Trial of Derek Chauvin in the United States: the fear of an acquittal

Demonstrators protest in Minneapolis ahead of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the police officer accused of killing George Floyd, March 8, 2021. AFP - KEREM YUCEL

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

The trial of Derek Chauvin, which opened on March 8 in Minneapolis, United States, resumes on Tuesday.

Despite a damning video that has gone around the world showing this white cop suffocating George Floyd with his knee for nearly nine minutes, many in Minneapolis fear he will be acquitted.

Publicity

Read more

With our special correspondent in Minneapolis,

É

ric de Salve

They came to the court in Minneapolis

at the opening of the trial of Derek Chauvin

to remember in good memory the justice in which most of these demonstrators have lost confidence.

Michael, a mask of the

Black Lives Matter

movement

on his face, fears an acquittal by the police officer responsible for the death of George Floyd.

“ 

I don't expect justice to be served

,” he says.

When it comes to black people, our justice system is never consistent.

In this case, Derek Chauvin will get away with it.

Because that's almost always how it is in the United States

 ”.

For this highly sensitive trial, the Minneapolis court where Derek Chauvin is tried has been transformed into an entrenched camp.

Huge iron gates and barbed wire have been installed all around the building.

This is a very bad signal for these demonstrators, Judge Stéphanie, an anti-racist activist.

“ 

It's ridiculous

,” she says.

It is pointless.

And that's a way of making us Minneapolis people look like criminals when the criminal is whoever is in this building.

It's Derek Chauvin

 ”.

The verdict is expected at the end of April.

There was general agreement that an acquittal would cause the protests to return.

► See also: United States: high-risk start of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the police officer who killed George Floyd

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • United States

  • Justice

  • Racism

On the same subject

FOCUS

United States: High-risk start of trial of Derek Chauvin, the policeman who killed George Floyd

Americas Press Review

In the News: an impartial jury for the Chauvin trial in the United States?

Death of George Floyd: first appearance of Derek Chauvin in court