Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

'Systemic racism' rampant in US police, judiciary: UN

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 28 Sep 2023 21:54
  • 7 Shares
4 Min Read

The UN International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the Context of Law Enforcement calls on authorities to amp up efforts of reform.

  • x
  • Police and protesters converge during a demonstration on September 23, 2020, in Louisville, Kentucky. (AP)
    Police and protesters converge during a demonstration on September 23, 2020, in Louisville, Kentucky, US (AP)

In a fresh report released by the UN International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the Context of Law Enforcement, it is revealed that "systemic racism" against individuals of African descent is ravaging US police forces and the criminal justice system as it calls on authorities to amp up efforts of reform.

The report is the result of the Mechanism’s official visit to the United States earlier this year, in which it heard testimonies from 133 individuals impacted by it, visited five detention centers, and convened with civil society groups and a range of government and police authorities in the states of the District of Columbia, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, and New York.

Tracie Keesee, an expert member of the Mechanism, said, "In all the cities we went to, we heard dozens of heart-breaking testimonies on how victims do not get justice or redress. This is not new, and it’s unacceptable," adding, "This is a systemic issue that calls for a systemic response. All actors involved, including police departments and police unions, must join forces to combat the prevailing impunity."

According to the report, racism - the legacy of slavery, the slave trade, and 100 years of legalized apartheid - continues to spread today through racial profiling, police killings, and other human rights violations.

Read next: Indigenous America: The US kills its victim and walks in its funeral

It noted that African Americans are three times more likely to be killed by police than whites, and 4.5 times more likely to be imprisoned, adding that only 1% of the over 1,000 cases of murder by police each year, result in officers being indicted.

Children in prison, pregnant women in chains

Related News

What is Netanyahu smoking? Araghchi slams Israeli influence over US

Pentagon official assessment shifted US focus from Ukraine to China

Juan Mendez, an expert member of the Mechanism, expressed rejection of the "bad apple" theory. There is strong evidence suggesting that the abusive behavior of some individual police officers is part of a broader and menacing pattern," adding, "Law enforcement and criminal justice institutions in the United States share and reproduce values, attitudes, and stereotypes of US society and institutions. These must be reformed."

The report proposed that armed police officers should not be sent as the first responders to every social issue in the US, such as mental health crises, homelessness, and controlling traffic or school discipline, which the report said could be changed by setting alternative responses to policing.

"During our meetings with police officers, we repeatedly heard concerns that officers’ mental health was being affected not only by work overload but also by racism and racial discrimination inside police departments," Keesee clarified, stating, "Expecting law enforcement officers to respect and protect human rights also presupposes a culture of respect and wellbeing within the ranks."

Police agencies are called on by the authors of the report to tackle issues of systemic racism even against Black law enforcement officers and address white supremacy ideology inside the precincts. 

The report cited examples of children of African descent sentenced to life imprisonment, pregnant women in prison put in chains while giving birth, and persons put in solitary confinement for 10 years.

Bad cop, good practices?

It also noted that some people of African descent were prohibited from voting even after years of completing their sentences and that some were given forced labor in "plantation-style" prisons - a contemporary form of slavery.

"The testimonies and figures we received represent the worst part of a racist criminal justice system that erodes all efforts towards addressing systemic racism," Mendez said.

"Our findings point to the critical need for comprehensive reform."

30 recommendations to the US and all its jurisdictions, including over 18,000 police agencies in the country, were handed in the report, which underlined local and federal good practices required and recognized the efforts of the current administration and a few local governments to tackle the issue.

"We encourage the good practices to be reproduced in other parts of the country. We look forward to continuing to cooperate with the United States to implement these recommendations," Mendez concluded.

  • United States
  • United Nations
  • US
  • Police Brutality
  • systemic racism
  • OHCHR

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS