Nine months too long, the OJ Simpson murder trial made history as the most publicized court case in America. The defendant O.J. Simpson was one of the hardest men to convict due to tampered evidence and issues of racism. People worldwide were captivated by the celebrity drama of a professional football star and tended to forget about the real world. Many major television networks broadcasted every detail of the case, giving it much coverage.
On this day, January 24th, in 1995, race relations were in flames as the tension between black and white people intensified during the O.J. Simpson murder trial in Los Angeles. One of the investigating detectives, Fuhrman (a white man), used a racial slur in reference to O.J. 41 times during a taped interview. The question of whether or not a black man could gain justice in a white legal system was the main reason audiences stay tuned. The murder trial was not just about proving a man innocent or guilty, but rather about overcoming memories of previous unjust rulings in Black history.
There was much evidence that pointed to Simpson as the killer of his wife, Nicole Simpson; however, the way in which evidence was collected and secured was questioned. Did the police plant supporting evidence? Was the investigating officer racist? As people across the states held their breath in anticipation for the verdict, the president at the time, Bill Clinton, prepared for race riots. Luckily, no security measures were needed when Simpson was announced not guilty.