America Responds to Racial Tension

Published in Il Sole 24 Ore
(Italy) on 9 June 2015
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Kirsty Walter. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.
Indicted for homicide: the ex-North Charleston police officer who was filmed shooting 50-year-old African-American Walter Scott in the back in cold blood last April. Scott was killed after having been stopped for just a broken brake light. A grand jury has now officially decided to bring charges against the police officer. He will go on trial and faces a sentence of 30 years to life with no possibility of parole.

The ex-police officer, 33-year-old Michael Slager, has already been fired, is in prison and has become a symbol of the sometimes lethal abuses suffered all too often by the African-American community and by ethnic minorities at the hands of the American police force; a symbol, however, that is now being taken to court. The local prosecutor has made it clear the case will be prepared carefully. A trial cannot resolve the challenge posed by racial tension, police reforms and the relationship between security officers and citizens. Surely, though, the proceedings and their transparency can become a step in the right direction, as the Scott family’s lawyers have made clear.


Incriminato per omicidio. L’ex agente di polizia di North Charleston, in South Carolina, che lo scorso aprile era stato filmato mentre sparava alle spalle e a sangue freddo al 50enne afroamericano Walter Scott, uccidendolo dopo averlo fermato per un semplice fanalino dell’auto rotto, è stato formalmente posto in stato di accusa da un grand jury. Finirà cioè sotto processo e rischia una condanna ad un minimo di trent’anni senza condizionale fino ad un massimo dell’ergastolo.

L’ex poliziotto 33enne Michael Slager, che era già stato licenziato e si trova in carcere, è diventato uno dei simboli degli abusi, a volte letali, sofferti troppo spesso dalla comunità afroamericana e dalle minoranze etniche per mano delle forze dell’ordine americane. Un simbolo che ora però viene portato alla sbarra: la procura locale ha fatto sapere che preparerà con cura il caso. Un processo non può risolvere la sfida delle tensioni razziali e delle riforme della polizia e dei rapporti tra agenti di sicurezza e cittadini. Sicuramente però il procedimento e la sua trasparenza potranno diventare un passo nella giusta direzione, come hanno fatto sapere gli avvocati della famiglia Scott.
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