The Importance of Resistance to Injustice in Just Mercy

Just Mercy highlights the importance of resistance to injustice. It describes the racism, corruption, and cruelty that exists in the American court systems and lead to the systematic abuse of African Americans. As Bryan Stevenson said, “The opposite of poverty is not wealth; the opposite of poverty is justice.” Stevenson stood for the right things even when some people did wrong. He defended those who were desperate and in need. People who were poor and wrongly accused of something that they had never done. People will understand how mercy and justice relate and depend on each other.

Bryan Stevenson worked to free people from wrongful imprisonment, fought for their rights and helped them get justice. Bryan Stevenson and his friend Eva Ansley got federal funding to create a legal centre that could represent people on a death row. He worked a lot on death penalty cases in southern states and won may of it which put a stop to execution there. Stevenson found an organization called EJI that was committed to end racial and economic injustice. He represented people on death row. He worked on many cases that were related to the people who were wrongfully convicted to the crime they did not commit. This included a case where jail officials claimed that a thirty-nine-year-old black man had died of natural causes after being arrested for traffic violations. His family maintained that he was beaten by the police and jail officials who then denied him his asthma inhaler and medication despite his begging for it. People should non violently stand against injustice just like Bryan Stevenson did. People should study injustice in more depth and raise voice against it by becoming a support for people on death row.

Unusual and cruel punishments were given to the African American for the crimes that were not supposed to be given that punishment. Prisons where they were kept were the deadliest prison ever. Black Americans were punished for the crimes they did not commit. There were six foot tall metal cages in a corner that couldn't have been more than four feet by four feet. Bryan Stevenson said that he has never seen such small cages before. He said that in one cage there was a man in the wheelchair and the cage was so small that when the guards tried to remove his wheelchair, they couldn't budge it. He said that he came to that prison to meet Joe and he could hear him crying. Joe was a thirteen years old boy with mental disabilities. Two older boys convinced him to help them burgle the home of an older woman who was later brutally raped at her home Joe admitted that he helped the boys but denied any involvement in the rape. In spite of the lack of evidence against him, Joe was convicted as an adult and sentenced to life without parole. People should take stand against the unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishments just like Bryan Stevenson did. People can challenge the system to achieve justice just like Bryan Stevenson challenged the juvenile life-without-parole sentences.

Media’s coverage, its positive attention, and news programs also contributed in resistance against the injustice in support of black people. Getting a more informed view of Walter’s conviction and the murder would convince some locals that he was innocent and assuming we could ever get his conviction overturned — make his life after release less dangerous. It was risky but we had to take our chances and get the story out. Journalist Pete Early jumped into the case, spent time with several of the involved individuals, and quickly came to share the astonishment that Walter had been convicted on such unreliable evidence. Writers at local newspapers complained that the new publicity “could lead many people to think McMillian is innocent.” CBS coverage gave the community a summary of the evidence we’d presente in court and created questions and doubts about Walter’s guilt. People in the black community, who had been discussing Walter’s wrongful conviction for years, were thrilled to see honest coverage of the case. Sometimes telling people about an issue using different mediums becomes necessary so that the whole world can stand against injustice.

Bryan Stevenson devoted his time to free people from death penalties and wrongful imprisonment. He helped them gain justice. He fought against racism and cruelty against black people. Unusual and cruel punishments were given to the African American for the crimes they did not commit. Bryan Stevenson’s determination to end descrimination in the American court system helped him win many cases. Not only minorities are unfairly treated, but also the mentally ill and minors. This book shows how racism plays an unfair role in the criminal justice system. It's just the mercy that is needed.