While you’re Black in America, justice isn’t served—it’s endured. It’s a phrase we’re taught to consider in however usually expertise as a double entendre: a promise for others, a punishment for us. The heartbreaking and complicated case of Rodney Hinton Jr. reminds us simply how devastatingly true that may be.
Rodney Hinton just isn’t a monster. He’s a father. A person. A human being who, on Might 1, watched the bodycam footage of Cincinnati cops killing his 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton. Lower than 24 hours later, Hinton was accused of utilizing his automobile to kill Deputy Larry Henderson in what prosecutors are calling a “focused assault.” However to easily label this as a calculated act of violence is to disregard the gaping emotional wound behind it—and the systemic rot that helped inflict it.
Let’s be clear: the killing of anybody, particularly in a second that endangers others, is to not be celebrated. However we can’t ignore the context through which this tragedy unfolded, as a result of context is all the things. The prison authorized system would have us compartmentalize grief, particularly Black grief, into one thing manageable, one thing acceptable. However what does acceptable appear like while you’ve simply watched your child be executed on tape?
Rodney Hinton snapped, and whereas that might not be a authorized justification, it’s a human rationalization.
The Trauma of Shedding a Little one to Police Violence
The loss of a kid is commonly described as essentially the most excruciating ache an individual can endure. In keeping with analysis from the American Psychological Affiliation, mother and father who lose kids, significantly to violent, traumatic causes, face larger charges of PTSD, melancholy, substance abuse, and even suicidal ideation. For Black mother and father, that trauma is compounded by centuries of systemic racism, policing that disproportionately targets their kids, and a justice system that hardly ever holds officers accountable.
Watching the footage of Ryan Hinton being shot by police — after he allegedly ran from a stolen automobile whereas armed — was undoubtedly a triggering occasion. Hinton’s lawyer confirmed he has a historical past of psychological sickness and skilled a psychiatric episode after seeing the footage. That’s not an excuse; it’s a actuality.
And whereas many are fast to dismiss “psychological sickness” in Black defendants, it’s vital to keep in mind that trauma, particularly racial trauma, is cumulative. It builds, silently, beneath the floor till it explodes. Whether or not or not Hinton was in full management of his colleges will likely be decided in court docket, however psychological well being specialists already know this type of psychological break isn’t uncommon—it’s tragically predictable.
The Weaponization of Grief
GoFundMe, the platform many flip to for help in disaster, swiftly eliminated all campaigns created to help Hinton after calls for from the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police. They apologized for the “misuse” of the platform. And but, platforms like GiveSendGo have hosted campaigns for people caught on digicam spewing racial slurs at kids and even accused murderers. Why the double customary?
As a result of on this nation, Black rage—particularly when it follows Black loss of life—just isn’t allowed. We’re anticipated to mourn silently, to protest peacefully, to bury our youngsters with poise and dignity. Something extra, and the total weight of the system comes crashing down. Hinton’s grief wasn’t quiet. It wasn’t palatable. It was actual. And now, the state is in search of to kill him for it.
A System Stacked In opposition to Us
The details converse for themselves. In keeping with Mapping Police Violence, Black persons are practically 3 times extra prone to be killed by police than white individuals, and extra prone to be unarmed on the time of their loss of life. In 2023 alone, police within the U.S. killed over 1,200 individuals, and Black people made up a disproportionate share of these deaths.
Because the Trump administration, the dangers have solely grown. Below Trump, federal oversight of native police departments was successfully neutered. Consent decrees—agreements between the DOJ and police departments to deal with misconduct—have been rolled again or ignored. Trump’s Justice Division ended investigations into departments with a historical past of racial abuse, sending a transparent message: police wouldn’t be held accountable on his watch.
In 2017, Trump even advised a room stuffed with officers to not be “too good” when dealing with suspects, not directly encouraging aggressive and sometimes violent conduct. And when the federal authorities refuses to verify police energy, we get the form of horror that Rodney Hinton needed to watch: his little one, gunned down by the individuals sworn to serve and defend.
A Authorized System Constructed on Punishment, Not Compassion
Now, Rodney Hinton faces the opportunity of the loss of life penalty—the one cost in Ohio that enables for it. And whereas prosecutors paint this as a premeditated, cold-blooded killing, his protection insists that Hinton was experiencing a psychiatric episode and couldn’t totally comprehend the results of his actions. As his lawyer rightly identified, “an indictment just isn’t indicative of guilt.”
In actual fact, loss of life penalty circumstances in Ohio hardly ever finish in execution. The final time somebody was executed within the state was in 2018. There are 113 individuals at the moment sitting on loss of life row, and lots of have been there for many years. Why? As a result of Ohio, like many states, is dealing with rising ethical, authorized, and logistical challenges in finishing up executions. Pharmaceutical corporations not need their medication used for deadly injections, and public sentiment continues to shift away from capital punishment.
But, right here we’re once more—utilizing the specter of state-sanctioned loss of life towards a Black man whose actual crime, some would argue, was loving his son an excessive amount of to let his homicide go unanswered.
Justice for Whom?
Rodney Hinton’s case will make headlines, stir debates, and sure polarize communities. Nevertheless it must also make us ask exhausting questions: What does justice appear like in a system that produces this type of ache? What assets exist for households that suffer violent losses by the hands of police, and why are we extra snug condemning the damaged response of a grieving father than we’re in confronting the damaged system that put him there?
There are not any winners on this story. Deputy Henderson ought to nonetheless be alive. Ryan Hinton ought to nonetheless be alive. Rodney Hinton shouldn’t be sitting in a jail cell, staring down the opportunity of loss of life. However that is what occurs once we refuse to deal with the foundation causes—once we let racism, unchecked policing, and disrespect for psychological well being run our justice system.
The reality is, justice in America was by no means constructed to guard Black individuals. It was constructed to police us, punish us, and parade us as warnings. And till we confront that actuality, till we cease anticipating grieving mother and father to behave like saints whereas burying their infants, there will likely be extra Rodney Hintons.
And extra damaged hearts that no courtroom can heal.
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