PLATFORM : 11 Heroes and Justice: the Tape Told a Different Story

My only knowledge of Jackson and his of me came in the courtroom. He spoke from the witness stand, and I listened silently from the jury box. We had both sworn an oath: him to be truthful, me to be fair. I listened to him, and as instructed, formed an opinion based on his words and manner. I cannot, however, understand the basis for his opinion of me.

I lost my father last year. At his funeral, he was eulogized foremost as a man of unconditional integrity. His forthrightness and concern for others was beyond question. My love and respect for my father has caused me to do my best, throughout my life, to pattern my behavior after his. There is nothing in my life, neither word nor deed, to give legitimacy to Jackson’s expressed opinions of me as one of the jurors.

Although distasteful, let me quote some of his references to me and my fellow jurors: “No clearer evidence of injustice in our criminal justice system is possible . . . Rife with racism . . . smacks of good ol’ Southern lynch law . . . played to (their) racial predilections . . . experienced a bizarre form of self-induced hypnosis . . . in spite of the strongest physical evidence (the videotape), the jury could not see . . . . “

I am 46. Never have I been accused of racism. I possess no degrees, but am generally considered to be intelligent, and my insistence upon logic and reason is sometimes even considered extreme. I am not susceptible to hypnosis, and certainly did not “induce” any. This trial was not unjust.

Jackson refers to the videotape as the strongest evidence. I agree. All of the jurors agreed. Frankly, my reasonable doubt originated with the difference between Jackson’s testimony and what I saw on that tape. Claims of racism? Claims of hypnosis? It would make as much sense to claim we are all blind simply because we didn’t see what he told us to see.

I am just an average, honest man. I believe my fellow jurors, as myself, were simply following the judge’s instructions to look at the evidence and make a decision. Jackson says his face struck the window. The tape does not show that. He says his face was smashed into the hood of the police car. The tape does not show that. It does clearly show his left arm slapping the hood, producing that incriminating sound. He says his face was smashed or pushed into the hood at least twice more. It never happens on the tape.

He says there was excessive force but acknowledges that four experts on police tactics testified that the conduct of the officers was justified.

Jackson praises only two “heroes”; the lone witness and lone juror who see what he says happened. There is another possibility: that 11 heroes considered all the evidence and discounted only that which was questionable--Jackson’s and that of the only witness who tried to support him. Then, knowing full well there could be rash accusations, those 11 still made an honest decision. And justice was done.

I think if Jackson and I were able to set this situation aside and just sit and talk, we would find our hopes for change in society coincide. Only our methods would differ.

My daughter just turned 9. Every morning as she leaves for school, she kisses me and promises to remember the Golden Rule. It’s far simpler to teach, and defend, than to take the rocky path that Jackson seems to have chosen to walk.