Posted by PresIke:
Part of the problem is that too many of us white folks don't seem to see how this hurts us as a group as well.
Of course, our privilege allows us to seem to benefit from the verdict, even if we feel it is tragic because while it may lead to sorrow, one wonders why not disgust? Are we identifying with the police on a socio-racial level by defending them? However, in the long run if we want to undo racism then I see it as important for whites who may not be as upset to make an effort to look at the consequences of this for us all.
Also, as for the lawyers, the Queens District Attorney's office was responsible for the case (from what I understand) and even before the verdict was announced today there were rumblings in the news and from critics about their viability as a non-partisan prosecutor given that they have a symbiotic relationship with the NYPD. Again the question of needing a special independent prosecutor has come into the arena of debate. I think that Governor Patterson needs to assign one, yet I can see him being quite hesitant to do so for many obvious reasons.
Preach!!!
This is how you knew the fix was in. How could a DA who works closely with the polic every single day of his career, being trusted to prosecute police officers and then go back to his normal day to day job?
How could a judge, who works closely with the police every single day of his career, being trusted to be fair and impartial, when his whole job is to value police testimony as more credible than other witnesses, particularly those with criminal backgrounds.
This is on the prosecution though, from what I've read the case was constructed and argued very poorly.
While I have to endure liberal talk about all of the change and racial progress being made, some things have changed, and others have stayed remarkably consistent throughout the years.
4/25/2008 9:31 AM
