Headline RoundupMarch 29th, 2021

Trial Begins for Former Officer Charged With George Floyd's Death

Summary from the AllSides News Team

The trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with the May 2020 killing of George Floyd, began on Monday. In his opening statement, prosecutor Jerry Blackwell argued that “Chauvin betrayed this badge when he used excessive and unreasonable force upon the body of Mr. George Floyd.” Chauvin’s lawyer, Eric J. Nelson, argued that “Chauvin did exactly what he had been trained to do over the course of his 19-year career. The use of force is not attractive, but it is a necessary component of policing.” Chauvin’s charges include second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Outlets on all sides of the spectrum prominently featured coverage of the trial; left-rated outlets were more likely to feature “live updates” coverage. As of Monday afternoon, coverage focused on similar events in the trial regardless of bias rating.

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