What About Trayvon?

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
-Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


Greetings folks. I come to you with a full heart, anger and disgust. I come to you with more questions than I have answers, perplexed by the fact that no one seems to have any for me. A few weeks ago a co-worker and friend informed me of the passing of one of her former students. I expressed deep sympathy for her as she grappled with the fact that one of her former students was gunned down. It wasn’t until a few days ago that I found out that the former student who had been killed was in fact Trayvon Martin.

I’m sure by now you’ve read the articles, saw the story on the evening news, heard about it on the morning radio shows, and/or became aware of this from any number of social networking sites. I’m sure you know by now that on February 26, 2012, Trayvon Martin, a 17-year old Miami native, was murdered in Sanford, Florida. I’m confident that you know that Trayvon Martin had never been arrested in his life, was not a member of any gang and was an “A” and “B” student. I’m sure that you also know that the man responsible for his death, George Zimmerman, has admitted to killing Trayvon Martin. I’m hopeful that you know George Zimmerman told the police that the reason he shot and killed Trayvon Martin in the chest was self-defense. I’m very sure that you know by now that there have been no arrests to date.

This case is atypical from the normal “whodunit.” We have the victim in a homicide; we know his name, his age, his background. We have the person who took his life. Yet, nearly a month has passed and what we don’t have is an arrest. What we don’t have is any semblance that justice is or will be served. What we don’t have is Trayvon Martin.

On the evening of February 26th, Trayvon left the comforts of his father’s home to grab some snacks from the nearby 7-11. Trayvon was wearing a hoodie and jeans, armed with nothing more than his phone, headphones, and the pack of skittles and can of Arizona ice tea he just purchased. On his way home, he noticed a strange man on a cell phone following him and alerted his girlfriend with whom he was on the phone with. She suggested that he run. He opted instead to put the hood over his head and walk really fast away from the man.

What happened gets murky. What we know of the situation is that there was an altercation. Allegedly this altercation was initiated by Trayvon. Allegedly George Zimmerman retreated to his car. Allegedly Trayvon pursued him. Allegedly the scream that was heard by several neighbors, one of whom, 13, still hears those screams in his sleep, and can be heard on the 911 tape, came from George Zimmerman. Allegedly George Zimmerman feared for his life. Allegedly the gunshot that was heard that evening, and on the 911 tape, was shot in self-defense.

Trayvon was 17 and reportedly 140 pounds. George Zimmerman is 28 and reportedly 250 pounds. Trayvon was not carrying a weapon that evening. Trayvon was not carrying anything that even remotely looked like a weapon. Trayvon was a young African-American male and George Zimmerman is not. Trayvon is dead and buried. George Zimmerman is alive and free.

George Zimmerman called the Sanford Police Department to report a suspicious looking character, an African-American male. The police informed Mr. Zimmerman that they had dispatched a unit and that they would handle it from there. Mr. Zimmerman stayed on the phone and pursued Trayvon. We know this much because the dispatcher asked Mr. Zimmerman and he said “yes.” The dispatcher told Mr. Zimmerman “we don’t need you to do that.” Mr. Zimmerman continued his pursuit.

The police stated that the reason why George Zimmerman wasn’t arrested was because he had a squeaky clean record. We know this isn’t true because George Zimmerman was arrested for battery against an officer and resisting arrest in 2005. The night Trayvon was killed, George Zimmerman was not tested for drugs or alcohol, which reportedly is routine in many homicide cases. Listening to the 911 tapes, it’s not far-fetched to believe that George Zimmerman may have been under the influence.

Twenty-three days after the murder of Trayvon Martin the question we must ask is “What about Trayvon?” What about the 17 year young man who was gunned down for “looking suspicious”? What about the young man who will never attend prom? What about the young man who will never graduate from high school? What about the young man who will never get a chance to pursue his post high school dreams?

We’ve heard from Zimmerman’s father how his son was not a racist and only discharged his weapon killing Trayvon in self-defense. We’ve heard that the [non] arresting officer was implicated in a cover up of the beating of a black homeless man by a lieutenant’s son. In that case, there was no arrest initially made. What about Trayvon?

We should WANT justice not because this appears to be a racially motivated crime but because a 17-year old boy was killed. We should ASK for justice not because the race of the killer and the race of his victim were different but because a crime was committed. We should DEMAND justice to ensure faith in the justice system. We NEED justice for Trayvon.

A grand jury is scheduled to convene on April 10th to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to prosecute George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin. I’m not calling for the execution of George Zimmerman. I’m not asking for George Zimmerman to spend the rest of his life in jail. What I’m asking for is an arrest, a trial and justice to be served.

What shouldn’t be lost in this matter is that Trayvon Martin could have very easily been any one of my students. He looked like them, talked like them, he was one of them. What also isn’t lost on me is the fact that Trayvon Martin could have very well have been me.

Soon enough this matter may fade from out foresight like the morning fog when the sun rises. At some point we will forget about that small town outside of Orlando called Sanford. One day you may hear the name Trayvon Martin and struggle to recall its significance. I urge you not to forget about Trayvon. Don’t forget that he could have very easily been you or I. Don’t forget that wrong is wrong no matter the race or ethnicity of the individuals involved. Don’t forget that on February 26, 2012, Trayvon was silenced, never to speak again. Don’t forget about Trayvon.

Until next time, Stay Up and Be Blessed!