Reflecting on the Chauvin Trial from last week & in particular the repeated mention of the “crowd” by defense. I’ll tell you a story about a time I needed EMTs: Oct 20, 2018. Some of you already know what I’m talking about but let’s get a bit of background: I have 4 kids, 2 dogs

4 cats then, also—but a non-factor for our discussion. I had (unbeknownst to me) dislocated my hip replacement sitting on the sofa. Bc I was calm, my orthopedist thought it was a pinched tendon. Following Dr.’s advice my eldest brought meds & walker, to wait 30min & try to stand.

I’ve told this story a LOT. One thing I tend to leave out is how freaking chaotic everything was. Kids swarming around, who I reassured as well as I could. I soon realized I needed to call 911–fire, ambulance & police were here before I hung up the phone. Regular chaos turned

Into MEGA chaos. Suddenly my living room was filled with large men AND kids. Either kiddos hadn’t put the dogs up or it wasn’t latched bc they burst onto the scene. I was terrified that Otis our GSD would bite & then the cops would shoot him but all the firemen turned into 7yos

“Who’s a good puppy?! You are! And you too! The bestest fuzzy wuzzy puppies!!” Everyone had to pat & play w/Otis & Kirby & I was like “uh, not to trouble you but...” & they were like oh right we have a person to help here. NOT that I blame them bc look at these good bois

Finally they lifted me onto the stretcher: excruciating. I’ve tried to explain the pain of a dislocated hip several times. Stratospheric & mind-altering is the best I can say. But being up on the stretcher I still could see my younger kids begin to feel fear. I said not to worry

Their older brother (16 at the time) would take care of them & neighbors would check in. Meanwhile the EMTs were doing ALL the things. “I’ll be fine,” I kept saying but I didn’t actually know for sure. They got me to the truck & I still remember the agony of every bump & jostle.

The outcome for me was lots of drugs, this xray, & a sedated closed reduction (and months later a surgical revision). I got the ER docs & nurses who cared for me to promise to vote for Beto, lol.

But when Chauvin defense attorney talks about the “chaotic scene” of a handful of kids standing on a sidewalk, I think about how my whiteness protected me, my kids, my dogs in presence of police & EMTs who took care of me despite yelling & crying & barking & swarming creatures

Yes: they delayed care slightly to pet & play w/Otis & Kirby (still a surreal moment in an already strange occurrence). There are other differences, none of them material to the ridiculous notion that the scene surrounding Chauvin had any chaos at all. His own demeanor belies it.

*Not relevant to the main point but my spouse was in another country getting on a helicopter for work while I was at the hospital—he called me but there wasn’t time to explain so I just had to say “everything is fine, don’t worry, just call me when you get signal”. Not ideal, lol