- Dec 12, 2000
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Is it time to start a catch-all thread for real, present-day examples of institutional racism alive and at work in the US? Since we’re no longer allowed to talk about this in schools, I figured it might be worthwhile?
Let’s start with exhibit A1: Jury selection in the Ahmaud Arbery case.
Defense attorneys removed 11 of the 12 Black potential jurors Wednesday, ensuring that the three white men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery will face a nearly all-white jury in their trial.
www.buzzfeednews.com
How’s that for “a jury of your peers”!
Now here’s the institutional racism part:
“[Prosecutors asked] Judge Timothy Walmsley to reseat eight of them. Prosecutors argued the Black panelists were removed from the jury pool simply because of their race. Walmsley declined to reseat them, citing state law, even as he acknowledged the racial overtones of the case.
"This court has found that there appears to be intentional discrimination on the panel," the judge said, "but that doesn't mean the court has the authority to reseat simply because we have this prima facie case."
Boom. There it is. That’s it. Nevermind that the judge agrees there’s intentional discrimination happening. Nevermind that 26% of the community is black while only 8% of the jury is black. Nothing can be done about it! The Judge’s hands are tied!! Why? Because the law has no recourse! That’s what institutional racism IS! It is often the ABSENCE of law or mechanisms to correct for scenarios like this.
I’m not saying that 11 white jurors will automatically acquit the 3 defendants. It’s quite possible (even likely) that they may decide the case fairly, impartially and either acquit or convict these defendants accordingly. But it doesn’t matter what they do—institutional racism has already impacted the case. The bar (or goalposts) of justice for Arbery’s family have already been moved.
Let’s start with exhibit A1: Jury selection in the Ahmaud Arbery case.
Defense attorneys removed 11 of the 12 Black potential jurors Wednesday, ensuring that the three white men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery will face a nearly all-white jury in their trial.
Just One Black Person Is On The Jury In Ahmaud Arbery’s Killing Even Though A Judge Agreed It Appeared To Be "Intentional Discrimination"
Defense attorneys removed 11 of the 12 Black potential jurors Wednesday, ensuring that the three white men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery will face a nearly all-white jury in their trial.
How’s that for “a jury of your peers”!
Now here’s the institutional racism part:
“[Prosecutors asked] Judge Timothy Walmsley to reseat eight of them. Prosecutors argued the Black panelists were removed from the jury pool simply because of their race. Walmsley declined to reseat them, citing state law, even as he acknowledged the racial overtones of the case.
"This court has found that there appears to be intentional discrimination on the panel," the judge said, "but that doesn't mean the court has the authority to reseat simply because we have this prima facie case."
Boom. There it is. That’s it. Nevermind that the judge agrees there’s intentional discrimination happening. Nevermind that 26% of the community is black while only 8% of the jury is black. Nothing can be done about it! The Judge’s hands are tied!! Why? Because the law has no recourse! That’s what institutional racism IS! It is often the ABSENCE of law or mechanisms to correct for scenarios like this.
I’m not saying that 11 white jurors will automatically acquit the 3 defendants. It’s quite possible (even likely) that they may decide the case fairly, impartially and either acquit or convict these defendants accordingly. But it doesn’t matter what they do—institutional racism has already impacted the case. The bar (or goalposts) of justice for Arbery’s family have already been moved.
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