OpEd: The liberation promised by Juneteenth hasn't been realized for many Black Americans.
began. By the time the 11-day siege ended, nine inmates and one guard had been killed. LaMar said he had no affiliation with the groups that organized the uprising, but he was found guilty of killing five of the inmates and sentenced to death. He has repeatedly and vehemently denied the charges related to the prison uprising. Hearing his story, I wondered how all of this could happen to a guy like him.
As I got to know LaMar and read his book, I learned there was more to the events than just these facts might suggest. He grew up during the crack epidemic in what he describes as a “drug-infested neighborhood.” Like many young men in his community, he was engaged in the drug trade, and the deadly gunfight in which he was involved happened as he was being robbed.
I had been aware of other stories like LaMar’s and knew of the many injustices of the so-called justice system, especially for low-income Black and brown men, but hearing LaMar's story firsthand, in his own words, further shook my faith in a system that sets up so many people to fail. As a Black girl, it's hard not to lose hope. New York StateJuneteenth is a holiday that commemorates and
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