“Trayvon’s name will be etched in stone. Long after this movement is over, people will remember Trayvon Martin.”
–Tracy Martin, Trayvon Martin’s father
The heavy smear campaign against Trayvon Martin has begun; a plethora of negative stories about the young teen have emerged to display his past offenses as an adolescent in high school.
As we march, rally and rock our hoodies in honor of Trayvon, this is the moment we have to stand firm as more info comes forward trying to assassinate the 17-year-old’s character.
In the last 24 hours we’ve heard reports from the Sanford Police that claim George Zimmerman was protecting himself from the aggressor, Trayvon.
Well if that’s correct, Trayvon had every right to stand his ground and protect himself against a man that was following and harassing him.
Furthermore, if the Sanford Police had Zimmerman’s statement from the beginning, why didn’t they reveal this information the night of or days after, instead of releasing it one month later? You would think info like that would only help Zimmerman.
The fact of the matter is, Trayvon will be criticized in the news for the next couple of days, as more information will continue to surface about him doing reckless teenage things. But it’s all irrelevant, because the facts remain: Trayvon didn’t have to die; his life was taken from him.
It’s moments like these that happen so often in American history: people rise up to challenge racial inequities and injustices.
Echoes of Emmit Till, Rosa Parks, the Rodney King beatings and the riots that followed are the past moments when America has been forced to wake up.
Even Ben Jealous, the President of the NAACP, likened Trayvon’s case to that of Emmett Till, saying:
“This is the Emmett Till or Rodney King for this generation. It’s that case that exemplifies the ubiquitous anxiety about the vulnerability of black men and black boys in our society. The difference this time is that our society is less divided.”
So let’s not be blinded by school police investigators who are painting Trayvon as a thief and troublemaker, the assassination of his character doesn’t erase the fact that he was killed for being “suspicious” in the eyes of his shooter.
Emmett Till was murdered in 1955 Mississippi for chatting with a white woman; Rosa Parks was sitting on a bus and the impact their lives and cases had on people changed the world. The same will be said for Trayvon Martin.
One day his name too will be etched in stone.
Shaka Griffith is the News/Politics Editor of GlobalGrind.com Follow him on twitter @Darealshaka
For more on Trayvon Martin, click on the links below.
EXCLUSIVE: White People, You Will Never Look Suspicious Like Trayvon Martin
EXCLUSIVE: Trayvon Martin Is Dead & We Don’t Give A Fu*k!
DETAILS: The 411 On Trayvon Martin’s Killer, George Zimmerman
AUDIO: Trayvon Martin’s 911 Call Audio Released
DETAILS: Trayvon Martin’s Last Moments Revealed
DETAILS: Witnesses Heard Trayvon Martin Scream For Help Before He Was Killed
