tonight while in the car. I know it was MSNBC, think it was the Ed Schultz show. But it was one of the MO politicians, a woman, didn't catch the name as I was switching around SIRIUS stations (I do want to find this-they must post transcripts) talking about why they want the DA removed. It was a lot about the DA being close to police which I've heard before.
But the one idea I was astounded at, was that the DA was biased because he has put lots of black people in jail. That just struck me as the most absurd statment ever, simply beyond ridiculous. He's the DA. That's what he does-that's basically all he does, that's the whole point of having a DA. To prosecute criminals and put them in jail. All kinds and colors of people. That's the actual reason to have a DA. I'm sure since he's been in office for 24 years, re-elcted by the people, he has put many black people in jail and many white people and many people of various other races and ethnicities. It's not like she's saying he has put "innocent" black people in jail-she doesn't talk about their guilt or innocence, just their color.
The DA is elected. If he's as bad and widely disliked as some people are saying, use the democratic process to replace him. He just won another primary by 30 points.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/21/us/st-louis-county-prosecutor-defends-objectivity.html?_r=0
I did just check and they only have transcripts up to Wednesday so far.
I was looking at some of the statements from State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed to see if it was her who said the above and if she repeated it elsewhere. I didn't see that statement but she made some others. One that sounds like a threat and displays her ignorance of the justice system and she actually put in writing:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/st-louis-prosecutor-has-faced-controversy-for-decades/article_cdd4c104-6086-506e-9ee8-aa957a31fee5.html
That's just irresponsible. DA's don't indict and elected officials should not essentially threaten rioting because a police officer is going to receive due process. The police officer is actually the one the justice system is required to be fair to. Our system is all about fairness for an accused or defendant. You can't change that just because of the color of the person shot.
I also find it just as wrong for her to try and speak for all black people as it is when others treat the black community as some kind of monolith. She has no right to speak for all black people and tell the whole world that black people will riot if something doesn't go the way some black people and some white people and some other kinds of people want it to.
