Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
(CNN) -- Sen. Rand Paul is blaming politicians for the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, arguing that the criminal justice system fuels racial tension by disproportionately targeting African-Americans.
The so-called war on drugs has created a culture of violence and put police in a nearly impossible situation," Paul said in an op-ed published for TIME.
He acknowledged that the shooting death of Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer wasn't related to drugs, but argued that outsized penalties for nonviolent drug crimes creates a "tension in some communities that too often results in tragedy."
The comments are another attempt by Paul, a Kentucky Republican and likely 2016 presidential contender, to seize on the violence in Ferguson as an opportunity to make inroads with minorities. He's blending his libertarian-leaning views about the war on drugs with a message that emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility.
And he's doing this while other possible GOP presidential prospects -- like Texas Sen. Ted Cruz or New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie -- are largely silent on the turmoil unfolding in Ferguson.
Back in August, as violence first unfolded on the streets of Ferguson, Paul made a splash with an op-ed -- also in TIME -- blasting the government for over-militarizing local police forces. The piece made him one of the few political voices willing to weigh in on the issue at the time.
Paul didn't address police forces in Tuesday's op-ed, and he also refrained from addressing the grand jury's decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson.
Rather, he focused his opinion piece on broader issues that cause what he frequently describes as an "undercurrent of unease" in poor communities. While he said criminal justice reform is a crucial need, he ultimately argued it's up to individuals themselves to improve their lives.
Read more from the original source:
Rand Paul dives back into Ferguson debate - CNN.com