In search of justice

'People are
beginning to
accept that
progression
toward equity
and justice
starts with a
conversation
with those
that are being
marginalized.'
Because BLM has forced some police departments to
change their techniques and review community relations,
Woods says laws will change. “BLM has continued
to show the world how people are being treated. BLM is
showing people they have power. For instance, voting for
a candidate that may help with issues in your community
or voting someone out.”
Indeed, last February, outraged voters in Cook County,
Ill., and Cuyahoga County, Ohio, ousted veteran prosecutors
for their roles in the aftermath of the heinous murders
of Laquan McDonald and Tamir Rice. Ferguson, Mo.,
voters have also flexed their power. For the first time, the
city has almost equal representation on the city council.
Martinez also sees BLM having success demanding a
higher level of transparency and accountability from institutions.
BLM VT is compiling narratives from marginalized
communities, capturing a comprehensive history of
the misconduct, discrimination, and prejudice institutions
have conducted against these communities. BLM VT and
Justice for All are also interviewing local candidates about
efforts to hold these institutions accountable if elected.
Such transparency and accountability were on display
at a community-policing forum this summer in Brattleboro.
The event was co-organized by retired NYPD
Officer Jose Maldonado Jr. JD’17. Maldonado came to VLS
because he wanted to make an impact in the criminal
justice field. “I became a police officer after 9/11. I wanted
to give back to the community and I hope to continue to
do that as a lawyer.”
Maldonado is well on his way. During his internship
with the Windham County State’s Attorney, he and former
victims advocate Patrina Lingard brought citizens,
law enforcement, educators and activists together as
a response to the Dallas and Baton Rouge shootings.
“I think it was a great conversation,” Maldonado says.
“You saw citizens talking to police, [saying,] ‘This is what
happened, this is what I’ve seen going on,’ and police answering,
‘This is where we are allocating officers, where
we usually try to patrol.” Maldonado says there was an
emphasis on positive police interactions in the community,
like “shooting hoops with some kids.”
Maldonado views the BLM movement as a positive.
“The good thing about BLM is they’re bringing issues to
the national consciousness. If you look at what happened
in the cases of [Philando] Castile and [Alton]
Sterling, people can see it online and form their own
reactions and be out there talking about something very
important.”
Further, Maldonado says BLM will influence police
training. “With the rise of social media—people being
able to record—that also has got to be in a police officer’s
mind. Everything you say is going to be out there. You
have to pay attention to how you conduct yourself, how
you do your job, making sure a stop is lawful. You are going
to see a lot of things brought into training.”
Maldonado emphasizes the humanity and diversity
of police officers. “Even though we wear blue, we are all
races as well. In Baton Rouge, Montrell Jackson was a
black police officer. I’m Hispanic and served with a lot of
minority officers. We’re all different races. These heroes
wanted to go home. It’s a tough job and sometimes they
make the ultimate sacrifice.”
It remains to be seen what will be the long-term legal
implications of BLM. Will the movement effect substantive
and/or procedural change? We’ve already seen
change in some policing procedures, e.g. body cameras,
and a willingness among some prosecutors to bring
charges against officers who use deadly force without
valid justification. But what is clear and seems unlikely
to fade is the sense that the system does not present a
level playing field for people of color in this country.
Cirri Nottage is a writer, educator and producer whose work
includes film and video, lecturing in film and media, African and
African-American studies and women’s and gender studies, and
writing for digital and print publications.
LOQUITUR 28