
Nearly all Americans agree with the conviction of former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. Opinion remains divided, however, on whether or not it represents cause for greater confidence in the criminal justice system for Blacks and other Communities of Color.
A Morning Consult survey conducted after last Tuesdayâs Chauvin verdict (April 20-22) found 91% of Blacks approve of Chauvin being found guilty on all three charges. Almost 60 percent (57%) of Blacks said they were âsurprised,â 59% were âconfident,â and 74% were âhappyâ when the verdict was handed down.
But when the poll asked respondents if the Chauvin verdict gave them more confidence in the U.S. criminal justice system, there was only a two-percent difference between Blacks (54%) and Whites (52%).

Local attorney and law professor Angi Porter closely followed the Chauvin trial from jury selection to the verdict handed down. She regularly gave expert analysis on Sirius XM during the trial.
âMy reaction to the verdict was elated,â said Porter, â[and] especially surprised because of the timing of deliberationsâless than 11 hours.â
Porter, a Rochester, Minn. native who currently lives and works in Minneapolis, is a discrimination and sexual misconduct investigator at the University of Minnesota and a Mitchell Hamline School of Law adjunct professor. She also practiced law for several years at a local large law firm and once worked as a U.S. District Court judicial law clerk.
She thought that âJuror 52,â (Brandon Mitchell, a Black man who has since come forward to speak about his experience as a juror), would have been very influential if selected as a jury member. âAll of his answers [during the jury selection process] were very good, and you could tell he has a strong sense of identity,â observed Porter. âThereâs no way he would acquit Derek Chauvin.â
Darnella Frazierâs video was the trialâs key pivotal point, noted Porter. âWe canât praise that sistah enough,â she stressed. Frazierâs video showed a different angle on what happened to Floyd than did the police body camera views presented during the trial.
âIâve been following [the use of police body cameras] since Jamar Clark was killed in 2015,â continued the attorney. âThe body cams are from the perspective of the police, from their vantage point. You donât see the expression on their faces, for example. You donât see things that they do with their arms.
âFrazier had a continuous video,â she pointed out. âBy having the courage to post it immediately, she had such an impact on how this played out, not just the trial and the investigation. The global outcry was absolutely pivotal. Because she was at that bystander angle, we didnât have to rely on body cams.â
University of Southern California Assistant Communications and Journalism Professor Allissa Richardson said Frazierâs video âneeds to be cemented in history.â Richardson studies how mobile and social media can be used by marginalized communities to produce innovative forms of journalism.

âShe [held] her camera [and was] quiet not to narrate over it. She showed incredible bravery in becoming [a] witness while Black,â said Richardson of Frazier, whose video and its impact will be included in her upcoming book âBearing Witness While Black.â
Porter said the Chauvin trial also showed racial bias, which sometimes in her opinion came off very badly. The defense throughout the trial often used racial stereotypes, portraying Floyd as âthis huge, humongous person who was high on adrenaline and high on drugs,â she observed.
âIt made a lot of people mad because it does hit on those historic stereotypes.â Even the jury questionnaire included âovert questions regarding racial issues that are being talked about these days in the country,â such as the individualâs feelings about Black Lives Matter, she added.
She also was critical of presiding Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahillâs admonishment of U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters prior to the jury deliberations. âI thought it was gratuitous⊠inappropriate,â she said. âI think we need to examine and critique [the trial].â
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellisonâs role in the Chauvin trial cannot be overlooked or underestimated, said Porter. âI saw him as being a pivotal figure even though he wasnât actually the key [prosecutor],â she noted. âHe was unapologetic in pursuing these charges. He created a great team.â
The attorney also warned against being complacent because of the guilty verdict. Chauvinâs sentencing isnât until mid-June. The three other former police officers must still stand trial for their involvement in Floydâs death, and their trial is scheduled for later this year. âWe have a lot to monitor,â she said.
Rev. Dr. Najuma Smith-Pollard, program manager of the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement in Los Angeles, told the MSR that now that the trial is over we must begin conversations for change.
âThe three things that I would offer [are] number one, build community with others outside of the community,â Smith-Pollard said. âNumber two, honor whatâs been lost,â such the Floyd family and others must do who are still grieving his death. âAnd number three, give people an action item [such as] the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act,â which has been passed by the U.S. House and awaits action by the U.S. Senate.
A group of 38 faith, social justice, health care, social service, and other cosigning organizations sent a letter to the Minnesota Legislature last week urging lawmakers to pass a set of police accountability bills in this session.
Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.