All Episodes

April 20, 2021 181 mins

4.20.21 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: Derek Chauvin Murder Verdict

Support #RolandMartinUnfiltered via the Cash App ☛ https://cash.app/$rmunfiltered or via PayPal ☛https://www.paypal.me/rmartinunfiltered

#RolandMartinUnfiltered is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Alright, Rolling Martin held Roller Martin unfiltered just a few
moments ago. Guilty verdict all three charges. Derek Chauvin guilty
in the murder of George Floyd. Clearly he expected that
as he was led away in handcuffs, did not show
any reaction whatsoever. Legal panel is ready, Bernardo Blona, So
your trial council. Joey Jackson Law firm. A. Scott Bolden,

(00:31):
former chair National Bar Associations Political Action Committee, to Rain
Bailey attorney, Bailey Law Firm, Monique Pressley, lawyer, crisis manager.
All glad to have all four of you here. Uh,
let's get right into it, Uh, Scott Bolden, any surprise,
any shock with his clearly. Uh. Derek Chovin expected that.
You saw his reaction pretty much, no reaction even as

(00:52):
he was handcuffed and led away. Yeah, his defense attorney,
Uh prep for that. You know, they were hours. That's
not enough to come back with the defense verdict. And
so once they said they were ready, and they didn't
ask any questions whatsoever, it was a matter of going
through the evidence the three complicated charges. They clearly went

(01:13):
through the evidence and simply did not accept reasonable doubt
from what the defense was presenting. They bought into the
prosecution's case, they read the video, they watched the video.
And the irony here, if anything rolling is that we
were all holding our breath on a case that should
have been a no brainer and he probably should have
taken a flea on but you went through with it.

(01:36):
We got it, and we're all extremely pleased with this
verdict because justice was done. We've seen so many times
when justice wasn't done with the police um money on
that particular points Scott makes. I mean, that's why people
are holding their breath. We simply have not trusted juries
when cops have gone on trial for killing black men.

(02:00):
We got we can't hear you, Monica, you want to
mute it, mute police, and now we got you. Can
you hear me? We got you now About not being
able to trust the jury. Yeah, people, people were, People
were nervous because frankly, we've seen how this is gone before. Well. Absolutely,
I mean there was every reason to be on tens

(02:23):
and needles, even when it was, as Scott said, an
open and shut pace. And when I was on yesterday,
I wasn't even willing to hedge about it. All I
was willing to say is the prosecution did an excellent job,
one of the best jobs that I've seen in a
police pace. For Otherwise, they were methodical, they were thorough,
they set the right tone, They hit all of the

(02:45):
key elements for each and every charge. And obviously this
jury got it. I mean, they spent some time deliberating
last night, went out there one night free hotels, stay
and meal, uh, and came back and got down to
business today. And I'm sure that they were ready, perhaps
long before we We knew that they were ready, because

(03:06):
I know that that the city of Minnesota wanted kids
home from school and wanted everything safe before we got
this verdict. So this is a right decision. Let's go
to Bernardo. Bernardo, your assessment of first of all, folks,
I'm getting someone else's voice in my my ear here,

(03:27):
so please BERNARDA just your assessment of this. UH live
feed that's going out. UH. Not much of reaction from
the audience out there, obviously, UH, folks will hopeful that
this was going to be the decision and not not guilty.
Folks were very afraid of what could happen all across
the country. A police have been on stand by Governor J.

(03:47):
Pritstur in Illinois put the National Guard on alert by
the suggestion of Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Here we're literally catacorn
to sixte and k Black Lives Matter Plaza. They shut
down parking all around where we're located. There are signs
on on the on the on the polls saying First
Amendment activity. I think here in the nation's capital was

(04:07):
in fact one thing that with d c D. They've
got massive construction actually taking place right now on Black
Lives Matter Plaza. I'm quite sure that construction was not
playing to begin yesterday. M H. What I have to
say is that the people the state of Minnesota have spoken.
The people of Hannepan County has spoken. Now the world

(04:31):
has heard from a jury of twelve, a jury of
Derek Scharvin's here, a jury from Hannapen County, that what
you are, Derek Sharvin, is guilty. Guilty on all charges.
Justice has been done in this case. Derek Scharvin got
a fair trial. The jury looked at the evidence, applied
the credible evidence to the law, and they determined that

(04:53):
based on everything that beyond a reasonable doubt, the prosecution
has proven that Derek Sharvin is guilty a murder in
the second degree murder and third degree and manslaughter as well.
So the jury has focused and now it is official.
That clout that you have that you're you're innocent until
proven guilty is now God, you have been found guilty

(05:13):
for betraying that badge that you held for for so long.
Uh Terry. And remember when the henn of the County
d A came out, Remember they actually reduced the charges
and then it was Attorney General Keith Ellison who took
over this case from the d A and they reinstated
one of those charges. We have got to absolutely give

(05:34):
credit to a g. Keith Ellison. People gotta remember he
left his position in Congress to run for Minnesota Attorney general.
If people want to understand why a ges matter, this
is a perfect example of when you have an attorney
general who was black who gives a damn unlike Daniel Cameron,
the Republican Attorney General in Kentucky. Absolutely the first time

(06:03):
the black community can actually exhale. We've been waiting for
this moment, for this verdict at Martley King's verdict came
out April twenty nine, and finally we got it, and
we got it across the board. And I think that
speaks volumes to the work that this jury did. As
in my history as a defense attorney, anytime jury comes
back that quickly, you know it's not good for you.
That means no one's in that room fighting for you.

(06:25):
And it's pretty impressive that this jury fought so hard.
They worked late into the night, they stayed an extra
hour into the evening, came back early this morning, which
means they were serious about this verdict and they wanted
to get to the right conclusion. This is a moment
for us when I think we lost Scott. Let me know,
Scott back still there. We're perpetrating and eminently dangerous Scott. Okay, Um,

(06:47):
only what we're looking at here is also remember Jason
van Dyke was convicted in the murder of Lakwa McDonald,
but that was also on a reduced charge. Uh and
and and and that was a lot of people who
we're not, you know, obviously happy about that that he
may only serve five years in prison for that. Chauvin,
connected on all three is facing up to forty years

(07:09):
in prison. Oh and he get them because they're not
going to just ask for what they can get on
each charge. They're looking, you know, to to increase due
to aggravation um on on each of those because the
depravity and the cruelty of his conduct. So um, it's
going to be a rough road for sentencing. And that's

(07:32):
why I said, um when when yesterday his lawyer had
agreed to him in court. Uh, and make sure that
he understood that he's choosing to leave it in the
hands of the judge to make a determination about the enhancement. Uh.
And he has decided to leave it to the judge.
That was his best bet. They could freeze this jury
way better than any of us could, because if it

(07:54):
had been left to the jury to determine it, they
probably would have been trying to um assess enhancements and
say it was beyond reasonable doubt for each and every
one of those charges. This jury had a made up mind.
Let's go to the Riddit huts and he is co
founder of the National Coalition of Law Enforcement We lost
red Reddit. Okay, let me know when we get ready back,
because he's with the National Coalition of Law Enforcement Officers

(08:17):
for Justice Reform and Accountability. So let me know when
we have him back. The thing here that I think
uh is and when we talked about this, uh perring,
that that the methodical approach taken by the prosecution completely
cornered the defense at every turn. Um, you've been critical

(08:41):
of the defense put up, but but the reality is
they I mean, the prosecution was so methodical that you're
watching it and they just cut them off at their
knees and pretty much left them no escape routes to
be able to put reasonable doubt in the minds of
these jurors. The prosecution to a fantastic job, and that

(09:01):
pays me to faith. But they did a fantastic job
of locking that. And just for our audience, folks, she's
a defense attorney, uh. And so a defense attorney never
likes to give a prosecutors any credit whatsoever. Well, I
have to give credit where credit is due. They did
a very good job of locking in this case and
outlining for the jury step by step, right down to

(09:23):
George Floyd's compliance, right down to how the situation escalated,
right down to the unreasonable nous of the actions and
what the defense failed to do. I mean, I know
there's some argument out there that they did a very
good job on the reasonable officer standard. But where they
failed on that is that they failed to take into
account if but they were preaching, but this is reasonable

(09:43):
and any officer acting like this would be acting reasonably
against the black community. And that's something I just couldn't see.
Fine with this jury, they set the tone for this
case is one where they did not see George Floyd
as a human and they did not recognize the black
community when we said enough is enough. UM, so many
different reactions that are coming in that we're actually seeing, uh, folks.

(10:04):
This here is a live fee from the Associated Press.
Uh folks there in Minneapolis, Jay moments from just a
few moments, Attorney General Keith Ellison UH is going to
be addressing the media. We also are expecting to hear
from the George Floyd family. Attorney Ben Crump. Will also
expecting to hear from President Joe Biden Vice President Kamala

(10:26):
Harris with regards to this verdict. BERNARDA. Again, the to
the point that there in just UH just made there,
uh Dterraine just made there? Is that is that the prosecution,
how they put this together, how they assembled the case, UH,

(10:47):
totally different than how Angela Corey prosecuted the Trayvon Martin
case totally different how we've seen some of these other
cases where where the defense was able to really get
in some shots and create that reasonable doubt. The Slager
trial when they had a mistrial there when he was
on travel for killing Walter Scott. Uh, That's really what

(11:08):
was I think was so critical here. So Roland, what
made a difference? And only you know, I was a
prosecutor for sixteen years, three years in Philadelphia and thirteen
years in Brooklyn, and I was in a homicide bureau
for ten years in Brooklyn. So what made this case
different than any other case? The number one reason why
it turned out differently is because the Attorney General was

(11:29):
able to compile a team of fourteen prosecutors. You gotta
think Mr Blackwell as well as Mr Slesher, both of
them are not prosecutors. They were appointed as special prosecutors
to take part in this prosecution. So that made a
huge difference. You don't see that happening. It is very rare,
but Attorney General good for him for being able to

(11:50):
acknowledge that his office alone wouldn't be able to do it,
especially since an attorney General's office doesn't deal with homicide cases.
It's more of a county prosecutor that deals with the
homicide cases. So he was able to see that and
compile a team of fourteen with lead attorneys that specialized
in medical medical malpractice, which was so huge in this case,

(12:11):
especially since mann it and cause of death were at issue.
So that is a huge difference in this case than
the other case, in the Traybon Martin case. I remember
that case, and I was so upset because that prosecutor
got out lawyers hands down. That shouldn't have happened. Um,
read it, Hutson. I want to bring you in right
down forth. Live fee that you're seeing right now is

(12:33):
a live feed from Minneapolis in the plaza that's right
across from the courtroom. Read it. Uh. You said on
our show just the other day that the only way
these things change is when these cops are held accountable,
when they are convicted, and when they go to prison.
Derek Chauvin was walked out of that courtroom in handcuffs.

(12:54):
He is going to be sentenced in a few weeks.
He is headed to prison for the death of George Floyd,
which is where he should be hit it and guy
speed to him. I hope they get him there yesterday,
and I hope he spends the rest of his natural
life behind bars for the murder he committed in front
of us. And yes, that is the best training that
you can offer two police officers that remain on the

(13:16):
Minneapolis Police Department is the sentencing. The conviction and sentencing
of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd will
be an excellent training tool for officers who remain on
that department that you can't uh take human life in
a depraved and sadistic fashion, that that Derek Chauvin didn't
expect that you're going to walk. Uh. Consistency now is

(13:40):
the thing. I think that we can all feel good
that this verdict was reached, but the work still continues.
As as you know, UM, we have to look at
the systems that have police in positions to make these
kinds of choices around the country. This is a rare
guilty verdict. Many times officers walk, So we have to
continue to do the work of breaking down the systemic

(14:02):
racism that's at the foundation of our criminal justice apparatus nationwide.
When you're talking about the police or the courts and
continue to call for accountability for those officers who violate
our human rights and civil rights and civil liberties. Like
dring show, I'm I'm glad to see him go the
the the the defense team tried read it to say, look,

(14:24):
this was his training. Things short have got out of hand.
But when you heard the chief testified, you heard the
use of force specialist testified, No, that violated the training there,
That to me is also critical because what it is
saying to a lot of other cops. And the fact
remember right after the George Floyd murder, that was a

(14:45):
protest somewhere and there was a cop was kneeling on
the guy's neck and you heard the protesters get off
his neck, getlfer's neck, and another cop hit his knee
and said, move your knee. That that is a result
of stuff like this and the power that rests in
officers holding each other accountable. Particular is we've said a

(15:07):
hundred times on this show, rolling officers that come from
marginalized communities, from black communities, from lgb t Q communities,
from Native communities. Man, if you come from that community
and you are now empowered to serve alongside of officers
who are using the people in the community you served.
You are empowered to hold them accountable and recreate and

(15:29):
remake that culture. And we're starting to see that across
the country. I'm seeing more and more voices emerge, UH
black officers in particular calling for a remake of police
culture and addressing the racism in it directly. It has
to happen, and we have the power to make that
happen with to a current officer or for uh former officer,

(15:50):
you can do that in this our responsibility to get
that done. Uh, in fact, in fact read it. Uh.
Just the other day I saw it in response to
uh the tay Right murder, a white cops saying did
put a video out explaining how you confusing a taser
with a gun? So, I mean so, and this guy
went on. I was like, yo, I want to see

(16:12):
good cops. He was like strong over here, week over here.
I mean he was in ditting it as a result
of that. I saw that, and he should have been
because that that officers excuse is ridiculous. Man, she's a
twenty six year veterans, she's a training officer. How did
she confuse a weapon that she retreated from her weak

(16:32):
side and and pointed and aimed it for several seconds
before she fired. Remember the video, she's trying to avoid
hitting the officer who for a moment obscured her target,
and then she pulls the trigger. That officer was absolutely right.
And that's the way and power of the voices of
people in law enforcement calling for accountability and holding each
other accountable. But we have a lot of systemic work

(16:54):
to do. Phone and you know, um, this is one verdict,
but we've seen nationally of generations, the systemic racism that
is at the foundation of police culture is the thing
that has to be addressed. And we have to look
at how we do public safety period Now, defund is
still on the table, whatever that means to different people.
I think be allocating resources, uh two areas in our

(17:16):
community that will better help us provide public safety, jobs,
income healthcare, mental health care, especially education. All of the
things that have been systemically defunded already and intentionally need
to be refunded. And we need to look at how
we do public safety period But during chauping is a
prime example of someone who expected fully expected that he

(17:40):
was going to casually murder a man and walk now
he's taking his ignorant as to prison where he belongs.
Reddy Hudson, I certainly appreciate it, thanks a lot. We're
going to I know you're there in the car. We're
gonna try to uh pull you in later with a
law enforcement experts and so we'll hit you back in
just a second. We go back to my ego panel.

(18:01):
Uh there and um and and and and terrain Monique
and we're not the thing that I can't help but
reflect on is watching that video of Derek Chauvin hands

(18:24):
in his pocket, kneeling that the man is yelling I
can't breathe, and the arrogance of I'm gonna put I'm
gonna keep my hands in my pocket, the indifference. And

(18:45):
Monique made this point yesterday. Uh and Terno, would you
speak to it? The defense play kept playing it over
and over and over. It was like, thank you, y'all
are reading fun. I appreciate that defense. They played that
video over and over again to no benefit to their side.

(19:05):
And you have to wonder what did you think you
were going to get? Were you taking this arrogant position
like yeah, he did it and it was reasonable and
and if you think about it. If you listen to
that closing argument yesterday, there was so many dog whistles
in it. That defense attorney talked about the reasonableness of
that officer going into an urban community addressing a large

(19:26):
black man who was still on scene. There was that
closing was laden with so many dog whistles. And then
he wants to say this is reasonable when you look
at the totality and the circumstances under the use of
force doctrine, that it was reasonable. He was telling every
officer it is okay, It is okay to abuse and
to savagely just lay your knee into a man's neck

(19:48):
until you take the life out of him. I couldn't
understand why he kept showing that video and just proving
the prosecution's case money well, and look at the arrogance
and that. Uh So I've as as just you know,
I have defended as as a criminal defense attorney, um

(20:09):
starting out indigent defendants and then defendants who weren't indigent.
But I also, for eleven years in in civil courts,
defended a municipality, including police department. And when I tell
you that there was a complete miscalculation on the part

(20:30):
of defense counsel. I mean their strategy, if I I'm
being generous calling it a strategy from start to finish,
was failed. And I don't I don't accept from anyone
who says hard case, not much to work with. What
what the hell do you got to law school for? Um?

(20:51):
This Listen, The whole point is supposed to be that
as defense counsel, you have nothing to prove and you're
in higher job is to poke holes into the heavy,
heavy burden of the prosecution. What we watched that play
here today in the culmination today was when the state

(21:14):
does what it's supposed to do and brings all the
power of its office to bear when they have infinite
resources for investigation, for export, for getting outside counsel. That
as as as um my my other panelists said, and
forgive me for not wait a minute, I want to

(21:35):
get her name right to end, was saying that they
volunteered their time because you can't do your sisters like that.
We just can't remember their names. That's not right. Um
volunteered their time, you know, came out of the successful
practices to come in and take on this case. But
but that is the heavy power of the state, that

(21:58):
defense attorneys are up against every time they go into
the courtroom. What has been happening previously is that the
state's attorney's offices, the d a's, were not utilizing their power.
They weren't wielding their power appropriately. They dropped a hammer

(22:18):
and three extra hammers this time. And then we have
the defense, which looks like they trying to put themselves
off to be David and Golias. They weren't. The unions
raised millions, they had money to put forth a better case.
They didn't believe in this case. And I think that
it's because they had a hideous defendant, because if they hadn't,
he would have taken that stand and wind and cried

(22:42):
and fallen out and hyper ventilated and apologized. He would
have done anything in the world he could to spare
his life. That's it looked he had today. They didn't
prep him. I heard some other people on some other
some other channels saying he was well prepped and that's
why he took it so well. That's the way he looked,
and he was killing a man. That's who he is.

(23:03):
He didn't prep for today. He is completely detached from
these circumstances because for him, he cannot imagine that he
did not have the power to do what he did,
So I do hope let me let me just throw
out what I could never say in court. I hope
this sends a message. I hope this teaches a lesson.

(23:25):
I hope that this is chilling. I hope that this
is an effect across the country where everybody understands who's
wearing a badge carrying hello, a taser on one side
and a glock on the other. You don't get to
do whatever it is you want to do without accountability.

(23:45):
You will be charged and then pay for your actions.
Because in one of the whitest places in America, a
jury that was majority not of color found easily, handily guilty, guilty, guilty.

(24:06):
I'm a little hype. I'm gonna give somebody else to
turn Forgive me Durrain, go ahead. You're absolutely right. We
are trained as defense attorneys from day one. You know
you're you know you are willing to go to jail
to defend your client. And that didn't happen here. He
had no plan on what he was going to do,
absolutely no plan, and he did not practice client on

(24:30):
what to do. Once they took that math that mask
off yesterday. He looked as medically when he took that
mask off yesterday as he did when his knee was
on George Floyd's neck. He should have put it back
on today when he was waiting for the verdict. Just
there's nothing, no warmth emanated from him. And that's a
failure to humanize your client. I mean, we have all,

(24:50):
as defense attorney, set next to someone who others consider
a monster. Our job is to humanize them, give them
some type of humanity, and that did not happen. And
they you know, this shouding person is someone who you
cannot find humanity for, but that is your job. And
BERNARDA Branda, I think that's the whole deal here. I mean,
the bottom line is this here. Um. Look, it's not

(25:13):
like when the when the jury read that verdict. He
didn't drop his head, he didn't sit here shape no, no, no,
he knew his ass was guilty. He was completely emotionally detached.
I definitely pred it yesterday when Derek Chardon wasn't wearing
the mask, and I was like, wait, hold up, this
is a defense trial strategy that doing this entire trial

(25:35):
during three weeks of jury selection, during three weeks of testimony.
You had a mask on, but you waited until closing
arguments while your attorney was arguing some foolishness to take
off your mask and let the jury see you. This
is a problem with that you had the same exact
face as you did when you had your knee on
the neck of George Floyd for nine minutes and twenty

(25:55):
nine seconds. I understand and see what you were trying
to do. However, you can't him look happen looking to
saint a trial as he's doing in the video. You
wanted to give them a different look, a different perception
of distance. Froo Derek Sharvion, what I found so insulting,
and I find it so insulting throughout his entire closing argument.

(26:16):
Hold this hold type one second, Hold type one second
in control room. Let me know when we have the
fee to turn. General Keith Ellison is talking right now.
Let me know we actually have that feed so we
can go live to it again. Uh. Trained General Keith
Ellison is dressing the media as we speak. Uh. And
so if my folks can shoot me the link, we
can go live to it. Um. So please let me

(26:38):
know when we can do that keenan Uh drop the
link in group me if you can please with that
AP feed of Keith Ellison. So this feed here is
outside of Keith Ellison. Actually I'm watching another feed, So
if y'all can get me that other feed of Wison speaking,

(27:00):
I greatly appreciate it. Yeah, UM, I got you. Um
go ahead and finish your comments, uh please so I
can uh as we're trying to track this. So Roland,
what I found to insulting and distress I think is
that Eric Nelson, doing his entire trial, kept on putting

(27:23):
it on that Derek Sharbin was scared and distracted based
on the bystanders on less than fifteen people that were
bystanders of a nine year old, a kid that was
a bystander. Sir, if you are scared of the neighborhood
that you are bound and have the duty to actually
patrol and to take care of, you do not need

(27:43):
to be on the police force. Because if you see
me and you consider myself a threat or people that
look like me a threat, you do not need to
be patrolling our neighborhoods. It is officers like you who
betrayed the bash that make us feel bad and make
us feel shaking when it comes to police officers. So

(28:04):
finally the world got to see, Derek sharbon you were
held accountable for your action. Uh. Indeed, indeed again, um
let's see here, I think uh we had the link now. Uh,
let's see here. All right, folks, let's go to Keith
Elson turn gentle minutes out of people in his life

(28:25):
who loved it. They stopped and raised their voices, and
they even challenged authority because they saw his humanity. They
stopped and they raised their voices because they knew what
they were seeing was right. I need that lower third
change breaking news in the use of force. They knew

(28:46):
it was wrong and they were right. These community members,
this bouquet of humanity, did it again in this trial.
They performed simple yet profound acts of ridge. They told
the truth, and they told the whole world the truth
about what they saw. They were vindicated by the chief

(29:10):
of Police, by the Minneapolis's longest serving police officer, and
by many other police officers who stepped up and testified
as to what they saw into what they knew what
happened on that street was wrong. We owe it and
we owe our gratitude to fulfilling there. We owe them

(29:32):
our gratitude for fulfilling their civic duty, and for their
courage and telling the truth to countless people in Minnesota
and across the United States who joined them in peacefully
demanding justice for George Floyd. We say all of us
thank you. In the coming days, more may seek to

(29:53):
express themselves again through petition and demonstration. I urge everyone
to honor the legacy of George Floor by doing so calmly, legally,
and peacefully. I urge everyone to continue the journey to
transformation and justice. It's in your hands now. I also

(30:13):
want to address the Floyd family if I may. Over
the last year, the family of George Floyd had to
relive again and again the worst day of their lives
when they lost their brother, their father, their friend. I'm
profoundly grateful to them for giving us the time we
needed to prosecute this case. They have shown the world

(30:34):
what grace in class encourage really look like. Although a
verdict alone cannot in their pain, I hope it's another
step on the long path toward healing for them. There's
no replacing your beloved Perry or Floyd as his friends
called him, but He is the one who sparked a

(30:58):
worldwide movement, and that's important. We owe our thanks to
the men and women of the jury who gave many
hours of their time and attention to carefully listening to
the evidence, weighing the facts, rendering a verdict. They are
regular people from all walks of life, a lot like
that bail bouquet of of humanity on that corner on

(31:20):
in that courtroom. They answered the call and they served
in a landmark trial. They now deserve to return to
their lives. If they ask you to respect their privacy,
we ask you to honor that request. I want to
acknowledge the remarkable team that helped us prosecute the case.

(31:42):
We put everything we had into this prosecution. We presented
the best case that we could, and the jury heard us,
and we're grateful for that. We had the soul burden
of proof in the case, and history shows that winning
cases like these can be difficult. I'm proud of every hour,

(32:04):
every minute, and every ounce of effort we put in
this case. And let me tell you, we spent many
hours working on this case, do we not? We week
after week, committee meeting after committee meeting. This team never
let up and it never quit. We fought every day
and we did it together, the Attorney General's Office, together

(32:24):
with the Hinnepeg County Attorney's Office. Thank you, sir, and
we did it together. I'm deeply grateful to everyone who
worked on the case. Most of these folks will tell
you it's a bad idea to put together a team
of all Michael Jordan's. Nobody would want to pass the
ball this team. That was their true strength is sharing

(32:47):
the load, passing the ball understanding that all of us
together are smarter than any one of us alone, and
that worked. Although the verdict has been rendered, this is
not the end. In the coming weeks to court will
determine sentencing, and later this summer we expect to present

(33:09):
in another case. We will not be talking about that.
This verdict reminds us how hard it is to make
enduring change, and I just want to finish by sharing
some important historical legacy, if you allow me. In nineteen six,
the Currner Commission was formed to investigate the causes of

(33:30):
uprisings across major American cities, and a man named Dr
Kenneth Clarke, a famous African American psychologist who, along with
his equally accomplished psychologist wife maybe contributed to a compelling
research in the Brown versus Board of Education case. And
Dr Clark testified at the Currner Commission, and I want

(33:51):
to quote you what he said. I read that report,
the one in the nineteen nineteen riot in Chicago, and
it was if I were reading the Report of Investigating
the Committee of the Harlem Riot in nineteen thirty five,
the Report on Investigating the Harlem Riot in nineteen forty three,
and the report of the Maccoon Commission on the Watts Riot.

(34:14):
I must say again in candor to you, the members
of this commission, it's like a kind of an alice
in Wonderland, with the same moving picture reshown over and
over again, the same analysis, the same recommendation, and the
same in action. Those are the words of Dr Clark
in nineteen sixty eight. Here we are in nineteen twenty

(34:38):
excuse me, two thousand twenty one. Here we are in
two thousand twenty one, still addressing the same problem. Since
Dr Clark testified, we have seen Rodney King, admir Louima,
Oscar Grant, Eric Gardner, Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, Sandra Bland,

(34:59):
Flando steal Lakwa McDonald, Stephan Clark, A, Tiana Jefferson, Anton Black,
Brianna Taylor and now Dante Right and Adam Toledo. This
has to end. We need true justice. Hey, folks, go

(35:19):
to my computer please. This is a live stream that's
coming from Being Crump's uh cell phone. Uh. Here he
is with the George Floyd family. You see him standing
on to the far left. Revernd Alice Sharpton. I know
Reverend Jesse Jackson Sor was with them as well as
uh passengermal Brian and others. And this so this is
so while Keith Ellison is talking again. This is a

(35:40):
this is right now from the Instagram live feed of
Attorney Ben Crump as he is embracing members of George
Floyd's family. You see, uh, those are relatives there. Uh
in the moment, you're gonna see one of George Floyd's brothers.
If y'all can give me the split screen please so
we can still see Keith Ellison speaking and still see

(36:03):
Attorney being Crump here um and um. And while we're
pulling that up to listen to the rest of what
Keith Ellison has to say, the Attorney General Uh, Monique,
this is the thing that I have constantly talked about here.
That's Mark Matreal course CEO the National Urban League. Uh.
That that that people uh don't don't quite understand. There's

(36:25):
always a lot of times people are critical. I believe
that's him uh hugging one of George Floyd's uh relatives.
They're uh, Monique, people all you give this all the time,
You've you've done work with Being Crump, and people always saying, uh,
Being Crump keeps losing cases. Well, he doesn't prosecute cases.
He represents the family. But the work that attorneys like

(36:48):
being Crump, that's my son. You see right there. Uh
see Linda Sasor who's standing right next to Being Crump
hugging him right now. Uh. And so they're all in
that area right there, and Bradson, Monique speak to that
the role of and and to the control room. Do
me a favor. I need try to get my sign
or Linda Sarsour on the phone as well. The thing

(37:13):
that people don't quite understand. I'm only the work that
family that attorneys like being Crump, the work that they
have with families, uh to keep them uh focused, to
keep them locked on the case. All of that plays
a role in how these trials play out. Yeah, yeah

(37:34):
they do. Lord Reverend Jesse Jackson Senior. All y'all see
Reverend Jesse Jackson scenes in Omega, so he's uh, I
keep telling him about that, but being Crump is also
in Omega. So that's why, that's why, that's why you
see that going. I'm only go ahead, um, so you know,
I mean, I'm I'm looking in that room, and I

(37:57):
am I'm seeing people who who I know, who I've
I've marched with, um in the Floyd family. You know,
we were just in Houston last week, UM with George
Floyd's sister UM accepting I give UM from a rock

(38:19):
band that she and and George loved. UM. And and
we were there at a church. Uh. And and then
I've seen the Floyd family, UM use their foundation Monty
hole type one second. Hold on, we can't we get
the audio feed from the instagram. Are you guys hearing
that put in to racism? We can kind it? Okay,

(38:43):
I'm still here. Is Keith Ellison speaking? Actually money? Hold
one second, let's go back to Keith Ellison then, and uh,
I just actually do was go back to Keith Ellison,
but to the control I want to split screen Ellison
speaking and the fee from being Crump's on Instagram page.
Even one like this one day creates even when like
this one kid create a powerful new opening to shed

(39:04):
old practices and reset relationships. So with that, I just
want to say that I do hope the people step
forward and understand that nobody can do everything, but everybody
can do something. You can do something the way like
everyday people like Donald Williams and Geneva Jennett Hanson and

(39:25):
Christopher Martin and Charles McMillan and all those teenagers and
young people stepped up and did something. You can do
things like help pass the George Floyd Justice and Accountability Act.
It's in your hands. Let's get the work done. And
now I'd like to invite my friend and partner and
Justice Michael Freeman, Kinnepy County Attorney m thank you, Mr

(39:55):
Attorney General. First, I want once again to extend my
heartfield sympathies to the families of George Floyd. I hope
today's a verdict provide some measure of closure for them.
And let me say what a tremendous job Attorney General
Keith Ellison did and recruiting and organizing a talented team

(40:16):
of prosecutors and supporting staff. Great job. Matt Frank, Jerry Blackwell,
Steve Flesher, and Aaron Eldridge were exceptional. Their use of experts, evidence,
and witnesses left the jury no alternative but to find
Mr Chavn guilty. We and the people of Minnesota should

(40:36):
rightly be proud of these four in your entire staff
of volunteers and assistant attorney generals, and the jobs they
did over the last seven weeks. I'm also proud from
the moment that the County Attorney's office charged Derek Chauven
with murder and manslaughter four days after George Floyd's murder.
Our team worked long hours side by side with the

(40:59):
attorn in a general's team. Managing Attorney Jean Birdart did
legal analysis and writing. Assistant had a pacunty attorney Joshua
Larson did witness prep and strategy development, and Vernono Boswell,
manager of our Victims Services Division, has been in direct
contact for nearly a year now with the family of

(41:19):
George Floyd. Victim and witness advocates Jessica Emmerman and Keith
Johnson managed all the witnesses, person civilian and professional. My
two deputies, Lolita eo Up and Andy LA Fever, and
I supplied strategic advice and coordination to this talented team.

(41:40):
Twenty four seven. These guilty verdicts against Mr Chavin cannot
be the end of the conversation about officer killings of civilians.
We need to prevent these killings in the first place.
The Minnesota legislature, as it moves into the final three
weeks of the session, must pass a number of bills

(42:01):
that will make policing fairer and safer for all, but
especially for black men and women and other people of color.
I've been lobbying legislators to pass these critical bills. If
they fail, then it will be time once again to
have a statewide task force to hold hearings and come
up with model legislation and tending to put an end

(42:23):
to these deaths. I am prepared to be part of
that fight again. Keith, great shock. And now I'd like
to ask the trial lawyers to to share some thoughts
if they have any. But before I do that, I'd
like to myself think a number of people, and I'm
just gonna start by and uh, what why don't you

(42:45):
do Why don't we just uh, why don't we just
have our trial lawds come forward and they will thank
our whole team. So, Jerry Steve, which one do you
all want to do with that? Thank you, Attorney General Ellison? Uh?
And when I say thank you to the Attorney General Ellison,

(43:07):
I want to thank you for calling me and calling
me back into public service, which is something that I
was able to do as a federal prosecutor, as a
state prosecutor, as an assistant county attorney in the United
States Army. When I left private practice, I thought those
days were behind me. But I received a call and

(43:28):
it was from from Keith Ellison, and he gave me
the opportunity to step back into public service, something that
is so important to me, something that I cherish, and
I would just encourage anyone if you get a call
like that. As an attorney, it's such a it's a
it's a privileged life. It's a noble profession. And if

(43:49):
somebody calls you and they ask you for help, don't
overthink it. Just do it. As as I found in
my career, you you get a lot more than you
get of. I am honored to have stood with the
Floyd family, to stood with the state of Soda as
we as we go through this painful process together. And

(44:10):
it's been my privilege to practice with this incredible, incredible,
gifted trial team. And so I stand here today ingratitude.
I'm thankful. I want to thank the jury for their service,
for doing what was right and decent and correct and
speaking the truth and finding the right verdict in this case.

(44:38):
I'm Jerry Blackwell, and my comments are going to be
family breed. I want to first got lots of kudos.
Do not see who had the willingness, the courage, the passion,
the intestinal fortitude to get into good trouble. They stepped

(44:58):
into the light and the shot, and for that, I
say thank you. I'm grateful for them. I'm grateful for
the opportunity that I've had to serve. Not no verdict
can bring George Perry Floyd back to us, but this
verdict does give him message to his family that he
was somebody, that his life mattered, That all of our

(45:21):
lives matter, and that's important. And I also hope that
this verdict for all of the rest of the collective,
all of us will help us further along the road
toward a better humanity. Thank you all. I'm Matt frank Well.
I can't really follow that too much, but I just

(45:43):
want to say that it's been really a privilege to
work with this awesome group of dedicated, hard working people.
All right, folks, Uh that of course? Or the prosecutors
who were speaking a few moments ago. Attorney being cramped
posted this video of a phone call he received from
pre is it in Joe Biden, the Vice president Kamala
Harris to him and the George Ford family after the

(46:05):
guilty Burdie came in for Derek Show, and this is
on their Instagram page. Go Hello, Hello, Hey yo, feel
them better? Now? Nothing's gonna make it all better, but
at least God now there's some justices, right. And you know,
I think I think if Joan is coming, my dad

(46:28):
is going to change the world. He's gonna start to
change it now. Yes, to change it now. So you're
very incredible, You're incredible. An here I'm standing here talking.
We were watching every second of this Vice President. We're

(46:53):
all so three done, all three chounts. It's really important.
I'm anxious to see you guys, I really am. We're
going to do a lot. Hopefully this is the momentum

(47:15):
for the George Floyd justice and police and that to
get past to have you signed. Thank you, Mr Presidents. Okay,

(47:38):
just and this is justice, real leaders at this moment

(47:58):
where we needed you, and in George's name and memory,
we are going to make sure his linksy is attact
and that history will look back at this moment. And no,
Lis let your moment. You have to sacrifice so much
your family to too. But we really do believe that
with your leadership and the president that we have in

(48:18):
the White House, that we're gonna make something good come
out of this trap. Say, okay, thank you, get ready.
We're gonna hold you to that president. Thank you, Mr

(48:39):
President Taylor. You're thinking about you than you know. But

(49:11):
it's like I said, your words, he's going to change
the world. The world's thank god. You got to show
it to me, right, change your reins. She told them,
We're gonna perfectly. She's coming see you, Mr President. Yeah, yeah,

(49:40):
all right, all right, thank you, Mr President, God bless you,
Thank you your president. You folks. That was again the
feed there of the feed there of Attorney attorney being
a crump. So let me just do a reset right here, folks. Uh,
it was is uh a little more than a hour ago?

(50:02):
When actually about an hour ago when the jury in
Minneapolis returned a guilty verdict for Derek Schouwen on all
three charges. First second agree manslaughter faces up to ten
years twenty thousand dollar of fine. Secondary second agree murder
average a twelve point five years up to forty years.
Third degree murder average twelve point five years up to

(50:25):
twenty five years. That was we were just planning for
you there. Uh the response when President Joe Biden and
Vice President Kamala Harris called attorney bankrupt Uh and the family. Uh.
In just a moment, we're gonna be waiting for the
news conference of President Joe Biden as well as Vice
President Kamala Harris. They're gonna be speaking to the nation

(50:47):
with regards to this particular trial in a moment, UH,
control room. Let me know if y'all see and hear this. Uh.
In a moment, the family of George Florida is going
to have a news conference there in Minneapolis. Uh. Folks,
if you can actually go to my computer, you should
be able to see the feed. Let me know if
you can hear it as well. Uh, And so that's
gonna be in just one second. So lots of moving

(51:09):
parts here. We also have our legal panel who was
with us, Please, they're still with us. Attorney A. Scott Bolden, Uh,
he is with us when he Pressley she is with
us as well. We also have with us. Um Uh sorry, sorry, sorry,
we don't have Scott. We have Scott a little bit earlier,
but we don't have Scott. But we also have uh

(51:31):
Terrain Bailey attorney, Bailey Law firm, BERNARDA. Lolona was seeing
trial council with the Joy Jackson Law firm. They all
still with us. Davon Love, who's an activist out of Baltimore,
is with us as well. And so again with all
this breaking news, lots of moving parts uh taking place
all at the same time. Uh. Let me know if
y'all have the video ready at the very moment the

(51:52):
jury read the verdict in the Derek Chauvin case. Please
let me know if y'all have that, And so when
it's ready, we'll play the at uh for the folks
who may have missed that when that verdict was read.
Just just an hour ago, and of course when it
was completed, UH, he was laid out of the courtroom
UH in handcuffs. Derek Chauvin was handcuffed, UM and laid

(52:14):
out of the courtroom in the handcuffs former police officer.
Now UH is going to be heading to prison when
he is sentenced in just a few weeks. This here
is a live feed right now, folks in Minneapolis, of
the family of George Floyd entering into this particular room
where they're about to have their news conference. We're gonna

(52:35):
carry all of it. In addition, we're monitoring the White
House feed as well, UH to wait for President Joe
Biden as well as Vice President Kamala Harris who spoke earlier.
They're gonna addrest the nation. You see their attorney General,
Attorney Ben Crump holding the hand, UH, George Floyd's brother
along with Reverend Al Sharpton. And let's go to Minneapolis.

(53:00):
His name Jorge Floyd. Say his name, Joy Floyd. Say
his name, Joy Floyd, Say his name, Joy Floa. His name,
his name, his name, same name, his name, Floor, his name,
his name, Floor, his name, his name, Joy, his name,

(53:24):
his name, his name, his name, his name, his name,
his name, his name, his name, Judge Floyd na his
name come from me. Before we say anything, We're going

(53:49):
to have a pram. When we first came to Minneapolis
and went to the saite, when Ben Promp called, we
remembered how Ari Gana said, I can't breathe e leven times.
His mother came with us to the same The family

(54:12):
came in and his family has stood together for the
last eleven months watching this video go over and over
and over again. This family stood with pain, suffering and
not knowing what the future hell because so many families

(54:36):
went and got nothing. They thank God when they got
the indictment, which would not have happened had not the
Attorney General Keith Ellison took this care. Yeah, and Keith
Ellison fought and put together a team that made this possible.

(54:58):
And this is the first time in the history of
this state that a white police officer has been convicted,
less known convicted of a murder. This is the first
time in a long ray of fights that we've seen
three counts guilty at all. Three. We don't find pleasure

(55:22):
in this. We don't celebrate a man going to jail.
We would have rather George be alive. But we celebrate
that we because young people, white and black. Some castigated.
Many that are here to night marched and kept marching
and kept going. Many of them looked down on but

(55:44):
they kept marching and wouldn't let this die. And this
is an assurance to them that if we don't give up,
that we can win some rounds. But the war and
the fight is not over. Just two days him. Now
we're gonna have to deal with the funeral of Dante

(56:05):
right in this same county, the same area. We still
have cases of fight. But this gives us the energy
to fight on. And we are determined that we're gonna
fight until we make federal law. The George Floyd Justice
in Policing Acts must be laws. We want to thank

(56:30):
all that were involved, especially the Attorney General and the
governor and others. We want to thank President Biden, who
the first time he came out of his house during
the campaign, he flew to Houston and met with the
family and Attorney Crump and Eye, and he sat there
and I will never forget he said to George's daughter

(56:58):
that I heard you say, your father the he's gonna
change the world. Well, we can now tell George's daughter.
She was right. Her father has begun the changing of
the world for real. But before we do anything, we
first want to pray and thank God because somehow God

(57:19):
made away he had mercy. We believe in a God
that can even get through the cracks in the jury
room and bring conscious and bring truth. And that jury
we want to thank them for letting God give them
the strength wherever they are tonight, we want them to
know we broke down in tears when we heard the verdict.

(57:43):
We had to hold each other and hug and tears
because too many knights. We've cried, many of us for decades,
the knights in jail. But today we can wipe out
tears away and fight on for another day their sunlight.
We're gonna keep going till we bring it for the
Eric Gardeners and the Brianna Taylors whose boyfriend is here tonight,

(58:05):
Kenny Walker, Sean Bell, so many that did not get
this night. This night is for them. Let us pray.
Let's lock arms and pray like we can. Folks, well,
come on, Brandon, as for Lona, come yeah, come on

(58:31):
you and ridding to come up front. You know you're
hiding down. Yea, brother, Chris, get your next day, Attorney General. There,
let's pray. Dear God, we thank you for giving us
to strength to stand together. Sometimes we would question each other,

(58:56):
sometimes we say this is just gonna be a waste
of time. Somehow you touch us in the midnight hours
and teach us to hold on and that if we
would be faithful over a few things, you'd give us
the victory over many. We thank you because we know
it was not any doing of ours, but your loving

(59:17):
kindness and your tender mercy. It made tonight possible. Bless
those that worked that made this prosecution something they couldn't deny.
Bless those policemen that got understand and testified against another policeman.
Bless the jury that listened to the evidence and didn't

(59:39):
listen to those that may criticize them for doing this.
Bless the prosecutor Keith Ellison and his staff that did
their job even though they didn't know what the outcome
would be. Blessed Ben Crump in a special way, that
worked tirelessly, that jumped on means and left his family

(01:00:01):
to make sure that justice would reign down. Thank you
for all of the civil and human rights leaders that
stood up, and we thank you for the nameless grandmas
and grandpa's that we get on their knees and ask
you to give us a victory this time. And Lord,
as we give you the thanks and give you the praise,

(01:00:23):
let George know if his name is going down in history.
They may have put their knee on his neck, but
he will now be a figure that we will take
the knees off our necks now and we give you
the praise. Thank you, and God, we give you the glory.
These blessings were asking your name. Amen, Amen, Amen, thank you.

(01:00:55):
Let me say that I want to bring on now
a man and who has symbolized the fight for justice.
He didn't seek the role, but he rose to the occasion.
America for many years didn't have someone to stand for us.
The last four years, we didn't have an Attorney general's

(01:01:17):
office that would even hear our cry. But we had
been raised to believe that God always has a ram
in the bush, and God has a way of taking
the most umble of people and raising them as up.
We had an Attorney general in Black America that has
represented these cases with the acumen and skill of one

(01:01:41):
that was raised in the South, but came to claim
this nation in a new direction. I bring you the
Attorney General for Black America been cropped. I believe it.
Thank you, Reverend our Shop and not only for your mentorship,

(01:02:03):
not only for being a great civil rights leader, but
for being a moral authority, especially making sure no matter
what happened, that we always maintained the moral high ground,
knowing that we were on the right side of history
as we fought for justice for George Perry Floyd Jr.

(01:02:24):
Say his name, I am but a member of a
great team. Are very talented attorneys, and I'm going to
acknowledge there. Yeah, we got no megas and the captains
remend Jackson and I want to acknowledge these great group

(01:02:49):
of lawyers. And then the family members uh to or
three of the lawyers will address you. And then at
that time we were here from the family the members
before we take any of your questions. Uh, I want
to acknowledge uh. A great lawyer from Chicago, Illinois, one

(01:03:13):
of the best I've ever had a chance to work with,
Attorney Tony Ramannucci. I wanna recognize my partner on the
front line in this case, one of the best lawyers
at being on them. Uh. He hails from Atlanta, Georgia.

(01:03:33):
Attorney Chris Stewart, Yeah, his law partner, Attorney Justin Miller,
Attorney Madeleine Simmons, a great man, Asta lawyers, Attorney Jeff Storms,
Rachel Head, Jeff Attorney, Michelle Goad and who else we

(01:03:56):
got here? Anybody else? We have a turn to Scott Masterson,
who's not present. Uh, Atturny Bravanni, I said Michelle, We
got Michell. Uh. It's just a great group of lawyers.
And I want to let you know who we have

(01:04:17):
present here with the family here in Minneapolis for this
historic day. We have George Floyd's brothers. We have Felonis Floyd.
We have Rodney Floyd. We have Brandon Williams, who's George
Floyd's nephew but was more like a son to him.

(01:04:39):
They call him Woo back in the third ward. We
have key to Floyd, Felonis his wife. We have oh
what turns out? We got turns Floyd Um his sisters

(01:05:00):
who are not with us, but we should absolutely acknowledge
Bridget Floyd, who hails from North Carolina. His sister's Lataia
and Jaja, who hail from Houston, Texas. We have his
cousins Sharia McGee, Tdra McGhee and Tara Brown, and we

(01:05:20):
have the mother of his daughter, Gianni Floyd. We have
Roxy Washington, and we have Gianna. And so I'll make
some brief remarks and then we're gonna have Attorney Stewart, Oh,

(01:05:42):
cousin uh Angela cousin Paris, and Uncle Salen Bets any
of my Flower family. I know it's a big crowder
ain't dan he d the man came from Minneapolis with

(01:06:06):
and a Darren. So I make some brief remarks, and
then we're gonna have attorney student, Attorney round and Nut,
you make some brief remarks, and then we're gonna hear
from this family. And we're going to try to leave
here today knowing that America is a better country. America

(01:06:30):
less pause for a moment to proclaim this historical moment
not just for the legacy of George Floyd, but for
the legacy of America, the legacy of trying to make

(01:06:54):
America for all Americans, so that George Floyd's victory in
America's quest for equal justice under the law would be
intertwined America. Let's frame this moment as a moment where

(01:07:18):
we finally or getting close to living up to our
declaration of independence, that we hold these truths to be
self evident, that all men are created equally, that they're
endowed by their creator with certain in alienable rights, that
amongst them are life and liberty in the pursuit of happiness.

(01:07:42):
Where America that means all of us. That means Black people,
that means Hispanic people, that means Native people, that means
Asian people, that means all of us America. We framed
this moment for all of us, not just for George Floyd.
This is a victory for those who champion humanity over

(01:08:05):
in humanity, those who champion justice over injustice, those who
champion morals over immorality. America, let's lean into this moment,
and let's make sure wherever now that this moment will

(01:08:28):
be documented for our children. Yet I'm boring as they
continue on the journey to justice, knowing that the blood
of George Floyd, we'll give them a trail to find

(01:08:49):
a way to a better America, a more just America,
a more just America where Brown and Taylor gets an
opportunity to sleep in peace at night without the police
busting in her front door. Or more just America where
Mard Aubrey gets to run free and not be lynched

(01:09:12):
for jogon while black. Or more just America where Jacob
Blake and Anthony McClain and Walter Scott and the Quam
McDonald and all these other black men. Terence Crutcher, who
was shot in the back while running away like Dante

(01:09:36):
Wright was just a week ago. Because for some reason,
black men running away from the police is more dangerous
than young white men who commit mass murders and walked
towards the police with an assault weapon. Reverend Brat like
Kyle Rittenhouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, America. Let this be the precedent.

(01:10:02):
Let this be the precedent where we live up to
the high ideals and the promises when we say liberty
and justice for all those sun Kists. Children are included
in all those children who overcame slavery, the Middle Passage,

(01:10:28):
the Dress Scott Decision, Plussity, Ferguson, Jim Crow and his
much smarter, wisest son, Jim Crow Jr. Esquire. Let this
be the precedents where we overcome systematic racism and oppression

(01:10:49):
and that we are a better people and we will
leave our children a better world, a better world for
us all. At this time, we were here from a
great lawyer, because nobody does this along. It's always a

(01:11:11):
team effort. And we have the lawyers, the preachers, the
civil rights leaders, the education leaders, the activists. Let's give
a big round of applause for the activists, the people
who stayed in the streets, the people who came nationally,

(01:11:34):
but more importantly, the people who were here locally, who
was standing up with johns Flood onty eight in Chicago Avenue,
day in and down, silky to people who win, co
ho win, stay quiet, Reverend Jackson and people's felling. Yeah. Example,

(01:11:55):
Dona do be here now, so we love you, Donna,
with my brother do, my brother attorney Chris Stewart and
Tony you coming up, come on right here we are.

(01:12:26):
The first thing, Steve Fact, the first thing that happened
when we heard the vertical is that we all teared
up and embraced. So don't confuse these tears thinking that

(01:12:47):
they are sorrow, because those were the tears that happened
to African Americans when they're pulled over constantly on the
side of the road, and no, they can't get help.
Those are the tears of the victims that we've seen
time and time again be shot in the back, choked
over loose cigarettes, or killed for no reason and justice
never comes. Those are the tears that someone will weep

(01:13:09):
tomorrow when they are taking advantage of in an interaction
with law enforcement. But today the tears are pure joy,
pure joy, and pure shocked because days like this don't happen.
The whole world should not have to rally to get
justice for one man. But that's what happened. Man. This

(01:13:29):
wasn't a city case, this wasn't one family's case. This
was the entire world's case, and justice finally came. But
it shouldn't have to be so hard to attain this
level of justice in cases like this, when we can
see with our own eyes the only difference is the
color of skin, and that's the change that we all want.
That's what I've changed. That's outrageous. Yes, law enforcement have

(01:13:54):
a dangerous job. They have to carry a spear and
a sword and a shield, but all to often African
Americans only get the spear or the sword. We need
more of the shield, because this is not a case
against every officer. My life was saved by two law
enforcement officers years ago. So I will never throw every
cop under the bus, but we will put more cops

(01:14:16):
in jail when you kill someone for no reason, just
because they're black. And we can find a unifying purpose
between law enforcement and the African American community by changes
starting with the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act, a
beautifully written bill that will help protect the community and

(01:14:36):
solve polices. And the main question is where we let
politics divide us, because that's what happens. Republican or Democrat,
you're gonna stick to your side, unify as Ben has
been saying, as v has been saying, and get this
bill passed and save people so that you don't have
to board up your own cities for situations like this.

(01:14:56):
And if not, we'll see you next time when it's
time to vote. You've seen what's happened across this country
and we shouldn't have to be so happy when we
finally get one. But we are in celebration for Gianna,
for Roxy who has stood a strong this entire time,
for the brothers and sisters, for the after this Latmika
and everybody out here for this entire group. And it

(01:15:18):
wouldn't have happened without every single one of y'all, white
or black people out there praying for this family, getting
love and support, and we love all of you all.
Let this be a changing point in America for policing
in a positive way and let's unify. Thank you, my brother,
don't be wrong. Awesome long um. Attorney Tony Ramanucci from Chicago, Illinois,

(01:15:48):
Good afternoon, everybody has ben said. My name is Tony Romanucci.
I'm smiling here today, not for myself, but really for
the entire country and for the world that's watching. I
know that on behalf of the family and for everyone
who's here today, that we stand here before you feeling
a tremendous amount of joy and eternal hope. For me.

(01:16:14):
Thirty six years ago, I was a young public defender
in Cook County. Reverend Jackson, I know you know that
place very well, and that's where I was introduced to
the marginalization of black and brown people. And for now,
this is the thirties six year I've seen it come through.
I really feel that this country has turned a corner.

(01:16:38):
But I'm gonna tell you it was a tough corner
to turn, and it couldn't have been done. And I'm
gonna reach out to you all the press for spreading
the message for the strength and wisdom of Ben Crump.
To you, Reverend L. Sharpton, Reverend Jackson, the attorneys Chris Justin, Madeline,

(01:17:00):
Jeff Michelle, Vanni, Nicolette Ian, all the teams in all
the cities in this country, the Attorney General and the
magnificent prosecution team. They did it right. They tied up
every loose they tied up every loose threat for the jury.
They let them follow it right through. They showed them

(01:17:22):
how to prosecute and how to convict. And we are
so grateful, but make no mistake, we are not done.
The George Floyd Policing and Reform Act must pass the Senate.
We now know that today police can and will be

(01:17:43):
held accountable for needless death. This death never should have happened.
George should have been alive somewhere with his daughter Gianna
playing on a playground. From now on, everyone's on notice
that police will be held accountable, but we will be
held accountable. To this whole country should be held accountable.

(01:18:05):
But police especially. I am so thankful to all of you.
I am hopeful for a greater America, for a great,
great vote of confidence. I will tell you that that
Speaker Pelosi called us not once today, but twice. Our
speaker is a great leader. She is somebody that wants

(01:18:28):
to see this through. We have a great president who
wants to see this through. We have one little hiccup
in between. Let's get this pass the Senate. Let's get
justice in America once and for all and forever. One
last comment. I met a young lady yesterday. Her name
was Lamiah m hmm. She said one thing to me

(01:18:48):
that I promised her that I would repeat today. Lamia
is not part of the of the Floyd family, but
she is part of the right family. And she said
one thing, and I promised, right, let's say it today.
We are all God's children. Yes, thank you, Lamia, Thank

(01:19:10):
you Tony. Um and now Speaker Pelosi called um. We
need to uh these are all of course, this is
the news conference taking place right now. UM. I just
want to give an update on that again of of
attorney being the crump with the George Floyd family. UH,
number of the lawyers have been speaking, gonna go back
to the news conference right now. You're just hearing uh.

(01:19:33):
Crump said that they were heard from UH speaking. House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who called we also we showed you
the video of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala
Harris calling attorney being the Crump moments after the Verdi
let's go back to the news conference acknowledge President Biden
acknowledging that we are all a better America today. Isn't

(01:19:55):
that what he's said? Come out look, okay, okay, And
we we got so many good staff people to thank,
Jim mcguffin, Michelle and Roma, all these people who've been working,
you know, in the vineyards supporting our law is silky everybody.
But briefly, we want to have we can't be in

(01:20:16):
Minneapolis and not have a representative. Whether Jeff and Michelle
want to come up a sale word our great Minnesota
co counselor Jeff st Michelle. So I just briefly want
to say, I love this city, I love the state,

(01:20:38):
and no longer can we be known for these massively
infamous failures in civil rights. We owe our children in
our community. More from this moment further from this conviction.
Now we have to be leaders in this country on

(01:21:00):
civil rights, and everyone standing up here will work tirelessly
until that happens. And I challenge everybody else in Minnesota
to make that same effort. Thank you, thank you, j Okay,
thank you, Jeff. Uh can we because they're trying to

(01:21:22):
get everybody took a step back. Let's try to make
the podium. Let's try to make the podium. Just everybody
took a step back. We're gonna have the family. We're
gonna we're gonna have this one. We're gonna have the
family come up. Okay, okay, we're gonna have the family,

(01:21:44):
uh come and try to greet you all. Uh so,
so you got you got a back up too. So
the camera's trying to the cameras trying to get the podium.
Yeah so uh right now, right now, we're gonna bring

(01:22:05):
up a man who when y'all first met him, uh tony, y'all, remember,
he all he could do is cry because he was heartbroken.
He was heartbroken because remember, and so many times we
are it's a case. To us, tamik is a cause

(01:22:27):
you know, my signed as a hashtag. But to them,
this was their flesh and blood, Mark Mario. They slept
in the bed with George. I mean the stories that
they tell. You know, this was a close family. He
tells the stories revenue he used to peel on George.

(01:22:54):
But yeah, he has become so dignified and artickle it
in expressing not just the fight for justice for his family,
not just to fight for justice for Black America. But
he really has become so articulate and saying, we have

(01:23:14):
to fight for all Americans. Mr Flonis Florid, Uh, my nephew,
he called me baby l Jesse, calling me Steve Harvey.

(01:23:38):
But man, it's it's I feel relieved today that I
finally have the opportunity to for hopefully getting some sleep. Uh.
A lot of days that I prayed and I hope
and I was speaking everything into existence. I said, I
have faith that he will be convicted. It's been a

(01:24:03):
long journey and it's been less than a year. And
the person that comes to my mind is nighteen fifty five.
And to me, he was the first George Floyd that
was That was Emma till Row I did. Uh was

(01:24:27):
on sitting end with Devil Watts and she just brought
him back to life. People forgot about him, but he
was the first George Floyd. But today you have the
cameras all around the world to see and show what

(01:24:49):
happened to my brother. It was a motion picture the
world seeing his life being extinguished, and I could do
nothing but watch, especially in the court room, over and
over and over again, as my brother was murdered times.

(01:25:10):
They're getting harder every day, ten miles away from him.
Mr Wright Dante right, he should still be here. We
ought to always understand that we have to march. We
would have to do this for life. We have to

(01:25:33):
protest because it seems like this is a never ending cycle.
Reven noll I always told me we gotta keep fighting.
I'm gonna put up a fight every day because I'm
not just fighting for Josh anymore. I'm fighting for everybody
around this world. I get calls, I get d ms,

(01:25:58):
people from Brazil, from Gunna, from Germany, everybody London, Italy.
They're all saying the same thing. We won't be able
to breathe until you're able to breathe. Today we are
able to breathe again. Ms Gonna, I told you we'll

(01:26:20):
get justice, and we're still We're gonna fight for you too.
We're gonna fight for everybody. Thank you all so much
for just giving us this time, because we're here and
we're not going anywhere. And I want to thank all
the protesters, all the attorneys who stepped up, all the

(01:26:41):
activists who stepped up, and many who think they're not
activists but advocates. Thank you all. Because justice for George
means freedom for all. Terrence Floyd make we would have

(01:27:06):
Terence Floyd, George, his brother from New York City grabbing Florida.
I'm not gonna appreciate it, oh man. So many emotions
right now, but I'm very thankful and grateful, grateful for

(01:27:31):
the people in this world, for the support, the press,
the love that was shown, whether you sent it so
by social media or whether you sent it emails or however,
just we just appreciate the love. I appreciate the team,
the crump Layer team. I'll call him uncle, I'll call

(01:27:56):
him up. We built the bond of relationship through this
whole journe Annie. I appreciate him. He would call me
and call me and check up on me. And actually
I'm all right because I'm the only one up there.
Everybody else is in. He is it down south. So
but he he never caught thought of robbery to to
check up on me. And I'm grateful for that. I'm

(01:28:18):
grateful for Rev. Sharpton. Yeah, thank you. He's been fighting
a long time, a long time man, Reverend Jesse Jackson. Yeah,
it's a lot of history here. History is here. It's

(01:28:40):
is monumental, Reverend Jess Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton. They lived
to see this. Their fight wasn't in vain. It just
didn't happen when they did it. But it happened now. Yeah, man,

(01:29:04):
and they're here to see it and be and go
back to We did that press service. My family is
a family that will not back down from prayer. And
I believe because of prayer, we got the verdict we wanted.

(01:29:29):
We got on our knees, some of us stood up,
but we asked the right person. We asked the right one.
Come on. We said, God, we need justice, we need
it now, and he is it. Joh. I'm oh man,

(01:29:54):
I'm just I'm just grateful. I'm grateful that my grandmother,
my mother, my aunt stage you got to see this
history made I'm even great. I'm I'm grateful my brother's
not here. I'm grateful and I'm proud of him. I
would salute him at every every day of my life.

(01:30:15):
I would salute him because he showed me how to
be strong. He showed me how to be respectful. He
showed me how to speak my mind. I'm gonna miss him,
but now I know he's in history. What a day
to be a Floyd man. Thank you, Thank you, Terence.

(01:30:47):
Now we were here from George's baby brother, Rodney Floyd.
You know what, I'm gonna stay this first. I would
like to thank all the advocates, the activists. I like
to thank the people that stayed in the streets marching

(01:31:07):
night and days. People of Portland stay in the streets
for eighty three days. I think it made me wrong,
but thankful for everybody that stayed out there making a
statement with us and Caurac to us and our dark days,
dark nights we had them. And you know, we got
so many messages flooding there from social media sites. Can't
read them all. There's so many. And but you know what,

(01:31:28):
thank everyone, each and everyone. So many people a grocery
stores we walk in, we hear from the elders. You know,
I believe in respecting the elders. Give you guys, all
to respect men and women. And I hear them walk
up in the grocery store, stop me. They mask of
face and hat in the mask and they sticking looking
out the side of your face. Let me talk to you.
I know who you are, and I just and we

(01:31:48):
have a hold. They'll stop to hold the great conversation,
telling me what they experienced as a child, what they saw,
and what they need for change. And they say, we
are here for you. And this is everywhere I go,
my brother, girl, we all go and thank you people
for the love in the streets. I'm thinking everyone because
we couldn't have did this, and this is a victor
for all of us. There's no color bound you on this.

(01:32:10):
This is everyone who was being held down, pinning down.
And you know what, people, and we're standing together in
unity and this right here like thank our team. It's
a turney being crump. I'm wrong with new the witnesses.
Donan Williams. I would like to thank the jury, I
mean everybody, Thank God. That's all all they God Almighty,

(01:32:31):
thank you and you know what, people, We're not done yet.
And my brother George he's smiling his beautiful daughters here. Gianna, baby,
you're so beautiful, You're so smart. Rock says, you can
have my heart. Baby. Thank you for holding Gianna, keeping
us strong. I know how hard it is. I know

(01:32:51):
how hard it is. I would like to thank everyone
that helped out this taste a little thank this jury
from having the hearts and mind sets that we all
see in this video, because know this video was an
open and check case. Everybody knows this video and know
what the jury had the same mindset. We all head guilt,
just charge luck. To thank them. I would like to
thank again everybody to press it all but for George,

(01:33:15):
this fight is not over. We're gonna stand here together.
We're gonna try to get to George Florida at pass.
The Act has to be passed, people, it has to be.
We're gonna keep pressure on the send it everybody. Thank
y'all all from coming George. I noticed he loves all y'all.
Thank y'all. I'm ronning. And next we're gonna have a

(01:33:39):
man who brought him man. Him and George used to
text each other all the time. Uh. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson
Lee always talk about Cutey Holmes, Houston, Texas. Back there
are Rocks. I think y'all call him who we're gonna
hear from. Brandon Williams was like a son to George Moore,

(01:34:02):
who you know. Yeah, it's very emotional day for me
and I already had the words I'm over away and
with joy. But I do want to start by saying
thank you. Uh. First off, thank you to all you

(01:34:24):
guys UM advocating protesting in the middle of a pandemic,
putting your lives and safety on the line. We appreciate that,
especially to our legal team being Tony Justin, Chris Justin
back here. UM. Definitely, definitely thank you to Keith Edison

(01:34:44):
and his team. I think they did an amazing jar
from start to finish. Um. All of the evidence, all
of the witnesses, everything proved exactly what we saw in
that video. But yeah, we're still questioned the decision of

(01:35:07):
the jury, and I wonder why often times this system
fails us as black men and women in America, with
all evidence there, everything pointing to a guilty verdict, we
somehow still don't get the guilty verdict, or in some
cases I got My good friend Kenny walker back here,
we don't even get charges. So today is a pivotal

(01:35:33):
moment um for America. It's something these country is needed
for a long time now, and hopefully today is the
start of that. When I say a pivotal moment, we
need change in this broken system. It was built to
oppress us, it was built against us. Often times we

(01:35:59):
see people who are supposed to supposed to protect the serve,
supposed to protect the serve, they do the total opposite.
On the first day of trial, real shot and we
had a press conference and we knee up for eight
minutes and forty six seconds. And when I got up

(01:36:24):
and it was my turn to speak, I said that
every time I come out here, it's hard because it's
the exact place where they took somebody from me that
I loved, and I absolutely dislike coming here. But I
also said, this time it was easy. We came for
one thing and one thing only that was justice for

(01:36:46):
George Floyd. And today that's what we got. So this
time it wasn't hard at all. It wasn't hard at all.
I'm big on faith in prayer. I had a lot
of faith, but I was also optimistic. We need police

(01:37:11):
reform bad These guys are able to wear badge and
go out in the field, which means that they're qualified
and trained to do their job at a high level.
But when you shoot and kill a man that's running
away from you, that doesn't pose a thrick either. You're

(01:37:34):
not qualified and undertrained. Oh it's a choice, and you
want to kill black men and women, it's either one
or the other. And I think today Keith Ellison and
his team proved that just because you are the law,
you're not above the law. We need each and every

(01:37:57):
officer to be held accountable. And until then, it's still
scared to be a black man and woman in American
county police. Yeah. So when I say today as a
pivotal moment, it's a chance for America to take a
turn in the right direction and right a lot of

(01:38:18):
wrongs so that we don't keep adding to these names.
So they are little girls and boys like Gianna are
not growing up fatherless, so their families don't feel the
pain we feel. It's a lot of sleepless nights. No
families should go through that. And hopefully our can't you
take a turn in the right direction that they hear
it from Brandon Williams with Sherylotte Eiffel, President Director Counsel

(01:38:41):
of the Legal the NAB to Be Legal Defense Fund. Uh, Sherylon,
glad to have you on Roller Marton unfiltered. People obviously
are reacting. Uh. They are responding, uh with cries of
joy that his officer was found guilty. But as Brandon
just said, this is just simply one case, Uh that

(01:39:01):
in order for folks to believe these things are going
to change, there has to be more Derek Chauvin's who
are convicted, but not that's convicted actually go to trial.
Now that's going to trial actually get indicted. Well, I'll
take it a step further, Roland. We don't want people
to be killed and brutalized. You know. The trial is

(01:39:24):
what happens after the life of an innocent man has
been taken. And so yes, we want accountability. That's why
we want the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act. We
want to be able to hold officers accountable for engaging
in brutality and ms conduct. But we also want a
new system. We want a system that um does not

(01:39:46):
produce what this produced. We're here today. We know this
because we have this nine minute video because the courageous
young girl, Darnella Fraser took this video because a crowd
of people we're compelled out of their humanity to stand
there and bear witness, to to speak out, to to
plead for the life of of George Floyd. That that's

(01:40:11):
how we ended up here. Um I just posted something
on Twitter that Keith Boykett had posted earlier. You know,
the police report that was originally filed about this quote
unquote incident, um and it's it's very different than you know,
what we learned actually happened. So this is the one
case where we actually have that video and where we
had all those witnesses, and we're even police officers were

(01:40:34):
willing to testify against one of their own. But what
about all the other cases, Roland, Not just the ones
we know about, not just the Freddy Grays and the
Terrence Crutcher's and the Eric Garners and all the other
cases in which officers were not held accountable, but the
ones in which we haven't seen a video, the names
that we don't even know of people who were brutalized
and even killed by police officers. So we need a
different system. And um I don't want to in any

(01:40:57):
way diminish the significance of the verdict tonight, because I
don't even know how would hold myself together if there
had not been a conviction. Very important and important for
the family and important for all of us really, um,
but it is as as you say, it's one case
and we have a lot of work to do. It's
it's important for us to take our breath tonight and
to you know, to to be gratified for the family,

(01:41:19):
but also to know that, um, we just got to
really dig in on real transformation to that point. We
just had the shooting in Chicago, thirteen year old killed
a kid who was shot and killed. Officers report different
from what the body camp footed showed Lakwa McDonald. When
Jason Van Dyke was convicted again, the police report different
than what he said yesterday. We had a state's attorney
from Prince George's County, Brave boy On where she has

(01:41:42):
a list of fifteen officers who she will not call
to the stand because of issues that they have. Fairfax
County offers one officer they're looking at throwing out four
hundred cases because of his misconduct, and that's the the
piece that folks are saying that, Look, we shouldn't get
to the point where, yes, we are celebrating officer who

(01:42:07):
was found guilty, George Floyes should still should still be alive. No, absolutely,
And think about where we were a few hours ago, Roland, We,
by no means felt that this was a foregone conclusion.
We were all on tenor hooks right. Everybody was hoping
that that there would be a conviction. And that's with
everything I described, that's with the video with the police

(01:42:27):
officers testifying, with all the witnesses on the street and
so forth. Um, we have a deep, deep systemic problem.
It didn't even stop while the trial was happening. You know,
Dante Wright was killed twenty miles away while this trial
was playing out. Um, So we we know that, and
I think that's some of the heaviness we feel today.
We feel the need for this vindication. This verdict was important,

(01:42:50):
but we also know that in the in the you know,
it's a drop in a in an ocean of injustice
that has to be fully kind of drained. Um And
and there has to be a new vision of what
public safety looks like in this country. And it's got
to not be one that's um that is formulated in
the way policing is formulated in this country. We need

(01:43:12):
something that emanates from the communities, from our own communities,
with the vision of what public safety should be like.
We originally book you to talk about the congressionally hearing
today dealing with the issue of voting, but you saw
just what happened in Florida Governor Rondo Santis signing this
anti so called anti rioters bill UH that also frankly
limiting First Amendment included in that of where the right

(01:43:36):
is calling it all the most pro law enforcement bill
we've seen in a very long time. We also have,
of course, what's happening in Congress, trying to convince West
Virginia Senator Joe Mansion Senator Christian Cinema UH to support
into the filibuster because this is a reality. If we
do not confront what Republicans are trying to do across
the country with voting, then they look happened in Florida.

(01:43:58):
How they're even saying they are ordering it is you
can't determine how you fund or defund the police or
shift resources without our permission, UH, And so voting is
tied to the very changes Maryland got rid of the
Officer's Bill of Rights that was elected leaders who overturned
the veto of the governor. And so this testimony on

(01:44:19):
Capitol today about voting rights goes directly with police accountability
across the country. Well, you hit the nail on the head.
And that's what I've been saying, Uh, you know over
the last few weeks since Georgia passed its omnibus voter
suppression bills too. Oh two. You know, at the end
of the day, we all know what happened last summer
after George Floyd was killed. There were protests around the country,

(01:44:41):
in all fifty states, all over the world. Frankly and um,
you know, black people, our communities understandably and righteously outraged
and angered about the killing of George Floyd, about the
killing of Brianna Taylor, about the killing of Ahmad are
very um really you know about COVID, Um really angry
and child We channeled that energy and anger in the

(01:45:04):
way that John Lewis told us to what did he
tell us on the EDMN Pettis Bridge a year ago
vote like never ever before, don't give up, don't give in,
eyes on the prize, and black people did that. We
had the highest turnout um in this presidential election and
in the special election in Georgia. Um, you know, extraordinarily
channeled and focused, risking COVID by the way to participate

(01:45:27):
in the election, doing it by any means necessary. Lebron
James creating more than a vote working. We worked with
him at LDF and and help get you know, young
poll workers. I mean, this was everybody was all in
and in response to this powerful and important display of
civic engagement. The highest turnout of any presidential election ever,

(01:45:48):
not even dealing with who you voted for, whether you
voted for the winner or the loser. It was the
highest turnout of any presidential election. High turnout in the
special election in Georgia, especially for black people. Nine two
of black voters who voted in the November presidential election
showed up for the special election. That's unheard of. In
response to that, Georgia decides that this can never happen again,

(01:46:12):
right because what's the result of that special election. The
election of the first black senator from Georgia since reconstruction,
the election of the first Jewish senator ever in that state,
and the Georgia legislature responds by creating a Special Elections
Integrity Commission on January seventh, right after the vote is
certified for Kamala Harris and and President Joe Biden, and

(01:46:34):
it's off to the races with their voter suppression bill,
and now all the other states are following suit. This
is essentially in retaliation for black people deciding that we
were going to marshal ourselves into the political process and
vote like never ever before. So when you make that connection,
you were right about that connection, and the question then

(01:46:55):
becomes if it's allowed to stand. Now. I'll be clear
that LDF has already filed suit A on with other
organizations challenging the Georgia s feed two O two, and
there'll be others in other states as well. I wouldn't
expect the Florida UH law that was just signed to
go unpunished around protests that essentially is a walking violation
of the First Amendment. But the truth is, what what

(01:47:16):
are we saying to people who channel their outrage into voting,
which is supposed to be this powerful form of public
and civic expression if we allow these voter suppression bills
to go forward. So That's why it was important for
me to testify today before the Senate Judiciary Committee along
with Stacy Abrahams and Senator Rafael Warnock and the brilliant

(01:47:37):
scholar Carol Anderson, to really talk about what's happening. There
was a lot of outrage around this being called Jim
Crow two point oh, but there's enough evidence out there
to suggest that's exactly what it is, and we need
to understand that connection between the two. Well, it is
certainly the case in uh we just saw in Montana
Republicans took over the legislature for the first time in

(01:47:58):
two decades. The first thing they did passed the voter
suppression law, outlawing same day voter registration. We're seeing the
limiting of ballot drop boxes all across the country as well,
and so these things are connected. And I dare say
there's going to be a reaction from the right that's
going to be pro police as a result of this verdict. Yeah,

(01:48:21):
and so it's going to be interesting to see whether
the ground has shifted at all. Roland, I do think
that something happened last summer with those protests around the country,
not just because people were protesting the killing of George Floyd.
But because of how the police responded to those protests.
Those protests were multiracial, they were all over the country,
and the response by law enforcement officers in many cities
was brutal. People had an opportunity to see upfront and

(01:48:45):
in person themselves the response of police officers to UH
to protests against racial violence. And then they got to
see the contrast on January six, right when there was
a storming of of the capital h and we saw
what was allowed to happen. We saw those people, those insurrectionists,
those violent insurrectionists, having the door held open for them

(01:49:07):
as they left. And so I think there's some um,
there's some reordering going on, at least in some minds
that are not kind of part of the usual suspects
around policing. And they've better be very very careful about
pressing their case at this point, because I think there's
a lot of vulnerability around around this set of issues.
I think people can see it's not working whatever we
were doing. I've been at this a long time. I've

(01:49:29):
been there, you know, pushing for training and all that stuff.
It's not working. And if we want change and we
want something to be different. Then it's gonna have to
be different. We're gonna have to do different. And I
would just say, um, you know, we should also connect
to that the confirmation of these two extraordinary women who
nominated to serve in the Department of Justice, Benita Gupta
nominated service Associate Attorney General and Kristin Clark, who is

(01:49:51):
well known to you and been on this program many times,
nominated to serve as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.
When confirms will be the first black woman, first woman,
and first black woman ever in that position. And when
you see the kind of resistance to them, the kind
of uh smears attacks, the viciousness spent by groups to
resist them, you understand that they know that these two

(01:50:13):
women can help with this change, right and um, And
so that's kind of what we're seeing. It's all part
of the connection. Well, this is why we focus on
this every single day, because we're gonna be in for
a major fight, a one and definitely when it comes
to in these political races. Sherlon I Felt, President Director
Council INSP Legal Defense Fund, glad to have you healing

(01:50:35):
forward to having your back, and we're gonna keep giving
them a heil and y'all do the same thing in
the courtrooms. We will, we will that, we won't stop,
can't stop. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thanks a lot.
Let's quickly go back to many apples. I want to
quickly hear from river Jesse Jackson Sr. Then I'm gonna
talk to us Senator Amy Cloba shar of Minnesota team

(01:50:56):
of she's a black and white and we must learned
to live together as brothers and not that policy we
said we was learning literally good and not the policies
we lived. So we we lived together first. My things,
uh mortreal, every league and all those are coming up
today because we're gonna keep watching. So it's the thronal

(01:51:18):
fall brother right. We they we relieve, but we can't
celebrate because the Chilans heap coming hopeless. Chase said has
broken the backbone of legalistion Ben Ben that's where we look. Well,
this case should break the backbone legalition. The lists us
with the law. We're changing that, thank you very much.

(01:51:44):
I got to folks who sent me some tweets and
they were asking about revend Jesse Jackson Sr. As you know,
for the last several years he has been battling Parkinson's UH,
and UH it is always good to see him. He
is still on the front lines. He got the Minnesota
on Sarah. He met with the family of Dante right,
met with the family. UH has met many times with
the family of George Floyd UH and was with them

(01:52:06):
today when this verdict came in. Let's not go to UH, Minnesota,
you are Senator Amy Klobascher who Jones is right now,
welcome back to Roland Martin unfiltered, Senator Klobshar Uh. This UH, this, obviously,
UH is huge for the state of Minnesota. We dealt
with UH the the death the murder of Philenno Castile

(01:52:29):
where the officer Um, you didn't have a trial there.
You were dealing with this. You're dealing with Dante right,
You're dealing with the mayor of Brooklyn Center who said, frankly,
it's unsafe for black people in the state when it
comes to the police. Uh. Your immediate reaction to this
guilty verdict on all three counts against Derek Chauvin, Well,

(01:52:49):
my first reaction, of course, is relief for the family.
It's never going to bring George back, and they have
never given up on believing that something good can come
out of this horrendous murder, and the fact that the
jury came back so quickly on all three counts, the
fact that the witnesses that came forward, the clerk working

(01:53:12):
in the store, the bystander who seemed to be, as
you know, putting the burden on themselves, when in fact
we know who did this and it was Derek Schaubin.
So the conviction was really really important from a justice perspective.
But at the same time, as as ry Lynn said,
there's so much more work that needs to be done. Um,

(01:53:33):
talk about the importance of one of your former congressional
colleagues being the Attorney general in this case, Attorney General
Keith Allison stepping in taking over this case, uh, and
putting together the legal strategy that laid to the conviction
of Derek Scholvin. I'm smiling right now because Keith Allison

(01:53:56):
handled this case, Um, every step of the way, just
like he should. And you know why, he didn't make
it about himself. He didn't make it about the lawyers
that handled the case. You didn't see a bunch of
you know, hot shot lawyer ring. They just did their
jobs and they allowed the witness to tell the story
because this was not just about George Floyd's tragic murder.

(01:54:17):
It was also about his life, and it was about
how much he loved his mom and how he wasn't
going to be able to hold his kids again, and
all that came through Roland. And I think part of
why is that Keith made a decision. He wasn't going
to make this about politics. He wasn't going to make
this about what legal move they did that day. Um
you didn't see him going on TV during the trial

(01:54:39):
or even right leading into it. And I talked to
him many times, of course in the last few months
and then particularly during the trial, and he was steady
as they come. He showed such leadership and I just
don't want that part of this to be forgotten because
we know we have so much work to do. This
is just the first step. We know we got to

(01:54:59):
pass police reform in the Senate. But the fact that
Keith Ellison is willing to take this case on, because
typically the attorney generals and states don't always take these
kinds of cases on, and he did it, and he
did it so well. We talked about you saw at
the news conference you heard the family, You heard attorney
had been crump Um, and you heard on that phone

(01:55:20):
call um President Joe Biden and the Vice President Kamala
Harris talk about the importance of the Senate passing the
George Floyd Justice Act. We also are waiting for President
Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to speak to
the nation UH as a result of this verdict. But
you the only way that's gonna get happened. Let's just
be real clear. There aren't ten votes there on the

(01:55:42):
Republican side. There aren't there. The only way this is
going to happen is to break the filibuster. How do
you get to your two colleagues who have said Senator
Joe manton And said there is no circumstance in which
he is going UH to vote that you were the
Philip Bluster Cinema said the exact same thing. Well, then,

(01:56:02):
how are we going to pass the John Lewis, How
are we gonna pass h R one? How a gonna
plas to George for Justice Act? And do they not
understand that that literally is gonna put potentially put Democrats
in the minority. Okay, let's start start with me you know,
I favor abolishing the filibuster. Um. I like to get
things done, and we just can't get things done. And

(01:56:23):
it's police reform, it's voting, and um. Sherylyn did an
incredible job along with Stacy Abrams and others at this
hearing today on voting. I'm gonna be in charge of
the hearing on the four the People Act, and I
know how hard this is. So that's why I favor
abolishing the filibuster. Um. These are things one Corey Booker
is leading the bill on police reform. He is working

(01:56:46):
so hard to get something done. Role and I talked
to him through the weekend. He spent the whole weekend
on this, working with the White House, working with others.
So let's see what he does. So give him that
chance of sending the club. You know, I do not
uh like to have to interrupt you, but we're sort
of superseded right now by the Vice president President. That's

(01:57:07):
pretty important. Door coms. So let her have her moment
and speaking right now. All right, let's go loud to
the White House, folks, thank you. It cannot take away
the pain. A measure of justice isn't the same as
equal justice. This verdict brings us a step closer, and

(01:57:27):
the fact is we still have work to do. We
still must reform the system. Last summer, together with Senator
Corey Booker and Representative Karen bass I, introduced the George
Floyd Justice and Policing Act. This bill would hold law
enforcement accountable and help build trust between law enforcement and

(01:57:52):
our communities. This bill is part of George Floyd's legacy.
The President and I will continue to urge the Senate
to pass this legislation, not as a panacea for every problem,
but as a start. This work is long overdue. America

(01:58:14):
has a long history of systemic racism. Black Americans, and
black men in particular, have been treated throughout the course
of our history as less than human. Black men are
fathers and brothers, and sons and uncles and grandfathers and

(01:58:37):
friends and neighbors. Their lives must be valued in our
education system, in our health care system, in our housing system,
in our economic system, in our criminal justice system, in
our nation full stop. Because of smartphones, so many Americans

(01:59:04):
have now seen the racial injustice that Black Americans have
known for generations, the racial injustice that we have fought
for generations, that my parents protested in the nineteen sixties
that millions of US Americans of every race protested last summer.

(01:59:26):
Here's the truth about racial injustice. It is not just
a Black America problem or a people of color problem.
It is a problem for every American. It is keeping
us from fulfilling the promise of liberty and justice for all,

(01:59:49):
and it is holding our nation back from realizing our
full potential. We are all a part of George Floyd's
legacy and to our job now is to honor it
and to honor him. Thank you. And now it is

(02:00:12):
my great honor to introduce the President of the United States,
Joe Biden. Today, a jury in Minnesota found former Minneapolis

(02:00:39):
police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts in the
murder of George Floyd's last name. It was a murder
in full light of day, and I ripped the blinders
off for the whole world to see. This just make racism.

(02:01:00):
The Vice President just referred to there are systemic races.
Is a stain on our nation's soul, the knee on
the neck of justice for Black Americans, profound fear and trauma,
the pain, the exhaustion and black and brown American's experienced
every single day. The murder George Floyd launched the summer

(02:01:26):
protests we hadn't seen since the civil rights here in
the sixties, protests that unified people of every race and
generation in peace and with purpose to say enough, enough,
enough of the senseless killings today. Today's verdict is a

(02:01:50):
step forward. I just spoke with the Governor of Minnesota,
thank me for the close work with his team. And
I also spoke with Yeh George Floyd's family again, remarkable
family of extraordinary courage. Nothing can ever bring their brother,

(02:02:10):
their father back, but this can be a giant step
forward in the march toward justice in America. Let's also
be clear that such a verdict is also much too
rare for so many people. It seems like it took

(02:02:32):
a unique and extraordinary convergence of factors. A brave young
woman with a smartphone camera, a crowd that was traumatized,
traumatized witnesses, a murder that lasts almost ten minutes in
broad daylight, for all the manly the whole world to

(02:02:52):
see officers standing up and testifying against the fellow officer
instead of just closing ranks, which should be commended. A
jury who heard the evidence carried out their civic duty
in the midst of an extraordinary moment, under extraordinary pressure.

(02:03:17):
For so many, it feels like it took all of
that for the judicial system to deliver a just just
basic accountability. We saw how traumatic and exhausting just watching
the trial was for so many people. Think about it,
those of your listening to think about how traumatic it

(02:03:39):
was for you. You weren't there, You didn't know any
of the people, but it was difficult, especially for the witnesses.
Why do to relive that day? It's a trauma on
top of the fear so many people of color lived
with every day when they to sleep at night and

(02:04:02):
pray for the safety of themselves and their loved ones. Again,
as he saw in this trial from the fellow police
officers who testified, most men and women aware of the
badge serve their communities honorably. But those few who failed
to meet that standard must be held accountable, and they

(02:04:24):
were today. One was no one should be above the law,
and today's verdict sends that message. But it's not enough.
We can't stop here. In order to deliver real change
and reform. We can and we must do more to
reduce the likelihood that tragedy like this will ever happen

(02:04:47):
and occur again, to ensure the black and brown people
are anyone so they don't fear the interactions with law enforcement,
that they don't have to wake up knowing that they
can lose their very life and the course of just
living their life. They don't have to worry about whether
their sons or daughters will come home after a grocery

(02:05:09):
store run, or just walking down the street, or driving
their car or playing in the park, are just sleeping
at home. And this takes acknowledging and confronting head on
systemic racism and the racial disparities that existing policy and
on our criminal justice system. More broadly, you know, state

(02:05:32):
and local government and law enforcement needs to step up,
but so does the federal government. That's why I have
appointed the leadership of the Justice Department that I have
that is fully committed to restore and trust between law
enforcement and the community they are sworn to serve and protect.

(02:05:53):
I have complete confidence in the Attorney General General Garland's
leadership and commitment. I've also nominated two key Justice Department nominees,
Lenita Gupta and Kristen Clark were eminently qualified, highly respected
lawyers who have spent their entire careers fighting to advance

(02:06:13):
racial equity and justice. Nita and Kristen have the experience
and the skill necessary to advance our administration's priorities to
root out on constitutional policing and reform our criminal justice system,
and they deserve to be confirmed. We also need Congress

(02:06:35):
to act. George Floyd was murdered almost a year ago.
There's meaningful police reform legislation in his name. You just
heard the Vice President speak of it. She helped write it.
Legislation to tackle systemic misconduct and police departments, to restore
trust between law enforcement and the people that are entrusted

(02:06:57):
to serve and protect. But it shouldn't take a whole
year to get this done. My conversations with the Floyd family,
I spoken them again today. I assure that we're going
to continue to fight for the passage of Georgan Floyd.
Justice and police enact so you can I can sign
the law as quickly as possible. There's more to do. Finally,

(02:07:22):
it's the work we do every day to change hearts
and minds, as well as laws and policies. That's the
work we have to do. Only then will full justice
and full equality be delivered to all Americans. And that's
what I just discussed with the Floyd family. The guilty
verdict does not bring back George, but through the family's pain,

(02:07:49):
they're finding purpose. So George's George's legacy will not be
just about his death, but about what we must do
in his man marine. I also spoke to John and
George loves. George's young daughter again. When I met her
last year, I've said this before. At George's funeral, I

(02:08:11):
told her how brave I thought she was, and I
sort of knelt down to hold her hand. I said,
Daddy's looking down on it, so proud. She said to me, then,
I'll never forget it. Daddy changed the world. I told
her this afternoon that he did change the world. Let

(02:08:33):
that be his legacy, a legacy of peace, not violence.
Of justice. Peaceful expression of that legacy are inevitable and appropriate,
but violent protest is not. And there are those who
will seek to exploit the raw emotions of the moment.
Agitators and extremists who have no interest in social justice,

(02:08:57):
who seek to carry out violence, destroy property, to fan
the flames of hate and division, don't do everything in
their power to stop this country's march towards racial justice.
We can't let them succeed. This is a time for
this country to come together, to unite as Americans. There
can never be any safe harbor for hate in America.

(02:09:24):
Said it many times. The battle for soul of this
nation has been a constant push and pull for more
than two forty years, a tug of war between the
American ideal that we're all created equal in the harsh reality,
racism is long torn us apart. At our best, the

(02:09:47):
American ideal wins out. So we can't leave this moment
or look away thinking our work is done. We have
to look at it. We have to we looked as
we did for those nine minutes and twenty nine seconds.
We have to listen. I can't breathe. I can't breathe.

(02:10:11):
Those are George F. Lord's last words. We can't let
those words die with him. We have to keep hearing
those words. We must not turn away. We can't turn away.
We have a chance to begin to change the trajectory
in this country. It's my hope and prayer that we

(02:10:35):
live up to the legacy. May God bless you, but
may God bless the George Floyd in his family. Thank
you for taking the time to be here. This can
be a moment of significant change. Thank you. M H.

(02:11:01):
That was President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris addressing
the nation sharing their thoughts with regards to the murder
verdict of Derek Chauvin. It is seven pm Eastern Standard time.
It was about two hours and twenty minutes ago when
this is what took place in the courtroom in Minneapolis,

(02:11:25):
when the nation in the world found out the fate
of Derek Chauvin for murdering George Floyd. H. M all right.

(02:12:02):
For the jury, M all right, please be seated. Remembers

(02:12:28):
the jury. I understand you have a verdict. Remembers the jury.

(02:12:48):
I would now read the verdict says they will appear
in the permanent records of the Fourth Judicial District, State
of Minnesota, County of Hennepin District Court, fourth Judicial District,
State of Minnesota. Plaintiff versus is Derek Michael Chauvin, defendant,
very count one, Court file number twenty seven CR to
zero one to six four six. We the jury in

(02:13:10):
the above entitled matter as to count one unintentional second
degree murder while committing a felony. Find the defendant guilty.
This verdict agreed to this twentieth day of April at
one pm. Signs Jr. Four person, Juror number nine, same
caption verdict Count two, with the jury the above ent

(02:13:31):
title matter as to count to third degree murder perpetrating
and eminently dangerous act. Find the defendant guilty. This verdict
agreed to this twentieth day of April at one pm,
signed by Jury four person Juror number nineteen, same caption
verdict Count three with the jury and the above ent
title matter as to count three second degree manslaughter, culpable

(02:13:54):
negligence creating an unreasonable risk, Find the defendant guilty. This
verdict agreed to this twentieth day of ape pm, Jury
four person zero one night Remembers of the jury. I'm
not going to ask you individually if these are your
true and correct verdicts. Please respond yes or no. Juror
number two, are these your true and correct verdicts? Juror

(02:14:16):
number nine, Are these your true and correct verdicts? Juring
number nineteen, Are these your true and correct verdicts. Juror
number twenty seven. Are these your true in correct verdicts?
During number forty four? Are these your true and correct verdicts?
Juring number fifty two? Are these your true and correct verdicts?

(02:14:37):
Juror number fifty five? Are these your true and correct verdicts?
Jur number seventy nine? Are these are true and correct verdicts?
Juring number eighty five? Are these are true and correct verdicts?
Jur number eighty nine? Is this your Are these your
true and correct verdicts? Juring number ninety one? Are these
your true and correct verdicts? Yes? Jury number ninety two?

(02:15:01):
Are these your true and pray verdicts? Are these your verdics?
Will see you one, so see you all the jury.
I find that the verdicts as red reflect the will
of the jury and will be filed accordingly. I have
to thank you on behalf of the people of the
state of Minnesota for not only jury service, but heavy
duty jury service. What I'm gonna ask you to do

(02:15:22):
now is to follow the deputy back into your usual room,
and I will join you in a few minutes to
answer questions and to advise you further. So, all right,
for the jury. All right, you see it. With the

(02:15:53):
guilty verdicts returned, we're gonna have Blakely. You may file
a written argument as to Blakely factors within one week.
The quarter issue findings on the Blakely factors, the factual
findings one week after that. We'll order p s I
immediately returnable in four weeks, and we will also have

(02:16:17):
briefing on after you get the p s I six
weeks from now, and then eight weeks from now we
will have sentencing. We'll get you the exact dates in
a scheduling order. Is their motion on behalf of the
state moved to have the court revoked the defendant's bail
and remind him into custody defending sentencing. Bail has revoked,

(02:16:40):
bond is discharged, and the defendant has remanded to the
custody of the Hanipen County Sheriff. Anything further, all right,
thank you, m M. And that and that was the

(02:17:16):
moment that took place today. Huge side of relief to
folks all across this country and the world when Derek
Chauvin was found guilty by a jury of his peers
guilty and all three counts who heard the judge to
say sentencing will take place in eight weeks. Let's go
to our panel. We've had a variety of people. Let
me apologize, we've had some pallets who we had on

(02:17:38):
we could not get on because of breaking news, the
very fluid situation here. We appreciate our previous panelets from
being on. UH, and so we thank them so very much.
Let me pull up right now with Joe Adoptr grag Car,
Chair Department of African American Studies at Howard University. UH,
Terrain Bailey, she's still there, of course, thank you very much,

(02:17:59):
of course with the Bailey Law Firm. UH. And Reddy
Hudson also joins us. Um Uh Dury, I want to
go to you first, UM, and that is UM. You've
heard Senaklobashaw, you've heard Sherylene Eifel, You've heard you've heard
President Joe Biden, Vice President Joe Biden. You you you've

(02:18:20):
seen this, You've seen this reaction. UH. And in the
response to UH, to this verdict. UM. You know, as
a defense attorney, as someone who defends clients, UH, this
is one of those examples where UM, if this had
gone the other way, UH, you would be a completely

(02:18:43):
different reaction in this country. Today, this country would have
been torn apart. I firmly believe that I was just
two years old. I had no idea what could happen
after the Robby King verdict. But this morning, when I
woke up, I knew. I knew that we were in
the wake of something that could be really bad for
our country if the jury did not come back with

(02:19:04):
a verdict that celebrated George Floyd's life and honored his
legacy and found that office for guilty of murder. And
so it's a different feeling, you know. I think a
lot of people were kept their children home. A lot
of people were worried about what would happen if the
jury came back not guilty, and wonder, articularly for the

(02:19:24):
African American, the black jurors, how that could how that
could be? And I don't know if you all were
looking at Derek Schauvin as he listened to the jury
um confirmed their verdicts, but with three jurors, his eyebrows raised,
and that said to me that he really thought he
had those three jurors because he was. He raised an
eyebrow for three of them. And so It's impressive that

(02:19:48):
this jury worked so hard to come up and do
the right thing for this family, not just Kaddie wants
Lee coming up with a verdict to say let's keep
the peace in this country, but doing the right thing
because it was supported by the evidence. And as a
defense attorney, you don't want this to be the case.
But I tell you when that verdict came back, when
I got a text mecessary the verdict is in, I
knew that it could only be guilty. Because your goal

(02:20:12):
as a defense attorney is to keep them out as
long as possible. That means somebody's fighting for you. And
when they come back this quickly, that means you're more
than likely lost. And that's what happened today. We got
the greg car. The closing arguments ended yesterday. The jury
did not spend a lot of time yesterday um deliberating.
But the reality is this, if they came back at

(02:20:33):
eight o'clock this morning, that was a real quick, quick
decision that this jury made, and I think it speaks
directly to the type of case that prosecutors laid out.
They made it easy for this jury to go into
that room and say guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Yeah, I think

(02:20:53):
it made it made them easy. It made it easy
for them to do the thing that is so embarrassingly
obvious that this fact that we would be overjoyed is
a real measure of just how damaged African people are
in this country and just how deeply structurally corrupt this project,
this American experiment is. Um, this would this They would

(02:21:14):
have been out for thirty minutes had it been white
on white. So uh, I think you know. I was
in class actually with my students, and uh we started
class at three thirty about three thirty three forty and
I got a text and uh, someone said the verdict
is being announced. So we immediately switched over to Hey,

(02:21:35):
this is why you'll put this money on this this
network right here Roland Martin unfiltered, So I didn't have
to hear the talking heads. I didn't have to, you know,
call one of my former students and reporter who was
actually in Minnesota. She's an attorney, the law professor there,
and she talked to the students. She's been doing commentary
every day on this work, very on this trial, and
we're very clear, and I and and and it was

(02:21:55):
very interesting to listen to the students because most of
the students there eighteen to twenty two. They were in
an elementary school, going in middle school when the Traymont
Martin verdict came down in Florida, and some of them
kind of remember, but this is their first adult trip
through this this haze, and so you know, listening to
it and then you know, I almost immediately turned off

(02:22:16):
all the commentators. I don't need to hear about the
system work this time, and we gotta do more. No, no, no, no, no.
Let's be very clear that jury would have had no
choice had not race been involved. George Floyd. I think
the power with George Floyd is that he's a regular
guy with a regular family. As Dave Chappelle said, I mean,
he's the guy. And so it was a perfect case.

(02:22:38):
Everything's on video. You've got children involved involved, which might
mean a sentencing enhancement for Chauvin once it comes back,
and he's now put his fate in the hands of
the judge, which is his best bet. Probably you've got
everything on tape, You've got I mean, it was almost
cinematic in its perfection. And finally, just in these initial comments,
it leads me to think about all those other dramatic

(02:22:58):
instance cases in voting rights uh Dr Gamillion and Tuskegee
where they drew a twenty eight sided uh geometric figure
to somehow disfranchise all the black citizens in Tuskegeon. Sprint
courts had no choice but in Gamillion versus Lightfoot to
give them or civil rights resident the United States versus Price,
the so called Mississippi burning case where you lynched these

(02:23:19):
two white civil rights workers and his brother from Mississippi,
and the and the and the Sprint courts had no
no choice but to uh sake. This is conviction on
a criminal conspiracy, civil rights violation. I think what we
saw today was the United States of America bought itself
twenty more minutes because that's what is on trial. And
believe me, they are not out of the dock. Justice
would be George Floyd being alive. There was no justice

(02:23:41):
served today. There was a conviction, and there are three
more cops to go, and they will probably take compleat
um Dr de Lacy Davis, founder the Black Cops Against
Police Brutality. Uh Dr Carr just talked about that. Those
other officers, uh, they're gonna go on trial in August.
The Senate single take place in two months for Derek Chauvin.

(02:24:04):
We talked about this last week, UH, and this should
send a very loud and clear signal to every police
officer who chooses to go across that line. Don't think
for a second you're gonna easily get off like in
the past. I'm not saying it's gonna always happen in cases,

(02:24:24):
but the bomb line is is here. Every time one
an umple officer UH goes to prison, it should have
put something in the back of somebody else's mind. I
need to do what's right. And just when I'm handling suspects,
I think you're a mute. I think your buttons on mute. Alright, folks,

(02:24:48):
So let's get in our control room, all right, now
your delays to keep talking. Let's see if we got you. Now,
we got you, go ahead very well, I would agree
with you. We we talked about this last week, and
with the hope is that with the testimony of Chief
um Aradondo and all the other police officers who came forward,
that it may become the inflection point to move the

(02:25:09):
ball forward. UM. I'm not convinced yet because as we
know there is a code of silence, and law enforcement
has inherently and continually I'm not intervened on behalf of
defenseless people, and certainly when it comes to people of color.
But if this is the beginning and we begin to
see a series of these kinds of verdicts and findings,
well then I would say that the culture of law

(02:25:31):
enforcement may begin to shift. But this is a big shift. Uh,
and certainly this for today as a watershed moment. Reddit um,
we played that video there, of course, Uh, folks were
Reddit Hudson. He's the founder of the National Coalition of
Law Enforcement Officers for Justice Reforming Accountability. Read it. We
played that video there. Uh, and you saw that reaction. Uh.

(02:25:55):
Terrain talked about the reaction of show of Derek Shelvin. Um.
When they initially stood up, he put his hands behind
his back. He knew that he knew the cuffs were coming.
And then when they then said provoking bail, prosecutor said,
absolutely provoked that bail. Uh. He knew what that jury
came back, that he was not walking out of that

(02:26:17):
courtroom of Freeman. Yeah, once the verdict was read, he
knew that he was probably going to be remanded to
the custody of the boot. But when he first looked
over to the jury, I tend to agree with the attorney.
He seemed surprised. He seemed genuinely shook by the decision

(02:26:42):
of some of the jurors. I'm sure he didn't expect
all the jurors to to knowing his favor, but I
think he was surprised that some of them, or at
least one of them, didn't favor the narrative that had
been offered up by his nonsensical attorney that the dangerous
black guy was still a threat even after he was dead. Uh, Shouvin.
If you remember the way in which he statistically murdered

(02:27:04):
George Floyd was very casual about it, and that is
the act of a man who fully expects that he's
not going to be held accountable for the barbaric act
he's in the process of committee. I think Dr Carr
really hit the nail on the head, as did Dr Davis.
You know, it's a moment, uh. And it's a rarity
for an officer to be held accountable even for the

(02:27:25):
most egregious acts of abuse up to an included murder.
We still have so much work in front of us,
and it is a moment in which we need to
fully engage that reality and know they're going forward, especially
you know the lane I stay in, especially black police officers,
police officers from margin, the lions, communities, UH current informer

(02:27:50):
especially those need to be ready to push back against
the police unions and all of the resources that are
going to be marshaled in anger. Really it as a
response to the call for systemic reform and addressing white
supremacy and the systemic racism at the foundation of police
culture and criminal justice, and the fact that we are

(02:28:12):
positioned to see movement on that, and that's the largest
struggle of the country. Man. I would like to connect
some other dots to it. When you look at, for example,
Republicans across the nation pushing voter suppression so that they
limit the power of the majority, and pushing back against
every kind of progress that is indicated by demographic changes

(02:28:35):
and calls for reform and calls for remaking systems. You
have to know that this is a part of a
larger battle that we are going to have to stay fully,
fully engaged in to be successful. Or not just this generation,
but the generation did follow to that particular point. I'm sorry,
go ahead, no, I thought I think somebody was jumping

(02:28:57):
in there and if I heard them on uh so
let me go to tearan tan that particular point there.
Um and what I said the sherline Eifel as well,
there's going to be a far right conservative pro Police
Act reaction to this verdict. It is going to happen.

(02:29:19):
It's going to happen. We already see their reaction to
what happened following the election in Georgia in January and
what happened when Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe
Biden were confirmed. So they're they are getting ready. But
what we need to be getting ready for, particularly because
that seat in Georgia is vulnerable, we need to be

(02:29:40):
getting ready and talking about down valid voting. You said earlier,
all these elections are important. The attorney general, the attorney
the um, the state representatives, all of these offices are
really important. And we can't just vote casually because these
are the people that are making the decisions that are

(02:30:01):
at firstly impacting our lives. But when I look at it,
one of the things, as far as police reform, that's
important to me is we have to get these officers
back in our communities. These officers have to live with
the people that they police and stop treating it like
an occupied military operation because they come into our neighborhood.
You heard the defense attorney say they have to assess

(02:30:23):
the risk of going into an urban highly did the
populated urban community. That's a dog whistle for a minority community.
So we have to get these officers living with the
people that they serve and becoming a part of that community.
Because when they just come in and do their job,
then the citizens are just their jobs and just targets

(02:30:43):
that just need to be eliminated. They need to be
substantively involved in the community. And how that happens this
really isn't going to end. And then we need more
mental health services for police officers. They need to be
evaluated and assessed, and we're not doing that. And until
we started getting hands on and determinate if these people
that we give a gun to and give the right

(02:31:03):
to use deadly force, we need to know are they
mentally equipped to have this job, because right now we're
not doing that, and so there's a lot that needs
to change. But for me, they need to be in
the community. First, they need mental, healthy evaluations, and then
we can see things change from the top down, Greg Carr.
What we're seeing right here, this is a live feed
from minneapolisis folks are are marching down the street. Uh.

(02:31:28):
There they are responding to if y'all can pull the
audio up, if you can, to be great. Uh, they're
responding to. UM, so we don't have that. They're not
sending us at already. That's fine. Uh. They're responding to
was taking place there. Uh. And what I did was,
um what I did, uh, Greg, while Terrain was talking, UM,

(02:31:54):
I went to the twitter feeds of House UH minority
leader Kevin McCarthy, got nothing regarding Derek Chouldren, Lots of
talk about UH concoin. Maxine Waters went to the twitter
feed UH Senate Minority leader um uh Mitch Pokano zero

(02:32:16):
nothing about this particular case here. If people want to understand,
if they want to understand the difference, uh, the difference
in the reaction, the sheer silence of Republicans about this verdict. Yes,

(02:32:40):
I'm I'm I'm encouraged to see that they're silent. Um.
You know, I often will ask white nationalists to say
it with their bird chests. Right. Clearly, these little fellas
don't even have the chess capacity the air capacity of birds.
They're silent now, but because it's teetering. What we saw

(02:33:02):
today in the Minneapolis courtroom was not as a result
of perhaps a kinsman of theirs, Judge Peter K. Hill,
who had the nerve but Maxine Water's name in his mouth,
while perhaps encouraging or not even encouraging, reminding the defense attorney,
the the the the the hapless, rather incompetent Nelson, although

(02:33:24):
he didn't have much work to begin with, that perhaps
Maxine waters comments would be something that they could raise
on appeal because there will be in a field. Uh,
they're silent because they know it's teetering. What we saw
in Minnesota today was the result of an attorney general
who did everything he did it could, of a crack
prosecutorial team, a multicultural team which was you know, pursued

(02:33:47):
us as best they could, and even then their only
avenue to pursue was the quote unquote bad apple theory.
So to hear the President United States say that this
is a structural problem, and he has to say it
because he would not be in that office where it
not for people who know it's a structural problem. Who
put him there, Not because he's a savior, because he
is what we should expect him. Everybody's present, anybody else

(02:34:08):
to be a tool. So so the silence of the
white nationalists is encouraging because I think they sense more
than anyone that it's teetering. This is the time now
to seize the momentum and take it all down. What
do I mean by that? I think for me the
most important moment today was the moment really was were
the moments before the verdict? And why do I say that?

(02:34:28):
Sitting with the students who are all over the country,
so in real time reporting out to myself and to
each other about the ramp up and police presence in Chicago,
in Texas, out on the West coast. These kids from
all over the country to understand that these police who
are not the best, not the brightest, not the best

(02:34:49):
in our society, but those who in order to reform policing.
It seems to me that the police have to be
hired to be of the medal of the people on
this call. And you've had on this show of the
black people who see that as that as a service
as something they have to do. Now that's going to
require um he's certainly mental historening and everything else, but

(02:35:09):
it's gonna require a rethinking of policing. They're fighting this
tooth and nail. So the last thing I say is this,
as the money flows into the Conference of whatever reserve
UH savings account they will have for Derek Chaudan, who
they will treat as a hero for the rest of
his life, no doubt when he gets out of jail. UH.
As that money begins to flow, there's going to be
a great deal of silence because what we see today

(02:35:31):
in the silence of these white nationals, including these little
bird chested white nationalists, politicians like Kevin bird chested McCarthy
and the rest of them, what we're seeing in their
silence as a recognition that there's a line that you
know should not be crossed. So you're gonna have to
sew your lips shut because whatever you want to say
out your mouth that you're not saying now, that is

(02:35:52):
the extent of your courage. So don't say nothing. Don't
say nothing now, because if you do, you might find
doubt that this thing will end sooner rather than later.
But one thing is sure it's going to end relation
to that point. Uh. Literally, we're our offices are located
at sixteenth and k uh here in the nation's capital.
I mean I can step outside of our door. Uh

(02:36:13):
take about twenty uh thirty steps, and I will literally
be standing on Black Lives Matter Plaza. Uh. There's no
parking in front of our building, on the side of
the building. Uh. They have blocked off parking from April
nineteenth or through May one, anticipating I guess this jury
might be factoring these things in um. Other police in
other cities. The National Guard in Illinois was put on

(02:36:36):
alert request from Mayor Lori Lightfoot in Chicago. Uh. And
all of that, and and and the thing that maybe
what this country needs to understand is when you kill folk,
folks get sick and tired of seeing death. They get

(02:36:58):
sick and tired of seeing folks killed and no justice
being taken place. They get sick and tired of it. Uh.
And that's the thing. Literally, while I was sitting here,
uh in Columbus, um a fifteen year old who had
a knife shot and killed by cops. Reports say the
knife was dropped a fifteen year old black She's dead

(02:37:23):
and let's see if the officer had a body camera on,
We'll see what goes on there. But that's really America
is saying enough is enough. She is Groland. I think that, um,
we are at the point. Uh As I saw in
my class that they like Dr Carr, my students we
agreed that we would go to the verdict um during class,

(02:37:46):
and so we did and I just watched their reactions
and my class, my students are all different backgrounds from
all over the country, and they cried at the verdict.
I mean cried huge tears. And I helped them cross
as the verdict because they're tired. It is enough is enough.
The problem is in Dr Francis crest Wells and lazes

(02:38:07):
out for us in the Isis papers. The keys to
the colors is that folks who have been in power
continually and generationally are now losing power and losing control
and they're gonna have to face this. You know, we
call it the Frankenstein's theory theory. The monster you create
you ultimately have to confront, and so white nationalism, white supremacy,
law enforcement, a terroristic police officers, the whole kit and

(02:38:31):
kaboodle has to change. Because if in fact it were
not structural, the same behavior that we see with black
and brown people with the police, we would see with
white people with the police, and we do not. Even
when white suspects are armed, they don't shoot them. They
walked them in, talk them in, and then go get
him a burgner. So it is. It is at a

(02:38:52):
point where the world is demanding a change, and our
young people who have been in the streets are demanding
a change, and she'll have to deal with it one
way or the other. I agree with the sister earlier.
I live in the community, and because I live in
the community, my relationship with the community is very different.
When I go walk to three miles, I'm unarmed. They
know that I'm a retired officer, and I know who
the drug dealers are and it's a mutual respect. You

(02:39:15):
function very differently when you live in the community as
opposed to when you occupy the community. And that point
there read it is important. UM today, I'm going to
pull it up a second. Uh today in um in
in your city uh too. Shara Jones was sworn in

(02:39:37):
as the as the new mayor She's gonna be. The
inauguration takes place tomorrow. Uh we will be um live
streaming that right here uh on rolland Martin unfiltered to folks,
y'all can actually tune into that. Uh. This is uh
the photo of her being sworn in today and one

(02:39:58):
of the things that she was asked again about police
officers in St. Louis living in the city. Um. The
mayor of Brooklyn City, Minnesota, what Dante right was gunned
down said the same thing. They they're gonna be you know,
have to address an issue of again police living in
the city. Uh, in so many different places. Your cups

(02:40:20):
are living in other cities, other towns. They don't know.
They just simply come in work, they go back home.
They don't know those places. So you don't have that
relationship that the Lacey was talking about that you've talked about,
the Terrain was talking about with community. So therefore you
you you really do have strangers coming into city neighborhoods

(02:40:43):
who don't even know the people you're right to sear
Jones was sworn in today here in St. Louis something
we're all very excited about. It is representative of the
kinds of change that we've been talking about for the
last few weeks on your show, and what is possible
going forward when we collect our power and we're intentional

(02:41:06):
about addressing systemic change. We have that opportunity here and
I think we're going to follow through. Relative to residency piece, man, yeah,
I think it's important, uh that officer state in the
communities that they serve. But at the same time, your
humanity should be larger than that I could be on
solfs anywhere in this country. Man, I'm going to deal

(02:41:28):
with human beings the way that I was born to
deal with human beings, with some compassion, with some some
level of understanding, with a sense of they're inhering dignity
and rights to enjoy the rights that have it is
told upon them by the Constitution too. So it shouldn't
be determinative that you physically are located in the community

(02:41:50):
to police. What should be determined if your responsibilities that
you've accepted and been empowered by the state to act
on no matter where you are, and if you can't
do that, if you can't live up to those things,
if you feel that in order for you to be
a police officer, you need to be able to violate
people's human rights, civil rights and civil liberties Cork blanche,

(02:42:13):
then you don't need this job, and if you do that,
you need to be held accountable. Accountability, as I've seen
in the past, is the best training tool we have.
The remaining officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota have now received excellent
training relative to what not to do by seeing what
happened to Derek Chauvin today. UM Sergeant Cheryl Dorsey joins

(02:42:37):
us right now. She, of course UH retired L A
p d. Author of Black and Blue. UM and and
and ryl we had you on We're talking about this
very issue, UM, in terms of accountability. That's what this
verdict speaks to. What you're from your perspective, what going

(02:43:00):
through the minds of UH white cops all across this
country now they saw their show and let out of
that courtroom in handcuffs. Well, it's difficult for me to
speak to you know, what's in the mind of a
white man, but I I would I would think that
there's certainly a contingency of white police officers now who

(02:43:21):
are going to be given pause because UM, what's worked
for them in the past, reckless abandoning our communities doesn't
seem to be UM holding much weight right now. But listen,
this is just a small step. We've got a long
way to go. We've got so many others. And in
the midst of all of this, we've seen officers fail
to show any impulse control. And just a couple of

(02:43:43):
days ago, Dante right, Uh, young Adam Toledo shot and
killed by a police officer with twenty six years on
the job who said she grabbed her gun instead of
her taser. And so, uh, this is a great first step.
We've got to wait and see what's sentencing looks like. Understand,
is the first time offender, and we need to have
a sentence commiserate with the crimes that he's been convicted of.

(02:44:05):
And so what will really be telling is how officers
comport themselves going forward. You know, this is um something
here that um. And we heard family members talk about justice,
We've heard others talk about justice. But George Floyd is

(02:44:26):
still dead. Gian doesn't have a father, um. And so
this is the reaction to the death. UM. But it's
still hollow because it's not coming back. Chauvin can go
to jail for the next fifty years, doesn't bring someone back. Yeah,

(02:44:53):
and listen, I mean we've seen some you know, convictions
in other cases, certainly in the case of uh Kwan McDonald,
we saw a conviction um Roy Oliver over in Texas
who shot and killed a young teenage black child. And so, UM,
we won't really know if this is gonna have any
residents with police officers and tell um, you know, we

(02:45:16):
see how they comport themselves going forward. The next time
they're confronted by a black man who scares them just
because he is uh, will they shoot? Will they uh
faign that they don't know the difference between a taser
and a duty weapon. Will they roll the dice to
see whether or not this was just a one off
with Derek Chauvin And maybe they will be dealt with

(02:45:37):
in a way that's very different. And so I'm appreciative
of the jury being compelled by the command staff. I
don't know if this is going to be the new
norm or if this is just what they could not
do differently in this case, given the mountain of evidence
that spoke to UM, there was a violation, This was

(02:45:59):
a murder. It this wasn't a mistake. We'll see, Um,
there are some folk who don't quite get this. Uh
terrain and gred car Um. The Los Angeles Raiders literally

(02:46:20):
just posted this on their uh Twitter feed. UM, go
to my computer. That may not be the response you
wanna issue today, Terrain. I see you ready to jump
in and go right ahead. I mean, it can be

(02:46:40):
interpreted so many ways, and because it can be be
interpreted wrong, it's the wrong statement. I mean, if they
want to say that the black community can finally breathe
and we can finally exhale, that they should have said
it plainly. But but to say I can breathe, I mean,
I don't know which way that cuts. And I'm from
Los Angeles, so I'm a little bit because learned about

(02:47:00):
this statement. Um, that whole point in the defense is
closing about everyone who gets arrested doesn't want to get arrested,
and they always claim that they cannot breathe. Spoke volumes
to how that defense attorney saw the issue with black suspects.
They're being arrested and trying to explain their plight, and

(02:47:22):
he said they should just be still, and then because
they're using the air, if you can talk, you can breathe.
And I think it is pretty profound that our president
talked about being able to breathe. That we need to
listen when people say they cannot breathe. So when you
post something that says I cannot breathe, you better have
good intention and not let that post be open to
interpretation that does not serve you well. And so I

(02:47:46):
hope the raiders can explain it, because it's I don't
know what they mean by that. I dare say a
great car that. Uh. This verdict gives fuel two freedom
fighters to keep going. That they're that they're protesting. Their
marching is not in vain. Republicans have criticized UM, have

(02:48:10):
criticized Consuleman Maxine Waters. In fact, uh, two Republicans voted
today to cenasure her. They said nothing about Matt Gates. UM.
And the thing here that I think is important, uh
is consule And Water said, if there's no guilty verdict,
she said, keep pushing, keep putting pressure on them. This

(02:48:31):
system doesn't have never changed for black people unless we
apply maximum pressure. Grad that's true. I take that vote
as a badge of honor. I'm glad they voted that way.
They wouldn't vote the centerment Matt Gates because he didn't
engage in any behavior that they don't condone that they
don't support. I mean, you know, you don't find pornography

(02:48:51):
in pre colonial Africa. You find it coming out of France.
Point of graphia literally the writing of Harlot's women are
not human beings. I mean they celebrate. After all, wasn't
he showing those photographs of those young girls on the
floor of the House of Representatives. No, they wouldn't. Why
would they sensing here for something they support? Um, you know,
not even a month after Martin King gave his famous
I Have a Dream speech, we got the reply. We

(02:49:13):
got the response at the sixteenth Street Baptist Church. The
police in Columbus is sending a message. Its business as usual.
And I'm glad, Sergeant Dorset you said what you said, sister,
because Kim Potter, you're next in the dock, along with
these other three uh, Tom Tow and uh and Thomas
Lane and Alexander King. I mean, y'all are in the dock. Now.

(02:49:35):
This isn't a bad apples. It's time to shake the
whole tree. And Dr Davis here man, I was listening
to your brother and you quote Francis christ Wells and
that's there there, it is right there. This is about
white nationalism, and so the fuel that we get today
should be invigorating, because, you know, taking out a Derek
Shovin is just a reminder that when you combine a strategy.

(02:49:58):
It was the people in the street eat that led
to this verdict. It was an elected official, the state
Attorney general that led to this verdict. It was people
keeping the pressure on in every way that led to
this verdict, which means there is no either or everybody
out there that said voting doesn't matter everything. I mean,
you know, Terraine, you just said it. I mean all

(02:50:19):
of the elections down, ballot, up, ballot, all the way across,
combined with external pressure. And so when we close our eyes,
if Rev. Sharpton praise. I grew up in the church.
I see Reverend Jackson back there. I'm glad to see
the brother you know, pray. But guess what, when you
open your eyes, understand that God has equipped you with
everything you need to win if you don't take your
eye off the prize. I'm glad they censored him. A

(02:50:43):
sensored voted to sensor Maxine Waters, because that's what devils do.
The last thing you want them to do is agree
with you. Come on, y'all, get up and save with
your little bird chest because the record and you're coming
and you can't stop the the lacy I had, um
I had on the state's attorney brave boy on yesterday.

(02:51:03):
They're fifteen cops. She will not allow UH to take
the stand or involve in their cases because they have
questionable character or conduct. Um. What you're seeing is to
the point that UH Terrain mentioned when you have down ballarrations.
We this is the effect of black district attorneys, a
black state attorney generals, individuals who are not just black,

(02:51:28):
but who are progressive, who understand that because there's a
contrast between a Keith Ellison in Minnesota, UH and UH
that food in Kentucky. That's right. I mean a clear
distinction between what happened here in Minnesota and what happened
in Kentucky. Here you had a state attorney general who

(02:51:51):
was determined to see this case go to trial and
determined to give the lawyers trying that case and all
the resources that they needed to seek the justice for
this family and put forth a strong case in Kentucky.
That man who he's definitely not camp folk. He his
goal was never to see those officers and guided. He lied,

(02:52:13):
and that still needs to be addressed. He lied. I
if it wasn't for those very brave grand jurors who said,
oh no, no, sir, that's not what he said, we
would never have known the truth about what happened with
that grand jury. So I'm hoping that there's still justice
for Brianna Taylor and her family once that gets taken
over by the Feds. Because that Attorney General, he needs
to go. If the black voters in Kentucky no nothing

(02:52:35):
else they know, he needs to go. Glazy Your final comment.
Our final comment is that, um, I'll leave it with
this that pristans crest Wells and says there's non people
area activities that are dominated by white supremacy. If we
want justice and we must get in those systems, hear
them down and or reform them and their education, economics, entertainment, label, law, politics, war, sex,

(02:52:55):
and religion. Today war run one and so did our people.
Just for today we still have to push but tomorrow.
Reddit final comment. Yeah, I work for one of the
most progressive and courageous circuit attorneys in these United States.
Her name is Kim Garden. That she is about system
and reform and addressing that issue. We have to be

(02:53:15):
mindful though, what Republicans have done, beyond showing themselves to
just be racists and criminals, it's very strategically positioned themselves
and state legislatures around the country. We're going to have
to be strategic and intentional about how we break down
the structures that will block us from using the power
that we have. For and Ford ser Dorsey final comment,

(02:53:37):
I would just say that we need to remain vigilant.
And while there's talk about this George Floyd Justice and
Reform Act, I don't know that it's going to pass
the Senate, but certainly what needs to be done is,
in addition to attacking qualified immunity, is data certifying police
officers who are found in violation of police misconduct and
or law so that they don't have the benefit of

(02:53:58):
resigning and then moving on to a neighboring department. You know,
we've had a lot of conversation about police reform, but
it's the entire justice system that needs to be reformed.
We need to start looking at the judges that we
have out there that are sitting on the bench. Just
last week in Colorado, a judge had to design because

(02:54:19):
she was using the in word with her staff, so
she resigned on Friday. We have we need to look
at the judges that are hearing the cases of our
black and our brown families, of our black and brown defendants.
We need to clean house in the police department. So
that means we need to vote, and we need to
take every election series. There's not one election that we
have that's not important, and so we have to just

(02:54:41):
start really drilling that into our community. It doesn't matter
that there's not a president to election going on, doesn't
matter that we don't have a black person on the
ballot for Senate. What matters is we need to vote
all the way down to the local level and car
take us home. Brother, that's that's always on you. I'm
glad to chick my two un saying I listen, I

(02:55:01):
agree with everything that we've heard. It's full spectrum. We
have to now press the advantage. This is a moment
to take a moment and God bless the Floyd family,
just like God bless um Sabrina Fulton and Tracy Martin Martin.
God bless uh of course, Leslie mcspadden and Mike Brown. Senior.
God bless all the families, including the one of this

(02:55:21):
child who has just had her life taken away from
her by the Paterollers in Columbus. At the same time
that we're doing that, we understand that now is not
the time to rest. It is time to press the advantage.
I think I might understand what the Oakland raid or
what the Las Vegas is it. I can't keep on
yeah now in Las Vegas, Vegas right, Uh, but well,
actually that's probably iranic because they are gambling. I think

(02:55:43):
I understand what they mean when they say I can breathe.
They don't mean any of us. They mean they as
a franchise in the NFL who put out a release
a couple of days ago saying they stand for social justice.
They're hedging their bets by breathe. They think. What they're
really saying, I think is I can exhale. We're past it. Chief.
Maybe the problem is you can breathe. And by you
I mean the corporations, I mean the corrupt elected officials,

(02:56:07):
everybody trying to stand in a way of human justice.
It's time to choke the breath out of the system
that enables you. So maybe you shouldn't be breathing as
an entity. Maybe we need to redistribute that pain, as
you often remind us, Um, something about Paul Rosen, as
you remind us Roland. So I think today is a
day we can look at ourselves in the face and say,

(02:56:28):
you know what, this proves that when we are together,
we can win. So now we just punched this cat out.
Who's next, folks? While we um focused on the George
Floyd case. To Greg's point, good my computer, please, UM
literally as the George Floyd excuse me that Derek chauvin

(02:56:49):
um verdict was being read at that very moment. Police
in Columbus, Ohio shot and killed fifteen year old Mkia
Bryant l in too many other cases. According to this
tweets by tweets by Lacy Crisp, who is a reporter there,
they say she called cops for help because girls were
fighting outside her house. Makia fifteen years old. It's dead. Um,

(02:57:19):
it doesn't end, so we will be covering that. I'm
already communicating with congres Woman Joyce Baty, who is the
congresswoman from Columbus. Uh, we're literally texting right now, um.
And she says she's on with people UM in the
district right now, so we will be covering this tomorrow. UM.
Let me thank all of our folks, UH, folks. The

(02:57:40):
reason this show is important more than ten thousand of
you watching a live on YouTube, more than two thousand
on Facebook, folks watching on Twitter as well, because with
the opportunity to hear from black experts, our folks. So
BERNARDA Bill alone, I want to thank you A Scott Bolden, Uh,
Terrain Bailey, Monique Pressley, SHERYLN. Eifel with the NACP Legal

(02:58:01):
Defense Funds. Senator Amy Klobasher was on the show. Davon
love my apoloties cannot get to you. Uh. We had
folks like limits our story we're trying to bring on
because of all the breaking news, the news conference of
things along those lines, we cannot do that. UH. And
again also want to thank de Lacey, Greg Carr, Riddy
Hudson all for being with us UH and joining with

(02:58:21):
us folks. This is why we created this platform so
we would not have to depend on others to offer
the kind of perspective that we need. Thanks Sheryl Dorsey
as well. So we had UH fantastic guests today on
for almost three hours broadcasting today. And so we think
all of you think our staff are also making this
thing possible as well. And so this is why we

(02:58:43):
ask you to support what we do. We're independent, we
don't have to ask anybody's of permission to do what
we do. We get to cover this from our perspective. Uh.
And so if you want to support what we do
here at Roland Martin Unfiltered, please join our Bring the
Funk Fan Club by going to cash app Dallas, sign
are unfiltered, PayPal, dot m e forwards, last Are Martin Unfiltered,
Venmo dot com forwards, last r M unfiltered, zeil is

(02:59:06):
rolling at Rolling s Martin dot com rolling at Rolling
Martin unfiltered dot com. You can also send, of course,
uh money order to New Vision Media in six Street,
Northwest Sweet four hundred, Washington, d C. Two thousand and six. Um, folks, again, uh,
thanks a bunch. Please keep the George Floyd family in

(02:59:28):
your prayers. Even though there's a sigh of relief from them.
You saw those tears of joy of the verdict. They
still don't have their brother, their father, their lover, their cousin,
their uncle, Uh, their friends and so we certainly remember
him and also to so many people who have not
gotten justice in similar cases. That's it for us, Thank

(02:59:50):
you so very much, folks. It is indeed a good day,
and Derek Chauvin is sitting right now in jail. We'll
learn in two months how long he'll be sitting in
Minneapolis prison for the murder of George Floyd. We'll see
you tomorrow. M book
Advertise With Us

Host

Roland Martin

Roland Martin

Popular Podcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Ridiculous History

Ridiculous History

History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.