Los Angeles Native Describes Civic Decline

RSS Feed

Los Angeles Native Describes Civic Decline

May 29th, 2018

Awake Goy

May 29, 2018

At the first court hearing, I sat for hours as defendant after defendant, all black and all of them charged with violent crimes, was hauled before the judge, while their ill-prepared public defenders pleaded with the court for more time, which was granted in every case. Occasionally, one of the defendants would turn and cast a menacing glance at a witness seated on one of the courtroom benches and hysterical screams would break out. My neighbor, the one who had his apartment broken into, was also black. As all of this was taking place, he whispered in my ear, “I’m sorry you have to experience this.”