Institutional racism is still alive and well in the American legal system.

Former police officer Howard Morgan was driving home from work as a security guard in northern Chicago when he was pulled over by the CPD for going the wrong way down a one-way street.  A gun battle ensued in which Morgan received 28 gunshots to the torso, seven in the front and 21 in the back. Miraculously, he survived.

The officers who opened fire on Morgan claim Morgan was the one who initiated the shootout and charged him with discharging a firearm. Even though the jury found Morgan not guilty, that was not enough for the officers involved.

First-degree murder charges were then brought against Morgan. This occurred in direct violation of the Constitution, specifically double jeopardy laws which make it illegal to charge someone with the same or similar crime after an acquittal or conviction.

According to a Huffington Post article, the jury found Morgan guilty of attempted murder. However, Morgan’s van was destroyed before conducting forensic analysis, Morgan was never tested for gun shot residue and the bullet-proof vest worn by one of the officers who allegedly took a bullet was never produced for the jury.

Morgan’s attorney said it was “unconstitutional” and “improper” for Morgan to be tried again as it violates double jeopardy laws, something the second jury was not allowed to hear.

There is a racial component to the story as Howard Morgan is black and the four officers who shot him are white. Morgan, 61, was found guilty in early April and faces 40 years in prison.

Another incident of this nature occured in November 2011, with the murder of Marine veteran Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., 68, by police officers responding to a perceived medical emergency.

According to the Huffington Post, medical alert system operators responded to a distress signal from Chamberlain’s emergency pendant, which was accidentally triggered while he was asleep. After there was no initial response from Chamberlain, the police were notified, as is standard procedure.

When Chamberlain awoke and police were outside his door, he responded making it clear he was not in danger and can be heard saying, “Please leave me alone. I’m 68 with a heart condition, why are you doing this? Can you please leave me alone.” One of the officers allegedly yelled, “I don’t give a f—k, n—-r, open the door!”

Audio and video recording which has not been released to the public allegedly shows Chamberlain in only his underwear as officers break down the door. The officers then shot Chamberlain with a taser, a beanbag shotgun, and eventually twice in the chest with live ammo using the excuse that he had a knife and a hatchet. He died on the scene.

Only after evidence surfaced showing that the officers “may have used racial epithets” was there any investigation into the veteran’s death. It was only at the beginning of April that the White Plains Police Department released the name of the officer who shot Chamberlain. It is uncertain as to whether or not the audio and video recordings will be permissible in the Grand Jury investigation of the shootings.

There is a racial double standard when it comes to African-Americans and the criminal justice system which places more value on the lives of affluent Caucasians than anyone not meeting those criteria.

This double standard is one many of us would like to believe is no longer present since the days of the Civil Rights movements, but tragically, this is not the case.

There are too many examples of similar incidents to name, but some of them include the murders of RaMarley Graham, Kendrec McDade, Jordan Miles and Alan Blueford in Oakland.