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| Left: Trayvon Martin Right: George Zimmerman, |
On February 26, 2012 in Sanford, Florida, a 17 year old African American teenager named Trayvon Martin was shot in the chest while returning from a convenience store. While visiting his father and future stepmother, Trayvon walked to the store to pick up skittles and an iced tea and was being followed by a strange vehicle. Inside that vehicle was the captain of the neighborhood watch program who was pursuing Trayvon because he looked to be suspicious. Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch captain, called 911 and spoke to an operator who informed him that following Martin was not necessary. Zimmerman has been known to call police frequently and in four of his calls reported suspicious people in the neighborhood, all of whom were black. In Zimmerman’s call to the police about Martin he can be heard saying “these a**holes always get away”. Zimmerman said in his recorded call that Trayvon was approaching his vehicle but then ran off. Neighbors report hearing a confrontation and a gunshot before going outside to see Zimmerman over Trayvon who was lying face down on the ground. Trayvon was shot with a 9mm handgun that Zimmerman owned and which he should not have been carrying while acting as a neighborhood watch member. There was a very limited preliminary investigation that did not charge Zimmerman and essentially dismissed the case. Fueled by outrage and a desire for justice, this story has gained huge momentum in the media and especially through the internet.
This story is a frightening glimpse of the injustice that was so common in the times of mass prejudice. From the evidence presented, it is pretty clear that Zimmerman’s “self defense” is misguided while Zimmerman has even outright lied about the events. Before the 911 tapes were released, Zimmerman stated that he did not pursue Martin when in fact he admitted to doing so in the call. Zimmerman identified Martin as a threat from the beginning with no good reason other than Martin was walking in the rain with his hood up “just looking about”. Other than the fact that Martin was carrying skittles and an iced tea, which Zimmerman said he could not identify, Martin was in no way posing a threat. The situation should have ended when Zimmerman called the police. The 911 operator instructed him not to follow Martin and Zimmerman disobeyed that instruction.
Unfortunately, Trayvon Martin is just another casualty to the hatred spewing, violent world we live in. People all over the country will plead for his killer to be brought to justice, as they rightfully should but give this time and the memory of Trayvon will disappear completely from the public eye and people will move on. Of course his family, friends, and all those who now fear for safety and security for themselves and their children, can never forget the incident. It is very fortunate for the Martin family that the death of their son has gained so much outrage from communities nationwide and that their son’s death became a public atrocity. Many families cannot say the same for their murdered loved ones who largely go unnoticed. It is good to know that there are people who still rally for what they believe in and that communities all over can join together for a single cause. Justice for Trayvon.
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