Overcoming Inequality

            It was roughly a week ago that the controversial decision to not indict Officer Darren Wilson was passed by the grand jury. The decision sparked widespread riots all over the nation led by angry citizens who felt that the justice system had not done its duty. The case involved the mentioned officer shooting and killing an unarmed teenage African American male. With a history of black oppression by American police forces, citizens were absolutely outraged by the announcement not indict Officer Wilson.

            With protests still occurring in Ferguson and in many other major U.S. cities, another announcement was made today. A grand jury in Staten Island decided not to indict the officer who accidentally killed an unarmed African American man by using a chokehold on him. There is a video of the incident occurring that clearly shows the police confront the unarmed man then proceed to throw him to the ground and use a choke hold while the man screamed he couldn’t breathe over 10 times.

            The man became unconscious at the scene and was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. The video clearly shows the officer using much more force than necessary for confronting an unarmed man about illegally selling single cigarettes. It came as a surprise to many that the decision was made not to indict the officer. It is highly likely that this decision will incite some protesting possibly accompanied by rioting.

This marks another decision that will add to the alienation of African Americans. What little hope they had in the justice system will likely decrease even further. The decisions made in the recent weeks involving the Michael Brown case and now this one clearly present the hard fact that racism is very much still alive in this country. While our nation has come a long way since the 1950s, we still have a far ways to go before true equality is achieved.

Goodman, J., and Al Baker. "In Eric Garner Chokehold Case, Grand Jury Is Said Not to Charge N.Y.P.D. Officer." The New York Times. The New York Times, 3 Dec. 2014. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/nyregion/grand-jury-said-to-bring-no-charges-in-staten-island-chokehold-death-of-eric-garner.html?_r=0>.