Dear U.S. Justice System,
These past few weeks have been rough. I’m sorry for that. But wouldn’t a solution to your woes be a little more scrutiny? Not letting people off when it’s obvious they are guilty of wrongdoing? Pushing aside biases in favor of, well, justice?
Between the riots over the grand jury’s decision in the Mike Brown/Darren Wilson case, certain high-profile men being absconded of sexual assault charges due to their public standing and, more recently, the decision reached by the Eric Garner grand jury, I have begun to lose faith in you. It’s disheartening.
Via: Tumblr
I am a 22-year-old white woman who feels like she can’t trust the government when it comes to its treatment of crime. For instance, I feel unsafe walking alone at night, but the idea of dialing 9-1-1 makes me feel just as uneasy. That isn’t how it should be.
A police presence is intended to quell anxieties and fears, not increase them. However, through your actions, or lack thereof, unwelcome sentiments are arising. It would be naive to imply all American citizens once had faith in you, but I also don’t think you can be blind to the fact that now, more than ever, people carry mistrust with them wherever they go.
Via: The Daily Herald
Let’s get something straight: I’m by no means saying that all people embedded in the justice system are bad people. I am simply saying that we live in a society where the system does not work to punish those who are within the system itself. I can’t live in a world where guilty people go unpunished. None of us can. There has to be some recourse out there for people who break the law — civilian or cop — because without that basic knowledge, chaos will reign.
USJS, you have to feel something for the victims. You can’t constantly take the sides of the perpetrators, whether they’re being paid by you or not, because then you will lose the victims. They will not involve you in their nightmares anymore.
But maybe that’s what you want. Maybe you’re tired of wasting time, energy and money fighting wars that cannot be won. Maybe this is your way of protesting. This is a frightening thought, so I hope it isn’t the case. Human lives are not there for you to use to make a point to the rest of the country, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, etc. These people are your citizens, and your job is to take care of them.
Via: Salon
I know you’re stretched thin, but you can’t let bureaucratic nonsense prevent you from doing your job. Because if you don’t do your job, people die.
But, that’s the thing USJS, they don’t have to die. You can save them. At the very least, you can give them the gift of redemption by ensuring that those guilty of crimes do not walk away scot-free. You can assuage their angers by demonstrating that cops are held to the same standards as civilians.
Without that basic equality, you cannot hope to maintain order.
Protests have erupted throughout the country. Investigations into the police force in multiple states have yielded frightening results of brutality that went unnoticed for years. Remaining passive is no longer an option.
Sincerely,
A cynical Millennial
Feature photo courtesy of: The Daily Beast
