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| George Floyd: US braces for trial of police officer over killing – live updates | George Floyd: US braces for trial of police officer over killing – live updates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Jury selection is scheduled to begin for the trial of Derek Chauvin | Jury selection is scheduled to begin for the trial of Derek Chauvin |
| We have this today from Eli Hager for The Marshall Project, on how the racial inequality in US youth detention is wider than ever: | |
| White youths were being released from juvenile detention centers at a far higher rate than their Black peers during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in the US, and more people of color are now being detained for longer than they were before the crisis, according to data gathered by a leading children’s philanthropic group. | |
| So many kids were freed from jail last year that by late summer, fewer children were incarcerated than at any point since at least the 1980s. But many youth facilities are increasingly holding almost entirely Black and Latino populations of teens, according to interviews with more than a dozen juvenile justice officials and attorneys in seven states. | |
| Though the racial inequality in youth detention has long been stark, it’s wider than ever, they say. Experts point to several possible explanations, including bias from judges and other officials, and young people of color being detained for more serious offenses and having fewer resources and alternatives to incarceration in their communities. | |
| “It’s fitting that in 2020, the year that juxtaposed Covid and racial justice protests, we saw this shrinking of the system – but also a resistance to doing so for young Black people,” said Patricia Soung, a juvenile attorney and former director of youth justice policy for the Children’s Defense Fund in California. | |
| By May 2020, detention centers were releasing white youths at a 17% higher rate than Black youths, according to a monthly survey of juvenile justice agencies in more than 30 states conducted by the Annie E Casey Foundation. | |
| And in the months since, while the number of white youths has remained historically low, the number of Black and Latino youths has risen slightly, said Tom Woods, a senior associate and juvenile justice data analyst for the Casey Foundation. | |
| The racial gap in detention is worsening even though teens, including those of color, were arrested less often in 2020, data shows. Police have generally taken a more hands-off approach due to the virus and, because classes have gone virtual, young people have interacted less with school-based officers. | |
| Read more of Eli Hager’s report here: Racial inequality in US youth detention wider than ever, experts say | |
| A quick foreign snap here from Reuters. The US mission in Saudi Arabia has condemned drone and missile attacks launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement on Saudi Arabia on Sunday, including at a facility vital to petroleum exports. | |
| The mission, in an Arabic-language post on Twitter on Monday, said “the heinous Houthi assaults on civilians and vital infrastructure” demonstrated lack of respect for human life and disregard for peace efforts. | |
| The process of the trial for the killing of George Floyd will start with jury selection. It could be a lengthy process, writes Amy Forliti of the Associated Press. Twelve Hennepin County residents will be picked after an extensive grilling about their views on police and the justice system. | |
| Derek Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death. Picking a jury is expected to take at least three weeks, as prosecutors and defense attorneys try to weed out people who may be biased against them. | |
| “You don’t want jurors who are completely blank slates, because that would mean they’re not in tune at all with the world,” Susan Gaertner, a former prosecutor, said. “But what you want is jurors who can set aside opinions that have formed prior to walking into the courtroom and give both sides a fair hearing.” | |
| Floyd was killed last year after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for about nine minutes. His death sparked Black Lives Matter protests in Minneapolis and beyond, and led to a nationwide reckoning on race. Chauvin and three other officers were fired; the others face an August trial on aiding and abetting charges. | |
| Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, argued that pretrial publicity of the case and the subsequent violent unrest in Minneapolis would make it impossible to find an impartial jury in Hennepin County. But Judge Peter Cahill said last year that moving the trial probably wouldn’t cure the problem of a potentially tainted jury pool because “no corner of the State of Minnesota” has been shielded from pretrial publicity. | |
| The potential jurors were sent questionnaires to determine how much they have heard about the case and whether they’ve formed any opinions. Besides biographical and demographic information, jurors were asked about prior contacts with police, whether they have protested against police brutality and whether they believe the justice system is fair. Some of the questions get very specific, such as how often a potential juror has watched the bystander video of Floyd’s arrest, or whether they carried a sign at a protest and what that sign said. | |
| Unlike typical jury selection proceedings, this jury pool will be questioned one by one instead of in a group. The judge, defense attorney and prosecutors will all get to ask questions. The defense can object to up to 15 potential jurors without giving a reason; prosecutors can block up to nine with no reason given. Both sides can also argue to dismiss an unlimited number of jurors “for cause,” meaning they must provide a reason why they believe that juror shouldn’t serve. | |
| Even if a juror says they have had a negative interaction with the police, or a negative opinion about Black Lives Matter, the key will be trying to find out whether they can put those past experiences or opinions aside and be fair. | |
| Opening arguments are not expected until 29 March at the earliest. | |
| Darryl Fears and Jared Goyette are covering the developments in the trial of Derek Chauvin for the Washington Post, and here’s how they reported yesterday’s silent protest in Minneapolis. | Darryl Fears and Jared Goyette are covering the developments in the trial of Derek Chauvin for the Washington Post, and here’s how they reported yesterday’s silent protest in Minneapolis. |
| As part of the demonstration yesterday, there was a long roll-call of the dead: | As part of the demonstration yesterday, there was a long roll-call of the dead: |
| Read more here: Washington Post – A silent march and symbolic coffin on the eve of the trial in George Floyd’s killing | Read more here: Washington Post – A silent march and symbolic coffin on the eve of the trial in George Floyd’s killing |
| Amudalat Ajasa and Jackie Renzetti report for us from Minneapolis this morning: | Amudalat Ajasa and Jackie Renzetti report for us from Minneapolis this morning: |
| Minneapolis and its adjacent “twin city” St Paul, followed by cities and towns all across the United States and overseas burst into civil rights protest last May, where millions demanded radical change after a video went viral showing a cop kneeling on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and forty-six seconds as he begged, in vain, for his life. | Minneapolis and its adjacent “twin city” St Paul, followed by cities and towns all across the United States and overseas burst into civil rights protest last May, where millions demanded radical change after a video went viral showing a cop kneeling on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and forty-six seconds as he begged, in vain, for his life. |
| The since-fired officer, Derek Chauvin, who is white, is charged with second degree murder and second degree manslaughter and has been in hiding while out on bail. | The since-fired officer, Derek Chauvin, who is white, is charged with second degree murder and second degree manslaughter and has been in hiding while out on bail. |
| Three other, also now-ex, officers charged with aiding and abetting stand trial together in August. | Three other, also now-ex, officers charged with aiding and abetting stand trial together in August. |
| “I feel kind of scared that we won’t see [what] we want to see. And we’ll be in the streets, like we were the whole summer,” said Zarieah Graves, an activist in Minneapolis. | “I feel kind of scared that we won’t see [what] we want to see. And we’ll be in the streets, like we were the whole summer,” said Zarieah Graves, an activist in Minneapolis. |
| If the officers are acquitted, or convicted but lightly punished “we are going to be upset,” Graves added. | If the officers are acquitted, or convicted but lightly punished “we are going to be upset,” Graves added. |
| When Floyd, 46, a father from Houston who moved to Minneapolis for work, was killed his name joined that of Jamar Clark, Philando Castile and many others less well known. | When Floyd, 46, a father from Houston who moved to Minneapolis for work, was killed his name joined that of Jamar Clark, Philando Castile and many others less well known. |
| More than 200 people have suffered police-involved deaths in Minnesota in the last 20 years, a database compiled by the Minneapolis Star Tribune calculated. While only 7% of Minnesotans are Black they accounted for 26% of those deaths. | More than 200 people have suffered police-involved deaths in Minnesota in the last 20 years, a database compiled by the Minneapolis Star Tribune calculated. While only 7% of Minnesotans are Black they accounted for 26% of those deaths. |
| “That’s what people need to know is that there are hundreds of George Floyds out there in the state of Minnesota alone, that people just don’t seem to know anything about,” Toshira Garraway told the Guardian. | “That’s what people need to know is that there are hundreds of George Floyds out there in the state of Minnesota alone, that people just don’t seem to know anything about,” Toshira Garraway told the Guardian. |
| Garraway started the activist group Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence when Justin Teigen, her fiancé and the father of her child, ended up suffocated in a recycling truck after he fled from a police stop in St Paul in 2009 and was pursued, with the authorities and the family disagreeing over how he came to meet his death. | Garraway started the activist group Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence when Justin Teigen, her fiancé and the father of her child, ended up suffocated in a recycling truck after he fled from a police stop in St Paul in 2009 and was pursued, with the authorities and the family disagreeing over how he came to meet his death. |
| But only one Minnesota police officer has been convicted of murder – Mohamed Noor, who shot dead Australian life coach Justine Damond after she called police saying she had witnessed an assault in 2017. Damond was white and Noor is Somali American. | But only one Minnesota police officer has been convicted of murder – Mohamed Noor, who shot dead Australian life coach Justine Damond after she called police saying she had witnessed an assault in 2017. Damond was white and Noor is Somali American. |
| “Why is it that only the white woman got true justice?” Garraway asked. | “Why is it that only the white woman got true justice?” Garraway asked. |
| Read more here: George Floyd killing – Minneapolis on edge again as historic trial set to begin | Read more here: George Floyd killing – Minneapolis on edge again as historic trial set to begin |
| Welcome to our live coverage of US politics for Monday. Here’s a catch-up on where we are and what we can expect from today: | Welcome to our live coverage of US politics for Monday. Here’s a catch-up on where we are and what we can expect from today: |
| One of the most significant police trials in US history begins today as the former officer who killed George Floyd stands trial. The since-fired officer, Derek Chauvin, who is white, is charged with second degree murder and second degree manslaughter, and has been in hiding while out on bail. | One of the most significant police trials in US history begins today as the former officer who killed George Floyd stands trial. The since-fired officer, Derek Chauvin, who is white, is charged with second degree murder and second degree manslaughter, and has been in hiding while out on bail. |
| Yesterday members of Floyd’s family took part in a silent march through downtown Minneapolis, carrying a symbolic empty casket. | Yesterday members of Floyd’s family took part in a silent march through downtown Minneapolis, carrying a symbolic empty casket. |
| Andrew Cuomo suffered a major blow on Sunday in his attempt to stay as governor of New York. The majority leader of the state senate and the speaker of the assembly, two of the most powerful Democrats in New York, said it was time for Cuomo to go. He is facing accusations of sexual harassment and a scandal over Covid deaths in nursing homes. | Andrew Cuomo suffered a major blow on Sunday in his attempt to stay as governor of New York. The majority leader of the state senate and the speaker of the assembly, two of the most powerful Democrats in New York, said it was time for Cuomo to go. He is facing accusations of sexual harassment and a scandal over Covid deaths in nursing homes. |
| President Joe Biden will be visiting the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center that is administering Covid vaccines. He’ll be accompanied by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough. | President Joe Biden will be visiting the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center that is administering Covid vaccines. He’ll be accompanied by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough. |
| At least 58.9 million adults have now received at least one vaccine shot in the US. | At least 58.9 million adults have now received at least one vaccine shot in the US. |
| Yesterday one of the most powerful Democrats in Washington – Jim Clyburn – issued a frank warning to members of his own party, saying they need to find a way to pass major voting rights legislation or they will lose control of Congress. | Yesterday one of the most powerful Democrats in Washington – Jim Clyburn – issued a frank warning to members of his own party, saying they need to find a way to pass major voting rights legislation or they will lose control of Congress. |
| It is International Women’s Day today, and president Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris will be joined by defense secretary Lloyd J Austin III at 4.20pm (2120 GMT) to make remarks marking the occasion. | It is International Women’s Day today, and president Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris will be joined by defense secretary Lloyd J Austin III at 4.20pm (2120 GMT) to make remarks marking the occasion. |
| Jen Psaki’s 11.30am press briefing will also feature the same theme, and she will be joined by co-chairs of the gender policy council Julissa Reynoso and Jennifer Klein. There’s a coronavirus press briefing at 11am as well. | Jen Psaki’s 11.30am press briefing will also feature the same theme, and she will be joined by co-chairs of the gender policy council Julissa Reynoso and Jennifer Klein. There’s a coronavirus press briefing at 11am as well. |