The shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Sunday is beyond saddening. It is shocking, and it is painful to watch. Our hearts go out to Mr. Blake, his loved ones, and his community.

The circumstances surrounding this shooting deserve careful investigation. We don’t yet know all the facts. What we do know is that a police officer used deadly force against a Black man. Again. And this time, it happened in our state. We also know the use of deadly force toward people of color, especially Black men, are not isolated incidents. They are evidence of a systemic problem.

Two decades ago, when I was a civil rights lawyer in Los Angeles, California, I would often hear stories of officers using unjustified force against African Americans and Latinos. Our legal system seldom provided redress for them, and the complaints of those who dared to speak up were rarely believed. But that was before we all had video cameras in our pockets. In recent years, we have seen proof of official violence toward Black people over and over again. This violence can no longer be denied or dismissed. That it continues to occur signals to some that our justice system simply can’t provide justice to communities of color.

I don’t believe that’s true. We can do better. The answer isn’t to destroy property, or to respond to violence with more violence. It’s to improve our systems of criminal justice and governance.

As lawyers, legal scholars and law students, we have a special obligation to lead the ongoing struggle for racial justice. That applies especially to those of us whose home is Wisconsin, where Mr. Blake was shot. We must speak up. We must support changes to our laws and institutions that will address systemic racism. And we must ensure that everyone’s voice can be heard by our elected leaders so that those in positions of public trust are held accountable to all the people whom they are sworn to serve.

Inscribed above the front entrance to the U.S. Supreme Court are the words “Equal Justice Under Law.” As the University of Wisconsin Law School welcomes a new class of law students, this incident reminds us that we are still a long way from realizing that shared commitment. Diversity, inclusion, and equity are values central to the educational mission of this Law School and University. They should also be central to our system of justice. As members of the legal profession, we must not rest until that system truly provides equal justice for all.

Submitted by Law School News on August 25, 2020

This article appears in the categories: Features

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