Trayvon Martin: The
Meaning Of It All
As
we know, a week ago, a jury in Florida decided to find George
Zimmerman not guilty in the death of Trayvon Martin. Unfortunately,
this was a ruling that many were expecting throughout the trial due
to Florida's tough self-defense laws, combined with Stand
Your Ground.
Now I'm not going to get into the specifics that have been repeated
an re-hashed by the media, but into the broader scope on the coverage
and what this case means for us as a country.
For
one, as expected, vigils and rallies began soon after the reading of
the verdict. What didn't happen though? So-called “riots”.
Throughout the media, analysts wondered if Sanford,FL was ready for
the “unrest”. Guess what happened? Peaceful demonstrations. Not
just in Sanford, but throughout the U.S, peaceful demonstrations rose
up. Yes, here and there were some scattered violence, as seen in Los
Angeles, but far and few between, consisting of only a few hundred,
if that many. This put a real damper on the right wing media,
expecting Rodney King-esque riots and violence. Some outlets were so
disappointed, they stooped as low as posting fake Trayvon Martin riot
videos,
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/15/1223793/-Darn-No-Post-Verdict-Riots-Post-Video-of-a-Fake-One-Anyway#
(posting videos of the Vancouver riots that followed the 2011 Stanley
Cup between the Canucks and Bruins). The belief that the country
would become “unhinged” proved to be absolutely, positively
false. So what was next for the RW (right wing) media?
(Vancouver riots falsely claimed as Trayvon Martin riots)
(actual peaceful demonstration in New York City)
It
was to follow-up what they had done throughout coverage of the case,
demonize Trayvon Martin, turn him into a “thug”, praise Zimmerman
for his actions. They would consistently criticize NBC News and
others for their selection of photos “putting Trayvon in a good
light”. What many don't see, is that the RW media did the exact
same thing, only with an opposite approach. Skimming the photos of
Trayvon to put him in a negative light, to show how “scary he
looked”. This hypocrisy really shouldn't surprise anyone.
To
set things straight, Trayvon Martin was the victim here, not the
other way around. RW media has criticized Pres. Obama in his comments
for not offering “prayers to Zimmerman's parents”. George
Zimmerman is now not only alive, but a free man. They were able to
hug and embrace Zimmerman following the verdict. As for Sybrina
Fulton and Tracy Martin? They will never get to hug their son again.
Trayvon
Martin wasn't on trial here, however it sure looked that way. As John
Guy said in his closing rebuttal “To the dead we owe the truth”.
We certainly didn't get that in this case. Zimmerman supporters and
the RW media grasped onto the same false narrative that Trayvon
somehow caused his own death; bringing up Trayvon's use of marijuana,
etc. Irrelevant, all of it. Trayvon Martin was a 17yr old boy, who in
his last moments on this Earth was afraid, and rightfully so; being
followed in the dark of night by a cop wannabe who was locked and
loaded looking to play a hero. Zimmerman had a right to defend
himself, they say. What about Trayvon? Zimmerman was the one
following Trayvon, not the other way around. Did Trayvon not have the
right to stand up for himself and fight for his life?
Looking
beyond the specifics, the Trayvon Martin case has opened up a
discussion of race in America. A discussion of racial profiling and
civil rights. However the RW media will do everything in their power
to halt any such discussion. They'll throw out how you're “playing
the race card”. They'll cry “reverse racism”. They'll state
that somehow African-Americans are perpetuating racism, and need to
just get over it. The RW media will try to say that any discussion on
racism, any mention of racism, is racist. Try to make that logic
work. You can't, because it doesn't. Simply put, those in the GOP
perpetuating this don't want this discussion, because it would
require some serious soul-searching as a party. It would require
opening up old wounds, and facing a dark past head-on. Its much
easier to simply ignore. They'll simply act like racial profiling and
“white privilege” don't exist. This leads to another area.
If
you're white, think about it. Have you ever gotten stares going
through a store? Have you ever noticed someone clutching to their
belongings, holding their breath until you leave? Cars locking as you
walk by? Fearful driving or walking past the police? The answer is
mostly no. You don't have to worry. Now step back a moment and try to
imagine spending a day in someone else's shoes. Someone who has
experienced this, and who has to worry about it. Someone who will
have to at one point or another have to sit down with their child
about how to deal with these things –
http://ideas.time.com/2012/03/21/how-to-talk-to-young-black-boys-about-trayvon-martin/.
This
isn't a black issue, or a white issue, its everyone's issue. An issue
of a judicial system minus justice. The Trayvon Martin trial on paper
was a fair one, with a defense, prosecution, witnesses, judge and
jury. We must look beyond to find the injustice, and that's the
stereotypes of Trayvon Martin's friend Rachel Jeantel. Its the
foundation of Stand
Your Ground
blended into self-defense law in Florida, and in many other states
across the country. Its the RW media putting Trayvon Martin on trial,
calling Zimmerman the “true victim”. This is an issue of
equality, for everyone to have their fair chance at justice, no
matter the color of their skin or their background. Its an issue of
violence in this country.
(Dedicated performance of "Forever Young" during a Justin Timberlake/Jay-Z concert)
Looking
beyond the judicial and racial aspects, this is an issue of violence.
Our youth's innocence has been broken. Where are we safe anymore? On
a subway to see New Year's fireworks? Oscar Grant. To visit with our
representative in Congress? Tuscon. To see a movie? Aurora. To go to
school? Sandy Hook. To go to a gas station to fill up our car? Jordan
Davis (the next SYG-self
defense case in Florida). To walk to a convenience store to pick up
some snacks before a game? Trayvon Martin. When will it end? The time
is now. The movement has just begun. A movement to rise up for
justice. A movement to represent all of these young men and women,
regardless of race or color. As a culture we've become too used to
violence, we just turn the other way. Not anymore, it is time to rise
up, to use our voice, and speak out for all the Oscar Grant's, the
Trayvon Martin's, the Jordan Davis's of the world. Its time that we
take a good long hard look in the mirror as a nation. For the first
time, we had a President this past Friday talk about race who had
experienced profiling. Listen to his words, but don't rely on
politicians to get this conversation started. Talk to your friends,
your family, your children. “Our children are better at these
issues then we are, then we were” - Obama. And that is the truth.
We have become and will continue to become a greater nation. The time
is now.
(Beyonce's performance at the United Nations of "I Was Here")
“Human
progress is neither automatic nor inevitable...Every step toward the
goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the
tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
