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A 6-Year-Old Black Boy Arrested for Picking a Tulip Proves We Need Criminal Justice Reform Now
Systemic racism robs children of their innocence
In North Carolina, officers arrested a six-year-old Black boy for picking a tulip near his bus stop. The aftermath of this flower-picking incident shows racism can blossom at any time. Inequality doesn’t wait until a Black person reaches a particular age or milestone. Rather, systemic racism starts impacting children at a young age and never stops. It seems Black innocence is like petals, lost to the wind.
Currently, America doesn’t have a federal law that protects children as young as six from arrest. Each state decides at what age a person can stand trial. To me, this lack of a federal policy is problematic, especially for Black children already overrepresented in the criminal justice system.
Just because North Carolina law permitted officers to arrest a six-year-old doesn’t mean we should accept it within our society. Accepting unjust laws cradles an unjust system. We need to start evaluating how apathy impacts children. Surely future generations will judge us on how we protect or neglect our most vulnerable population.
As people debate this case, they should consider the mental and psychological consequences of incarcerating a…
