A Scandalous Affair
Page 23
“Too many of our citizens are losing their lives in this ongoing conflict between police and the African American community, and that cannot be tolerated. Our critics insist we are seeking to further divide the races, to aggravate the tenuous relationship between those two parties, but that is quite far from the truth. We will produce substantial evidence to back our claims of widespread violations of the basic rights guaranteed to all of us by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We don’t seek to stir up passions on both sides of this argument. We only want reform, we only want justice, we only want what is rightfully promised to each and every American. Today, we are taking our first big step toward achieving that aim and we only ask the court give us a full, honest hearing, with the hope that what we do here during this legal journey will spark a national dialogue on this most pressing of civil rights issues.”
Chad paused, feeling the weight of history upon his broad shoulders, as he glanced around the courtroom. Several people seated behind him were in tears or on the brink of some form of emotional display. Reporters wrote furiously in their notebooks. This was a big moment. The first step. And once they cleared this hurdle, they would take their case to the national level and ultimately come face to face with the law machine itself: the United States Justice Department. Once the significance of it all registered in him, he continued with his argument, calling for an end to the cycle of police and civilian suspicion for the sake of the country.
“We begin in this house today, your honor. But it won’t stop here. It cannot.”
Judge Stone stared at this daring young man for a long, hard moment. He couldn’t begin to imagine the struggle that lay ahead of him, but he had every belief that whatever it was he would take it on.
“Anything else, counselor?”
He turned behind him and looked at all the faces who’d come out to support him. Samantha, the incomparable woman he’d come to love beyond reason, the family who’d embraced him and the people who supported him. Yes, there was plenty, he thought, his chest filling with pride. One day at a time.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7578-6
A SCANDALOUS AFFAIR
Copyright © 2010 by Donna Hill
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