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Is the problem color or money? The statistics, those damnable figures by which you can prove anything, don't seem to support one over the other. I suggest it is money, and a whole host of discussions can occur over this disparity, as O.J. and many black rappers seem to fare OK in the criminal justice system. What does the following sentence mean: "Nationwide, 82% of prisoners executed to date had been convicted of murdering a white person, even though minorities are the victims in more than half of all homicides?" This is a non-sense statement in that it doesn't provide a shred of evidence of who was convicted.

Be for or against the legislation but at least be coherent in your argument. I am sick and tired of people using useless statistics to support a theory.

The fact that the statistics show that people of color are the majority on death row, is in my opinion, merely a representation of how this segment of our society decided to "represent". It has nothing to do with money, although we all know if your daddy has money charges get dropped.
It has to do with decisions people make.
Hmmm, should those two people have kidnapped that woman, beat her to a pulp, put her in the trunk of my car, driven her around all day until late at night, then shot her thru the trunk of the car she was in, then thrown her over the bridge onto the rocks below?
That decision had nothing to do with RACE. It had to do with an ignorant man, and woman, who made a very stupid choice that day. He sits on death row, and she did 7 years and is out free among us somewhere.
Just because they are minorities, has nothing to do with it.

Edit: It wasn't MY car. Typo.. should of been THE car.

What about the many minorities on death row for crimes they did not commit? It is not well known among the white community, but as a minority you know that even if you are innocent it is way too easy to be convicted of a crime. Especially, if the victim is white. That's why we celebrated when OJ got off. It wasn't about him being innocent or guilty. It was about a minority (a black male especially) beating a crooked system for a change.
Racism and racial stereotyping are still very much a large part of minority life. This is why we run from the police when we have done nothing wrong. Fear of an injust system tends to get your feet moving.

It's not that hard to follow, Confused. It's not which is right--race or money--it's BOTH. The points are:

1) If you are poor, you can't afford decent defense counsel, and

2) If you are non-white, you are much more likely to be sentenced to death than to life in prison, especially if your victim is white.

God help you if you are both poor AND non-white.

As to the statement that gave you the most trouble, if murder victims are white, the perpetrators--regardless of their color--have been way more likely to be executed rather than sentenced to life than when the victims aren't white. Put simply, juries are way more likely impose the death penalty than life in prison if the victims are white, in a system that is only truly just if it is race-neutral.

The lady with the scales is always shown blindfolded, but apparently she peeks.

Speaking of sick and tired, I'm sick and tired of people attacking statistics because they think it's an intellectual thing to do. Sometimes statistics are also called "facts." The facts are there--read 'em and weep.

Tom, its all about how u represent.
It doesnt matter what color your skin is.
Sure if you are a non white and kill another person who happens to be white, yeah you're gonna die for it. The facts are the facts, in the case I was referring to anyway.
I shed no tears for anyone who takes the life of another person.
Also, just FYI, if you are poor and WHITE, the same damn thing happens. You get crappy counsel, and you end up doing time with the NON whites.
Just ask some poor white boys who are doing time.