General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Bernie admits need to get schooled on African-American incarceration* [View all]GaryCnf
(1,399 posts)Revealing? Yes.
The false implication of the original tweet (the one repeated by many here) remains, i.e., that Sanders is more oblivious when it comes to the (historical AND current) impact of the justice system on black people (or is less concerned about it) than every single other white prominent Democratic and/or left-of center politician/former politician even hinting at seeking national office (and far too many non-white prominent Democratic and/or left-of center politician/former politicians). What's more, the excuses made for singling out a single politician (e.g., if he's going to talk about the criminal justice system and race, he needs to respect the problem enough to not to fuck up the numbers when he speaks) exposes the MUCH GREATER problem that the establishment politicians AREN'T TALKING ABOUT IT AT ALL, or, when they do, they spew out platitudes like we heard in 2015 about how the FBOP's surplus of black inmates serving inhumanely long sentences is because our drug laws have swept up people THEY describe as "non-violent" and "first offenders"
Sorry folks, the reason so many black and brown inmates are facing inhumane prison sentences is because establishment politicians (like the ones escaping any criticism) have defined "dangerous offenders" in such a way that it includes virtually anyone involved in drugs AND the drug crimes being prosecuted in federal court are almost all being prosecuted against black and brown males. What's more, not only are these definitions being left untouched, they are actually being cheered.
There are two main vehicles in the federal system for imposing these bullshit sentences.
The first is the ACCA. Basically what it says is that if (1) you have two prior convictions for a "violent" crime (and, btw, the prior crime doesn't have to actually involve violence, it just has to be defined by ***** legislators as "violent." ) OR FOR A PRIOR DRUG CRIME; and (2) you possess a gun in a subsequent crime (don't even have to use it), you will not see the street until you are an old man. In case folks don't know it (and for most there is no reason they would), let me say, "If you're dealing drugs (even at the street level) in the places where the cops are targeting, you better f-ing well carry a gun." If that shocks your sensibilities, I apologize, but it's the truth.
So, when someone says out of one side of their mouth that they "care" about black folks serving outrageously long sentences, while out of the other side of their mouth say that we need to be tough on guns so we need the ACCA, what they are REALLY saying is either "We don't care about black people serving outrageous prison sentences and we think you're stupid" OR they are saying "We are even more oblivious than Sanders about why there are so many black people in federal prison."
The second is the "non-binding" (but they really are from a practical standpoint) Career Offender Guidelines. Under the Career Offender Guidelines, persons with two prior violent felonies OR felony drug convictions who are caught delivering as little as 5 grams of rock are looking at sentences so long they will probably die in prison. Hmm, now what do a hugely disproportionate percentage of the people who BOTH qualify for "Career Offender" AND get targeted by the cops look like? Do I have to answer?
So, as with the first vehicle for putting black folks back in chains, when someone says out of one side of their mouth that they "care" about black folks serving outrageously long sentences, while out of the other side of their mouth say that need to go easy on "first offenders" and then cheer harsh sentences for repeat offenders what they are REALLY saying is either "We don't care about black people serving outrageous prison sentences and we think you're stupid" OR they are saying "We are even more oblivious than Sanders about why there are so many black people in federal prison."
Those of us who remember what was said in 2015, and who actually know about what fuels urban genocide, know Sanders is not alone when it comes to not feeling what we are facing, but at least he's trying to get educated. We also know that what was said in 2015 was just a dressed up version of what was said in 2008 and before.
We are the "Armed Career Criminals"
We are the "Career Offenders"
We are the "Super-predators"
Find another prop.