Does Black Lives really Matter? as Chauvin gets just half the sentence he faced for killing Floyd

Derek Chauvin has been finally been jailed for killing George Floyd during an incident that sparked massive protests, but the sentence is almost half the 40 years in prison he faced for the heinous crime.

The former Minneapolis Police Officer was sentenced to 22 and a half years in jail on Friday afternoon.

This has raised the question: Does Black Lives really matter for the U.S. authorities,? as I still cannot understand why the sentence was reduced so much.

For most of US history, police officers were rarely charged, let alone punished, for the brutal crimes they committed against Black people. The only good thing is that at least Chauvin has been sentenced for Floyd’s death.

A jury found Chauvin guilty in April, 2021, of Floyd’s murder on May 25, 2020, when he knelt on the Black man’s neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds during an attempt to take Floyd into custody.

In the video that showed Chauvin committing the crime, Floyd could be heard pleading with officers to get off, saying “I can’t breathe.”

Several people made statements of the victim impact to begin their hearing on Friday. These were the daughter of Floyd, the 2 brothers of Floyd (Terrance and Philonise) and Brandon Williams of Floyd’s nephew.

A recorded video showed Floyd’s daughter. “I ask him all the time,” she said. She said.

She said, ‘It will be I miss you and I love you’ when asked, what will she tell her dad if she could see him again?’

Philonise Floyd stated, “Every day, I have begged for justice to be served, reliving the execution of George while others begged and pleaded for officer Chauvin to simply just allow George to take a breath. I haven’t had a real night’s sleep because of the nightmares I constantly have, hearing my brother beg and plead for his life over and over again. Even saying, ‘they’re going to kill me, please, officer,’ screaming for our mom.”

Minnesota Assistant State’s Attorney General Matthew Frank then spoke to the court. He said the case is not about all police officers.

“This case wasn’t about police officers, all police officers. It wasn’t about policing,” Frank said. “This case was about Derek Chauvin disregarding all that training he received and assaulting Mr. Floyd until he suffocated to death.”

Derek Chauvin’s mother, Carolyn Pawlenty, also spoke to the court, calling her son “a good man.”

“On Nov. 25, 2020, not only did Derek’s life change forever, but so did mine and my family’s, Derek devoted 19 years of his life to the Minneapolis Police Department,” Pawlenty said. “It’s been difficult for me to hear and read what the media, public and prosecution team believe Derek to be an aggressive, heartless and uncaring person. I can tell you that is far from the truth.”

Derek Chauvin’s mother Carolyn Pawlenty

Chauvin’s lead attorney Eric Nelson also spoke to the court. He called the impact of the trial “profound.”

Nelson said, “The impact it’s had on the community is profound. It goes far beyond what happened on May 25th of last year. It’s been at the forefront of our national consciousness and has weaved its way into every, nearly every facet of our lives from entertainment that we consume to the presidential politics.”

Chauvin spoke briefly to the court following Nelson. He offered his condolences to the family.

Chauvin said, “I want to give my condolences to the Floyd family. There’s going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest and I hope things will give you some peace of mind.”

Chauvin was apprehended on May 29, 2020 and charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.

He was also removed from his job.