June 5, 2020 Edward H. Sebesta XXXXXXXXX Dallas, TX 7XXXX edwardsebesta@gmail.com Mr. John Creuzot District Attorney Frank Crowley Courts Building LB 19 133 N. Riverfront Blvd. Dallas, TX 75207 Dear Mr. Creuzot: Please find enclosed an essay. “The Confederacy and Jury Selection,” by Dr. Euan Hague of DePaul University and myself published at Black Commentator.
It is online at: http://blackcommentator.com/507/507_confederacy_jury_selection_sebesta_hague_guests_share.html
I think it is abhorrent that someone who has a belief system which inherently devalues the humanity of African Americans and who inherently cannot be truly concerned about wrongful conviction and the loss of freedom for an African American could be a juror. A person who would believe that an African would be content with being a slave will not be truly concerned that a police officer shot and injured or kills an African. The current approach to eliminating racial bias in jury selection in Dallas County is a token gesture and ludicrous. Persons who have racial bias usually don’t believe they do. Just asking whether they have racial bias isn’t sufficient. I ask that you implement a new policy of screen suggested by this essay to exclude supporters and enthusiasts for the Confederacy, as well as members of neo-Confederate groups, and supporters of the Lost Cause understanding of American history. Also, I would like to point out that you could set the example for the nation regarding jury selection.
Sincerely Yours,
Edward H. Sebesta