Clarence Page’s recent column concerning the Reginald Denny beating trial verdict was an insult to Tribune readers, black and white (“What have events in L.A. taught us? How not to react,” Op-Ed).
He describes the defendants as either “national scapegoats or heroes (take your pick).” He polarizes us into those who wanted the crimes pinned on any black, guilty or not, (presumably whites) or those who saw the defendants as persecuted, innocent paragons of virtue (presumably blacks). I don’t believe for one moment that the vast majority of us are in either category.
Any unbiased, intelligent, reasonable person who watched that trial would conclude that the defendants were guilty of very serious criminal behavior. The verdict is one that will likely please white racists and black racists alike.
When the word “racist” was hurled, even if very unjustly, our system of justice buckled and crumbled. The Denny verdict set a very sad and dangerous precedent.
