By Damion BoycottOn February 26th 17 year old Treyvon Martin left his fathers' home in Sanford Florida to walk to the store. Treyvon, however never made it back home. He was shot and killed by the gated communities so-called neighbourhood watch captain, 28 year old George Zimmerman. The shooting has become a source of conflict in Sanford and has acquired national attention. Zimmerman, who is white claims that Treyvon engaged him and started a skirmish. Zimmerman went on to say that he acted in self defence and then proceeded to shoot the teenager. All of which has so far proven to be false.
Upon hearing the scuffle concerned neighbours scurried to their telephones to call 911. Trayvons family had to file a lawsuit to pressure Sanford police into releasing the 911 recordings in an effort to better understand the situation surrounding Treyvons' death. When the unjust shooting became a national story, the Sanford police were forced to issue the 911 recordings for the Martin family to review. After listening to the 911 recordings, it is clear that Treyvon was scared, defenceless and feared for his life. Tracy Martin, Treyvons' father said "How can you claim self defence and you are the aggressor?" The self defence laws in the state of Florida are very broad and in some cases vague. Zimmermans' claim of self defence is obviously a cover story to conceal what actually occurred.
Zimmerman, who has yet to be arrested or charged is said to be hiding. No arrest and no charge by the authorities conveys the idea that it is ok to gun down unarmed black men that are not in the process of committing a crime. A self appointed neighbourhood watch captain does not have the legal right to be a judge, jury and executioner. Zimmerman was completely out of line to carry out this sort of vigilante style justice. The Sanford police however refuse to hold him accountable. They (the police) have gone above and beyond to protect Mr. Zimmerman, who was over zealous and overreacted upon seeing a black male. If The shooter in this case was black and the victim was white, the police reaction would probably be very different.
Before the 911 tapes were revealed, Mr Zimmerman said he could not tell if the victim was black or white. However, the 911 recordings disclose Mr. Zimmerman saying "He is a black male". Before the 911 recordings were released Sanford police Chief, Bill Lee said that the 911 tapes would prove that the shooting was not a case of racial profiling. After hearing the 911 recordings many beg differ.
It seems black men are always assumed guilty until proven innocent. This shooting is indicative of how non-blacks in America view black males. America has a way of racialising crime and violence as something that black people do. Prejudice means to prejudge. Mr Zimmerman prejudged Treyvon and presupposed he was inclined to be a thief, because he was black. This is obviously an extreme case of racial profiling.
This case has been turned over to the State Attorneys' Office who can decide weather to file charges or present evidence to a grand jury.
It seems when it comes to senseless shootings in America the black casualties continue to mount. The same night Treyvon was shot to death, there were a handful of black on black killings in the town of Sanford Florida. Everyone that is outraged about the death of Treyvon should be equally as outraged about black on black violence. As far as white patrolmen and now so-called neighbourhood watch captains, shooting black men, there is definitely a pattern that can not be denied. Either way black men always seem to pay the bitter price.
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