Since the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer, a wave of protests has been unleashed in the United States and around the world against racism and police brutality. This case is not isolated but adds to a long list of African Americans who have lost their lives due to the excessive use of force or racial discrimination by the authorities.

What awaits an African American in criminal proceedings?

Racism not only manifests itself in the streets but also in the courts and prisons. The American criminal justice system is riddled with biases and prejudices that disproportionately affect Black people and other ethnic minorities. According to the Department of Justice data, African Americans represent 13% of the population but 33% of prisoners. In addition, they are more likely to be arrested, charged, convicted, and sentenced to harsher penalties than whites for similar crimes.

These disparities are the result of a number of factors, including:

1. The criminalization of poverty,
2. Lack of access to adequate legal defense,
3. The selective application of criminal laws,
4. The influence of structural and institutional racism.
5. The lack of accountability and transparency in the system.
6. All this generates a systematic violation of human rights and equality before the law.

How do you combat racism in this situation?

Faced with this situation, various international organizations and human rights experts have urged the United States to reform the judicial system to end racism and guarantee justice for all victims. Some proposed measures are: to eliminate laws that criminalize conduct related to race, poverty, or immigration status and reduce the use of pretrial detention and bail. Other measures are promoting alternatives to imprisonment, reviewing excessive or disproportionate sentences, and implementing independent supervision and control mechanisms. Judicial and police officials can also be trained on human rights and diversity.

Juneteenth is a celebration that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, and it is also an opportunity to reflect on the remaining challenges to achieving a more just and inclusive society. Racism is a problem that affects us all and requires a collective commitment to eradicate it.

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