International Courant
A outstanding civil rights legal professional suggesting that the American authorized system makes legal guidelines “to criminalize black tradition” and that crime will be eradicated in the event that they “change the definition of crime” is “problematic” and “ridiculous,” mentioned authorized scholar and political scientist Dr. Carol Swan.
“We want legal guidelines to be enforced, and we’d like a public to be told. And on no account ought to we redefine crime in order that it isn’t a criminal offense,” Swain instructed Fox Information. “Are we going to redefine homicide? Are we going to redefine rape? No, we do not need to go down that path.”
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To commemorate Black historical past and tradition, MSNBC aired a particular on February 4 titled “Black Males in America: Highway to 2024.” In a single phase of this system, a bunch of males, together with MSNBC contributor Charles Coleman Jr., Rev. Al Sharpton and civil rights legal professional Ben Crump, talk about police brutality and the felony justice system below President Biden whereas enjoying pool.
“They’re arising with issues to profile us for,” Crump mentioned within the particular. “I consider this with all my coronary heart: We are able to eliminate all crime in America in a single day, and other people will ask, ‘How, Legal professional Crump?’
“Change the definition of ‘crime,’” he continued. “Should you can outline what conduct will probably be criminalized, you may predict who the criminals will probably be. … They created the legal guidelines to criminalize our tradition, black tradition.”
CIVIL RIGHTS VETERAN ON CRIME ISSUES IN BLACK COMMUNITIES: A ‘MERCY’ PROBLEM, NOT A ‘RACE’ PROBLEM
Ben Crump, a civil rights legal professional who has represented the households of victims in a number of high-profile police shootings, mentioned the authorized system creates legal guidelines “to criminalize black tradition” in a particular that aired on MSNBC earlier this month. (Scott Olson/Getty Photographs)
Swain mentioned the sort of rhetoric, coming from a revered civil rights legal professional, solely results in extra animosity between Black youth and legislation enforcement.
“What he’s saying is unfaithful, it’s problematic and it’ll result in the lack of Black lives,” she mentioned. “Sadly, people who find themselves not effectively educated, or individuals who have been indoctrinated with Marxism, will consider him, and that will probably be a disgrace for America.”
In accordance with FBI knowledge, Black people dedicated 46.8% of violent crimes and 36% of drug crimes within the US in 2022, regardless of making up solely 14.4% of the inhabitants.
As a black lady, Swain says it pains her to confess that crime happens disproportionately inside the black neighborhood.
Carol Swain mentioned the rhetoric from outstanding civil rights figures like Crump is “problematic” and can result in the lack of extra Black lives. (AP Picture/Lewis M. Levine Coast)
“The argument that the crimes that Black People and maybe different minorities are being arrested for are one way or the other biased and focused at them is ridiculous to me,” she instructed Fox Information. “There are even issues they will not be arrested for that I wish to arrest them for.”
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As a substitute of perpetuating rhetoric that breeds extra anger and mistrust towards authority figures, Swain mentioned outstanding figures like Crump ought to work to seek out actual options to enhance the lives of Black People.
“There are individuals in each neighborhood who’re attempting to scale back black crime, who’re attempting to vary our neighborhoods,” she instructed Fox Information. “However sadly they’re being undermined by individuals like Benjamin Crump.”
Crump didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Teny Sahakian is an Affiliate Producer/Author for Fox Information. Comply with Teny on Twitter at @tenysahakian.
