In San Francisco, which is often considered a beacon for progressive thought nationwide, 90% of those charged with felonies in its “Rodney King” protests were African American, whereas 90% of those arrested were white.
The most disturbing effect of the recent proliferation of jails and prisons is the disproportionate impact it has had on the incarceration of minorities in general, and African American males in particular. San Francisco’s criminal justice system exemplifies this national tragedy.