This whole case was sickening from the beginning. At first, it was because I heard the story and thought that it was such a despicable act in a world already filled with despicable acts. I mean, surely no responsible people on the side of the law would vilify three young men without some pretty damn hard evidence. Surely, for the DA to go so over the top with his comments prejudging those kids, he must have had rock solid evidence that this act occurred (let me be clear, however, that even if the alleged act had been videotaped and witnessed by three hundred credible witnesses, no DA of even a smidgen of decency and responsibility would have said the things he did, pandered to voters the way he did, or engaged in such disgusting racial hucksterism as Nifong did).
Later, as more information came out, the situation, incredibly, became even uglier. Abuses of defendants' rights surfaced along with rising racial tensions (threatened drive-bys at the Duke campus among other things), the Group of 88 letter, and the sentiment that these white boys need to swing in order to even out past racial injustice (my interpretation of an comment made by a student of NC Central. If anyone needs me to, I'll go dig up the actual quote).
Then, as even more information came out and some (not all) of the reactionaries in the media began to quiet down and think before speaking, it became evident that this whole thing had become a theater of the absurd. Not only had Nifong built a case on an incredibly shaky foundation, he had committed acts that may be actionable by the NC Bar.
The reputations of these defendants will never be made whole again. I can only hope that after they are exonerated, the same people who rushed to judgment will kiss their feet in apology (myself included for my initial knee-jerk response when the story broke). I also hope Nifong, who used these events in such a slimy way to get reelected will be disbarred. There are no winners here, my friends, and the biggest losers appear to be three young men and one ever-battered justice system.
Note: In the interest of disclosure, I have to say that I am a Duke grad. My comments may, therefore, be seen as prejudiced. I think I have stayed fairly objective for all of this, but I don't wish to sandbag anyone.
