Snort… of course certain people won’t see a connection… and that is why violence against brown people is so rampant – white people are never held accountable for the things that they do. We all know about the places where it is not safe to go, places it’s not safe for us to be but we can’t leave. They are not safe for us because white people act with impunity there – reservations, the border, and so many other places where poor brown people are. Where they might as well post signs that say “this way to indulge your sickest fantasies” because murder, rape, assault, etc. happen ALL THE TIME and nothing is done to change it. Heck, the law enforcement officers themselves are as thick into the the behavior in those places, and act like tour guides to other white sickos.

A life sentence is not literally “life” in most cases. “Without the possibility of parole” is not literally without the possibility in many cases, but means that they have to wait longer for the parole possibility. Also, reality is that white convicted felons are much more likely to have their sentence reduced or successfully appealed (even when they plead out) or otherwise brought down to a lighter sentence, and/or are quicker to be released because of “good behavior”, overcrowding, etc. Not to mention that they are certainly treated better while in prison than other groups, given more rights, more opportunities, more resources and support. Also true that if she ever gets out, she will not have to register as a sex offender because that wasn’t what her conviction was for.

And yes, this is a situation where by “pleading” and taking a sentence, the other charges are just dropped, ignored, like they never really happened. Where is the outrage when little brown girls are treated this way? Well, we brown folk certainly have the outrage, but the “justice system” apparently does not.

And had it been the other way around, had it been a brown Sunday school teacher and a white student, things would have looked a whole lot different. THAT’s why it’s relevent, because it’s hypocritical.

More importantly, it’s relevent because our lives are relevent!

it’s how you get cases of “good kids” doing something like murdering the local spic. spics are not *real*. They are not “legal.” They are “aliens.” And do we punish good people for killing aliens? Do we have laws that say, if you kill an alien, you will get life imprisonment?

When you grow up understanding that some women are not women or that some humans are not human, it makes certain actions against those not women and not humans ok. Even sensible.

I respect your positions. Perhaps the more apt question to ask is whether every violent act against women of color–from a white perp to a color victim–falls within the scope of the “way violence against women of color happens and is dismissed historically”.

As to the plea deal dropping the rape charges, they should have brought the full-force of the law to what Huckaby did. But it’s not clear whether the drop of the charges was due to “not caring” or was related to the common practice of striking plea deals enhance efficiency.

I’d read that, but I think I have to disappear from the real world–both virtual and physical–for two months.

“But it’s not clear whether the drop of the charges was due to ‘not caring’ or was related to the common practice of striking plea deals enhance efficiency.”

Bullshit it’s not clear. POC rarely have charges dropped or are given opportunity to strike plea deals to “enhance efficiency”. Lord knows there is nothing “efficient” about the U.S. justice system. Unless you’re white. Then suddenly it’s all about efficiency… sure.

IndigenousWomyn:
POC rarely have charges dropped or are given opportunity to strike plea deals to “enhance efficiency”. Lord knows there is nothing “efficient” about the U.S. justice system. Unless you’re white. Then suddenly it’s all about efficiency… sure.

I had the same thought.

There is very little justice in this world no matter where you live. There is a lot of prejudice around the world, too. But when you live in an area that places you in an ‘inferior’ position (trying living in a mostly all white small town anywhere on the planet) chances are you will not get fair treatment, unless perhaps if you have endless money at your disposal.

What happened to little Sandra wrenches the heart out of people of all colors of the rainbow. How would it feel if the perpetrator had been an African American Male and the same plea deal took place? What if it had been an Asian Female and the same legal outcome happened? No matter what, there would still be outrage. No matter who commits a crime, they should be punished for every crime they commit, not dropping the crimes if the convicted admits to what he/she did.

I don’t even live on the mainland of USA. But I follow this story because I care about Sandra and her family and anyone who is vulnerable to evil people seeking to raper/murder, or evil acts committed by mentally ill persons.

Does what we see happen around us in the world cause us to groan and sigh? Then, don’t jump down my throat for this, but the only, real, true hope we have for stopping all the crime, wars, prejudice and destruction to our earth is the hope that is promised to us inside God’s word, the Bible. Remember? The meek WILL inherit the earth…..we just don’t know when exactly. But the hopes are there. Rather than react – read – Matthew 5:3 and Revelation 21:3, 4. Psalm 37:10, 11, and 29. Ask your own church leader why they do not dwell on these beautiful hopes nor explain them.

Sandra is guaranteed a resurrection in a beautiful paradise earth without any criminals, sickness, not even death. The Bible is our hope for people of all colors. Blessings to you.

Politicians and criminal justice (or unjust) systems are imperfect and often corrupt. Our only hope lies in the Lord’s prayer, that ‘God’s kingdom come.’