The Fallacy of Stigmatizing an entire group because of the few “bad apples”
Weekly Update #91
Dear Members and Advocates,
As we begin to emerge from the coronavirus shut-down, we enter another period of unrest and uncertainty. Across this country, groups of people are hitting the streets to protest the tragic and senseless killing of George Floyd. George was an African-American man, who was killed during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The officer who arrested him was charged with his murder and understandably communities across the country are outraged at the delay it took to bring charges and the fact that others who stood by and did nothing have not yet been charged.
The murder of George Floyd has nothing to do with the sex offender registry but public reaction to law enforcement and, in turn, reaction to the protesters has a lot to do with the registry or how we, as a society, stigmatize an entire group because of a few bad apples among them.
We always try to explain that people on the registry are not homogeneous, but we are all perceived as and treated the same. Unquestionably a few might be genuinely dangerous, but the overwhelming majority of those on the list are simply law abiding individuals who paid their debt to society and are now assets to the community. Similarly, there are unquestionably law enforcement officers who are racists or use unnecessary excessive force, but the overwhelming majority are good people. And also the protesters. Yes, there are delinquents among them who are looting and setting cars on fire, but the overwhelming majority are exercising their first amendment right and making their voices heard.
In every population there are few who are bad seeds (even among religious leaders and teachers), but we can’t assume all are the same as the worst of them or discard the entire group because of a few. We don’t want the public to perceive or treat everyone in law enforcement as a violent racist because they are not. We don’t want the public to perceive or treat every protester as a vandal or looter because they are not. And we don’t want the public to perceive or treat everyone on the sex offender registry as a dangerous recidivist because they are not. Police have to be trusted to do the job they are sworn to do, people need to be comfortable in exercising their Constitutional right to peacefully assemble and those whose punishment has been served need to be given the ability to successfully re-integrate into the community.
Given the public sentiment towards the police, can you imagine how reckless it would be for the government to put up a list stigmatizing them? Not only that, but to also publish their pictures, where they live and what cars they drive? How comfortably would their families sleep at night knowing there was a huge target on their backs? Nobody should have to live like that.
The sex offender registry fosters an implicit bias (an unconscious attribution of particular qualities to a member of a certain social group) against everybody on it, regardless of their offense, how long ago it was committed or what they have done to redeem themselves since. It then provides a hit list for anyone who wants to do them harm.
The world needs to stop judging people for the worst thing they have ever done or punishing a class of people for the actions of the worst among them.
Sincerely,
The Florida Action Committee
Reminders:
JUNE 4 – NEW TIME FOR JUNE Membership Call: Thursday June 4th at 7:30 pm ET. This call will be hosted by NARSOL Region 2. Watch for details.
JUNE 6 – Family Support session (via Zoom) facilitated by Jill Levenson and Shelly Kavanugh. Saturday June 6 from 11am to 1pm. To receive access, must RSVP by to membership@floridaactioncommittee.org or leave message at 407-814-4203 (name and phone number). This session is only available to family members or loved ones (not the registered person).
JUNE 11 – NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION CALL. Thursday June 11th at 8:00 pm ET. Anyone can call-in to learn about the organization, resources, and Volunteer opportunities. Dial 319-527-3487.
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Yea the protest is bad put it is about time for all including law makers to actually see that some bad apples make it worse for all yes grindr is being used alot florida uses it alot sheriff grady judd and sheriff mike do the stings then puts on media none ever had a recorder before they all including ada all say the suspects intend no one knows what any of us intention is put they say no one will ever stop them no lawmarkers fbi they will as they say take off scum bags off this eather so i am praying law professor wins his case maybe we should all go out and stop protesting for registery cause of being unconstitutional
I sent this in an email but it is important to share publicly:
Despite everyone’s take on what is happening now, this is certainly an opportunity for us to show what happens when vigilante actions are done on a large scale. All of us in this email chain should be aware of the murder of a registered person in Omaha two weeks ago. The group tied to the murderer is pushing for potential juries to free this killer by abusing Jury Nullification. they want the law changed to minimize or eliminate penalties for murdering registered persons. If they succeed, looters and rioters will be the least of our worries.
Our movement has always been non-violent. Our protests have always been peaceful demonstrations, and they should have been fully supported by EVERYONE in this movement but they were not because many of you are afraid of hurting the sensitivities of our oprerssers. Indeed, Lauren Book compared me to the Parkland School Shooter a couple years back.
We suffer in our own way by the injustice of an unfair system and while I don’t sympathize with rioters and looters, I certainly sympathize with those who have been unjustly treated by this harsh system of “justice” and are tired of the abuse.
Last year, I was kidnapped by the police and dragged across state lines for a crime I did not commit. I was taken into custody when I registered. I almost died during transport (our transport system is a privatized mess, feel free to research it). By the time I reached Broward County, my feet had swollen three times the normal size, my blood pressure was 190/140, and sores had bled on my legs. It was 21 days before I was even notified of what I had been accused of. I was denied basic medical case– I have severe sleep apnaea and was never allowed a CPAP machine. We may say here in America innocent until proven guilty but we don’t practice it. And as a registrant, I have to worry each time I register of being accused of some crazy BS.
Our so-called justice system is broken. It needs serious reform. We’re trying to fix a part of it ourselves. And like it or not, politics plays a key role in what we do. The sex offense registry is a bipartisan effort. Democrats and Republicans have both benefited from pushing sex offense laws and other bad public policies over the years.
Yes, police militarization is a huge problem too; I am reminded of this when the US Marshals come to my house for a compliance check dressed like they’re hunting ISIS or every time I have to register and get warned failure to comply is a felony.
Don’t the looters/ rioters take away from the larger message of reform, and don’t be fooled into believing kissing the (rumps) of our oppressors is going to do anything beneficial for us. It certainly has not. And the current administration has proven themselves to be beyond merely incompetent, but also extremely dangerous.