On the edge again, America watches developments closely 

Rayshard Brooks,Daniel Prude,BreonnaTaylor,AtatianaJefferson,AuraRosser,StephonClark,BothamJean,PhilandoCastille,AltonSterling,FreddieGrayare just a few individualskilled by theAmericanpolice in the last 7 years.

There are many moreBlack Americans,who were either shot,tasered,brutally mauledor asphyxiated.

What they call,choked to deathbut none of these killings were enoughto shake the collective conscience of the American societyor the American judicial systemfor that matter.

It took a convergence of forces for America to wake up,a pandemic,an election year,the highest rate of unemploymentand to top it all,the killing ofGeorgeFloydin broad daylight.

With every city under lockdown,Americans couldn't look away.They were forced to pay attention.

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George Floyd's killing became a rallying point for racial justice in the United Statesas the trial in the case officially begins.America is on the edge once again.Every American, irrespective of theircolouror backgroundis watching the developments closelybecause this is far more than the trial of one police officer in the death of one BlackAmerican.This is a test of the American societyand of theAmericanjudicial system.

If they fail this test,the implications will be national.Perhaps even global.America is on trial.

Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton said, "Make no mistake about it: Chauvin is in the courtroom butAmericais on trial."

The judicial system is on test.Martin Luther King III, Martin Luther King Jr's son,"This is, this is a test for America, American justice, I believe, because people are beyond fed up.

Derek Chauvin,the officer accused in the murder of George Floyd has been finally put on trial.The case is significantbecause it is quite uncommon for US police officers to bepenalisedfor using lethal force.

The court proceedings have begun,the opening remarks have been made.The arguments from both sides- reveal just how dividedAmericahas become as a society.

Eric Nelson, Derek Chauvin's Defense Attorney, said,"Derek Chauvin did exactly what he had been trained to do over the course of his 19-year career. The use of force is not attractive, but it is a necessary component of policing."

Jerry Blackwell, an attorney for the prosecution, said,"You will learn that he [Derek Chauvin] was well aware that Mr. Floyd was unarmed, that Mr. Floyd had not threatened anyone, that Mr. Floyd was in handcuffs, that he was completely in control of the police, he was defenseless.

Eric Nelson, Derek Chauvin's Defense Attorney, said, "The evidence will show that Mr. Floyd died of a Cardiac Arrhythmia that occurred as a result of hypertension, coronary disease, the ingestion of methamphetamine and fentanyl."

Jerry Blackwell, Prosecutor, said, "He did not die from an opioid overdose. Why? Because you'll be able to look at the video footage and you see he looks absolutely nothing like a person,who would die from an opioid overdose."

This is the most high-profile case since the 1991 beating of Rodney King Junior.The trial ended with partial justice being delivered.

All efforts have been made to ensure that this one does not end in a mistrial.

A total of 12 peoplearesitting on the jurywith three alternates.There are six womenand nine men.9 of them are whiteAmericans,4 of them are blackAmericansand 2 jurors are multi-racial.The diversity of the juryis aimed at instilling a sense of legitimacy in the judicial process.

AmyForliti, AP Reporter, Minneapolis,said, "Their ages range from their 20s to their 60s, and they include a chemist, an auditor, a social worker, a registered nurse who works with covid-19 patients and a grandmother who does volunteer work. The one thing that they all do have in common, though, is that they all said they could put aside their prior opinions and make a decision based on the evidence in the case that's going to be presented at trial."

Outside the court,sentiments are running high.Americans from all backgroundshave assembled near theMinneapolisCourthouse.They say the verdict will serve as justice for all of America.

Luke Arseneau, paraprofessional at a school,said,"I can tell you right now that opioids did not kill George Floyd. Derek Chauvin did."

Chaz Neal, business ownersaid, "This is a trial for, for justice for George Floyd, but the results are going to be affected everywhere."

Sabrina Mohammed, student from Minneapolis, said, "I’m honestly just trying to take in as much of the case asIcan without getting overwhelmed, because my mental health is deteriorating, unfortunately, as a black, as a black woman in the United States. SoI’mjust trying to protect myself as well."

1100 miles away from the heart of actionin Washington DC,all the developments are being monitored.The White HousesaysUS president JoeBidenwill be following the trial closely.

Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretarysaid, "Well, he certainly will be watching closely, asAmericansacross the country will be watching. you know at the time of George Floyd's death, he talked about this as being an event that really opened up a wound in the American public, and it really brought to light for a lot of people in this country just the kind of racial injustice and inequality that many communities are experiencing every single day."

It's a moment of reckoning for the American society.A chance for the American justice system to prove it can actually work.Because for decades,it has failed blackAmericans,who have suffered due to police brutality.

The trial of Derek Chauvin is an opportunity for this system to redeem itself.The outcome is anything but certainand the stakes for the entire country are enormous.