16 months ago on February 26, 2012, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was walking home to his father's fiancee's house when George Zimmerman, a volunteer for the neighborhood watch, began following Martin due to his "suspicious behavior." Zimmerman contacted the police, who informed Zimmerman that they were on their way and not to follow Martin any further. Disregarding the dispatcher's instructions, Zimmeman continued to pursue Martin, until gunshots were fired and 17-year-old Trayvon Martin had been killed.
Zimmerman, the only living eye-witness to the event, claims that Martin had physically attacked him and that during their altercation Martin had reached for Zimmerman's gun, upon which Zimmerman responded by shooting and killing Martin, out of, what he claims, was self-defense.
While we cannot be certain as to what actually happened on February 26, 2012, we can look at what we do know, and come to some conclusions based on what few facts we have.
Things We Know
Trayvon Martin was a 17-year-old, unarmed (besides for the candy in his pocket), black kid.
George Zimmerman (a grown, adult man) was armed (despite Neighborhood Watch guidelines which explicitly state members of the neighborhood watch are only to serve as "eyes and ears." See page 22 of the Neighborhood Watch Manual.)
Prior to Zimmerman's phone call to the police, Martin had done nothing to provoke Zimmerman other than look "suspicious." However, Martin's "suspicious" behavior does not correlate with the National Neighborhood Watch Program's definition of "suspicious behavior." (See page 21 of the Neighborhood Watch Manual.)
Zimmerman did contact the authorities, but failed to follow the dispatcher's orders directing him to stop following Martin and that trained officials would handle the matter.
Zimmerman did shoot and kill Trayvon Martin.
A Few More Things to Consider
Zimmerman claims that Martin attacked him and his gunfire was in self-defense. However, it has been stated that had Zimmerman been attacked, he should have sustained more severe injuries.
With the understanding that Zimmerman had contacted the authorities about Martin's "suspicious behavior" and then continued to follow Martin after being advised not to, is it not common sense that at some point Martin may have felt vulnerable and needed to defend himself against an armed man following him at night?
With the understanding that Zimmerman had contacted the authorities about Martin's "suspicious behavior" and then continued to follow Martin after being advised not to, is it not common sense that at some point Martin may have felt vulnerable and needed to defend himself against an armed man following him at night?
If a white boy was shot and killed for walking home he would be avenged by the heinous sentencing of his killer.
But George Zimmerman got off scot-free.
After the Verdict
Over the weekend, outraged American's, Martin supporters, and opponents to racism voiced their opinions through various platforms, illustrating how, while the verdict may be over, the case is far from closed. Opposite that, supporters of Zimmerman also voiced their opinions, reminding Americans and the world, that racism and bigotry prevail. And, if you are one of the many white people who believes that racism couldn't possibly exist in 21st century America, click here to a view a webpage that has provided screenshots of various racist Twitter posts, highlighting one absurdly offensive post in particular.
However, while justice has not been served in the case of Trayvon Martin, what will hopefully result from this verdict will be a social uprising of the people and a surfacing of other pertinent issues regarding social-injustices and racism in America.
Additionally, I would like to note that I am someone who is fully in support of the right to bare arms. That being said, I am less supportive of that right when people start to abuse it. Zimmerman had a history of violence, was a gun owner, was advised not to pursue Martin, and ended up killing someone who was unarmed. Not trying to shift gears, I just think it's important to consider given the circumstances of the situation.
I also think it's important to remember that while this is an important issue regarding racial profiling and contemporary racism, the fact is that events like the February 26, 2012 killing of Trayvon Martin happen frequently, and fail to become publicized by the media. For an in depth look at how our culture is characterized by hatred, I recommend reading Derrick Jensen's The Culture of Make Believe.
However, while justice has not been served in the case of Trayvon Martin, what will hopefully result from this verdict will be a social uprising of the people and a surfacing of other pertinent issues regarding social-injustices and racism in America.
Additionally, I would like to note that I am someone who is fully in support of the right to bare arms. That being said, I am less supportive of that right when people start to abuse it. Zimmerman had a history of violence, was a gun owner, was advised not to pursue Martin, and ended up killing someone who was unarmed. Not trying to shift gears, I just think it's important to consider given the circumstances of the situation.
I also think it's important to remember that while this is an important issue regarding racial profiling and contemporary racism, the fact is that events like the February 26, 2012 killing of Trayvon Martin happen frequently, and fail to become publicized by the media. For an in depth look at how our culture is characterized by hatred, I recommend reading Derrick Jensen's The Culture of Make Believe.
Also, check out We Are Not Trayvon Martin, a Tumblr page regarding white privilege, police brutality, racial profiling, injustice, and more.
xo.
references: cnn.com, huffingtonpost.com, and usaonwatch.org
Hello Margo. Thanks for bringing some sanity into that JBLM-Patch page. I have followed you here (and already written one full comment which was lost as I attempted to "Select a Profile.") but I will try to be brief.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I sense that racism could be implicated in the Trayvon Martin killing, I've grown so used to it that I despair of ever going to the south again. There's plenty on the west coast, plenty in Europe, plenty of racism, in fact, in Peru. That George Zimmerman rides on the coattails of his Peruvian mother, as though that pardons him from a hint of racism is laughable. Racism based on dark skin color is alive and well in Peru.
But the most pointed issue to me is that Zimmerman so over-stepped his responsibility as a Crime Watch leader. He had a weapon, a loaded weapon; he failed to follow the procedure suggested to him by his police contact; he engaged Trayvon Martin. I'm not sure if he identified himself or not... but he did not appear to be wearing any kind of clothing that would have been him identifiable as an authority (which he wasn't). But not even an orange vest with reflective tape?
To me, the idea of an armed vigilante trailing after a "suspicious" person in such a way is terrible and terrifying. Where's the good ol' USA Freedom in that?
Thank you for your comment PCK. I appreciate what you had to say and think you addressed some key points. I am in full favor of Neighborhood Watch programs and the right to bare arms. What I am not in support of is people in those positions, or in possession of weapons who abuse their privilege. How can you feel safe when the person who is supposed to be protecting you murders a member of your own community?
ReplyDeleteI also like how you pointed out that just because someone is a minority does not mean that they are absolved from being prejudice against other minority groups.