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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Jury Goosed Justice System

There were those who tried to say race wasn’t an issue in the O.J. Simpson case. Probably they also believe it doesn’t rain in the Pacific Northwest.

The predominantly black, female jury sent a loud, clear message when it acquitted Simpson of murder.

The message was, “Take that - white America!”

Take that - for all the times black people die in the custody of your law enforcement officials.

Take that - for the all the black people who have been murdered by alleged white suspects who were found innocent of any crime.

Take that - for not only the injustices of the past, but for those that will be committed today and tomorrow.

One day, Old Sister Goose went to her nest and saw that one of her young ones had been eaten. She suspected Sly Fox because he had been stalking her nest for some time. She went to the police and filed a report. But when she got there, she was quite discouraged to see the number of foxes in the precinct. When her case went to court, she became even more dismayed when she saw foxes in the jury box. Sly Fox was found not guilty of murder in spite of overwhelming evidence against him.

On Tuesday, Sister Goose and some of her friends bit back.

Black people in America are long past tired of the injustices they experience in this country.

Black people are tired of seeing the likes of William Kennedy Smith exonerated on charges of rape while Mike Tyson goes to jail for the same charges.

Honest and hard-working black people are so tired of the still uneven playing field in this country that far too many are willing to look past the wrongdoing committed by members of their own community.

Why else would a thug like Tyson be given a hero’s welcome in Harlem after his release from prison?

How else could Simpson go free?

In the end, however, looking the other way and biting back, as the Simpson jury did, will not bring about the justice all Americans seek.

Still, the hate that hate built will not depart until the playing field is equal for everyone.

Until men start to demand justice for women, whites for non-whites, and so on, Justice for All will remain as elusive as O.J. was in football and in court.

, DataTimes MEMO: Kevin Blocker is a sports writer for the Spokesman-Review.

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN, EDITORIAL - Guest Opinions

Kevin Blocker is a sports writer for the Spokesman-Review.

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN, EDITORIAL - Guest Opinions