CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Several dozen public defenders and private attorneys gathered in front of the Martin Luther King statue in Charlotte's Marshall Park Friday to say that they believe minorities don't get the same treatment from the state's justice system that whites do.
"What we are striving for is a criminal justice system that is more racially equitable," said James Williams, the chief public defender in Orange County and head of a state group that is focusing on race and criminal justice issues.
Statistics showed that minorities are more likely to be prosecuted and get harsher penalties in drug cases than whites, Williams said.
The problem also exists in Mecklenburg County, the county's chief public defender, Kevin Tully, said.
"Mecklenburg County is not immune to implicit bias and its effects," Tully said.
The rally drew a response from Mecklenburg County's district attorney, who said in a statement that minorities are also more likely to be victims of crime and that his office works to make sure that everyone regardless of race is treated equally in the court system.
The rally also brought discussion from the founder of Mecklenburg County Courtwatch, Marcus Philemon, who said he doubts that there is a disparity based on race.
"Unless you can show me where there's discrimination involved, I'd be hard pressed to say that people are picked out just because the color of their skin," Philemon said.
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