Ours is a system of just-us, not justice

Which one you get depends on your class, race and ethnicity

By Robert Barton

In my West Virginia penitentiary, I am allowed to receive a subscription to USA Today, although there are days when it is randomly held back for no apparent reason. I read with disgust that President Trump has once again thumbed his nose at the rule of law. As he uses his last few days in office to pardon war criminals, white-collar offenders of influence and cronies (and to rush to execute people like the emotionally abused Lisa Montgomery), I am once again reminded that in America, there are two, separate and unequal justice systems: the criminal justice system (for people of color, low incomes, etc.) and the just-us system (for people of means and influence).

A Palestinian-American named Amer Zahr resorted to black humor to comment on the stark disparity that was so obvious in the initial response to the Trump-inspired insurrection in the capital:

I watched the events of last week, as Trump supporters, who happen to be overwhelmingly white, like almost of them, stormed the United States Capitol.

And all I could think was, “Man, protesting while white looks…