Letter: South Carolina could teach other states how to handle police violence

I was born in South Carolina and ran away because of all the racism in the state. So I grew up in New York and New Jersey and earned a doctorate at Rutgers University. When I returned to South Carolina in 1996, I found it changed, and I believe today it is the best state in the entire nation. It has been integrated the right way.

People are marrying and dating the race they are attracted to with no incidents. Faces are full of smiles, and everyone is hospitable, even to a one-time Yankee. Yet the thing that has really impressed me is that South Carolina, even with its Confederate flag flying on the State House lawn, handles its police abuses better than any other place in America.

Let me call your attention to Ferguson, Missouri, to New York, to Arizona and to all the places where black men have been killed or beaten up by their policemen and nothing satisfactory was done. Now look at South Carolina.

An unarmed black man was shot on Broad River Road in Columbia, and immediately the trooper was fired and is waiting to be tried for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. The victim received a $285,000 settlement from the state.

Then there was North Charleston, where a 50-year-old unarmed black man bolted out of his car and ran from a policeman. The policeman shot him down like a man taking target practice, killing him as one would shoot a mad dog. Well, that policeman is waiting for a trial for murder.

There was no rioting in this state because there was no need. South Carolina lost no time in denouncing the perpetrators, expressing its own outrage for what was clearly unacceptable behavior of the guilty policemen.

South Carolina’s actions against racism and unfair behavior should be a signal to all other states: If it is clear that a police officer has done wrong, be transparent, arrest the officer, charge that officer.

The other places did not do that, and they have been castigated ever since. Due to their attitude, their policemen are people to fear, not to respect as guardians of law and the rights of people. Here in South Carolina, the policemen are appreciated.

I am happily surprised that this state I ran from has come so far over the years. Here, I will stay.

Columbia

This story was originally published April 29, 2015 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Letter: South Carolina could teach other states how to handle police violence."