One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Viewers Struggle To Process Harsh Images From Murder Trial Of Former Minneapolis Cop
A portrait of George Floyd painted on a Fabric Planet store in Santa Monica.
(
Chava Sanchez
/
LAist
)
It’s been nearly a year since the world first saw the horrific footage of a former Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of George Floyd and killing him. The incident reignited a nationwide movement against police violence.
The murder trial of former officer Derek Chauvin has been highlighted by difficult, often tearful testimony and traumatizing images from photos and the now-infamous videos of Floyd struggling to breath and pleading for his life.
Listeners on KPCC's Take Two weighed in with their reactions to what they witnessed during the two-week trial.
"He knows he’s killing this man. He has no problem with that, he is almost enjoying himself."
— Batia Adrabi
Batia Adrabi said Chauvin's nonchalant demeanor and body language — including an image of his hand in his pocket as he kneels on Floyd — was particularly disturbing.
"He knows he’s killing this man. He has no problem with that, he is almost enjoying himself," she said. "He's looking directly at the people surrounding him. They're begging him to stop and he has no problem with that."
For poet Caroline Randall Williams, that image of Chauvin with his hand in his pocket displayed a specific type of privilege — one that distinctly comes with being white and in a position of power.
Sponsored message
"It’s this idea but no matter how much you ask for your rights, how much you're asking for your life to look like something that needs to be preciously cared for, there are people who are just prepared to see you as like an animal."
Closing arguments in the trial are scheduled to begin on Monday. A verdict could come as soon as next week.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
