McCoy in “Charm City”

McCoy

Over the past two weeks, I put on a near-perfect case. I proved the defendant had access to the materials used to make the bomb. I proved he was on the subway the day the bomb exploded. You heard testimony that someone fitting his description committed a similar crime using the identical toxic gas five years ago in Baltimore, which just happens to be his hometown. A near-perfect case. And still, there's a chance I could lose; that's why I tossed those law books. And that's why Mr. Le Clair is absolutely right when he says black fingers are pointing at us. Where else are they going to point? No, none of us ever dragged anyone here in chains. We never hanged anybody's grandfather from a tree for looking too long at the master's daughter. We're a lot smarter than that and subtler. Instead of chains, we use reasonable doubt; instead of restricted bathrooms, we use unanimous verdicts. Yes, we can send a message. We can say, The racial divide in this country has grown, and is growing, and here's another example of just how unfair it gets. Or we can say, Enough. Equal protection under the law means exactly what it says.