EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW

WHEREAS, since the inception of this nation, there have existed two standards of justice--one for black people and another for white; and

WHEREAS, black communities have made it increasingly clear they will no longer passively endure unequal application of laws; and

WHEREAS, some courageous jurists, notably, George w. Crockett of the Wayne County Recorder's Court in Michigan, have insisted that every defendant shall receive full protection of his constitutional rights and shall not be deprived of liberty without strict due process of law and that laws shall not be differentially applied on a racial basis; and

WHEREAS, these jurists have been subjected to continuing abuse and harassment by individuals and organized groups which support white supremacy and oppose efforts designed to promote racial equality; and

WHEREAS, in a nation based upon law, equal application of laws to all people is the only method of preserving the nation's cities and preventing a totally destructive racial war:

RESOLVED, that this Convention assembled, recognizing the vast distance between the promise of equal justice and the implementation of that promise, commend George W. Crockett and those few fellow jurists who practice the presumption of innocence with all defendants black as well as white; and

RESOLVED, that this Convention assembled, commend these same jurists who disregard their political futures when dispensing equal justice to black as well as white; and

RESOLVED, that this Convention assembled, call upon all news media to report such incidents objectively and to avoid biased criticism or censure of those who support societal efforts to achieve equal justice under the law for all.