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Ambrose shot her a stern look. “They can go home to their little colored kiddies. Isn’t that enough?”
He turned to the jury. “On behalf of the commonwealth, I thank you for your service. The jury is dismissed. Court is dismissed.” He slammed his gavel down and disappeared into his chambers.
On that, the courtroom erupted.
CHAPTER 91
JEROME AND PEARL WERE CRYING and hugging one another.
Battle shook both DuBose’s and Jack’s hands. “I hope to hell I never have to face you two in court again,” he said.
DuBose said, “Who knows, Edmund, next time we might be on the same side, if your thinking continues to evolve.”
Battle next extended his apologies to the Washingtons for all that they had endured, and left with his associates scurrying along behind.
Jack said to DuBose, “Same side? That man and you? Really?”
“Do you know the best thing to make of your enemy?”
“What? A friend?”
“No, an ally,” she replied.
Jack and DuBose joined the Washingtons in their celebration.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” said Pearl, hugging them both.
DuBose smiled warmly and said, “It’s always a good day when justice prevails.”
Jerome shook his head and said, “I feel real bad for Miss Christine.”
Pearl shivered. “Can’t imagine walkin’ in that room and seein’ your daddy done killed your momma. Then he come after her. What you think gonna happen to Miss Christine and her husband?”
“I think with who they are and the lawyers they can afford, they’ll be just fine,” opined DuBose dryly.
Jack said, “I hope they throw the book at the Gateses, though.”
“You and me both,” said DuBose.
Jack looked around and saw his parents, and smiled and waved. However, his brother, who was standing near the back of the room, appeared a shadow of himself.
Outside, they faced a crush of media. DuBose stepped to the podium and, with a glance at Jack, said, “I wish we lived in a world that was just and equal for all, and that lawyers could concentrate on being simply lawyers and not spokespersons for a cause. But today we saw justice done. It was tragic and heartbreaking and should remind us that we’re all human, and we can all rise high or fall low, but we should all be judged by the same standard. That is the only way we can move forward as a country, as a people.”
As she stepped away from the podium, Jack said, “Do you mind if I say something?”
DuBose was clearly surprised by this but said quickly, “Of course, Jack. You don’t need my permission.”
He stepped to the podium and looked out at the crowd staring back at him, many with hostile expressions.
Jack pointed at DuBose. “Desiree DuBose is a far better lawyer than I ever have hopes of being. And yet she’s closed off to parts of the world where I’m freely welcome. Why? First, because she’s not white. And second, because she’s a woman. What’s fair or right about that? Nothing, that’s what.”
He stared out over the sea of people and noted many women, both black and white, glancing at the men next to them. When they looked back up at Jack, there was grim agreement in their expressions with what he had said.
Then he continued, “Now, I see many an upset person out there among y’all. The result of the trial was maybe not to your liking.” Jack pointed at Jerome and Pearl Washington. “It was conclusively proven that they had nothing to do with the deaths of the Randolphs. So they will not be going to the electric chair, but rather home to their young children. If it had been your family members, wouldn’t you be happy? So ask yourself, why is it different for them?”
He glanced over at a man holding a Confederate battle flag. “I’ve heard a lot about us needing to break up this country into two parts. We can’t agree on a damn thing, so why not just walk away from each other?” He stopped and again surveyed the crowd, going from one face to the next. “We’ve been through wars and sickness and depressions. We’ve been through so much together, and we all actually agree on a lot of fundamental principles. Yet I never hear anyone talk about that. Just about what we don’t agree on. What divides us, not what unites us.” He paused and composed himself because he could feel his heart racing and his voice rising, and he didn’t want that, not now.
He looked at Sally Reeves in the crowd, her son next to her. She was looking angrily at Jack, but her boy’s expression was more muted; he actually appeared to be listening.
