Argumentative Essay Example: America's Unfair Justice System

Justice is something we all deserve no matter who we are, where we come from, or what we look like, justice is a basic human right. But does the American justice system treat all people equally? For example, in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson was wrongly accused of rape just because of his skin color and to this day the justice system discriminates against people of color. A justice system is made to bring all those who did wrong to punishment and to save the innocent from punishment but if the system starts to discriminate then the innocent will no longer be protected.

First of all, George Floyd is a victim of injustice. On May 25, 2020, Floyd was arrested. He was accused of buying cigarettes with a counterfeit twenty-dollar bill.  He was killed by Michael Chauvin, a white police officer. According to the NY Times, ¨Mr. Floyd was unconscious and pinned beneath three police officers, showing no signs of life." The video and other evidence collected from the crime scene show that Floyd was pinned and held down by the officers which left him unable to breathe. Officer Chauvin had his knee on Floyd´s neck for almost eight minutes and fifteen seconds and he did not remove his knee even when Floyd was unconscious. 

Second of all, like George Floyd, Eric Garner was also a victim of social injustice. July 17, 2014, Eric Garner was accused of selling cigarettes illegally. Two NYPD police officers confronted him. Without any questions or interrogation, Daniel Pantaleo reached for Garner's neck and put him in a chokehold. Also according to History.com Pantaleo's actions were against the NYPD rules. Not to mention that According to History.com Pantaleo had been investigated for misconduct seven times in the five years before Garner's death. This is again injustice in society because Eric Garner did not receive a fair trial or even interrogation. He was straight up choked to death even after he repeatedly said "I can't breathe¨. He was knocked unconscious and pronounced dead at the hospital. 5 years later after many protests, Pantaleo was fired. 

To sum up, not all people are not treated equally. Unless you're white the justice system is cruel and unfair.  Even in today's society years and years later there is still injustice.  People like George Floyd, Eric Garner, and many more are innocent and will always be. Hopefully, there will be a change in society and these people will get their justice. But until then the American justice system does not treat all people equally.