongly influenced by the concerns of the BLM movement.

Its important to emphasize how unusual this is. In the past, judges have treated Black Lives Matter as an extremist group that condones the destruction of property (People v. Silas, California), or treated even thoughtful reflections by a juror on the pattern of police violence as a worrisome sign for the jurors ability to be impartial (State v Holmes, Connecticut).

During the Chauvin trial, Genevieve Hansen, the firefighter who desperately tried to assist the officers by volunteering to take Floyds pulse, seemed to have the history of police killings at the front of her mind when she approached the scene. Not only was she, a white woman, motivated to help Floyd because she recognized how acutely vulnerable he was in the moment, but she testified that she remained at the scene because she was worried what might happen to the Black witnesses when they interacted with the officers who remained in the area.

Some of the most startling testimony so farnot for its content but for its sourcehas come from Medaria Arradondo, chief of the Minneapolis Police Department. It is quite rare for a police chief to testify against an officer on their force; more often, department chiefs can fall back on the standard defense that an officer perceived a threat and acted accordingly, or was putting public safety above all other concerns. But Arradondo didnt take those tacksinstead, the movement for Black Lives provided an alternative compelling narrative that the chief was able to access. When asked what professional policing means, Arradondo responded, Its really about treating people with dignity and respect, above all else, at the highest level. Its that we see each other as necessary, we value one another and its really treating people with the dignity and respect they deserve. Platitudes, sure, but coming from Arradondo, who himself is Black and once sued the MPD for discrimination, these words had a different impact in the courtroom. By invoking respect and dignity repeatedly, the very qualities that Black Lives Matter supporters say is fatally lacking in police dealings with Black Americans, his testimony revealed how the ethos of the movement has subtly pervaded the trial.Current Issue

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Compelling evidence of this influence came when the prosecution showed the jury footage from the officers body cameras of when the officers first appeared on the scene to investigate the counterfeit $20 bill. The jury saw an officer approach Floyds car with pistol drawn, pointing it at Floyds head in the drivers seat. In the video, Floyd begs, Please dont shoot me over and over again. As a country, having watched the footage of Philando Castile, killed by another Minnesota police officer in 2016, or of Rayshard Brooks, shot in the back by an Atlanta officer last year, or of Walter Scott, shot as he ran away from a North Charleston officer in South Carolina in 2015, I dont question Floyds fear. The recent killing of Daunte Wright in his car by a police officer, apparently the result of a mix-up between a Taser and a Glock, shows just how present this reality is for Black Americans.

This cycle of the viral video showing black death, the outrage that follows, and the apparent return to the status quo in policing is exhausting for all and traumatic for many Black Americans, who do not want to expose themselves (and their children) to such devastating material again and again. Yet one implication of this cycle is that many people on their way into Cup Foods were concerned enough to stop and pay attention. Some of them recorded what was taking place. Others, like Charles McMillan, tried to de-escalate the situation and advocate, not solely on George Floyds behalf, but on behalf of the community that the police are commissioned to serve. There was something devastating in watching McMillan, a Black man and an elder to Floyd, counseling him to acquiesce to the commands of the police, despite knowing the many ways such custody could go wrong. Even when Donald Williams, another bystander, beseeched and heckled Chauvin as he knelt on Floyds neckYoure a bum, bruhwhich the defense tried to paint as a volatile threat to the officers safety, Williams was ultimately deferential and focused on the issue at hand. On the stand, Chief Arradonda said that officers receive training that makes explicit the right of bystanders to film the police discharging their duties and that this transparency is necessary for accountability and trust. That the bystanders all did as much as they could to voice their concern, and that it had no impact on the outcome, reveals the stark reality of what can happen when the police are the only ones who have the authority to use force.

Taken together, these telling moments of the trial suggest a new normal when it comes to the publics expectation for justice in police killings. An awareness of the patterns of racial violence at the hands of the police has pervaded American public life in a way that is unprecedented. What has been obvious to many Black Americans and racial justice activists for a long time is now obvious to many more. There is no going back.

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How BLM Is Subtly Shaping the Chauvin Trial - The Nation

The televised trial of Derek Chauvin is yet another mental anguish for the Black men in this country. The videos played during the court proceedings included George Floyds last minutes of his life as he struggled under Chauvins knee. Every Black American that gathered the courage to watch this trial felt the traumatizing fear and horror of being killed by the men who are sworn to protect us. How do you not sob and hold back tears as you watch witnesses testify about their experiences watching Floyd cry for his breath?

Footage played during the trial shows Floyd inside a local store before he was murdered. With this in mind, Black Americans who watched these videos will never walk into stores feeling safe ever again. It is a daily reminder of the violence and brutality every Black man and woman in this country can expect to encounter at the hands of law enforcement: Floyds murder was captured on film and witnesses testified yet the officers guilt is still up for debate.

The trial reminds many Black Americans of the 1991 Rodney King episode. Four police officers were filmed beating King within an inch of his life. Yet the officers were acquitted. What does justice even mean when history shows police officers can get away with such murder?

Remember Trayvon Martin? Justice was denied to the 17-year-old Martin when, after three weeks of testimony, George Zimmerman, his killer, was acquitted. Then there was Eric Garner, who also died at the hands of the police. His killer, Officer Daniel Pantaleo, only lost his job. He is walking around freely today.

In several Black deaths, justice was never done; officers accountable for the deaths were not held accountable. This is why the Chauvin trial is critical to the ways Black Americans will see justice in a country they call home.

It is hard to avoid seeing the footage presented at the trial; it leaves trails of trauma in Black communities. You can see this in the everyday lives of Black people.

In our state of Maine, there is a growing sense of fear. When Black men travel from Portland to Lewiston or Boston, they have to inform their families about their whereabouts, and they check on each other quite often to make sure everything is OK and that they are not dead. Even sometimes a phone call from the family member who is traveling can bring back trauma to the family member answering the calls.

As the weather warms, the question is, will Black people again enjoy a safe summer outdoors? The usual activities, such as biking, running and even shopping at the grocery, may never feel the same for any Black person who is following the trial of Derek Chauvin.

To the Black immigrants, including myself, this does not look like the America that presented itself as a safe place to escape from persecution and death from our countries of origin. The main reason the Maine Blacks emigrated from their countries was safety for themselves and their families. Now, the question is: If the killings of Black people continue, where else do we go to feel safe and thrive as a community?

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Through My Lens: Black mental health and the Derek Chauvin trial - pressherald.com

In a campus-wide email sent out on Wednesday, April 14, the UC San Diego Office of the Chancellor provided major updates to the commencement ceremonies that are slated to take place on Saturday, June 12 and Sunday, June 13. Graduates will now have the option to attend the ceremonies in-person on RIMAC field, as opposed to having a fully virtual event. UCSD also announced that Black Lives Matter Global Network co-founder and UCSD alumna Alicia Garza will be addressing graduates at the ceremonies.

The statement noted that graduating students will now have the option of attending commencement ceremonies in-person, with no more than two guests. All attendees must be either fully vaccinated or have had a negative COVID-19 test within 24 to 72 hours prior to the ceremony. Participants must also complete a symptom screener upon entry. UCSD said the event will follow health and safety measures as recommended by the Center for Disease Control, as well as state and county guidelines for travel and gatherings.

Commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed for graduates who are unable to participate in-person. Each undergraduate college as well as the Graduate Division, Rady School of Management and the School of Global Policy and Strategy, will have separate ceremonies. All events will reflect the culture of each college and will include an address from Chancellor Pradeep Khosla, Garza, and a student speaker.

Due to the pandemic, UCSD held a virtual commencement ceremony in June 2020. Students who graduated as part of the UCSD class of 2020 are not eligible to participate in the commencement ceremonies this summer. UCSD has promised that there will be opportunities to celebrate 2020 graduates at future alumni events.

In response, a number of UCSD graduates from the class of 2020 expressed their frustrations with the announcement. At the time of publication of this article, over 240 people have signed onto a petition calling for UCSD to plan an in-person commencement ceremony for these former students.

In an email sent out to UCSD class of 2020 alumni on Friday, April 16, UCSD announced its new plan to hold a graduation ceremony for these former students in October 2021.

The graduates of the Class of 2020 deserve in-person recognition of their academic achievements, the statement read. We are committed to celebrating you and your fellow classmates at a dedicated Class of 2020 Graduation Celebration in October. In the fall, we anticipate reaching a critical mass of fully vaccinated individuals throughout the region and across the country. A greatly improved public health climate will allow state and county agencies to permit larger, more traditional gatherings.

UCSD said that further details on the October celebration will be offered in the coming weeks.

Other University of California schools, such as UC Berkeley and UC Riverside, recently announced that they would be having in-person graduation ceremonies. However, no guests will be allowed and ceremonies will be spread out over a few days to minimize exposure.

Commencement speaker Alicia Garza founded the Black Lives Matter hashtag along with co-founders Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the murder of Trayvon Martin in July of 2013. The Black Lives Matter movement gained further attention for its role in galvanizing widespread protests in response to the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020.

Garza graduated from UCSD in 2002 with a degree in anthropology and sociology and was recently featured at the Grassroots Activism and Politics event hosted by the UC San Diego Associated Students Office of External Affairs and the UCSD Department of Political Science back in February.

As an influential activist, social innovator and the co-founder of one of the largest civil rights movements in history, Ms. Garza believes Black communities deserve what all communities deserveto be powerful in every aspect of their lives, the statement read. Her remarks will surely inspire the more than 8,000 graduates and their families, along with the 10,000 audience members we expect to join us online.

Graduating students are encouraged to register for commencement by Wednesday, May 19. The UCSD Guardian will provide further updates on class of 2020 commencement plans as it becomes available.

Photo taken by Erik Jepsen for UC San Diego

This article was updated on 4/16 at 12:27PM to reflect new information that UCSD plans to hold a celebration for class of 2020 students in October 2021.

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UCSD to Allow In-Person Commencement Ceremonies, Announces BLM Co-Founder as Speaker - The UCSD Guardian Online

The ongoing trial of a former Minnesota police officer charged in the death of George Floyd last year has the attention of people here in Floyd's birthplace of Fayetteville.

Floyd, 46, a Black man, died May 25, 2020, while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Prosecutors alleged in opening statements Monday that Officer Derek Chauvin killed Floyd by kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes; more than two minutes of which Floyd was unresponsive as a crowd filming the arrest pleaded with police to check his pulse. Three other officers have also been charged in Floyd's death. Their trials are set for August.

Floyd's sister, Bridgette Floyd, still lives in the area in Raeford.

In May, she told NBCs Today Show that she wanted to see the officers face charges in her brothers death.

They murdered my brother, she said. He was crying for help.

More: George Floyd's sister provides the homeless a Thanksgiving meal in Fayetteville

Bridgette Floyd traveled to Minnesota on March 8 during the first day of trial proceedings.

That officer took a great man, a great father, a great brother, a great uncle..., she said during an emotional news conference last month. He really took a great father. He was so family-oriented. He loved his family. He loved his daughter. Gianna meant the world to him, and we will never get that back.

Darnella Fraizer, who was 17 when she shot the video of Floyd's death, testified during proceedings this week. Frazier is Black.

"When I look at George Floyd, I look at my dad, I look at my brothers, I look at my cousins, my uncles," said Frazier.

Waiting in line outside of the Department of Motor Vehicles at the Eutaw Shopping Center in Fayetteville on Thursday, Eileen Moore said she thinks Chauvin should receive the death penalty for his role in Floyds death.

I think theres enough evidence, and (Chauvin) was arrogant,said Moore, who is white.

Chauvin is charged with second-degree unintentional murder and third-degree murder. He also faces a lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter. The most he faces if convicted of the most serious charge is up to 40 years in prison.

Moore said she thinks its crap that defense lawyers said Chauvin was distracted by the crowd when Floyd became unconscious. She thinks the other officers who did not intervene when Floyd said he couldnt breathe are guilty by association.

Fayetteville residents Sidney and T.J. Thomas, who were waiting in line outside the DMV, said they think the video sparked a revolution.

National demonstrations protesting police brutality against African Americans came in the wake of Floyds death and reached Fayetteville last summer.

People are waking up and realizing the system is not really for us, said T.J. Thomas, who is also Black.

Sidney Thomas said there is no reason, Black people should have to continue to tell their sons or daughters how to act in the presence of police officers.

You shouldn't have to be afraid of the police or be afraid of being questioned or thrown to the ground, she said.

As defense lawyers have questioned whether illegal substances were in Floyds system at the time of his death, Sidney and T.J. Thomas said they dont think it justifies the way Chauvin restrained Floyd or ignored his cries that he couldn't breathe.

As a police officer, it doesnt give you a right to abuse your power and kneel down on someone, said T.J. Thomas, who said he did not think Floyd was a threat to the officers safety.

Sidney Thomas said she thinks Chauvin and those defending his actions should ask themselves one question.

How would if you feel if one of your children was on the ground down like that? she said.

More: Community attends Raeford memorial to show respect to family of George Floyd

More: Thousands mourn George Floyd at Raeford memorial service

More: GEORGE FLOYD PUBLIC VIEWING AND MEMORIAL IN RAEFORD

More: Protesters march for George Floyd in Raeford

In an interview with MSNBC host Joy Reid on Monday, Bridgette Floyd said she thinks Chauvins actions were intentional and the family will get justice.

The world will never forget never forget what that officer did to my brother, because he was not trained to do such a thing as he did, she said.

T.J. Thomas said he is hopeful the justice system changes, so there arent repeat cases of Trayvon Martin an unarmed Black teenager who was shot by Florida neighborhood watch-volunteer George Zimmerman in 2012 or other Black people who have been shot by police or died in police custody.

This is about change: Fayetteville protests of killing of George Floyd

Were here and we aint going nowhere: Despite heavy rain, protesters march in Fayetteville

Though she said the police department has not reached out to her family since her brothers death, Bridgette Floyd told Reid she thinks rules will change when it comes to how officers detain and restrain suspects.

Maybe they dont know how to approach us, but its OK, because were going to get what were striving for, and thats justice, she said.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

Support local journalism with a subscription to The Fayetteville Observer. Click the "subscribe'' link at the top of this article.

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'The world will never forget': Fayetteville reacts to trial of officer involved in George Floyd's death - The Fayetteville Observer

The former Minneapolis police officer is facing three charges related to the death of George Floyd.

ATLANTA Atlanta will be watching along with the rest of the country as a trial unlike any weve seen in awhile gets underway in Minneapolis.

The trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin will place an unusual amount of pressure on the jury.

Chauvin is facing charges of second degree unintentional murder, third degree murder, and second degree manslaughter after the death of George Floyd.

The focal point of the trial will be the 8-minute-and-46-second video tape of Floyd begging for his life while Chauvin placed his knee on Floyds neck.

The video is very important, says UGA Law Professor Ron Carlson. Its graphic evidence.

Legal experts say the Chauvin trial is unique in many aspects.

Its unique because the entire country has seen it (the video) already, says attorney Mark OMara, who defended George Zimmerman in the Travon Martin case. You dont often have the quality and quantity of video evidence like that.

The death of George Floyd sparked protests that grew into a massive movement against police brutality and racial injustice.

This is the most important police trial of this century, says Carlson.

Carlson and OMara agree there is an unusual amount of pressure on jurors under the watchful eye of the nation.

The black community is going to be focused on the result of this trial, says OMara. If justice as defined by those who look at that videotape is not granted in a case like this, its going to be very difficult to get past.

Theres also the $27 million the city of Minneapolis has agreed to pay Floyds family. The announcement came as lawyers were picking jurors for the criminal trial.

They had to go back and remove a couple of jurors, says Carlson. A few said it convinced them that the city felt the officers were guilty.

It could have some impact, you just dont know which way, says OMara. Is it the city said he was guilty, so we will as well? Or the familys already got a whole bunch of money, the scales have been balanced?

OMara says in general, it can be difficult to convict a law enforcement officer.

Deep in our gut, it is difficult to say to an officer, youre out there putting your life on the line, were now going to hold you responsible and potentially put you in prison.

The trial could take anywhere from a month to six weeks or even longer.

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Why is the Derek Chauvin trial different from most murder trials? - 11Alive.com WXIA