Community activists reflect on the Chauvin trial

A succession of Minneapolis police officials have taken the stand this week in the trial of Minneapolis former police officer Derek Chauvin. Their testimony, along with that of police procedure experts, builds the prosecution’s case that Chauvin strayed far from department policy and used unnecessary deadly force when he knelt on George Floyd’s neck.

“To continue to apply that level of force to a person proned out, handcuffed behind their back— that in no way shape or form is anything that is by policy,” Minneapolis police Chief Medaria Arradondo said Monday. “It is not part of our training, and it is certainly not part of our ethics or our values.”

The remarkable testimony of a police chief against a former officer has sparked conversations about a crack in the “blue wall of silence.” How is this second week of the trial being interpreted and perceived across Minnesota? How do local activists pushing for police accountability view this portrayal?  What larger concerns about policing does the trial raise?

MPR News host Angela Davis continues her community conversations about the trial with a conversation about the second week of testimony.

Guests:

• Mel Reeves is community editor of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. 

• Classie Dudley is president of the Duluth branch of the NAACP. 

Use the audio player above to listen to the program.

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