It is the truth, as too many white people perceive it, but it is not a defense. And maybe, as a result of this case, that "truth" will start to ebb as a touchstone experience of scared (or belligerent; the same thing, really) white men.Chauvin's lawyer is back to telling us that George Floyd was superhuman.
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) April 7, 2021
Because, really, it's not true. Which, again, is why it's not a defense. What the lawyer is arguing here is that the facts of this case include the fact that George Floyd was a black man, ergo superhuman (remember all the stories about black men "jacked up" on "angel dust" and having "superhuman powers." That one made its way into popular culture via TeeVee shows and movies. I still think it was bullshit. Time was the "insane" (a very loosely applied term) acquired "superhuman powers" in the throes of an episode. That one fueled pulp fiction stories for decades before "pulps" were even being published. There's always an excuse to be scared and therefore to be violent; very, very violent. And excuse is not the same thing as the truth.). Since Mr. Floyd was "superhuman," his kryptonite, his weakness, was to cut off his air supply. Really, there's no other way to stop a "superman." Especially if he's black, handcuffed, on the ground, with three (or was it four? Honestly can't remember.) cops restraining him. You can't be too careful with these superhuman types.
That's the argument Chauvin's lawyer is making. He's asserting facts not in evidence because they can't be in evidence, but he wants the jury to decide the case based on that "evidence" anyway. But it's not a defense; it's a lie. A pernicious, racist lie.
Yet I'm sure this lawyer would insist there isn't a racist bone in his body, and he's only representing his client to the best of his abilities.
Doesn't mean his defense of his client isn't a pernicious racist lie, though.
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