Black and white: A tale of two crime suspects

George Floyd, an African American accused of trying to use a counterfeit $20 bill, was handcuffed, held face-down by police, while another policeman kneeled on his neck until he was dead.

Last year a white man walked out of a Home Depot store in Lacey, pushing a $70 office chair without paying for it. Store video recorded his theft, and he was identified by police.

He was charged with a misdemeanor, for which the maximum penalty is a year in jail and a $5,000 fine. In court he pleaded “not guilty” and claimed it was an honest mistake and a misunderstanding.

The white man, Tim Eyman, got off with a $193 fine and a ruling that the charge will be dismissed if he commits no criminal offense for nine months.

The black man is murdered by police. The white thief runs for governor.

Is this the democracy for which Americans fought?

This story was originally published June 20, 2020 at 9:06 AM with the headline "Black and white: A tale of two crime suspects."