My 28 year old “baby” sister just completed jury duty in the same courthouse where the officer’s that killed Sean Bell were acquitted in Queens, NY. It was an eye opening experience for her because she witnessed first hand how racism against Latinos is built into the very justice system. The case involved a young Latino man accused of gun possession. His accusers were NYC Public School Safety officers, now a subdivision of the NYC police department. A lack of evidence tying the accused to the gun (dubious witness accounts, no fingerprints even taken) eventually led to a not guilty verdict, but what also, undoubtedly influenced the jury was the blatant racism shown by the judge, who is supposed to be impartial.

The entire time the accused was on the stand defending himself, the judge sighed and made comments about not being able to understand him. The attitude of the judge was so antagonistic, that the defense made a decision not to put on the stand a witness who could confirm the alibi of the accused.

When the not guilty verdict was rendered, the judge loudly expressed his surprise. When the now exonerated young Latino man and his family began to show their relief upon hearing the verdict the judge admonished the young man, “Don’t you dare cry. Don’t you dare!”.

This is just one of many cases everyday in NYC , where young men stand accused. Seems however, based on the actions of this one judge, that many are considered guilty until proven innocent. No wonder the bench trial set the officers who killed Sean Bell free. A jury, like the one my sister was on, may have been able to see just how deep the institutional racism in NYC (and in this country) goes.