March 25, 2012:

THE COLOR OF JUSTICE

On February 25th, Trayvon Martin was walking home from a convenience store in Sanford, Florida. Sanford is a college town just north of Orlando. Trayvon had bought a bag of Skittles and a can of ice tea when George Zimmerman came up behind him and challenged him because he looked "suspicious." Though not all the details are clear yet, Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, shoved and then shot and killed Trayvon who was completely unarmed. Trayvon’s girlfriend was talking with him on their cell phones when this happened. It seems clear that Zimmerman was unprovoked.

After Zimmerman told police that he had shot Trayvon in self-defense under a Florida law that allows those who feel threatened to use deadly force, he was neither held or arrested. He is completely free — thus far — of any criminal charges.

This case has gone like a tornado through the Black community in Florida and across America. Black people are furious that a defenseless and innocent boy of 17 could be gunned down and local authorities (up to now) refuse to do anything about it.

This incident is only one more evidence to Black people that justice in America is not color-blind. From the days of lynching to the vigilante justice of Zimmerman, Black people have little confidence that police will fairly and impartially administer justice. To Whites, the police are "Officer Friendly." To Blacks, they are "Officers Prejudiced." Such a belief, whether it is true or not, only fuels the fire of resentment and mistrust among Black people and may, in fact, encourage armed resistance and reprisal in the Black community.

Now, belatedly, a local grand jury will be convened to investigate the matter. The Justice Department and the FBI will also investigate the shooting. Trained people from the Justice Department are trying to de-fuse the situation but the rage in the Black community continues.

How ironic that today (Passion Sunday), we are remembering the cruel and unjust death of Jesus because of unjust criminal accusations and the cowardly indifference of authorities.

Love,
Dave