Twin Cities in the proverbial crosshairs again

It would have been hard to fathom what event in the Twin Cities could distract from the high profile trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is on trial for the death of George Floyd. An incident in a northern Minneapolis suburb managed to do it. 

The traffic stop that would end Daunte Wright's life played out on a Brooklyn Center police officer's body camera. Officers appeared to try to handcuff him, then he slipped back into the driver's seat.

A female officer yelled "Taser, Taser," and then fired her weapon. "Holy shit, I just shot him," she said.

Once again, a Black man died during a police encounter. In an instant, the world's focus on Minnesota shifted from the trial of Derek Chauvin to a new outrage that brought street protests, promises of reform and anguish over a relentless pattern of deadly police misconduct.

Ah, but even before police body cam footage was released Monday afternoon, Democrat elected officials from Minnesota had already coordinated their chanting points. 

The fact this is being lumped in with the category of "just another white cop killing an unarmed black man" is far too simplistic. That said, the body cam footage revealed lackluster procedural tactics by the officers which allowed Wright an opportunity to break free and attempt to drive away. And the idea the shooter mistook her pistol for a taser is also a bit concerning given she was a 26-year police veteran. I'll concede that I will never understand the level adrenaline that is pumping in such a situation, but that kind of fatal mistake is going to be difficult to explain away. 

With the Twin Cities still on edge since Floyd's death nearly 11 months ago, I guess it wasn't surprising to see the streets appear as though we're living in some apocalyptic society. 

Military vehicles rumbled down city streets as businesses hastily closed to comply with a four-county 7 p.m. curfew Monday ordered by Gov. Tim Walz. While a massive police presence mobilized to prevent any repeat of the riots after the death of George Floyd, President Joe Biden called for "peace and calm."

I'm sorry to say that we're past the point of no return in remaining a united country. I guess deep down I've known it for a while but perhaps was in denial. Maybe I should start learning Mandarin. 

------------------------------------------------------