Letter to the editor: Columnist Caron reminds us about institutionalized racism

I write in response to Walter J. Eno’s calling into question (July 24) an Alan Caron column regarding “sanctioned violence against people of color.” Mr. Enos is certainly right to believe that there are honorable, unprejudiced, dedicated policemen and women in this country. I feel sure Mr. Caron would agree. But Caron is reminding us […]

I write in response to Walter J. Eno’s calling into question (July 24) an Alan Caron column regarding “sanctioned violence against people of color.”

Mr. Enos is certainly right to believe that there are honorable, unprejudiced, dedicated policemen and women in this country. I feel sure Mr. Caron would agree. But Caron is reminding us that institutionalized racism unquestionably exists in many parts of America. In the same way that the KKK was invited to come to Maine to work against the French Canadian immigrants, so also the KKK has been allowed to infiltrate law enforcement including prisons.

To be clear, not all jails are racist, not all policemen are prejudiced; but many black communities have known justifiable fear of the police.