The Chauvin Trial: Collapse Of The ‘Blue Wall of Silence’?
On the 20th of April, former Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of the murder of George Floyd, whose death in police custody was recorded on video last May. The video’s emergence initiated worldwide protests against police brutality and police racism, and highlighted the lack of police accountability, particularly through the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement.
Following three weeks of trial and ten hours of deliberation, the jury of State of Minnesota v. Derek Michael Chauvin convicted the defendant of all three charges filed: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. This verdict is particularly significant because, as a criminal proceeding, all twelve jurors must unanimously agree that the prosecutors have proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict.
Furthermore, the seminality of this case lies in the fact that this is the first conviction of a white officer in Minnesota for the murder of an African-American. It was also the first entirely-televised criminal trial in the state, and the first in any state court to be broadcasted live. It has been remarked that the trial had to be broadcasted to permit “people of colour [to] monitor the justice system” (Tami Abdollah, USA Today). However, critics have asserted that the publicity was so pervasive and prejudicial that it affected the verdict before the trial even began. Due to this, among other claims, Chauvin’s attorney filed a motion for a new trial on the 4th of May, though many are sceptical of this trial motion’s chance of success.
Sentencing has yet to take place. Although Chauvin’s sentence of up to forty years in prison is likely to be reduced as he has no criminal history, this case has been described as a ‘milestone’ because the American legal system rarely holds police officers accountable for actions conducted in the course of their official duties. Consequently, commentators have hoped that this ruling will signal a shift towards more accountability and equality, with the elimination of practices such as the ‘blue wall of silence’ (an informal code of silence among police officers not to report on each other). A noteworthy component of this trial is the testimony of a police chief. This has been described as a “game changer" (Kobie Flowers, US former federal civil rights prosecutor), as it marks a break from the standard practice.
However, this decision feels somewhat insubstantial, with the trial carrying the burden of countless other occurrences of police violence against the African American community. In fact, less than 17 kilometres from the courthouse, burial plans were progressing for Daunte Wright, a twenty-year-old who was shot by a police officer during a traffic stop, and hours before the verdict was announced, sixteen-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant was fatally shot by police in Columbus, Ohio.
Although the ruling could set a precedent for policing, the judgment’s influence (and the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement) is most felt in its galvanising influence on public discourse and policy drafting. Since Floyd’s murder, more than thirty states have passed police reform legislation, and since President Joe Biden took office in January, he has promised to prioritise racial equity. However, since racial inequity is entrenched, not only in law enforcement but within most institutional bodies, it remains to be seen whether this judgment and the legislation passed will genuinely tackle racial equity issues.
Nevertheless, actions towards significant change seem to be underway. Following Chauvin’s conviction, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced a federal probe into policing practices in Minneapolis, and in March, there was a revived insistence towards the passing of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (initially introduced in June 2020). This Act would enhance federal reinforcement of constitutional violations by the state, and would also prohibit no-knock warrants and neck restraints. Given that police brutality against marginalised communities continues, one matter is certain: the Chauvin conviction does not conclude the efforts of tackling racial inequity.