{"id":3083,"date":"2015-05-03T13:42:15","date_gmt":"2015-05-03T18:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/rhetoricraceandreligion\/?p=3083"},"modified":"2015-05-03T13:42:15","modified_gmt":"2015-05-03T18:42:15","slug":"the-charges-that-shocked-the-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/rhetoricraceandreligion\/2015\/05\/the-charges-that-shocked-the-system.html","title":{"rendered":"The Charges that Shocked the System"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

This semester I taught a class on Black Theology. I centered our analysis of Black theology within the Ferguson and Black Lives Matter movement. Students read works in Black Theology and the goal was to draw from the black theology an understanding of what happening in Ferguson and beyond. We studied methodology and practice and examined how \u2018black theology\u201d would look like in places such as Ferguson where racism and systemic issues and problems are so embedded in the criminal justice system and indeed, the entire city.<\/p>\n

Typically in class, I would start with a brief lecture on the topic for the day and students would present their work from what they read before class. After that, then the discussions would begin where the students offer questions for reflection. However, on the last day of class (Friday, May 1), I changed the format a little. We talked Baltimore. Erupting four days earlier, I knew that when class met for the last time, we needed to discuss Baltimore in light of Ferguson and the Black Lives Matter movement. So we watched news coverage in real time and I prepared to discuss media representations of the events of Baltimore, but something else happened. What I did not know was that when we began to watch the coverage, Baltimore District Attorney Marilyn Mosby was about to charge police officers involved with the death of Freddie Gray with murder manslaughter assault and\/or misconduct in office.<\/p>\n

Honestly, when she walked down the long and steep stairs heading for the bank of microphones that awaited her, I thought, along with the class, that this was just going to be an update of the situation. Maybe something like, \u201cWe are still investigating,\u201d \u201cWe will continue the pursuit of justice,\u201d or the oft said and now dreaded, \u201cI will call forth the grand jury to take a look at this,\u201d but nothing like we actually heard.<\/p>\n

Mosby started<\/a> by expressing sympathy to the \u201cloved ones of Freddie Gray\u201d and assured Gray\u2019s family that \u201cno one is above the law and that I would pursue justice on their behalf.\u201d She then reminded us that her job was to \u201cexamine and investigate the evidence of each case and apply those facts to the elements of a crime in order to make a determination as to whether individuals should be prosecuted.\u201d<\/p>\n

After sharing with us how her team, has \u201cworked around the clock,\u201d and how they had put in \u201c12 and 14 hour days\u201d of investigation, she then shocked the world. After her investigation in the death of Freddie Gray she said,<\/p>\n

The findings of our comprehensive, thorough and independent investigation, coupled with the medical examiner\u2019s determination that Mr. Gray\u2019s death was a homicide that we received today, has led us to believe that we have probable cause to file criminal charges.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

After listing the statement of probable cause, we then heard the charges.<\/p>\n

Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., 45: Second-degree depraved murder, manslaughter, second-degree assault, two counts of vehicular manslaughter charges and misconduct in office. Officer William Porter, 25: Involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office. Lt. Brian Rice, 41: Involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office and false imprisonment. Officer Edward Nero, 29: Two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office and false imprisonment. Officer Garrett Miller, 26: Two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office and one false imprisonment charge. Sgt. Alicia White, 30: Involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

She would later remind us that she had heard the call for \u2018No justice, no peace.\u2019 However, she would also add, \u201cYour peace is sincerely needed as I work to deliver justice on behalf of this young man.\u201d She also reminded us that \u201cthese accusations of these six officers are not an indictment on the entire force.\u201d Further she said<\/p>\n

I come from five generations of law enforcement. My father was an officer, my mother was an officer, several of my aunts and uncles, my recently departed and beloved grandfather was one of the founding members of the first black police organization in Massachusetts. I can tell you that the actions of these officers will not and should not, in any way, damage the important working relationships between police and prosecutors as we continue to fight together to reduce crime in Baltimore. Thank you for your courage, committee and sacrifice for the betterment of the community.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Finally, after thanking her team, the Baltimore City Police Department, the governor and the State of Maryland, she also had one more group to thank.<\/p>\n

Last but certainly not least, to the youth of the city. I will seek justice on your behalf. This is a moment. This is your moment. Let\u2019s insure we have peaceful and productive rallies that will develop structural and systemic changes for generations to come. You\u2019re at the forefront of this cause and as young people, our time is now.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

After the press conference, just like the people of Baltimore, she shocked my students because here was a DA who actually charged police officers in the death of a black person. However, we also remained cautious because a charge is not a conviction. However, as I listen to students and some of the interviews from people in Baltimore and from the horns I heard honking in support of this decision to charge the police officers, I realized something. I realize just how hard it is to get people to affirm Black Lives Matter. In other words, just the fact that a government official\u2014the DA, who I have argued is the most powerful elected official in a county, charged police officers was a reason for celebration. She did not hide behind a grand jury and steered evidence in a way favorable to the officers. She did not decide there was not enough evidence to charge the officers. She did not kick the ball down the road with rhetoric of \u201cwe are still investigating\u201d or \u201cwe are still gathering information and statements.\u201d No, she did what many DAs do around the country every single day\u2014especially when people of color are involved. She looked at the evidence and charged the officers appropriately. In short, the privilege of being a police office did not immune them from being charged with murder, manslaughter, assault, and\/or misconduct in office.<\/p>\n

For many who have watched justice slipped through the hands of righteousness time and time again, slide down a slippery slope of nonexistence, for those who wanted to see the system work in favor of a black family who had to bury a loved one who died at the hands of cops, for folks who saw a less than aggressive DA not pursue the case against George Zimmerman; for people who saw DAs hide behind grand juries in Ferguson and New York; for people who saw a 12 year old boy shot and killed and nothing done about it; for people who saw a black person shot and killed in Wal-Mart and the countless others; just a charge was meaningful. A charge was hopeful. A charge means something in this long line of injustices. A charge is needed. A charged was welcomed. But a charge is not a conviction. Therefore, the struggle continues.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This semester I taught a class on Black Theology. I centered our analysis of Black theology within the Ferguson and Black Lives Matter movement. Students read works in Black Theology and the goal was to draw from the black theology an understanding of what happening in Ferguson and beyond. We studied methodology and practice and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2251,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[47,46,702,45,44,48],"class_list":["post-3083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-andre-e-johnson","tag-baltimoreuprising","tag-blacklivesmatter","tag-andre-e-johnson","tag-baltimore","tag-black-theology","tag-marilyn-mosby"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Charges that Shocked the System<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This semester I taught a class on Black Theology. 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