TG, the real justice system has not “refused“ to do anything in this case. Not yet, at least. It’s still in process. These things take a while. I’m not sure why, exactly, but I’m not a professional prosecutor and neither are you.
Certainly, it’s better that they get their ducks in a row than make a mistake and get the case thrown out on a technicality. And if these cops aren’t charged - I’d be shocked if the main one, at least, isn’t charged - it won’t matter how long it took the prosecutor to make that decision.
It doesn’t benefit minorities - of any kind - to have prosecutors pick which cases to pursue based on how many phone calls they get, rather than the law.
Because in many parts of the US, in most cases, the political pressure on prosecutors is to be “tough on crime.” And we know what that really means. So if it comes down to pure politics, rather than the constitution, the side of justice is going to lose more often than not. That is, after all, how we got into this situation.
Now I suppose that if this were not a well publicized case, then it might make sense for the people of in that prosecutor’s county to remind him that they’re paying attention and will remember his response the next time he’s up for election. Certainly, the racists are doing that. So it’s good to at least balance that out. But in this case, he certainly knows what’s at stake and whose votes he’s risking or courting either way he decides to go. He doesn’t need the mayor or a bunch of Hollywood actors - or anyone, really - to flood his office to remind him.
But having said that... it is certain that, in many of these cases at least, nothing would be have been done at all if somebody hadn’t recorded it, (when will we stop saying “film?”) and the police might bury the video if it wasn’t made public, or at least given to the press. But it’s not like the Minnesota news, let alone the world news, would have waited for this to go viral before reporting on it.
Why whatername could not be charged with “attempted murder” has been answered elsewhere, but I see no evidence that her wish or expectation was that the cops would come and kill the birdwatcher guy. It’s certainly a possible outcome, and she is probably aware of that, but she probably just wanted him to be taken away. Certainly, it would be nearly impossible for a prosecution to prove otherwise.
If calling the calling the police is broadly viewed by the law as the same as putting a hit on somebody, nobody will ever call the police ever again. That would not actually be good for public safety.
There’s just no legal shortcut here. If the police can’t be trusted to enforce the law fairly, injustice will continue and public safety will be compromised, especially for people of color. And there’s no easy way to fix the police, not least of all because there is no entity called “the police.” There are thousands of separate but overlapping law enforcement agencies, each with their own culture, rules and political influences.
To answer the other question. I would vote for Klobucher if the alternative is a Trumpist. 100 times out of 100. Anyone who says otherwise either doesn’t really get what is at stake or does get it and is a racist. I would not likely vote for her in a primary, but then that has never come up since I don’t live in Minnesota.
Certainly, it’s better that they get their ducks in a row than make a mistake and get the case thrown out on a technicality. And if these cops aren’t charged - I’d be shocked if the main one, at least, isn’t charged - it won’t matter how long it took the prosecutor to make that decision.
It doesn’t benefit minorities - of any kind - to have prosecutors pick which cases to pursue based on how many phone calls they get, rather than the law.
Because in many parts of the US, in most cases, the political pressure on prosecutors is to be “tough on crime.” And we know what that really means. So if it comes down to pure politics, rather than the constitution, the side of justice is going to lose more often than not. That is, after all, how we got into this situation.
Now I suppose that if this were not a well publicized case, then it might make sense for the people of in that prosecutor’s county to remind him that they’re paying attention and will remember his response the next time he’s up for election. Certainly, the racists are doing that. So it’s good to at least balance that out. But in this case, he certainly knows what’s at stake and whose votes he’s risking or courting either way he decides to go. He doesn’t need the mayor or a bunch of Hollywood actors - or anyone, really - to flood his office to remind him.
But having said that... it is certain that, in many of these cases at least, nothing would be have been done at all if somebody hadn’t recorded it, (when will we stop saying “film?”) and the police might bury the video if it wasn’t made public, or at least given to the press. But it’s not like the Minnesota news, let alone the world news, would have waited for this to go viral before reporting on it.
Why whatername could not be charged with “attempted murder” has been answered elsewhere, but I see no evidence that her wish or expectation was that the cops would come and kill the birdwatcher guy. It’s certainly a possible outcome, and she is probably aware of that, but she probably just wanted him to be taken away. Certainly, it would be nearly impossible for a prosecution to prove otherwise.
If calling the calling the police is broadly viewed by the law as the same as putting a hit on somebody, nobody will ever call the police ever again. That would not actually be good for public safety.
There’s just no legal shortcut here. If the police can’t be trusted to enforce the law fairly, injustice will continue and public safety will be compromised, especially for people of color. And there’s no easy way to fix the police, not least of all because there is no entity called “the police.” There are thousands of separate but overlapping law enforcement agencies, each with their own culture, rules and political influences.
To answer the other question. I would vote for Klobucher if the alternative is a Trumpist. 100 times out of 100. Anyone who says otherwise either doesn’t really get what is at stake or does get it and is a racist. I would not likely vote for her in a primary, but then that has never come up since I don’t live in Minnesota.
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