Yes, change is needed
To the editor:
Today I was asked if, in my opinion, the protest in Fort Myers against institutional racism and institutional violence went well. My answer was that yes, I think it went well but I did not think the turnout was adequate given the gravity of the situation.
It seems also that attitudes change very quickly. The media is now focused on the murder of two policemen in New York City. The subject is now violence against police.
I certainly feel that we should not tolerate violence again law enforcement in any manner. The killing of the two police officers was certainly a terrible crime. However, this was an act of a lone individual with a troubled life. He had some 30 arrests and many encounters with law enforcement in many states.
Mr. Ismaalyl Brinsley was a troubled person. There was a problem here which we did nothing about and it ended it a tragedy, three live lives lost. And yes, his life also matters.
We must not canonize police. We also must not bastardize protesters as Mr. Charles Barkley did on national TV. These things will not solve our problem.
We must ask ourselves “Does the criminal justice system and police system represent us. Is this what we wish to see.” My answer to both questions is no.
Also mass incarceration of minorities and immigrants in prison for profit is an injustice. Frequent miscarriages of justice such as execution of innocent minorities, for example George Stinney, for crimes they did not commit cannot be tolerated.
The systems are broken. We must claim them and we must change them. The change starts with us. Yes, we must be the change we wish to see.
This problem with institutional violence and institutional racism extends even higher into the halls of justice, even into our Congress, state and local governments.
This must not be tolerated.
Lewis Robinson
Fort Myers