So, Trump Will be Gone in two Months; As a Nation, what are We Going to do about Systemic Racism in Law Enforcement?

 It's true that not all members of law enforcement are racist. However, those who are not bigots have become enablers. They do not speak up and defend minorities and the underprivileged. They support their “brothers in blue” and refuse to do the right thing. If our nation is ever to become “great,” we all must demand the reform of our nation's entire judicial system.

This serious problem existed prior to Trump's white supremacist and illegitimate presidency, but he intentionally raised its level to historical proportions.

The first amendment to the Constitution guarantees our nation's people the right to protest our grievances against our government. The truth is, protesting is the most American act of all. The United States of America would not exist if our predecessors had not fought for their freedom from England, and King George III.

For black Americans, the murder by cop of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25^th of this year was the “last straw.” After 401 years of being ignored by our nation's government they took to the streets demanding fair treatment by not only law enforcement, but the entire judicial system. One of the greatest black marks on our nation, and the primary reason we have never been a great nation, is the fact that black lives seem to be expendable within law enforcement. The death of black men and women at the hands of the authorities has become “normal.”

So, what do we do to end systemic racism in our judicial system? We know that racism and bigotry are choices, and these choices are based on ignorance. Those of us who grew up surrounded by black families are incapable of understanding prejudice. We are all Americans and to consider yourself superior to another man or woman based on the color of their skin or their nation of origin is unacceptable. Therefore, passing laws or creating rules and regulations only scratch the surface of a major problem.

America is a young nation, and until Trump was illegitimately placed in control of our country's future we were growing up. Younger Americans are less likely to harbor hatred or resentment for others based on physical differences. Maybe the only solution is to allow time to remove men and women my age who harbor hatred and prejudice.

As for law enforcement, many changes must begin, and begin now. It begins with training and education. Interacting with a diverse citizenry requires understanding. Using lethal force must become a last resort and not a first choice. Another problem is perception. When I was a young man and the police were called to a situation, they did not arrive in military vehicles, and were not wearing attire or carrying weapons once reserved for war zones. It appears that they are looking for trouble, and “protecting and serving” the people has been abandoned.

The fact that our prisons are filled with a disproportionate number of black men and women is unacceptable. The fact that the average income of those incarcerated in our penal institutions was less than $20,000 per year prior to their trials offers proof that there are separate judicial systems for the rich and poor. Unlike other developed nations our prisons are not designed to rehabilitate their inhabitants. We punish our prisoners and have created the highest rate of recidivism in the world.

Change is growth. It's past time for our nation to grow up and celebrate a growing diversity. Immigration is what makes America a unique country which could become the greatest nation in the world.

Op-ed by James Turnage

Image courtesy of denisbin

My writing can be found HERE