I used to believe that the term meant that the most fair and equitable outcome has been arrived at, following a thorough and objective assessment of all available and relevant evidence. A recurring protest theme this year has been people demanding justice, but defining it entirely (and explicity in some cases) as getting the outcome they desire, irrespective of the evidence. And now this, from the prosecuting attorney from the latest white cop-black victim no indictment shooting:
(CNN) – A district attorney has decided against charges in the case of a police officer who fatally shot a mentally ill man more than a dozen times in Milwaukee.
The officer, Christopher Manney, killed Dontre Hamilton during a confrontation in April.
The officer says he opened fire when Hamilton grabbed his baton and struck him with it.
Manney has since been fired for not following protocols, but he will not be charged.
In a report, he wrote that the officer’s use of force was “justified self-defense and that defense cannot be reasonably overcome to establish a basis to charge Officer Manney with a crime.**”“I’ve come to the conclusion that criminal charges are not appropriate in this case, and I am releasing all of the information related to this investigation so that you, the public, can see all the facts related to this decision,” **Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm told reporters Monday.
Chisholm anticipated that some might be upset with his decision and, in fact, protesters took to the streets Monday night.
According to local media, the officer is white; Hamilton was black.
"On a human level, of course it’s tragic. Anytime I have to tell a family that I can’t bring justice to them when one of their loved ones has died, it’s always tragic. It’s terrible," Chisholm said.
So, either I’ve been operating on an incorrect definition of the word all this time, or we’ve just collectively given up on its proper usage.
Personally, I’d rather use the word as a substitute for “two whole milk, two splenda,” so that I can save all the verbiage and speed up my morning coffee order. “One large, make it justice. Thanks.” Seems fair enough to me.
