Racial Justice
186 Articles

Systemic Racist Police Brutality Shocks the Conscience of Humanity, but is it an International Crime?
(Editor’s note: To mark today’s 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia, Just Security is publishing two articles. In addition to this piece by Margaret deGuzman…

U.S. “National Security” Must Apply to the Entire Nation
The US history of racial discrimination creates a domestic threat far more serious to some of its citizens than those posed by external antagonists.

Less Lethal than Firearms, But Only if Used Appropriately
Sometimes, as in the shooting of Rayshard Brooks by an Atlanta law enforcement officer, deaths involve police use of firearms. But as the killing of George Floyd has also demonstrated,…

It’s Time to Stop the Use of Tear Gas Against Civilians
It was a clear day on June 1 in Washington, DC when thousands of people protesting racial injustice and police brutality, in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, congregated…

The CIA’s Long and Winding Road to Diversity
The agency's new ad campaign features actors for a reason: it bears little resemblance to the makeup of the workforce, much less leadership.

A Tale of German Global Criminal Justice: A TWAIL Perspective on the Syrian Torture Trial
A trial against Anwar Raslan and Eyad Al Gharib, two suspected (former) members of President Bashar al-Assad’s security services, began before the Higher Courts in Koblenz, Germany,…

Transitional Justice, Race, and the United States
As a scholar of transitional justice, I am heartened by efforts to de-exceptionalize the United States and to bring race and anti-Black racism into conversation with international…

Decoy Amendment Jeopardizes the Moment for Renaming Confederate-Dubbed Bases
The measure would undermine otherwise bipartisan efforts to address these issues, including several worthy alternative proposals.

A Rejoinder to China’s Response to UN Human Rights Experts
Over 50 U.N. experts issued a strong statement about continued repression in China. The government responded. UN Special Rapporteur replies here.

Crises of Accountability for U.S. Systemic Abuses of Power
On this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the United States is at a crossroads. We will know soon if the country is capable of breaking the cycle of impunity…

National Guard Risks and Recommendations in Public Order Management
Since the tragic murder of George Floyd by police on May 25, more than 20 states have activated National Guard units to support local law enforcement in response to protests…
![LEFT - The D.C. National Guard in camo uniforms, helmets, googles, and face masks stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial as demonstrators [not seen in the photo] participate in a peaceful protest against police brutality and the death of George Floyd, on June 2, 2020 in Washington, DC. RIGHT - British troops patrol the streets of Belfast June 21, 2001 following fierce fighting the previous night in Ardoyne, a mostly Catholic area in north Belfast, Northern Ireland. They appear to be hiding behind a van.](https://i0.wp.com/www.justsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/combo-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C438&ssl=1)
Northern Ireland’s Lessons for American Policing
Not that long ago, Americans would regularly go to Northern Ireland to offer advice on reforming the region’s notoriously repressive policing. Happily for Northern Ireland, and…