You don't have to be a legal expert
I wanted to touch base about several important legal proceedings and events happening this week that exemplify the current state of "justice" in the United States, and how you can be ready to make a difference in your conversations and with your actions. 👇👇👇
Oklahoma is scheduled to execute Julius Jones TOMORROW, a man who has served half his life for a crime there is evidence he did not commit (GO HERE to see more information and to sign the petition to commute his sentence, which is now in the Governor's control).
Jury is deliberating in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial.
Prosecutors rested their case in the trial of the three men who were involved in the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery.
As these unfold, we can expect tensions to remain high (or higher), at a time when many people, at least in the U.S., will have a couple extra days "off" next week, and likely encounter very tense and emotional conversations about these circumstances and outcomes.
I'm not a legal scholar or expert, and I don't "play one on email" 😉so I'm not about to predict or interpret the legal proceedings and results.
That said, you may want to feel prepared in anticipation of these likely conversations (and especially disagreements), so here are a few reminders and highlights to support your efforts.
1). Remember you don't have to have all the answers or say everything perfectly to engage in a meaningful conversation and make a difference. Even a small change in trajectory (which you may or may not perceive at the time) affects the entire destination of progress. Stay connected to your purpose and values, and refresh your use of these 5 Ways to Speak Up (QUEST).
2). Pick a few key pieces of information if you want to incorporate specifics on the "Truth" part of QUEST. You can explore this article, or pick out one you find impactful, to select a few key pieces to highlight in discussions. Or, if you're short on time, here are a few noteworthy excerpts from the link:
Judge Bruce Schroeder "said lawyers could address the people Rittenhouse shot – he killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 28 – as "looters" and "rioters" but not "victims." (Highlight what this represents about what labels are accepted, or even promoted, and which are disallowed.)
"In both the Georgia and Wisconsin trials, verdicts will be delivered by overwhelmingly white juries. The judge in the Georgia murder case said "there appears to be intentional discrimination" in the defense's exclusion of potential Black jurors, but he was limited in terms of remedy because lawyers cited nonracial reasons. That case has 11 white jurors and one Black one in a county where more than a quarter of the people are Black." (Highlight who holds the decision-making power when selecting juries, and then how that influences who is holding power over the verdicts.)
Regarding self-defense laws - "'There's a disparity in the use and success of self-defense arguments,' Thomas said. 'There's a real intense racial divide when you look at the application of these laws to Black and white defendants...It's almost always a white person who's making that argument and seeming to get away with it.'" (Highlight how laws are used, accepted, and applied differently for people with different skin colors.)
3). Remember to take care of yourself before, during, and after ingesting news and engaging in difficult, high-stakes conversations. You will have the most impact and effectiveness when you are staying grounded and connected to your health, wellness, and clarity of purpose.
4). Connect with others to collectively grieve and celebrate. Given the number of events going on all the time, and the visibility of this week's spread, emotions are likely to be intense and mixed. This is normal, healthy, and part of the fuel to keep going. This isn't a process that anyone can do alone, and we move farther faster when we each support one another to do what we can.
You matter. You can make a difference. I'm so thankful you're here.
