The
parents of Trayvon Martin have demonstrated remarkable dignity and
composure under duress and one can see why their son’s execution by the
one-man lynch mob, George Zimmerman, has garnered global support.
Yesterday
while in New York City the parents appeared at what was billed as a
“Million Hoodies March” on Union Square and hundreds of supporters
showed up on short notice.
The parents were totally dignified. They
were not calling for revenge. They were not in uncontrollable rage. They
were not out for blood–unlike the killer of their son, Zimmerman. All
they want is justice to be served.
“My son did not deserve to die,”
Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon’s mother, told supporters. “Our son is your
son.” Several supporters –all strangers– wept when she uttered these
calm measured words. She also said: “My heart is in pain.”
Trayvon’s
father, Tracy Martin, also was at the rally and said: “If Trayvon had
been alive he would be right here on these steps with you guys rallying
for justice—-Trayvon Martin is you. Trayvon Martin did matter. And I
just want New York to know that we’re not going to stop until we get
justice for Trayvon.”
The insulated town of Sanford, Florida, where
Trayvon was executed on the street by Zimmerman is beginning to wake up.
The City Commission returned a 3 to 2 “no confidence” vote in the
Police Chief Bill Lee, who should now be fired immediately or forced to
resign.
There seems to have been a coverup by the Police. Zimmerman
should have been arrested promptly on the night of the shooting.
Instead, it was Martin, who was given a drug test even though he was
already dead; Zimmerman who didn’t sound sober on his 911 call, should
have been the one tested.
He was, after all, the one who shot and
killed another human being. Zimmerman was allowed to go home with his
gun, meaning the weapon was never even tested to determine the distance
from which it was fired as well as the direction and angle.
Zimmerman
claimed he acted in self defense because he felt threatened by Trayvon.
If this 28 year old man felt threatened by a 17 year old whom he
outweighed by 100 pounds then why did he pursue Trayvon, as he makes
clear in his own 911 call?
Florida’s so-called “Stand Your Ground” law permits
people to not have to back off when confronted with a threat. This law,
which itself is outrageous, does not apply in this case. During the 911
call Zimmerman told the dispatcher that he was pursuing Martin; this is a
critical admission. It means Zimmerman could not have feared for his
life, he was the hunter; Trayvon Martin was his prey. It was Trayvon who
eventually stood his ground after he realized he was being pursued and
asked why Zimmerman was following him.
But it was Zimmerman who had the
gun. He shot and killed the teenager who had been on the phone with his
girlfriend; she urged him to run but he refused, probably aware that a
young Black man on the run was justifiable moving target for shooting,
in the eyes of many White folk.
The 911 call makes it clear that the
killer had intention to confront Trayvon and to be willing to engage
him, even with lethal force. Zimmerman knew he could, and would use his
gun. There is pre-meditation here.
Even after the dispatcher told
Zimmerman not to follow Trayvon Martin, he did so anyway. Martin was
returning to the home of his father and his father’s girl friend to
watch the second half of the All Star basketball game and had in his
hands Skittles and a soda. He was defenseless and unarmed.
When Zimmerman made the 911 call he was actually manufacturing an alibi. Clearly, he was speaking to a witness, the dispatcher, to
whom he wanted to criminalize the boy in order to inoculate himself from
guilt for the action which he had already decided to take–which was to
kill Trayvon:
“He looks like he’s on drugs or something,” and “he’s wearing a hoodie,” and “now
he’s just staring at me,” and “he’s got his hands on his waist band,”
and “and he’s a Black male,” and “something’s wrong with him” and “he’s
got something in his hands” and “they always get away..”
Some media
have raised questions as to whether Zimmerman also said the “fucking
coons” always get away. There are reports that this slur can be heard on
one version of the police 911 tape and not on other versions. Any
investigation should determine whether the police tapes have been
doctored given the suspicious and incompetent actions by Sanford
Police.
The Department of Justice and FBI are now involved in the
Martin case. The Governor of Florida also has asked for a review. The
State’s attorney has announced that a Grand Jury could hear the facts by
April 10.
National media must keep the eyes of the world on this
Southern murder case. Zimmerman must be arrested and tried for the
execution of an innocent young man. The preposterous “Stand Your Ground”
law must be repealed before another Zimmerman decides to become judge,
jury, and executioner.
“Speaking Truth To Empower.”
