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Summary Of Just Mercy

Decent Essays

Although civil rights acts had long been adopted by the United States, in 1986 several states still retained their cultural segregation and adaptation of social norms that continued to alienate African Americans – especially in the southern states. Bryan Stevenson depicts several examples of people being wrongly accused of crimes because of circumstantial evidence, biases and discretion by those who have power. In particular, Stevenson’s Just Mercy, focuses on Walter McMillian’s case, a man whose conviction was handed to him based on false allegations gathered by the police’s bargaining tactics, dehumanizing practices, and his race, with the case being ultimately decided in the flawed U.S. adversarial justice system. The county in which the case took place sought to find its own version of the truth to satisfy the majority’s ideals. A key factor in the case of Walter McMillian was that he was an African American man who at one point was respected by his community. However, an extramarital affair with a white woman is what crossed the line. Affairs were not out of the norm in the Monroeville community, but given the fact that McMillian was black dramatically changed what was perceived as socially acceptable behavior. The significant questioning of McMillian’s character came into play when a young woman, Ronda Morrison was murdered. The profound change in the community’s view toward McMillian was an incentive to point to him as the mastermind behind the murder. The police were unable to produce any viable suspects which led to pressure from the community to find and convict a killer – even if the person accused was innocent. The interrogation tactics used during the questioning of suspects and witnesses produced false allegations. Tactics such as intimidation and bargaining. These practices encompassed covert operations that allowed the law enforcement – police, district attorneys, judges – to navigate the case. Several people were instrumental in concocting the false story placing McMillian at the center of the crime. After his initial lie, Ralph Myers’s was pushed by police to produce additional information which although false, was used by police to arrest McMillian. As the story gained traction in the town,

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