Justice For Trayvon

On February 26, 2012, the worlds of Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin changed forever. Their seventeen year old son, Trayvon Martin had be shot and killed by the neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman for looking "suspicious". When he confronted Trayvon an altercation broke out and Zimmerman claimed he shot Martin because he was afraid for his life. From that date on, this case has been highly publicized gaining the attention of all media and the support from many celebrities and people around the world. On June 24, 2013, the Zimmerman trial began and the nation tuned in. He was charged with second-degree murder and man slaughter and many people in the black community started to look at this as a race issue. 

Trayvon was wearing a hoodie while returning to his dad's house after purchasing skittles and an Arizona iced tea. Zimmerman didn't recognize him and called the police from his vehicle to report a suspicious person in the neighborhood. Against police direction, Zimmerman was armed and decided to  get out of his vehicle and approach Martin and the end result led to his death. The black community was and still are outraged by Zimmerman racially profiling and killing Martin. They are even more outraged because an all white women jury of six found him not guilty on all accounts and Zimmerman walks free leaving everyone heartbroken, confused, and disgusted at the justice system.




I share those same emotions; however, even though race is evident, it shouldn't be the focal point of this trial. The main points that should stand out are: Zimmerman disobeyed police instruction by confronting Martin; Martin was a teenager approached at nighttime by a man he didn't know; Martin was shot and killed while unarmed. Those three points should've been enough to convict Zimmerman and find him guilty of something. A teenager is dead. A family is in mourning and justice was not served. These types of situations happen too often and this case represented the recurring injustice of our beloved justice system. Even though there is nothing anyone can do to bring Trayvon back to life, knowing that the man who made the decision that Trayvon did not deserve to walk this earth anymore would be behind bars would've brought some peace. It would help the Martin family move on. Instead the verdict added salt to an open wound, an open wound that will be very slow to heal.

There is too much killing going on. Once you chose to  take someone's life, that's it. That person can never come back. You will never be able to apologize face-to-face. All of that person's goals in life and dreams they may have been trying to pursue ends. Their journey stops. Ethnicity doesn't matter. The only race that matters is the human race. We are all brothers and sisters. When will we all get along and love one another? What drives someone to the point to kill? We would do better as a people if we build one another up instead of tear one another down. When will people realize that? This case hits close to home and I will continue to have Martin's family in my prayers.

R.I.P Trayvon Martin