A paramilitary police force, an armed citizenry, a culture of slavery that has never been completely abolished, predatory capitalism, politicians who -despite a clear majority in both Houses - are committed to an unnecessary bipartisan approach. All the ingredients for the perfect shitstorm with Black Americans in its path. Changing police culture may not be enough.

I saw Chauvins' eyes as the verdicts were being read. They were the eyes of a man who could not believe what was happening. The eyes of a man who honestly believes he has done nothing wrong. That killing a Black man is not wrong. That killing a Black man is not murder, but the right thing to do. It's what he joined the police to do - serve and protect the white public by oppressing the others.

I've seen that look in the eyes of middle-class English people when they've been fired for bullying working-class subordinates. The look that says 'this is not what is supposed to happen' . I never expected to see it in the eyes of a man who had just been convicted of murder!

Men like Chauvin, if they are no longer permitted to join or work for the police, will take up the arms your laws permit them to own, and will go about doing what they think is right: keeping Black people down.

Reforming the police won't cure that, even if a better police force may offer black people more protection.