Before Trayvon Martin Death-1 Tommy Green – Mobile Beacon City Editor On July 13-18, 2013, the National Association for the advancement of Colored People (NAACP) held its 104 year Annual Convention in Orlando, FL. The two primary topics discussed were Trayvon Martin’s death and Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act being ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. I will deal with the Voting Rights Act in later articles. On July 12, 2013, George Zimmerman was found not guilty when he targeted and killed Trayvon Martin. This ruling sent a ripple effect through the African American Community because we have told our children the dos and don’ts of being Black in America. What do we tell them when a private citizen with a gun can kill them without being punished? Before the jury announced their conclusion, I had a feeling that the verdict wouldn’t be favorable to Trayvon’s family because of the history of African Americans not receiving fair justice in this country. When the jury was taking an excessive amount of time in announcing their results, I became even more leery about the verdict because I felt that they would reach a not guilty verdict. When the verdict was given to the court and read as an acquittal, I felt despondent and didn’t sleep well Saturday night. However, from the history of racism in Sanford, this was a self-fulfilling prophecy. Although, I was 99 percent sure from the history in America that Trayvon would not receive justice, but you can have a mate in Hospice care, but you are still in a depressive mood when they die. This is a dilemma for Black people in America. How do Black people adjust to continuous oppression without faith, prayer, and hope? In 2012 at a retreat with the Green males, I discussed Trayvon’s death and how it could affect their lives. The NAACP disseminated a booklet to Branch Offices called “The 411 on the Five-O, which provides information on how you should conduct yourself when you’re dealing with the police. Trayvon was walking back home. He supposedly was walking slow returning from a convenience store with a drink and Skittles. What if he had been running? How does a young Black male handle a situation similar to what Trayvon faced? Should he have run or walked faster? The Black community must come together as never before. We don’t have to develop a new paradigm because our fore-parents have provided an excellent example when they faced odds that we can’t fathom. This is why I have constantly recommended that we read our history, which will be a Global Positioning System (GPS) on how to deal with our present situation. Our fore-parents didn’t have social media as we do, but they overcame. They marched, spent their monies strategically, agitated, carpooled, walked, voted, and refused to ride a segregated bus. Today, are we willing to deny ourselves comfort for freedom? I saw Mark O’Mara, defense attorney for George Zimmeraman, speaking the night of the verdict. One of the reporters inquired of him what if Zimmerman had been Black would the results be the same. O’Mara said, “If George had been Black he would have never been in jail.” The statement was mainly for White conservative ears because history doesn’t reflect what he said. This type of statement was similar to dunking a basketball in the last minute of a game after you are winning by 50 points. Tracy and Sebrina were suffering enough without O’Mara sticking the knife in their backs. Attorney General Holder said, “After Trayvon Martin was killed, I had to have a conversation with my son as my father had to have one with me. We will look at this case for civil rights violations. Now and today, we must have a conversation about race and violence, which will deal with pre-conceived ideas that people have about other people. We will stand our round against violence. The Department of Justice will conduct an investigation, and we are not afraid to act as long as I am the Attorney General of the United States. I spent my first year in law school working for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. I am deeply disappointed in the flawed decision by the Supreme Court on Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act. I am going to authorize the Civil Rights Division to shift resources to Voting Rights.” The NAACP is requesting everyone to call, email or write their Senators and Congresspersons and tell them that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act should be restored (202-224-3121) If you discover any changes in your voting district, please inform your local NAACP branch office. Or call 866-our-vote. This gathered information will be part of their proof of voter suppression. “THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES!”
Posted on: Sat, 03 Aug 2013 00:03:06 +0000
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