Perhaps the most surprising, striking and jarring aspect of where we are now in America is that despite all the protests and outcry, and the indictments of those ex-cops in Minneapolis, police officers writ large do not appear to be adjusting their behavior in the slightest.
This suggests that no amount of individual resignations, firings or state indictments will change police behavior. Just like no amount of shaming or blood sacrifice moved racist cafe owners or Klan types stopping black people from voting, we need a federal law over policing.
And for the same reason, and given the racial venom out there, stoked — and this is wild —by the president of the United States like a pyromaniac gifted fuel and matches, we absolutely need a federal anti-lynching law. It’s time. And only the federal government can do it.
