US violates international law

US government blasted for extensive racial discriminationWhile the presidential campaign has brought the issue of race and racism in America into the discussion in the mainstream media, the U.S. government has come under vigorous criticism in the international arena for its discriminatory treatment of American Indians, blacks, Latinos, Arabs and other racial minorities, and for its "insufficient will" to take action against the high incidence of sexual violence against indigenous women.

In a report published in early March, the Geneva-based U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said the United States is failing to meet its obligations and international standards on racial equality.

The CERD is responsible for monitoring global compliance with the 1969 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, an international treaty that the U.S. ratified.

The CERD report found "stark racial disparities" in the criminal justice system and "wide racial disparities" in the areas of human rights violations, environmental racism, health care, housing and education.Comment:  As Jefferson said, "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." This is as a good a reason as any for why I monitor and criticize racism and stereotyping. We must remain vigilant about the evils in our society so we can free ourselves of their effects.

Below:  An idea of what environmental racism looks like.