Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover

We are all guilty of this, perhaps, every single one of us.  

Years ago, I was working in a hospital in Connecticut. One morning, I went into a patient's room for rounds, and during our conversation, the patient asked me why I was not out there protesting. This was during the time when the George Floyd protests erupted across major cities in America. George Floyd was killed by Derek Chauvin publicly.  

I responded to the patient, "Well, if I were out there protesting, who would be taking care of you here?"

The patient looked at me and smiled. I then added,"Protest is not for everybody. It is for people who have money, time, and privilege. Many of those out there don’t have to worry about next month's bills because they have enough, and they also have time. Most of us have to work—if we don’t work, we don’t eat. We literally eat what we kill." 

She looked at me again, surprised by what I said. She later admitted that she hadn’t expected that response from me. But I was happy to share my perspective with her.  

I have never been to a protest. I had people invite me to a few, but I always used work as an excuse.  

Personally, I believe that many of the people who protest professionally are getting paid to do so.  

So, do you judge a book by its cover? Just because I look like a protester doesn’t mean I am one.  

Events & Timeline Related to This Piece: 

- George Floyd was killed on May 25, 2020, by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. 

- Chauvin was convicted on April 20, 2021, of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison.  

- In Connecticut, numerous peaceful protests occurred in response to Floyd's death, including events in cities like Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, New Haven, Meriden, and Hartford.  

- As of March 2025, discussions have emerged about pardoning Derek Chauvin. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro has urged President Trump to pardon Chauvin for his federal crimes related to Floyd’s death, arguing that Chauvin was unjustly convicted due to societal pressures and political influence that tainted his trial.  

- However, President Trump has stated that he is not considering such a pardon.  

Ben Shapiro’s proposal to have Chauvin pardoned brought this memory back to me. I don’t think such a pardon would be a good idea, it would cause a major racial divide or rift in America. But people like Shapiro tend to capitalize on racial tensions, and I hope nobody pays attention to the bait he’s throwing out there.  

God bless, and have a great evening.

Pal Ronnie