It’s being proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev should be on TV for all to see.
Just look at the videos being released by the judge. It’s a daily reel of pain.
Yesterday was footage of a carjacking victim on his knees praying for help to alert police that he had escaped from Tsarnaev and his brother.
The day before was the horrific video of the murder of MIT police officer Sean Collier. We also saw video of Tsarnaev running from the marathon bombings right after the twin explosions that left three dead and more than 260 wounded on April 15, 2013.
The blood and cowardice is on these surveillance clips for all to see — if the judge decides to release them to the public. If not, it remains behind closed doors in the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse in South Boston.
How is it that we live in such a liberal society that supposedly believes in transparency and democracy and yet has denied us our right to witness a trial that has forever scarred our community?
It’s up to court reporters to fill in the blanks and accurately recreate what so many wish to see and should be entitled to watch firsthand. In recent years reporters have been allowed to email and use social media in order to give the public a play-by-play of the proceedings.
Critics have argued allowing cameras in federal courts would result in lawyers grandstanding and important trials being watered down to just 30-second sound bites.
So apparently 140 character tweets are better?
As a former TV news reporter, I think it is ridiculous that the U.S. Supreme Court won’t allow cameras in all courts — the high court included.
What about showing the survivors as they tell their heroic stories of survival? Or loved ones telling of their heart-breaking loss?
Why not show the world how the 21-year-old Tsarnaev reacts? Let everyone see him as he fidgets and plays with his beard, as reporters tell us he does.
What’s the secret? Apparently the public doesn’t have the same rights as he does.
Bring in cameras. The judges who sit on the federal benches don’t own the buildings, we do!
It is a shame that the judge can promise Dzhokhar Tsarnaev a fair trial but not fair access of the trial to the community.
Jaclyn Cashman is co-host of “Morning Meeting” on Boston Herald Radio, which airs from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays. Follow her on Twitter @JaclynCashman.
Copyright © 2024 Jaclyn Cashman.
