US Gov’t, Police Actors of Institutional Racism: Rev Pinkney

“I believe without a doubt that the United States government and police are acting of institutional racism all over the country. The American criminal justice system is totally absent. There is no such thing as justice in America for blacks and the poor. The criminal justice system is like an organized mob of racist white supremacists,” Rev Edward Pinkney from Michigan told the Tasnim news agency.

Pinkney is the President and CEO of the Black Autonomy Network Community Organization (BANCO) and former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Following is the full text of the interview.

Tasnim: Different cities across the US have been the scene of a new wave of demonstrations in the past week. Recently, thousands of counter protesters took to the streets in Boston in response to a right-wing rally that has sparked concerns of possible violence only one week after violent clashes turned deadly in the Virginia town of Charlottesville. What is your take on the anti-fascist and anti-racist protests? Kindly explain.

Pinkney: There are many members of KKK (the Ku Klux Klan), Neo -NAZIS and White Supremacists, who take part in violence as criminals and thugs all across the country. The white supremacists are still hanging noose’s and burning cross's in the city of Benton Harbor and County of Berrien in the State of Michigan and all across the country working with law enforcement.

In the United States of America, 33% of the white people are good but silent and 67% of the white are racist and bad to the bone. The 67% harass, intimidate, hate, and overpower the 33%. The 33% represents the anti -fascist and anti- racist protestors. It appears they are taking a stand with the Black community against the 67% White supremacists. The counter- protest in Boston in response to the right-wing was a tremendous event for the whole country. We must continue to stand up to racism at all cost.

Tasnim: US President Donald Trump described the anti-racist demonstrators who converged on Boston as “anti-police agitators” on Saturday, in a tweet that seemed destined to revive the still simmering controversy over his remarks equating the far right and anti-Nazis in Charlottesville. How much do you think Trump is adding fuel to the fire? Why are we witnessing more of such protests under Trump?

Pinkney: President Trump's short time in office, Trump has not shown the stability or competence required for an America President to succeed. Trump showed how racist he is by drawing a moral equivalency between the white racist supremacists and the counter demonstrators. The White racist supremacists are President Trump base. The white racist supremacists know that President Trump condones racism and openly practices racism. President Trump has given his base what they want: hatred of blacks and protection. That is why you are seeing more protest under Trump.

Tasnim: Do you believe that the US government and the police are actors of institutional racism in the country?

Pinkney: I believe without a doubt that the United States government and police are acting of institutional racism all over the country. The American criminal justice system is totally absent. There is no such thing in America as justice for blacks and the poor. The criminal justice system is like an organized mob of racist white supremacists.    

Tasnim: It seems that Trump is trying to “make America great again” through spewing hate speech. What do you think?

Pinkney: It seems that Trump is trying to make America great again spewing hate speech. My question would be when was America great? Under the American flag slaughter (of) over 5 million Native American (took place), was America great then? Under the American flag, more than 10 million blacks died. Come over to America, was America great then? By hanging and killing of thousands and thousands of blacks was America great then? My question is when was America great?    

The scales of Lady Justice are imbalanced especially against people of color here in America. We must continue to fight against this grave imbalance to ensure a humane just future for the people of color, for the homeless, for the poverty stricken, for the weary and beaten populace of America. All across the United States, we must demand that justice be served for all people, black, white, brown, red, yellow and all others.

The state of democracy is detestable and we are not about to sit back and allow the white racist supremacists to continue this course without a fight, which includes fighting President Trump. We must stand together.