Justice?
In the last year, race has been a huge topic of interest in the United States. The reason was because a young black man was killed. The killer was 28 years old, the victim was 17. Trayvon Martin, the victim, had gone to the store to buy some candy and an iced tea for his brother. On his way home from the store, he was murdered.
There has been great interest in this case because Trayvon Martin was black. His killer, George Zimmerman, is Hispanic, with a white father of Germanic descent, and a mother who is Peruvian. Here is part of an article that explains what happened in the case....
There has been great interest in this case because Trayvon Martin was black. His killer, George Zimmerman, is Hispanic, with a white father of Germanic descent, and a mother who is Peruvian. Here is part of an article that explains what happened in the case....
"Statements given by Zimmerman have indicated that on the night of the shooting Zimmerman was in his vehicle on a personal errand when he noticed Martin walking beyond the gated fence inside the community. Statements read that Zimmerman then called the Sanford Police Department to report Martin's actions as suspicious, saying "This guy looks like he's up to no good, or he's on drugs or something. It's raining and he's just walking around, looking about" and "looking at all the houses", although according to a police report, there was "no indication that Trayvon Martin was involved in any criminal activity at the time of the encounter". While still on the phone with the police dispatcher, Zimmerman exited his vehicle, and after concluding his telephone call with police, was involved in a violent encounter with Martin. The encounter ended with Zimmerman fatally shooting Martin once in the heart at close range. When police arrived on the scene, Zimmerman stated that Martin had attacked him and that he had shot Martin in self defense..."
The U.S. has been discussing the topic of race, and racial biases, ever since the killing took place. People often make the point, "would Zimmerman have pursued Trayvon Martin if he were white?"
The trial of George Zimmerman has been a televised event for weeks. The jury was given the case on Friday afternoon. Saturday evening, after 16 hours of deliberation, the jury came back with their verdict; George Zimmerman was found not guilty. He walked out of the courthouse a free man.
The country is divided on the outcome of the case. Some are not surprised at the verdict, citing a lackluster performance by the prosecution side of the case. Others are in total shock that George Zimmerman was found not guilty. Saturday night, the country anticipated riots in reaction to the verdict. Instead, people gathered to protest the verdict, in peaceful protest, all around the country.
One point that was brought up, in discussions of the case, was the continued role of race. The jurors were all white. The lawyers, on all sides, were white. The judge was white. Some are not surprised that he was found not guilty based on these factors.
Personally I was shocked and stunned when the verdict came back. I was surprised that an adult man had killed a 17 year old child, a fellow human being, and did not receive any form of criminal punishment. In an interview that occurred before the trial, Zimmerman said he had no remorse for taking Trayvon Martin's life. He event went a step further and said the killing "was all God's plan." I still believe in the Justice System. This however is one instance when the U.S. Justice System got it wrong.
To my horror, I found out yesterday that this case between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin is the second such case in recent years. In 2009, Oscar Grant, a young black male, was racially profiled. He was pulled aside for questioning after a fight on a subway train. He was then shot and killed by a white police officer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BART_Police_shooting_of_Oscar_Grant
The officer that shot Oscar Grant was prosecuted and served a year in jail. A movie has been made about the killing, called "Fruitvale Station." It is now playing in theaters. Here is the trailer for the film:
To my horror, I found out yesterday that this case between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin is the second such case in recent years. In 2009, Oscar Grant, a young black male, was racially profiled. He was pulled aside for questioning after a fight on a subway train. He was then shot and killed by a white police officer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BART_Police_shooting_of_Oscar_Grant
The officer that shot Oscar Grant was prosecuted and served a year in jail. A movie has been made about the killing, called "Fruitvale Station." It is now playing in theaters. Here is the trailer for the film:
Trayvon Martin and Oscar Grant were two young men, out minding their own business, who were racially profiled, and never returned home. We cannot let another son die.
As far as the Zimmerman case is concerned, it is not over. It is reported the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the FBI, is considering filing charges against George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin, trying the case as a race crime. The parents of Trayvon Martin have filed papers with the courts to file a wrongful death civil case, to hold George Zimmerman libel for the death of their son.
The parents were quoted as saying that they wanted this case to go to court, to be heard by a jury, and to get justice for their son. But did they get it? Did they get justice? Did Trayvon Martin get justice? Did Oscar Grant?
Trayvon Martin
Oscar Grant
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