General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIs Baltimore's Police State Over-Reach Finally Tipping the Scales Towards Real Justice?
In the wake of todays announcement, that 6 officers will face criminal charges, I know it's still way too early to presume that justice, in the end,will be done in Baltimore regarding the death of Freddie Gray. By now, we've all witnessed -- see Tayvon Martin, Eric Garner, et. al. -- how the machinations of systemic racism tortures institutions of justice" to grind out implausible narratives that shift blame from perps to victims, especially if the perps happen to wear badges & guns.
But Baltimore just might become the police-states Waterloo: in a city that is 63% African American, where the 51% of the police force is Black, and that has a Black Mayor, and a Black State Prosecutor, one could easily imagine Baltimore to be the 'perfect storm' that finally at long last, tips the scales towards something resembling justice the case of Freddie Gray. But there are signs that its not stopping there. Baltimore also has a Black Congressman, a Black President and a Black Attorney General.
Rachael Maddow did a segment last night on how 'bipartisan' outrage about the Freddie Gray case (or at least polite concern) was taking shape on Capital Hill. I too had noticed a conspicuous absence of usual dim-witted Congressional GOP dog-whistles blaming Blacks for getting in the way of police bullets, fists and batons. So when I heard Rachael's report, it kind of blew my mind, and gave me a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, this nightmare might be transforming into something much more like Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream.
Rachael reported that discussions were already underway on Capital Hill pointing towards an emerging bipartisan consensus for sweeping changes in our policing & criminal justice system to ensure that all citizens -- regardless of their color, mental state or financial means -- are afforded due process under the law. And concurrently we have our Democratic front-runner of the hour calling for an end to the Era of Mass Incarceration.
Rachael already has her ear to the ground on this one, so Im going to be catching her show on a regular basis to see where this might go.
This is my prayer that weve finally reached that long-awaited tipping point.
appalachiablue
(41,052 posts)libdem4life
(13,877 posts)cameras. Now all races are watching and we don't like what we see. Police have proven their willingness to outright lie to shift blame. Nothing new, just now revealed to the rest of us.
ananda
(28,782 posts)I think it depends on the power structure of the community
and the state.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)But am definitely holding space in my imagination for a seismic shift towards real justice in Baltimore and beyond.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)We linked to the report as well, dry, boring but important reading.
This is part of it
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)I was not aware of this development, and it is very important indeed, esp. considering
the timing of it.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)as well as the review of the 1030 program
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)The shooting of Michael Brown occurred on August 9, 2014, and the date of the report
you posted is March 15, 2015.
I remember hearing about this when it was released, buy never poked through to peruse it.
Thanks again for calling it forth here.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)we have been dealing with corrupt police departments for decades now. Why is it going to change now?
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)Hopefully, at least.
ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)and citizens willing and able to use the video function.
malaise
(267,800 posts)I hope it makes other cops rethink their next murder of an African-American male.