As most of the American media hyperventilated about Russia and Stormy Daniels, my thoughts consumed the Alton Sterling story. His killer cops walked without charges, and to most of American, it was just a story in passing. To me, it is an existential threat. To black men, to people of color, the litany of these occurrences and the noncharging or acquittal of these killer cops tells us more about the American society than the police themselves.
Not even video could get a conviction of Alton Sterling’s killer cops
Police killed Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Eric Garner, Walter Scott, and many others with video cameras running, and it did not matter. It is hard to accept the reality that black men and people of color must feel expendable relative to the American Justice system.
I started my Politics Done Right show with my thoughts on Alton Sterling’s cops not being charged locally or federally. It was not the main topic of the show, but I think the message is critical. I pointed out that police officers are a reflection of the society at large. That is why it is hard to charge them or convict them. When grand juries and juries refuse to condemn even with incontrovertible video evidence, the reality jumps out at you.
The only short-term solution is for people of color to stay as far as possible from the American justice system. Until society changes, it is a clear and present danger to them.
I was mostly pleased with the responses that many listeners provided. But some comments gave me pause because they showed the power of racism even if cloaked in manipulated stays. It is incredible how some attempted to change the discussion by comparing black on black crime to police murder. Diversion from the reality killing has got to stop.