Ethnic disparities persist in state, U.S. justice system

Racial tension has gripped the nation at levels and in such widespread fashion perhaps not seen since the 1960s. Some of the resulting protests have turned violent, resulting not only in deaths and injuries but also in expensive damage to private businesses and government facilities alike.

A series of recent incidents this year involving police and African-American suspects fueled frustrations that spilled onto U.S. streets this summer, including the death of Elijah McClain in August 2019 after being placed in a police chokehold in Aurora, the killing of African-American George Floyd in May in Minneapolis, and the…