Innocent Until Proven Guilty

I have been astonished watching the testimony in the ethics trial of Durham NC DA Michael Nifong. Over the last few days, many details of his actions have been revealed. Today, he was disbarred by the NC Bar Association.

What happened to the three Duke University lacrosse players who were accused of raping an exotic dancer at a frat party is frightening. Their actions were portrayed as "rich, privileged boys who think they can get away with this. Well, they can't." They were kicked off the lacrosse team, dismissed from the university and defamed everywhere in the press. Nearly everyone assumed they were guilty. They were tried in the media as they proclaimed their innocence. Their lives and the lives of their families were ruined.

The handling of the case against the boys was so prejudicial that the NC Attorney General took it over, calling Mike Nifong a "rogue prosecutor." He also dismissed all charges against the players. Today's action by the NC Bar is just the first step toward restoring the lives of these young men.

The entire saga has all the trappings of class, privilege, racism, prejudice and injustice. An article in today's Charlotte Observer asked what would have happened if the players had been minorities without means. I ask what would have happened to any of us?

The bigger question is: How did this become a country where the accused are assumed to be guilty without benefit of trial, without benefit of evidence? All because a disturbed young woman said, "They did it."

The lacrosse players were very, very fortunate to have parents who could afford excellent attorneys. Even then, with the suppression of DNA evidence, they easily could have spent 30 years in jail.

Let us remember to tread lightly. Let us not be quick to judge. This could have happened to any of us.