In response to the mistrial of the South Carolina police officer accused of killing Walter Scott, Elie Mystal, editor of Above The Law, is calling on black jurors to simply reverse the problem and refuse to convict black people who kill white people.
Mystal claimed that refusing to convict black people would “put the shoe on the other foot for a change.”
–During Walter Scott murder trial, jury foreman had felony dropped–
“Maybe it’s time for black people to use the same tool white people have been using to defy a system they do not consent to: jury nullification,” he wrote in an op-ed published Wednesday. “White juries regularly refuse to convict or indict cops for murder. White juries refuse to convict vigilantes who murder black children. White juries refuse to convict other white people for property crimes.”
“Maybe it’s time minorities got in the game?” he went on. “Black people lucky enough to get on a jury could use that power to acquit any person charged with a crime against white men and white male institutions.”
He added that the severity of the crime shouldn’t be a factor in this practice.
“Assault? Acquit. Burglary? Acquit. Insider trading? Acquit,” he said. “Murder? … what the hell do you think is happening to black people out there? What the hell do you think we’re complaining about when your cops shoot us or choke us? Acquit.”