JD Crowe: Steve Marshall’s law: Alabama’s war against diversity
This is an opinion cartoon.
Alabama is at war with DEI – diversity, equity and inclusion – and the reason why is written all over Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s face. Today, the focus in on these three men: Montgomery Police Officer Aaron Cody Smith, Gregory Gunn and Marshall. And Alabama’s broken parole system.
As Alabama Political Reporter columnist Josh Moon posted in a tweet last week:
“The release of a white cop convicted of killing a Black man after serving about a tenth of his sentence should answer all your questions about the desire to kill all references to diversity, equity and inclusion.”
Excerpts from Josh Moon’s column: Opinion | We don’t need DEI in Alabama. Just ask the Gunn family how equal things are (alreporter.com)
“For the better part of an hour on Wednesday morning, Black members of the Alabama Senate’s County and Municipal Government Committee offered up examples and explanations for why a bill banning diversity, inclusion and equity was personally hurtful to them and potentially harmful to thousands of others in the future.
“None of it made the slightest bit of difference. The seven white dudes on the committee passed it, 7-3.
“It was not surprising, nor was it unexpected. Because there is no greater threat to mediocre white people than programs that strive for true equality and a better understanding of the American experience for people who don’t look like you.
“Why, if we did those things, the kids might start to ask some tough questions. They might start to put two and two together about the racial discrimination and the abundance of poverty among minorities. They might start valuing the inclusion of diverse voices and realizing the benefit of better understanding those around us.
“Boy, if that happens we might not end up with a bunch of white guys you wouldn’t trust to water your plants while you’re on vacation running the state legislature. Could you imagine? Competent and empathetic lawmakers who valued and understand the long history of this country and the many ways that racism and segregation and inequality have shaped this country, state, economy and our justice system.
“If that were the case, I’d bet the attorney general of this state – while this committee meeting was happening – wouldn’t be down the street crafting a press release to announce his decision to overturn the decision of a jury and let a white cop who killed a Black man out of prison. A statement in which the AG essentially apologized to the white cop for the state locking him up.”
Related: Freeing former Montgomery cop who killed Greg Gunn ‘a sad day’ for Alabama, lawmaker says – al.com
Our prison system is notorious for not allowing paroles. The AL.com comprehensiveinvestigation series, Denied: Alabama’s broken parole system, is full of stories about thousands of mostly Black men, stuck in prison for mostly non-violent offenses – not nearly as serious as the manslaughter conviction that landed Smith behind bars.
Related: JD Crowe: Up for parole in Alabama? Abandon all hope, y’all – al.com
Related: A judge gave him a chance at freedom. The Alabama parole board shot it down. – al.com
These prisoners are languishing in overcrowded prisons with nary a chance of parole. Just because. But a white cop is found guilty of shooting a Black man by a jury and sentenced to prison for 14 years. And Alabama’s attorney general comes riding in on his white nationalist horse and declares Smith has suffered enough for his actions after only a year and 9 months.
Hey, Attorney General Marshall. Got any more of those cool plea deals up your sleeve for some of those other folks in prison who can’t get a parole? C’mon, man. Spread the plea deal love. I’m sure those other guys will admit they’re guilty too, just like Officer Smith. That’s all it takes, right? Right?
Related: Alabama AG takes case from Montgomery DA as police officer appeals manslaughter conviction – al.com
Related: Alabama Supreme Court rejects appeal of ex-Montgomery cop convicted of manslaughter – al.com
More cartoons by JD Crowe
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White fragility, fear of diversity rules Alabama legislature. The cost? Our future – al.com
Vote ‘frozen embryo’ for Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice – al.com
Alabama: The ‘Frozen Embryos are People’ state – al.com
Nick Saban, Eli Gold are gone. Bryant-Denny is icon-free – al.com
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JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group and AL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award for local and state cartoons by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler @[email protected].
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