Minneapolis misery

It took seven days, which was about six days too long, but it happened: Fired Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is under arrest, facing charges of murder in the third degree and manslaughter for killing George Floyd in an act of cruel and casual violence that has sickened the nation’s collective stomach. State authorities’ clinical charging document details the depraved indifference: Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, including 2 minutes and 53 seconds after Floyd had become unresponsive and had ceased gasping, “I can’t breathe.”

Pray that the criminal charges calm the nationwide fury, especially a Minneapolis set aflame as legitimate protest devolved into riots Thursday night with the looting and burning of commercial establishments and the police precinct home to the four since-fired officers involved.

It needs to be said: The deep injustice of

Floyd’s death in no way condones vandalism and property destruction. Wanton rioting hurts most the poor and people of color shopping and working in such neighborhoods.

It also robs otherwise righteous protesters of their moral authority.

Through it all, public officials have failed their people. Despite arson and looting Wednesday, Mayor Jacob Frey was AWOL Thursday night, allowing his police and fire departments to stand down as chaos engulfed his city. State authorities Friday also admitted they failed to anticipate the growing outrage.

True to form, President Trump ran to the fire with cans of gas. ”When the looting starts, the shooting starts,” he tweeted Thursday, before wanly walking back the sentiment Friday.

He’s desperately casting himself as a lawand-order Nixon in a replay of 1968. Don’t feed the beast.