If the accuser was white…
ABC News is reporting that all charges against the three white Duke Lacrosse players accused of raping a black dancer will be dropped. This is long overdue. Testimony was inconsistent, evidence flimsy and the DNA didn’t match up. Mike Nifong rode roughshod over the criminal justice system in Durham and that’s reprehensible.
But, here’s my question: would the anger and outcry surrounding the false accusation of the Duke Lacrosse players be as loud if the alleged rapists had been black or Latino and the accuser white? What do you think? Keep in mind, all five of the young black men convicted and sentenced in the Central Park Jogger case were exonerated. Please read New York Magazine’s smart and thorough article about the case – Central Park Revisited
On another note, I could hardly believe the number of references to Tawana Brawley I’ve seen over the last few days. Every time someone wants to criticize Rev. Al Sharpton, they reference Tawana Brawley. Frankly, I’ve always applauded Al Sharpton for not hesitating to stand up for that 15 year old, back in 1987. It turned out that Brawley lied. She let Sharpton down. And as for his unshakable defense of her, it’s a mystery.
