Seven white men were acquitted of endangering visitors and staff during their 41-day armed takeover of the Maleur National Wildlife Refuge.

Contrast that verdict to the killings by law enforcement officers of black men, many unarmed, who committed far lesser crimes. Contrast that verdict to the injustices women endure after being raped, suffering domestic violence and unwanted sexual harassment.

Militarized law enforcement officers arrested 141 unarmed people protecting their water and sacred sites by reclaiming the 1851 and 1863 Fort Laramie Treaty land in the path of the Dakota pipeline. Police deployed bean bags, pepper spray, high-pitched sirens and attack dogs. Contrast the acquittal to the violent actions against unarmed Native Americans.

Each citizen is supposed to be equal under the law, and every American is free and not to be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law. Sadly these empty words do not reflect injustices suffered by people of color and race, women, the LGBT community, or Native Americans.

Our country needs leadership that respects “liberty and justice for all” — that would be real change.

Phyllis Mains

Cortez