Ferguson's Double Message: Don't Jump to Conclusions
Defensive "Yes, but..." arguments that blacks cause more crimes fell flat as investigators found black drivers in Ferguson were more than twice as likely as whites to be stopped and searched, yet 26 percent less likely -- that's less likely -- to be found in possession of contraband.
Claims that racism has not infected the Ferguson police department collapsed after the report revealed racist emails sent by unidentified but reportedly high ranking officers. A sample: A November 2008 email declared that President Obama would not be president for very long because "what black man holds a steady job for four years."
Ferguson Mayor James Knowles announced after the report's release that one police department employee was fired and two others are on administrative leave over racist emails. None were identified.
After the release of the report, Ferguson Mayor James Knowles announced that one Police Department employee was fired and two others were placed on administrative leave over racist emails. The two officers resigned Thursday, a day after the Justice Department report was released.
Most disturbing about Ferguson's abuses is how much they reflect systemic problems with the justice systems in small municipalities across America. Ferguson officials need to do what other cities, big and small, have done after similar disturbing findings: end the use of arrest warrants to collect fines and fees, develop reliable ability-to-pay assessments and increase civilian involvement in all aspects of policing, including the review of use-of-force and misconduct allegations. As the DOJ report says, towns like Ferguson should "shift from policing to raise revenue to policing in partnership with the entire Ferguson community."
Fifty years after the historic Selma, Alabama, civil rights protests led to passage of the Voting Rights Act, the civil rights movements is finding its last big battles in small Selma-sized municipalities. The message to cities and towns across America now is to demand better accountability, training and community relations not only to reduce abuses but also to fight real crimes more serious than one's "manner of walking."
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E-mail Clarence Page at cpage@tribune.com.
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