{"id":3599,"date":"2021-04-20T11:02:11","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T15:02:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/?p=3599"},"modified":"2021-04-20T11:02:11","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T15:02:11","slug":"the-potential-sports-reaction-to-the-verdict-on-derek-chauvins-trial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/2021\/04\/20\/the-potential-sports-reaction-to-the-verdict-on-derek-chauvins-trial\/","title":{"rendered":"The Potential Sports Reaction to the Verdict on Derek Chauvin’s Trial"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, the prosecution and defense attorney gave their closing arguments in the murder trial against Derek Chauvin. Since March 29, court proceedings have been taking place for this case in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Derek Chauvin took the life of George Floyd<\/a> 10 months ago. However, even prior to that date, the city has been preparing for the worst of reactions from the city\u2019s residents. Minneapolis and Hennepin County have spent at least $1 million<\/a> on putting up fences and other barricades across the city.<\/p>\n

There seems to be every indication that if there is an unsatisfactory verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, reactions won\u2019t be strictly felt in Minnesota; it will be felt all across the country, including the major sports leagues in the United States.<\/p>\n

Since the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2012, we have seen dozens of protests conducted by players in their respective sports. In 2012, we watched the Miami Heat wear hoodies in solidarity<\/a> for Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager who was killed by the now-notorious neighborhood watch coordinator, George Zimmerman, in Sanford, Florida. Players including Lebron James and Dwayne Wade were very vocal of their frustrations about racial injustices in the United States.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We watched multiple St. Louis Rams players jog onto the field in 2014 with their hands up, mimicking the \u201cdon\u2019t shoot\u201d gesture Michael Brown; the unarmed black man who was shot and killed<\/a> by St. Louis police the previous day.<\/p>\n

\n

Never forget when 5 St. Louis Rams players participated in the \u201cHands Up, Don\u2019t Shoot\u201d protest in 2014. Black teenager Michael Brown was shot by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. They were ridiculed by the SLPD who threatened to not work Rams games anymore. pic.twitter.com\/KiSD52AfB1<\/a><\/p>\n

— Brain Dead Sports (@BrainDeadSports) June 4, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n