The Root; Published By: Jessica Washington
An equal mix of cheers and jeers erupted from the crowd waiting outside of the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on Tuesday. For the first time in our nation’s history, a former President of the United States was arraigned on criminal charges. Inside the courthouse, Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 charges of falsifying business records related to hush money payments he allegedly directed during the 2016 election.
But for the Black Americans who gathered outside, this wasn’t just about Trump going down; it was also about witnessing history in the making.
“This is the first time any ex-President or President has ever been indicted,” says Dennis, 71, who told The Root he and his wife, Sharon, had biked over to the arraignment to “witness history.”
This moment was also about fairness, he said. “No one is above the law. Justice is blind, so if you’re innocent, prove yourself. If you’re guilty… you have to suffer the consequences,” says Dennis. “We should all be held to the same yardstick. Not a different yardstick because you’re wealthy or because you’re a different ethnicity or because you held a particular office.” Read more
