Bernard Kerick. Rod Blagojevocich. And the thousands of Black & Brown people who don’t have money I’ve represented charged with &/or convicted of so much less. And millions more throughout the country. Wait. Sorry. Just the first two. I forgot white privilege is all that matters.
Literally, right now as I type this, Trump-supporting GOP lawmakers in New York State are fighting desperately & spreading fear to undo modest bail reform so they can jail thousands more Black & Brown people *pretrial* charged only w/ misdemeanors & non-violent felonies.
Under a proposal by @NYSenDems now caving to the politics of fear used by the same Trump-loving GOP lawmakers, they want to give back judges power to *remand* people like Kalief Browder. Falsely accused of stealing a backpack. Jailed for 3 years. Committed suicide from trauma.
I’m sorry. Trump supports the *death penalty* for drug offenses. He called for the literal lynching of innocent black teenagers. His AG literally designed mass incarceration & wants to expand its impact further. Won’t admit the impact on Black communities. White crime? Go for it.
As always it isn't that I wish greater harshness. Just wish majority of those hauled into system—mostly poor people, predominantly Black & Latino—were treated w/ same kind of individualized justice, due process, care & consideration for their lives. I wish people in power cared.
