As the late Paul Harvey use to say, “Now here is the rest of the story.”
There are some causes that require a community to be in the forefront. People must be willing to take a stand. Justice is one of those causes.
As we have seen reports concerning corruption in law-enforcement and the planting of drugs on suspects, we can not remain silent. The criminal justice system, which consists of the police, prosecutors, lawyers and judges must be beyond reproach. We can not allow a palsy-walsy relationship to exist between the police, prosecutors and judges. In the final analysis, judges must be independent and fair arbiters in our efforts for justice. People who appear before judges need to be assured that their cases will be heard judiciously.
This is why the Caucus of African-American Leaders voted unanimously to file formal complaints against Lawrence Scott, an Assistant Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney, whose wife was paid $233,000 by a slate of judges who were running in last year’s judicial race in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Suffice it to say that we will not rest in our efforts to bring diversity to the all-white Anne Arundel County Circuit Court in Annapolis, Maryland. In the 366 year history of this court there has never been a black woman, Asian or Latino to serve on this court. We are going to change that.
All taxpayers pay the salaries of the police, prosecutors and judges. We insist that the courts reflect the people who subsidize those salaries. No more silence!
On Tuesday, August 8, 2017, beginning at 5 PM, retired U.S. District Court Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. will be speaking at the Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center, 1101 Smithville Street, Annapolis, Maryland. This free event is open to the public. Meet some people who are not afraid to stand up for justice. Meet some leaders who believe that you either stand up or back down. You’re either going to have justice for everybody or justice for nobody.
If you are afraid, stay at home.
A Luta Continua!
Carl Snowden is a political and civil rights leader in Annapolis.
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