|
A plea for due process
The past week has been very difficult for Providence, which has laid to rest a hero, Sgt. Cornel Young Jr., who died when he pulled a gun off-duty trying to help at a crime scene, and was shot to death by two fellow officers. On Thursday, the city's smoldering emotions flamed into anger, as 200 protesters raged inside City Hall, some charging Mayor Cianci with condoning a racist Police Department. Protesters demanded the immediate firing of the two officers. Sergeant Young was black, the officers white.
In such a tense atmosphere, Providence could crack along racial lines. That should not happen, and must not happen. The way to prevent racial division is to work together, side by side, for justice. We need to find out all the facts, fearlessly, and weigh carefully what happened. Rhode Island Atty. Gen. Sheldon Whitehouse has been called in to conduct a thorough and independent investigation. Such an investigation must attempt to determine whether the officers acted differently toward a black man holding a gun than they would have had he been white. Anything we can do to prevent such a tragedy in the future must be done. In addition, in the weeks ahead, the Providence Police Department should make a special effort to reach out to the minority community, hear its concerns, and reassure residents that the department will not allow prejudices to influence police conduct. It is important to remember that justice is impossible if we give in to mob hysteria. We must be calm, reasoned, determined. We must channel our pain and anger into a solemn commitment, in Sergeant Young's memory, to get to the bottom of his shocking death. It appears to us that Mayor Cianci is doing exactly that here. He is under tremendous political pressure to fire the two officers in question without due process, pressure he is resisting. That is the right thing to do. Ultimately, due process is the only safe refuge of minorities and individuals against the outrages of the strong. We must remember that at times like this, and work together to make sure that justice prevails.
Back to top
| 
