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America's halcyon days were somehow forgotten in the inception of the year.
First off, there was a deadly January 6 insurrection on the Capitol. And there was police officer Derek Chauvin's murder trial, which saw America embarking on a herculean anti-racism task.
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Few had a clue as to how America's 2021 would be.
Prior to America's oldest President, Joe Biden's swearing-in ceremony on January 21st, on January 6, just when then-Vice President Mike Pence was certifying President Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, the deadliest attack on the U.S. Capitol hit the headlines.
In an attempt to reverse Joe Biden's victory in the aforesaid election, a violent mob loyal to then-U.S. President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on that day, interrupting the certification process.
It was dubbed a blatant attempt to overturn President Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, which Trump's irate supporters say was stolen from Trump.
The scene of Capitol police futilely trying to barricade the building presaged unprecedented trouble as the scene turned ugly within hours.
Earlier, protesters had scuffled with police, shouted and waved Trump and American flags as they marched through the halls, many without masks during the COVID crisis.
The nation’s elected representatives scrambled to duck and cover and don gas masks, in search of an escape route.
All that follows an unprecedented challenge on the United States' democracy.
Pandemonium and mayhem subsequently ensued.
Despite the chaos outside, lawmakers managed to complete their work, confirming Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election.
In a statement, Trump, who had steadfastly refused to concede, said there "will be an orderly transition" of power on January 21st.
On the heels of the stunning insurrection, Twitter, in the name of national security, locked Trump's account, accusing him of spreading misinformation and hate speech. It demanded he remove tweets with a view to inciting violence and threatened "permanent suspension", should he refuse to do so. Twitter said if it wasn’t for Trump’s inflammatory remarks about the election, the protesters wouldn't have stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Feelings were running high in Washington D.C. when lawmakers gathered for the constitutionally mandated counting of the Electoral College results, in which Biden defeated Trump, 306-232.
The Capitol building had witnessed protests and occasional violence in the past. But according to Capitol police and lawmakers, they were flabbergasted to know that protesters literally stormed the building since it was unprecendented.
In all, five people died in the insurrection.
As to what triggered the insurrection, other than Trump’s inflammatory remarks and speech, many believe it was because of then-Vice President Mike Pence, who, before presiding over the meeting, said it was unlawful to reject the electoral votes that made Biden President.
The insurrection certainly has a noxious influence on America. Like it or not, the incident tipped the balance, forcing Americans to live with stepped-up security at every turn.
Being a U.S. President used to be one of the things on Joe Biden's bucket list.
And on January 21, 2021, he officially check-marked that box off his bucket list as he put his left hand on the five-inch-thick Bible that has been in his family for 128 years, ready to be sworn in as America's 46th President.
JOE BIDEN, U.S. President: I, Joseph Robinette Biden Junior do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States. (So help you god.) So help me god. (Chief Justice John Roberts: Congratulations Mr. President.) (Applause)
At the same time, his historic speech at the U.S. Capitol began with the new President's condemnation of the insurrectionist siege just two weeks prior to the inauguration.
Biden: To overcome these challenges - to restore the soul and to secure the future of America - requires so much more than words. It requires that most elusive of things in a democracy: Unity. Unity.
The world's focus was mainly on the coronavirus pandemic throughout the year of 2021. But in April, overshadowing this was the beginning of Derek Chauvin's murder trial. He was accused of murdering a black man, George Floyd, who used a counterfeit 20-dollar bill in a store. Chauvin's abuse of force sparked controversy across the globe.
Videos featuring Chauvin defending himself before witnesses after kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes went viral online. He described Floyd as "a sizeable guy" and "probably on something."
In those videos, Floyd screamed in agony, while police officers continued to put him on the pavement, kneel on his neck and add pressure on his neck despite Floyd struggling to gasp.
Eyewitnesses were spooked, portraying Derek Chauvin as a cold-blooded murderer. While many continue to believe Floyd was killed by suffocation, Chauvin's lawyer maintains Floyd was killed by drug overdose instead. The dispute triggered an investigation as authorities stopped at nothing to home in on the cause of Floyd’s death.
At the outset, with Floyd’s girlfriend, Courteney Ross, taking the stand in court, more evidence of drug overdose being the cause of Floyd’s death emerged, as she admitted the couple struggled with drug addiction.
Drug overdose is plausible, given the autopsy, which found fentanyl and methamphetamine in Floyd's system, supporting Chauvin's attorney's argument that Floyd died of drug overdose instead of suffocation.
As America ushered in an era of racial reckoning, on April 21, what's considered a cheerful piece of news came: The jury reached a unanimous verdict of guilty for Chauvin.
The lengthy testimony came to an end, finally.
Who was once a police officer has now officially become a prisoner, because he was found guilty of third-degree murder, second-degree unintentional murder and manslaughter.
Floyd's family expressed relief.
Never have Floyd's supporters been so ecstatic, as a positive response was given to their demand for justice. Scores of anti-racism Americans poured into the streets of Minneapolis, with some even running through traffic with banners and placards, celebrating triumphantly.
The jury was formed by six White Americans and six Black or multiracial people. The verdict came after around 10 hours of deliberations over two days.
Wearing a face mask when the verdict was read out, Chauvin was handcuffed and taken away to prison, and his face showed no sign of him trying to conceal his sadness and disappointment.
U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed the verdict, saying problems brought by racism can have a devastating impact on the States. Washington would deliver reform to the existing laws, and Biden urged Americans to do more to avert tragedies like the murder of George Floyd.
Eventually, on June 26, 2021, having prepared a dossier on Chauvin, read all the affidavits available, and studied the evidence with a fine-tooth comb, the court judge finally delivered a verdict for Chauvin's case.
Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison, on charges of homicide and several other charges.
Chauvin himself sent his condolences to the Floyd family for the first time, given it's worth its weight in terms of peace of mind.
Derek Chauvin:
I am not able to give a full formal statement at this time, but, very briefly, though, I want to give my condolences to the Floyd family.
The case was settled with Chauvin heading right back to prison.
George Floyd’s death triggered massive "Black Lives Matter" protests across the globe in the latter part of 2020. "I can't breathe", which Floyd said when he was gasping for air, became one of a battery of slogans used by protesters during the "Black Lives Matter" movement.
The protests successfully raised awareness of racial bias in America, where shooting and homicide cases against Black Americans and other ethnic minorities are prevalent.
The sentencing came during a period of racial reckoning in the United States, following a slew of mass shootings that happened in the first half of the year.
While the joy of many Americans was palpable after the verdict against Chauvin was delivered, there was word the sentence was not long enough to punish Chauvin, and to avert a similar tragedy.
As 2021 winds down, comes the verdict of not guilty in the criminal case against the then-17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot two White men, Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, to death in the Kenosha shooting last year. There were conjecture and speculation about the verdict, with some foreseeing that the court would exonerate him. Like it or not, the jury unanimously concurred that Rittenhouse acted in self-defence.
He was taken aback and seen falling forward towards the defence table immediately after the verdict was read, having taken the stand and denied any maleficent intent for so many times, just yearning to be acquitted of the charges.
Anti-racism advocates were obviously irate, adamant the verdict is by no stretch of the imagination the denouement.
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It's all about the Israel-Palestine war when we return, an event in which tensions between the U.S., Israel, Palestine and Hamas intensified.
Don't go away.
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