Now that the Arbery case has shown us a hate crime conviction is possible, the country must reckon with a hesitant legal system and discrepancies in how states approach the law.
If we are ever to achieve true public safety, we can no longer rely on the BUPD — a violent institution with an egregious history and present of violence and racism.
It is important to acknowledge that Boston’s nightlife — just as any social structure dominating public life — is regulated by systemic racism that prevents everyone from having equal access to a care-free night.
How can we expect actual change from the Boston Police Department if they can pay out a million-dollar settlement to a man they permanently injured without an apology?
Politicians should provide actual treatment options for people with substance abuse issues rather than removing essential resources that mean life and death for the residents of the Methadone Mile.
