By Patric Hedlund, TME

Children of these Mountain Communities held signs in Lebec by the side of Frazier Mountain Park Road this summer, shortly after George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis.

“I want to grow up in a better world #Black Lives Matter,” was written in blue magic marker by Isabella Fredricks, 13, of Pine Mountain Club. Her family joined a vigil with other local children and parents.

This month, children of Minneapolis testified as witnesses at the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer who killed George Floyd. They felt devastated, helpless and guilty themselves for being unable to stop a murder in front of their eyes—children, 7 years old, 16 years old, 18 years old. Then the cellphone video by Darnella Frazier, 17, made all the world a witness.

The jury returned a verdict of “guilty” on all three counts against Chauvin this Tuesday, April 20.

“If this verdict is not yet justice, at least accountability is a step on the path toward healing,” said Minnesota Attorney General, Keith Ellison.

Now new grounds to challenge excessive use of force by law enforcement have been opened by a…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

Nick Covelli’s first T-Ball day; at 22 he was killed by a Kern County deputy in Frazier Park.

Above: Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, convicted April 20 of murder; and George Floyd as a child, with his mother.

Below: Jeff, Isabella and Sophia Fredricks in Lebec this summer.

Tony (center)and Nick Covelli (right) with Nick’s brother in Ireland

To see full stories with photos, please purchase a copy of the newspaper at many locations (click this link for a list) throughout the Mountain Communities.

Or, have your newspaper delivered via mail and include internet access. Just call 661-245-3794. Classified ads are FREE to paid subscribers! See front page at www.mountainenterprise.com for details.

The e-Edition is available now with full photos and stories at The Mountain Enterprise e-Edition. Select the 2021-0423 edition.

(subscriber login required)

This is part of the April 23, 2021 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you.