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George Floyd should not have died in police custody. The actions taken by Derek Chauvin were reprehensible and universally condemned by law enforcement. George Floyd was a victim of police misconduct. But he was not a hero. 

In this episode we will discuss the Robin Hood Effect, where criminals are labeled heroes. From the 1300's to today society has a penchant for proclaiming the good guy bad, and the bad guy good. It's not new, or even unusual, but we need to understand it and the severe problems it can cause.

The Robin Hood Effect is when people start viewing those who act out against society as the heroes and those who traditionally protect society as the villains. There are several common factors we have seen in this phenomenon. 

The Outlaw is typically seen as a victim of injustice from the government.

The Outlaw is seen as a common harmless person of good intent.

The Outlaw is sacrificing his life for a political stance.

These outlaws turned heroes become very important to political, social, or economic causes and their “fight” is generally taken up by others.