By now, we’ve all heard about Trayvon Martin. The unarmed, seventeen year old kid killed while going for a walk to the 7-Eleven in Sanford, Florida. Almost a month later, his killer George Zimmerman still has not been arrested. As a community, we’re hurt and we’re outraged. Let’s not forget though. This isn’t the first time a young, Black man has been senselessly gunned down. This isn’t the first time the justice system has failed us. In spite of this, or maybe because of it, we must continue to speak out and demand justice for all the Trayvon Martins, Oscar Grants, and Sean Bells.
Here are a few Brooklyn bloggers speaking out for Trayvon Martin:
I was in eighth grade when the LAPD officers who rained down living hell on Rodney King were
acquitted. The black and white video images of white officers seemingly trying to beat the black off King had been playing over and over in my head for months, practically branding itself into my memory. I didn’t get how anyone could see that video and arrive at any different conclusion. When the officers walked, the message that was sent to me was: Black people don’t matter.
I remember the figurative heaviness descending upon my shoulders. I have to actively not think about the countless injustices against Black people in order not to have that feeling; or worse, the one every Black person has at the end of Roots. And that’s hard, because the names of harassed, brutalized and murdered Black men racks up quickly in America. I can run off a quick list of familiar names you might know without heading to Google: Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell and Abner Louima.
Martin is the latest addition to list of Black lives perceived not to matter, and unfortunately, he won’t be the last.
Today, Miss Moon’s Musings is joining forces with For Harriet in staging a Blog-In for Trayvon Martin today. I stand with the Martin family and urge you to sign the above petition, and/or to reach out to Sandford Police Chief Bill Lee, as well as Florida State Attorney Norman Wolfinger to demand justice for Trayvon Martin.
Do something!
According to Fox News, the National Rifle Association is the “real victim” in the Trayvon Martin tragedy. On America Live, Trace Gallagher reported that anti-gun advocates are using George Zimmerman’s alleged self-defense claim to attack the NRA. Towards the end of the segment, Gallagher also added, “It’s important to point out that gun sales in this country have never been higher and the crime rate, says the FBI, is very low.”
Thanks for pointing that out, Trace. Where would America be without your insightful commentary? How would hate, racism, and ignorance thrive in America without the leadership and guidance of Fox News?
Surely, the real victim in the Trayvon Martin tragedy couldn’t possibly be Trayvon himself. It couldn’t be the unarmed boy who was shot for looking “suspicious” with a bag of candy in his pocket. It couldn’t be the child whose life was taken away for chancing upon a gun-toting, vigilante psycho.
How can people be so flippant, so unapologetically dismissive about human life?
Demand justice for Trayvon Martin. Start by signing his family’s petition to prosecute George Zimmerman.
Take Action:
Silent March In Honor of Trayvon Martin Wednesday, March 21 12:15-1 pm Brooklyn College Quad
Blog About it. Talk About it. Yell About it.
