Black man screams at judge in court over racial disparities as white gun offender walks free
Shawn Pratt didn't mince words when a white man went free after appearing in court on gun charges, while his nephew did a whole year
[griojw id=”XlN4FDJC” playerid=””]
A Black Vermont man ripped a judge a new one this week after the judge declined to impose bail on a white man who violated a court order.
Judge William Cohen ruled that Max Misch would not have to pay bail for possessing a handgun in violation of a court order. In February, Misch was charged with two counts of possessing high-capacity magazines, which are illegal in Vermont yet are considered misdemeanors. Misch’s wife reported to police that he had purchased the gun, according to Rawstory.
READ MORE: Angry Orchard fires manager and employees who Black couple of shoplifting during marriage proposal
Assistant Attorney General John Waszak requested that Cohen set bail for Misch at $200, but the judge declined. That’s when Shawn Pratt went off, as seen in a video obtained by VTDigger. Pratt shouts at Cohen to explain why his nephew, who is Black, was held on high bail for more than a year before charges were dropped against him yet Misch, who is white, gets to go home scot-free.
“My nephew didn’t get no conditions. This is unfair! He should be locked up,” Pratt said, referring to Misch.
“You should be locked up,” Misch hurls back as he walks past Pratt, adding, “Shut the f–k up.”
Pratt continues in his comments to the judge: “You’re letting him walk out of here guys! My nephew, he was in jail for a whole year, your honor! A whole year! For nothing! He’s Black.”
As a uniformed officer approaches to escort Pratt from the courtroom, Pratt yells “Keep on with these racial disparities, guys! We’re watching all of you!”
READ MORE: Ga. lawmaker who defended KKK named to House committee on eve of MLK Day
Racial disparities across the criminal justice system exist, in part, because of the bias of judges. For example, according to The Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution, the bail system is ripe with inequities between blacks and whites. In a report entitled “The Economics of Bail and Pretrial Detention” data is included that further analyzes the disparities.
Monetary bail, and pretrial jailing as well as the pressure on low-income defendants are all scrutinized in the report.
“I like the judge,” Pratt said. “I’m not disrespectful of those people, they know that, but this is beyond ridiculous.”
You Might Like
