Open Letter to Maryland Governor Elect, Larry Hogan
Dear Mr. Hogan,
As a citizen of the State of Maryland, I am writing you to inquire about how your administration plans to address a number of important issues. During your campaign, you openly courted African-Americans for our support and our votes; which is something that the party to which you belong often fails to do. You spoke about how the Democratic machine in Maryland has taken advantage of the loyalty of African-American voters while not providing good governance to aid our advancement. I agree with your assessment. However, the efforts of the Republican party to maintain, support or strategically assist African -American communities in Maryland (and nationwide) are just as sub par. In fact, both parties have vacillated between being fair weather friends to outright foes to the African-American community. Your newly elected administration now has an opportunity to demonstrate where on the spectrum your administration will fall for African Americans and other communities of color.
As I was in the process of writing this letter you were quoted in the Washington Post as saying, “It’s a controversial decision, but I think we have a criminal justice system, we’re a nation of laws. The grand jury reviewed the evidence, and they made a decision. It really doesn’t impact Maryland.” in response to a question about the recent Grand Jury decision in the case of Darrin Wilson killing Michael Brown. First, it has been said, "An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”, so the failure of Ferguson prosecutors to obtain an indictment in this case (which is step one toward achieving justice) is a threat felt here in Maryland. Second, as a mother of two sons I can assure you that I am deeply impacted by the death of Michael Brown for I have to fear for my son's safety even from those sworn to protect us.
I must digress from the original intent of this letter to address your statements in detail. Maryland is no different than Missouri in that we have a problem with institutionalized racism especially within the police departments and prosecutor's offices. Baltimore City, for example has paid several million dollars to settle a number of police brutality lawsuits; primarily to African Americans victims*. On a personal note, members of my extended family have been victimized by over-zealous and abusive police officers in two separate incidents this year in Baltimore County. According to their legal section statistics since 2003, of the 840 police brutality claims reported in Baltimore County only 320 were investigated with only 8 being deemed sustained. Without even accounting for race/ethnicity this statistic is startling. However, based on the current climate within law enforcement it stands to reason that examination of the data (and facts of each incident) would reveal that the majority of these complainants were persons of color and that the majority of officers involved hold biases against them. According the National Registry of Exonerations, there have been 17 cases in Maryland since 1991 ( 21 cases total) where "Official Misconduct" on the part of police or prosecutors was a contributing factor in the conviction of an African-American; all of whom haven since been exonerated. And, then there are the following cases:
Wilkins v. Maryland
NAACP et al. v. Maryland
Charles & Etta Cuter v. Maryland State Police
which each illustrate the systematic racism present in police tactics used by Maryland State Police***.
Myself and many other Marylanders most certainly experience the impact of a criminal justice system where African Americans are systematically victimized by those very people charged with protecting them. We feel the blow each time one of these officers walks free after killing, maiming, or assaulting an African American. We feel the pain in the eyes of an African American who is wrongly convicted while the criminal walks free; whether it be in New York, Ohio, California or Maryland. Each time we are reminded that to many African American lives do not matter and that simply having brown skin can convict you even if your actions cannot. How is that for impact?
I would be remiss if I did not provide some potential solutions to these issues. Below you will find practical solutions to addressing institutional racism discussed herein:
All complaints of police, prosecutorial or judicial misconduct should be reviewed by the State of Maryland Commission on Human Rights for potential referral to the State’s Attorney or Department of Justice for prosecution and or back to the respective Human Resources Office with required punishments if misconduct is substantiated.
A state law should be introduced to mandate police, prosecutors and judges to be assessed for the presence of racial biases. Those found to have biases will have to submit to a series of re-training measures and be proven to have the bias corrected.
Police must receive EXTENSIVE training on use of deadly force and de-escalation tactics.
A joint state and locally funded program called The Officer Next Door should be created to reward police for living in the neighborhoods where they work.
For more ideas on potential solutions, read the 11 demands from #ThisStopsToday***.
The next move Governor-elect Hogan is up to you. What will you and your administration do to address the issues of institutional racism within Maryland police departments and prosecutors offices? I for one will be watching.
Sincerely,
Nneka N'namdi
*See Sun Paper Article Undue Force published 9/28/2014
See City Paper Article Bad Seeds published 9/30/2014
** How Racism in American Institutions Results in Harsher Treatment in Law Enforcement for Minorities
***See Huffington Post article, Eric Garner Said ‘I Can't Breathe' 11 Times -- Now Activists Are Making 11 Demands In His Name published 12/11/2014
