The Declaration of Independence states, "All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights". But how much of this is true? Since the very beginning of the legal system in the United States, there has been inequality. Appearance has held such precedence for Americans. Now, with the threat of terrorists, many use racial stereotypes to determine who is accountable for our unsafe environment. Color remains a powerful instrument for discrimination in the criminal justice system. Discrimination has always been a large part of our society. But how can we overcome discrimination while the forces that protect us are one of the major causes? Aside from biased views, there are also many flaws that exist in our justice system, such as the appearance of racial inequality in court, problems of the public defender system such that it is based mostly on the socioeconomic concept, and the involvement of police abuse and misconduct.
One of the main reasons why the justice system is unfair is because of the way police treat minorities. In one case, which happened on March 3, 1991, four Los Angeles police officers brutally beat African American Rodney King. When this case was brought to court, it was to a nearly all-white community without any jurors that were African American. Some believe there are two justice systems: one for whites and one for people of color. Many feel the system is administered almost exclusively by whites and designed to protect the white lives and property but provide minimal protection to the life and safety of minorities like Rodney King. Because of recent terrorist attacks, police are using racial profiling on anyone they feel a threat or looks suspicious. The criminal justice system groups together all members of a particular race according to the actions of a relative few. .
By casting a negative light towards Arabs, Africans, Mexicans, Asians or any other races, the justice system clearly demonstrates a great deal of ignorance and disrespect for that individual; just because someone is a member of a certain race does not mean that he or she represents the negative insinuations associated with that race.
