Lucy Randall is a freelance journalist who works as an eviction defense attorney in Brooklyn, New York.
Lamar Johnson’s 1995 murder conviction was overturned on Tuesday — but only after he spent most of his life in jail. The circumstances of his wrongful conviction reflect an American justice system quick to condemn working-class men of color.
The St Louis County prosecutor pursued a death sentence for Kevin Johnson before calling for a retrial due to the “unconstitutional racial bias” in the case. But Missouri executed him anyway — killing a black man without even a semblance of due process.
Six workers were killed last month because Amazon insisted they keep working during a tornado. The corporation’s poor safety record and sky-high staff turnover are caused by one thing: treating people as disposable is better for Amazon’s profits.