Deaths of prisoners while in custody are always fraught with charges of racism, police cruelty and negligence. It is not a subject many people give serious thought to. However, it is always a burning issue if you have been deprived of social rights were brought up in a poor neighborhoods and did not have the same quality of education as the group of people who dominate the country in which you live. Discrimination against minorities and the poor is endemic and has always persisted in all societies.
Ronnie White was an innocent guy who was taken into police custody. He was subsequently strangulated to death. The police have ultimate responsibility for his death at this time. Of course the Police are going to say that Ronnie White was a criminal who had killed a fellow officer. In Law, Ronnie White, is innocent until proven guilty. Therefore he needed to be afforded the protection of the Police Force irrespective of their feelings that he killed a fellow officer. It is not up to the Police Officers to be “the judge, the jury and the executioner” all in one.
The Police Forces of the different states have lots of power and authority. Some of the power is legitimate. They have been given that by legislation. Some other power which they have is illegal and has been acquired by bullying and illegal killings and practices. I had a friend who was a police officer and he confided in me about how police would use blunt instruments to cause injury and pain without leaving external bruises. The public is collectively aware of these sorts of things. Barry White was no exception. I am sure he had a long “relationship” with the police. My perception is that the relationship was not a loving one either.
Barry White deserved the protection of the Police force and did not get it. The Police Force, in my opinion, is guilty of gross negligence, but if one tries to get the Police Force convicted of this then the Police Union will be up in arms. Indeed, the whole of the establishment will rise in arms. When this happens then institutional racism and prejudices are to blame. Sometimes the tables can be turned against institutionalized prejudices but the victim needs to strong, have the necessary economic, social, legal and educational resources to be able to beat the system. I hope readers remember the Rodney King saga and the Arar case from Canada and the US.
These incidents of gross social injustices are to some extent produced by the individual. However, the society at large also has a responsibility. If we raise our children wrongly then we will harvest the benefits or deal with the consequences of bad education. Studies show that children who are sent to school early, between the ages of three and five, commit less crimes, stay in jobs longer and are both happier and healthier. My article on the benefits of early childhood education can be read at:
http://www.socyberty.com/Activism/Fourteen-Benefits-of-Preschool-Education..8169
We all know the case of O. J. Simpson. None of us know what really happened. We all know that O. J. Simpson was a famous football player. He was charged with the murders of his wife Mrs. O. J. Simpson and Ron Goldman. We also know that he was found not guilty of these charges. Further, we know that O.J. Simpson was found guilty in a civil court of those charges and he owes millions of dollars to the estate of the deceased. It is not likely that Ronnie White will receive justice. Many others have died in similar circumstances. Through selective use of evidence and modulation of the circumstances the police will prevail in this situation.
Image of Sarjeet S. Gill. Advocate and Educator. Social Justice and color blindness are necessary precedents to legal equality.
As a whitewash most states have specialized units to investigate cases like this. So called independent bodies, (independent branches of the Police Force,) investigate these cases. It must me remembered that the culture of blame of the investigating Police Force is the same endemic culture of blame that exists in society. Therefore it is not likely that Barry White will receive legal, social or legal justice.
O. J. Simpson did get justice. He purchased it. Remember, the dream team of defense lawyers. Yes, in the U.S. you can buy justice, if you have the money or the resources. Look at the President of the United States. One would thing that he would be a model of the just system. Is he? I do not think so. He successfully lied to the people of the world that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. There were none. He managed to use the influence of his friends to avoid serving in Vietnam. Remember, Mohammad Ali, the first Black boxing champion. He was dragged through the courts and sent to jail for refusing to serve in Vietnam. Yes, there are two standards of justice in the U.S. One Justice System is for the rich and famous, the other for the poor, Black and disfranchised, like Mohammad Ali I do not see Barry White getting justice.
That, to me, is racism. You are more concerned with black deaths than white deaths. I think this attitude is actually natural. People are tribal, and your tribe is black. But guess what, "sister": as a racially conscious white person, I am the same way! I really could not care less about the suffering of that subhuman piece of garbage named Ronnie White. In fact, whoever killed him ought to be commended for saving the taxpayers lots of money.
If I'm wrong and off-base, then please answer: why don't you say a single word about Paul Findley and his family in your article. And even if you had said something, can't you admit that it would have been be nothing more than lip service?