This week, in the midst of holiday celebrations, we learned that the grand jury failed to indict the police officer that killed Tamir Rice. Rice, who was holding a toy gun at the time, was only 12 years old.
It seems that of the many stories about race and policing this year, the Rice case has struck a particular nerve. Perhaps it is his young age, the circumstances of his death, or the fact that this grand jury’s failure to indict is close on the heels of a similar result in the Sandra Bland case. But whatever the reason, for those that care, the collective reaction to the grand jury’s decision is somewhere between outrage and disgust.
Racism is successful because racial fatigue is very real. There are so many injustices that it can be hard to keep up with all of them, much less feel like you can do anything about them. One antidote to feeling helpless is to make a list of things that you can do to improve things. So, here are seven things that can be done. Some are focused directly on the Rice case. Others would apply to any future case.
1. Join solidarity protests and boycotts. Not long ago, it was common to hear people argue that marching and protesting were passé. But in the last year or so – at least since Ferguson – it seems that taking to the streets is still an effective way for communities to voice their frustration. Even if you don’t live in Cleveland, you can find a local “solidarity march” closer to you. If you click here you can find a list of events across the nation. Or, start your own event.
2. Donate. Some may feel that a donation doesn’t matter as much as marching or other tactics. But there are a number of good organizations doing good justice work and donations help them to continue that work. You can find a map of those organizations here. You can donate to a Cleveland-based group, a national group, or a group where you live.
3. Educate yourself about state and local politics. One of the most frustrating questions that I hear as a law professor is, “Why isn’t President Obama doing more about police brutality?” The question is frustrating because that is not how our system is designed. As schoolchildren, we are taught that the president is an all-powerful being, but under our Constitution, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The president has no Constitutional authority over any local police department in our nation. They do not report to him. But, just because they don’t report to him doesn’t mean that they are accountable to no one. Know who your local police, prosecutors, judges, and other officials are. When a Tamir Rice/Sandra Bland/Michael Brown situation happens, these are the people who will be making the decisions. So, educate yourself about who these people are. What are their positions on police misconduct? You can find a link that will help you locate your state legislators here.
4. Fight against grand juries in police misconduct cases. Once you who your state and local representatives are, you can lobby them to make real change. Earlier this year, California governor Jerry Brown signed legislation that made California the first state to ban grand juries in cases where police use deadly force. Contact your state legislators and ask them to sponsor similar legislation.
5. Learn the role of the federal government. Just because the president and Congress have no direct control over police departments doesn’t mean that they have no role to play. The biggest role the federal government plays is the role of investigator when allegations of police misconduct are made. So, as you consider candidates for 2016, ask those running for Congress if they would support funding for police body cameras. Ask those running for president if they will appoint an attorney general that will be an active advocate, or simply a placeholder.
6. Register to vote and VOTE! Learning about the candidates and issues means nothing if a vote is not cast. If you are already registered, register others. If you plan to vote, volunteer to drive others to the polls. Most important, do not just vote in presidential election years! As stated above, local and state politicians control the local police forces. In many areas, the sheriffs or prosecutors are elected. These elections are usually not held during the presidential election cycle. In some locations, they may not even be held in November. Find out when your local elections are and plan to vote in them on a regular basis.
7. Don’t give up hope. On most days, it seems like just as we begin to process one racial injustice, another one happens. But remember, history is on our side. A little more than 150 years ago, slavery still existed in this country. About 100 years ago, Blacks (and Latinos) were publicly lynched on a regular basis. And just 50 years ago, African Americans were still fighting for the right to vote. While racial progress is slow – painfully slow – it does happen. Never forget that. And yes, while racism may morph into different forms for different eras, know that when the next form of racism appears, we’ll be ready to fight that one too.