The response to the Laken Riley murder undermines uniquely American values: Innocent until proven guilty and the right to a fair trial
March 19, 2024 - by Fred Bates The presumption of innocence until proven guilty and the constitutional due process right to a fair trial should be extended to all, even undocumented immigrants. Just as with all murders, I am saddened and outraged by the murder of Laken Riley. I don't see one murder as being worse than another murder. The victims lose their lives, the most precious thing we have. The victims' families and loved ones are devasted. When tragedies like Riley's murder, as well as, other murders are politicized and exploited by politicians and the media, I find it disturbing. It is further evidence of the deterioration of our American values system. I find it shocking that so many politicians and media personalities, mostly Republicans and conservatives, are so quick to state without equivocation that Jose Antonio Ibarra the suspect in Riley's murder, an alleged undocumented immigrant, is guilty of her murder. Did I miss something? I am not aware that Iba