Ken Thompson–tough words from elected representative
[Op-Ed]
Once again Brooklyn, District Attorney Ken Thompson and Judge Danny Chun team up to deliver yet another fatal reminder of the miscarriage of justice done to Akai Gurley.
Marcell Dockery, a young teen was sentenced to 19 years to life for setting a mattress on fire, which unintentionally led to the death of NYPD Officer Dennis Guerra.
We are seeing that even with a Black D.A. and an Asian judge, two different rules and interpretations are being applied when it comes to Black lives.
The Brooklyn DA recommended 18 years to life for Marcell Dockery and Judge Danny Chun upped the ante with the sentencing of Marcell to 19 years to life; even though Officer Guerra’s widow pleaded for leniency and called for Judge Chun to give Mr. Dockery the “help he needs” for his “history of arson.”
The hypocrisy is so glaring with this new tag team.
Where was the tough Once again Brooklyn, District Attorney Ken Thompson and Judge Danny Chun team up to deliver yet another fatal reminder of the miscarriage of justice done to Akai Gurley, in the ruling of Marcell Dockery, the young teen who was sentenced to 19 years to life for setting a mattress on fire, which unintentionally led to the death of NYPD Officer Dennis Guerra. We are seeing even with a Black D.A. and an Asian judge, two different rules and interpretations are being applied when it comes to black lives.
The Brooklyn DA recommended 18 years to life for Marcell Dockery and Judge Danny Chun upped the ante with the sentencing of Marcell to 19 years to life, even though Officer Guerra’s widow pleaded for leniency and called for Judge Chun to give Mr. Dockery the “help he needs” for his “history of arson.”
The same Brooklyn DA, Thompson, recommended no jail time and community service for Liang; and this same Judge Danny Chun reduced the jury conviction of manslaughter to criminally negligent homicide with five years probation and 800 hours of community service.
For Judge Chun to throw out a jury’s work and verdict, dictatorially reduce the charge and sentence Officer Liang to no jail time, is a slap in the face to democracy and a disgraceful miscarriage of justice.
When Officer Liang pulled out his weapon and fired it in the dark stairwell when he heard Akai Gurley and Melissa Butler come into the stairwell, he was aware that his action could cause the death of someone. Ken Thompson and Danny Chun knew that too.
But, it’s obvious that the Asian Judge wasn’t about to send the Asian defendant to jail, especially since the Black D.A. who betrayed the Black community agreed with no jail time.
Our struggle will continue.
Every instance of injustice embeds in Black people a deep and profound sense of anger and hatred toward this system and the police department.
If anything is going to cause our people to rise up and engage in desperate actions for justice, it’s this kind of blatant disregard for Black lives.
Inevitably the people will win.
Barron is a New York State Assemblyman representing the 60th District in Brooklyn.