Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Justice for Trayvon Martin


Trayvon Martin was a 17-year-old Black male who was murdered a month ago in Orlando, FL by a 28-year-old white male who claimed the child looked suspicious. While visiting his father during NBA All-Star weekend in Orlando, Trayvon had just left his father's home, in a gated community, to buy a bag of skittles and can of iced tea from a convenience store just down the street. What Trayvon, nor his family knew, was that he would never make it back home that night.

On his way home, Trayvon, who had his hood on because it was raining, was spotted by self-appointed neighborhood watchman, George Zimmerman. Zimmerman called the local police department while he was sitting in his vehicle supposedly conducting his watchman duties and told the dispatcher, "There's a real suspicious guy. This guy looks like he's up to no good, on drugs or something... He's checking me out." "These a**holes always get away," he adds. Zimmerman then proceeds to get out of his vehicle to follow and confront Martin. The dispatcher asks, "Are you following him?" Zimmerman replies, "Yes." And the dispatcher is heard trying to discourage Zimmerman, saying, "Okay, we don't need you to do that."

Authorities are uncertain of what happened next, but a series of 911 calls from local residents reveal that Zimmerman did in fact confront Trayvon, a scuffle ensued, and a life was lost. "They're wrestling right in the back of my porch," one frantic caller says. "The guy's yelling help and I'm not going out." A 13-year-old witness claimed, "I saw a man laying on the ground that needed help, that was screaming and then I was going to go over there to try and help him, but my dog got off the leash, so I went and got my dog, and then I heard a loud sound and then the screaming stopped." Many of the calls reveal a voice screaming for help (more than likely Trayvon) and then a single gunshot followed by complete silence. Trayvon was murdered and George Zimmerman has admitted to killing the teen. Yet, he has yet to be arrested or charged for the violent crime.

It was exposed that Zimmerman made 46 calls to police in the past 15 months, most often to report a suspicious person. What Zimmerman had been doing was racial profiling, assuming that a person of color, usually Black, walking in the neighborhood had to be up to no good. And in this case, Zimmerman's actions and misconceptions misguided him into believing that he could take a child's life to fulfill some selfish entity.

There is absolutely no reason that a child should have to lose his/her life because of someone else's ignorance.

We not only need to educate ourselves, but those around us as well. All Trayvon's family is asking is that their son's murderer be brought to justice. Help their voices be heard, sign the petition at change.org. Stand up for Trayvon and let justice be served!


**UPDATE** George Zimmerman is FINALLY charged with 2nd degree murder in the case of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. (4/11/12)

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