We all know he’s right! And the racists that say he shouldn’t have interjected, don’t like it thrown in their face that our President was that young man, at one time.
Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget
falls drop by drop upon the heart,
until, in our own despair,
against our will,
comes wisdom
through the awful grace of God. Aeschylus
I anticipate ? Will be asked for a long time. The prosecutor made no bones about his opinion about about the GUILT of Zimmerman. Wtf was the jury looking at?
We who are so deeply troubled and sick at heart must find a way to use our rage and sorrow to remove from power those RW bigots who give aid and protection to the psychopathic racist vigilantes like Zimmerman, and spread that hope and that goal to all Americans who have a heart and soul. On a personal level I truly believe in the ultimate justice that Trayvon Martin rests in the joyful arms of the Holy One while George Zimmerman will not have a moment’s peace or happiness for the remainder of his days. I hope and pray his family will find peace in that sure knowledge.
Sad but not shocked. I knew it was going to be tough for the jury to arrive at a guilty verdict due to Fl.’s ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ expanded self-defense gun laws, which state “a person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have the duty to retreat if: He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm……” It’s a license to kill. Can’t every defendant say he felt threatened? The NRA has fiercely lobbied state legislatures to broaden gun and self-defense laws across the country. The NRA’s proposals saw nearly no opposition in Florida during a strong and quick lobby, and a series of expanded self defense laws were passed in 2005, including ‘stand your ground’. Justice will be rare and at a time where guns are flooding into all our communities.
Very telling that along with being saddened, angry, disappointed, etc., many of the comments (including mine) contain the words “not shocked” or “not surprised” or something along those lines….
No one who is AA was surprised by this verdict; we knew going in that there will be no justice. We know that our lives are not valued. We know that our love for our children is seen as different, lesser some how than the love that others have for theirs. We knew that the election of a Black man as president would not change the reality of our lives in any way, but in some ways be made more difficult. The only thing that is expected as the result of this all-too-familiar tragedy is that we, as a people, will survive this latest outrage. We always, some how, manage to survive. We look, pray and work for the day when we can do more than this.
I am not AA CEB, but I feel the pain of the AA community. This is not over, not by a long shot, and this will make progress and justice that much sweeter because it will be so richly deserved.
I do not believe that had Trayvon been the one to survive Zimmerman’s attack- that Trayvon would be set free. I believe that the so called ‘Stand Your Ground’ law would suddenly be unusable. This was a racist verdict, a racist trial, all to allow one more racist to be set free. If folks hadn’t raised a serious ruckus- there wouldn’t have even been a trial… but I believe without a doubt had Trayvon been the one to survive- he would have been arrested immediately by the Sanford PD and tried- and convicted. Even thought Stand Your Ground would have truly applied to him.
i’ve been on a jury and we did have a debate when deliberating over what we all mostly agreed what happened and what made sense to us personally, but some wanted strict adherence to what a specific law said regarding the case, just as the judge instructed us to do. we did end up deciding more on what we knew was the correct thing to do though, which still doesn’t always sit well with me. at least i know an innocent man was set free, but we fudged it a little in terms of strict reading of the “rule of law.”
i wonder if that debate was happen in FL today within that jury, especially since they asked for clarification of manslaughter, which means some in the jury were considering that. i didn’f follow the trial enough to know, but if this “stand your ground” law crap is written in a certain, it’s possible the jury has our same dilemma and decided to go more for the strict reading of the law route. if so, we have the FL republicans to thank for this injustice today. elections have consequences and if we can get any positive out of this horror, it would be to speed up the demise of the republican party everywhere, and starting with the 2014 midterms across the country. forward – for trayvon!!!
i hope some of the jury speaks, so we’ll know if it was about strict adherence to following a republican-written law, or if it was in fact just pure racism by the jury, or maybe even a little of both. usually a couple will speak out in fairly short order. wow, what a horrible verdict.
Both of my brothers live in FLA. My youngest brother just relocated there in June with his family because of a job offer that was incredible and he just couldn’t turn it down. I dreaded having them leave Maryland to go to FLA. They’re in Boca where my other brother also lives. He complains about the politics and the “idiots” there all of the time. Both brothers are there because of their jobs. I think they are going to have to visit me in MD, I can’t go to FLA ever after this. I will miss my niece and nephews but I can’t go there. Just the thought of that cesspool of injustice sickens me.
Anyone of any race can join the NAACP. Let us send out a clarion call. Also, I haven’t been a member of NOW for years. Or Planned Parenthood. Strenghth in numbers. We need to let the American Brotherhood know we are mad as hell as we will not take it any more. Non-violently.
I think you can. Limits to donations are for political organizations only, like a campaign or a political party. The NAACP is a 501c3 organization so officially non-partisan. Canadians can probably donate to a 501c3. But check first before sending that check.
I won’t even express the extent of the anger I feel right now. I know as a Christian that some of the thoughts entering my mind are wrong. I will just echo the words of Bill R. above when he says that Zimmerman will probably not have a moment’s peace or happiness the rest of his days. And I know it is wrong of me to hope for that, but I do. I hope he is watched daily; his every move, and he lives under the black cloud of his actions.
I asked on Twitter: What do I tell my son who is so cynical about this country? I tell him about the good in this country. I tell him – beg him – to get involved politically, but he is so cynical. What do I tell him tonight?
You hug him, tell him you love him, and tell him that he needs to work to make it better. Our jobs as citizens to fix a broken system….turn the cynical into an activist. Then you hug him some more.
Sabreen, if you are African American you may want to sit with him and sing the Black National Anthem “Lift Ev’ry Voice and sing.” The words in that song, as far as I am concerned, captures the essence of the Black experience in America-especially the struggle to never give up hope in spite of the horrors we’ve suffered. It was composed, in 1900, by the Johnson brothers, James Weldon and J. Resmond, in Jacksonville, Florida, at the height of lynching and non-stop laws mandating segregation and disfranchisement of Black people. For Black people, cynicism and despair is really not an option; and neither is complacency.
Please ask him to look around and see how many people are outraged at this verdict. That they share his pain. Please tell him that cynicism is what the other side wants. Cynicism means they have won. Cynicism is an easy way out, absolving the cynic of personal responsibility to act. Please tell him there are so many, throughout the country that love and value him and every other child, and desertflower is right; there need to be lots of hugs.
I just read a comment above about hoping the jurors speak out; I wonder how the jurors can live with themselves having delivered this verdict? There is only two feelings about that … they are racists themselves (and I hope this is not the case) or they were going strictly by the letter of the law in FL. I know that had I been on the jury for OJ, I would have had to vote not guilty. I listened to and/or read every piece of evidence in that case. And having served on a jury myself in the past also, I would have had to admit to not being convinced of his guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt” because of the timeline. So, feeling as many of us do in the case of OJ, that he either killed his wife or he had a hand in it in some way, I am glad I was not on that jury. If the jury today delivered a verdict based on racism and hate, I feel that they too will have to live with this for the rest of their lives and that somehow they will suffer from their decision to let Zimmerman go free and unpunished by the law.
I have to shut my eyes from this day. Retreat to the quiet of my room. Hugs to everyone and special thoughts to Trayvon’s parent’s tonight. If I could send them strength….
First they took away the 1965 Voting Rights Act, (because we are not a racists country anymore), and now they let a killer of an unarmed black child go free. I don’t know what it will take to wake up America. My heart is broken….he could of been my son too.
We cannot forget they were never going to prosecute him at all. I am so uncomfortable with all the gaping holes in the Prosecution’s choices of process, witnesses, framework, etc. etc. This could easily be a set up and they are in their offices laughing right now.
Yeah, you would think she had won an award for producing and directing that show that was called a trial. I was expecting the pageant wave at some point.
“And another thing. Boxing isn’t the only game were the fight is thrown.”
So.Very.True. Every step of the way, I felt the prosecution was phoning it in. They glossed over what should have been major issues, rather than hammering points home. Pro forma direct examinations; questions unasked; points not emphasized; lack-luster cross examinations — They.Phoned.It.In.
“And another thing. Boxing isn’t the only game were the fight is thrown.”
You speak TRUTH! There have been so many instances in the lives of Black folks where trials were just conducted for show– really a mockery- to make the system appear to be interested in justice.
Just
saw on twitter that Zithead’s brother just said that he hopes that vigilantes wouldn’t take the law into their own hands and his response was like your brother did towards Trayvomn?
There are no words the jurors can say. No defense they can use that will make me care or listen. I’ll repeat what I just swore as I stood brushing my teeth, staring in the mirror: “no forgiveness.” I wish I could be Christly and turn the other cheek, but no forgives. It’s too much to ask for. Maybe if I were a person of stronger faith, my will wouldnt be so easily tested. But my faith is battered and bruised, it’s been that way for two years. I went from never really knowing anyone personally who died to having my 20 year old cousin poisoned in a friend’s house in 2011, to his dad being assassinated last July because he was going to testify against some people who were stealing from a branch of a company he managed, to my best friend being killed in a car accident, through no fault of her own in February. These three people never got their days in court. They died senselessly. So did Trayvon. There is no part of me that wants to hear anything those jurors have to say. May the rest of their days on this earth be damned. Just as they damned Trayvon.
Lisa, my heart is beating next to yours. Our combined strength will carry us through it all. We are still here as of this moment, so we will use our combined hearts, minds, and souls to continue to fight for all of your family and friends, mine, and Trayvon’s mother and father and family.
Our forgiveness will come with our concerted goodness in our actions to move this nation and its justice system to a pure and better place.
((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Good night my TOD family)))))))))))))))))))))))) Pray for me knowing that I have requested it in all of my humbleness tonight. Good night to Ms. Fulton and Mr. Martin.HZ
So sorry for your tragedies, Lisa, and yes- no forgiveness on my part either. Not until I can truly understand how I am to accept being repeatedly berated as an African woman (no longer will I use the term African American), and having to explain to the young ones in my family that, though they are “citizens” and they pay taxes to a government that doesn’t protect them, that they should be respectful law-abiding people; that they have to “watch” how they respond to a police stop in what is supposedly their own country, when their white friends do not have to live with the same cautiousness and fear and condescension. Til then, no- no forgiveness.
I am sorry to hear of your loses Lisa! Today,I feel the same way as you do. I do’t want to hear any thing from these jurors who failed to do justice. I don’t want to hear any of the stupid pundits would try to argue the process and not the injustice that was committed. I especially don’t wan’t to hear anything from the officials of the State of Florida who enacted the law that enabled Zimmerman to Lynch–yes I said Lynch, (and not the imaginary lynch that Justice “uncle” Thomas claimed at his confirmation) — a seventeen years-old boy, with impunity. Nothing!
eclecticbrotha @eclecticbrotha 1h
The week in review: a woman with tampons and a black kid with Skittles are both more dangerous than a white man with a gun
Thank you, yardarm. Music gives healing to the heart and mind. We all are broken in our spirits this but not in our power to make a change come.
” In my time that is measured out for me to be on this earth, I pray that I will continue to be a part of that change. I have see many things as you have in my life on this earth, and some tried to tell me that things would not change because of my feet, hands, words, and actions; but I looked straight ahead and ordered my words, my footsteps, my strong hands, and my loving but firm actions, and Change happened for the better for so many young people and families.
I will walk with you, my dear yardarm, and make the time that I have left to Stand. Thank you for your words, yardarm. HZ
Thanks yardarm for always being on time with your selection of music pieces that fit the moment. As I’ve been writing throughout to day, quitting and despair, especially for Black folks, is never an option. We cannot afford that luxury!
I never thought I would feel again the way I felt when the Simi Valley jury acquitted the policemen who beat Rodney King within an inch of his life. In fact this is much worse. #NoJusticeNoPeace.
We will MARCH. We will BOYCOTT. We will VOTE. We will NOT be silent. Welcome 2 the "post racial" civil rights movement. #Justice4Trayvon
I think I read in one of your comments that Emmett Till was your friend. I was ten years old when he was murdered and his murderers were allowed to go free. I still remember not only the horror older people talked about, but also their defiant resolve to push on in the struggle to be free. Yes indeed, “It’s time to get busy!”
I should be gong to sleep right now, but I just can’t seem to go to sleep just now. I literally have been sitting here lying in bed trying to go to sleep, but my mind is too full of …. to settle down I guess.
I finally had to call my sister to tell her to hug my nephew for me and my cousin to tell her to give my 17 year old godson a hug for me too. When this trial started and when the murder became bigger news, we joked that my nephew and my godson should throw out any hoodies they owned, even though we don’t live in FL. Now though, the joke has turned serious.
Anyway. I’m just go back to bed and try to sleep and not stare blindly at the world eventually my mind will settle. I already have a hard time getting to sleep on normal days, but when I have something on my mind, I have an even harder time.
Father, in Jesus Name. I am thanking you for another day that I am alive. Thank You, Sir, for showing your loving kindness and tender mercies towards me and my family. Thank You for making things right concerning the Trayvon Martin situation. Thank you for healing hearts and minds in families across this nation especially the Martin family. I thank you that the Angels protect them and keep them. Keep Your strong Hand on them and their hearts and minds. Shower them with Your Love. You said ‘vengeance is Mine, I will repay’ so thank You for making things right for them. Let Your Truth and Justice prevail. Lord, I know that you can and will move swiftly to right these wrongs. Thank you for all that You do. In Jesus Name. Amen.
That’s the way I see it, Yardarm! Without the heroic struggles, and untold sacrifices, we would not be where we are now. I am thankful to the abolitionists who struggled mightly to abolish Chattel slavery. I am thankful for the Black freedom movement that spanned centuries, which eventually made me a citizen with the right to vote. I think the mistake some of us make is to think that once changes have been made, you can sit back and relax and enjoy yourself. Positive change require both vigilance and constant struggle. There are always those determined to undo positive changes. Our obligation is to fight back to change the system in a positive way. As we used to say in the 60s every generation has an obligation to pick up the baton in the struggle freedom and human dignity.
There is some truth to that, but I hope this is not used to make us resign and accept the status quo. A system can be changed, but as is in everything in life changes can either be for good for evil, or changes can move the country forward or backward.
Delurking to add my voice to the TOD community response. So saddened and angered by the outcome of this trial. I had hoped against hope for better from those jurors. I don’t know if this has been posted, but thought I would share the following response from Trayvon’s parents. God bless them. http://newsone.com/2633084/tracy-martin-sybrina-fulton-respond-to-zimmerman-not-guilty-verdict/
Just read about Trayvon. A horrible verdict. Sending virtual hugs to the Martin family and to all in the African American community who, surely, are suffering because of this. There is something very rotten about what just happened. Hugs too to all at TOD – but must find a way to honour Trayvon’s memory and get justice because justice wasn’t served today. I’m sad because even with all the publicity this happened and I think about all the young men who are profiled and murdered on a daily basis who we never hear about. Must organise – nothing – nothing seems to be keeping the innocent safe.
I blame the prosecution. They did an absolutely lousy job of lifting all doubt in what seemed to be an open and shut case. They did an absolutely lousy job of preparing witnesses. Zimmerman’s lawyers had no problem in poking holes in every aspect of the prosecution’s argument. I am disgusted. And I an deeply saddened that this is how justice works. That Zimmerman had a right to stand his ground but Trayvon didn’t have a right to life.
The performance of the prosecution made no difference. Zimmerman, who was armed, heavier, trained in MMA, knew the neighbourhood and was the instigator of the conflict was acquitted because six racists wanted it so. It’s just that simple.
Prearranged and predetermined. The fix was already in. That’s why prosecutor was taking a victory lap thanking folks like she was at an award ceremony.
I was not satisfied with the performance of the prosecution, but I realize they were limited due to the very poor police work of the Sanford police department. The p.d. botched their job badly. Far too much evidence was very poorly collected and handled. That initial evidence is so critically important.
If we think the decision by the all white jury to set Zimmerman free for killing Trayvon Martin was wrong, go to the NAACP website and sign the petition to AG Eric Holder at the Department of Justice. http://www.naacp.org/DOJ-petiton. I got a email from them already and I sign that petition. Let us get all our friends and family to sign that petition today.
Best thought I saw on Twitter. “If Zimmerman as a neighborhood watch volunteer had just offered Trayvon a ride home in the rain, this would have never happened.
As a Florida woman that looks like 5 of the jurors…I am sorry. I cannot believe this happened. This is not the America I want to live in.
No – every black person in the district knew that Zimmerman was guilty – and told the truth when asked. Those who wanted to be on the jury – did they tell the truth during jury selection?
On his headstone is says “Job well done” YES, indeed — he has become the face of a new movement — from one Martin to another — 45 years later, YES WE CAN!
I have been in lurkdom for a long time but thought I’d convey my shock and sadness at this verdict. Wow – speechless!! The justice system is broken in the States – wow. My thoughts and prayers are with Trayvon’s parents and loved ones. It is like he has been murdered all over again.
That a man can go to jail for dog fights and another go free for taking the life of a human being – your justice system is eff up man. WOW – SMDH.
I am in shock and shaking at this!!
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
Shocked and saddened.
😥
President Obama did say that. I love President Obama.
We all know he’s right! And the racists that say he shouldn’t have interjected, don’t like it thrown in their face that our President was that young man, at one time.
Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget
falls drop by drop upon the heart,
until, in our own despair,
against our will,
comes wisdom
through the awful grace of God. Aeschylus
God noblesse the Martin family . As for Zimmerman, justice will eventually be served.
With the St.Atty doing all the grinning with pride about the “fairness of the trial”! Could it have been a set up?
My spouse said this was all planned. It was a set up.
Yes it was a set up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I anticipate ? Will be asked for a long time. The prosecutor made no bones about his opinion about about the GUILT of Zimmerman. Wtf was the jury looking at?
Just no telling.
Oh me.
We who are so deeply troubled and sick at heart must find a way to use our rage and sorrow to remove from power those RW bigots who give aid and protection to the psychopathic racist vigilantes like Zimmerman, and spread that hope and that goal to all Americans who have a heart and soul. On a personal level I truly believe in the ultimate justice that Trayvon Martin rests in the joyful arms of the Holy One while George Zimmerman will not have a moment’s peace or happiness for the remainder of his days. I hope and pray his family will find peace in that sure knowledge.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Bill R. They are truly a comfort, especially that Trayvon is in Good Hands tonight.
Lord Have Mercy. May all who loved Trayvon Martin find Peace & Comfort.
Not shocked but saddened and angry. I expected this from the beginning and knew it was all a sham to make it look like our country really cared.
Sad but not shocked. I knew it was going to be tough for the jury to arrive at a guilty verdict due to Fl.’s ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ expanded self-defense gun laws, which state “a person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have the duty to retreat if: He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm……” It’s a license to kill. Can’t every defendant say he felt threatened? The NRA has fiercely lobbied state legislatures to broaden gun and self-defense laws across the country. The NRA’s proposals saw nearly no opposition in Florida during a strong and quick lobby, and a series of expanded self defense laws were passed in 2005, including ‘stand your ground’. Justice will be rare and at a time where guns are flooding into all our communities.
nah I think they would have found him not guilty even without those laws. Florida is a horrible state.
Very telling that along with being saddened, angry, disappointed, etc., many of the comments (including mine) contain the words “not shocked” or “not surprised” or something along those lines….
No one who is AA was surprised by this verdict; we knew going in that there will be no justice. We know that our lives are not valued. We know that our love for our children is seen as different, lesser some how than the love that others have for theirs. We knew that the election of a Black man as president would not change the reality of our lives in any way, but in some ways be made more difficult. The only thing that is expected as the result of this all-too-familiar tragedy is that we, as a people, will survive this latest outrage. We always, some how, manage to survive. We look, pray and work for the day when we can do more than this.
TRUTH. Well said CEB.
I am not AA CEB, but I feel the pain of the AA community. This is not over, not by a long shot, and this will make progress and justice that much sweeter because it will be so richly deserved.
I do not believe that had Trayvon been the one to survive Zimmerman’s attack- that Trayvon would be set free. I believe that the so called ‘Stand Your Ground’ law would suddenly be unusable. This was a racist verdict, a racist trial, all to allow one more racist to be set free. If folks hadn’t raised a serious ruckus- there wouldn’t have even been a trial… but I believe without a doubt had Trayvon been the one to survive- he would have been arrested immediately by the Sanford PD and tried- and convicted. Even thought Stand Your Ground would have truly applied to him.
Exactly !
tell it
Hear hear!
i’ve been on a jury and we did have a debate when deliberating over what we all mostly agreed what happened and what made sense to us personally, but some wanted strict adherence to what a specific law said regarding the case, just as the judge instructed us to do. we did end up deciding more on what we knew was the correct thing to do though, which still doesn’t always sit well with me. at least i know an innocent man was set free, but we fudged it a little in terms of strict reading of the “rule of law.”
i wonder if that debate was happen in FL today within that jury, especially since they asked for clarification of manslaughter, which means some in the jury were considering that. i didn’f follow the trial enough to know, but if this “stand your ground” law crap is written in a certain, it’s possible the jury has our same dilemma and decided to go more for the strict reading of the law route. if so, we have the FL republicans to thank for this injustice today. elections have consequences and if we can get any positive out of this horror, it would be to speed up the demise of the republican party everywhere, and starting with the 2014 midterms across the country. forward – for trayvon!!!
i hope some of the jury speaks, so we’ll know if it was about strict adherence to following a republican-written law, or if it was in fact just pure racism by the jury, or maybe even a little of both. usually a couple will speak out in fairly short order. wow, what a horrible verdict.
Oh, they’ll cloak the latter with the veneer of the former. You can bet on it.
yea, i know THEY won’t admit it, but i expect we’ll be able to tell by their demeanor and what exactly they’re saying. we’ll see soon enough…
Both of my brothers live in FLA. My youngest brother just relocated there in June with his family because of a job offer that was incredible and he just couldn’t turn it down. I dreaded having them leave Maryland to go to FLA. They’re in Boca where my other brother also lives. He complains about the politics and the “idiots” there all of the time. Both brothers are there because of their jobs. I think they are going to have to visit me in MD, I can’t go to FLA ever after this. I will miss my niece and nephews but I can’t go there. Just the thought of that cesspool of injustice sickens me.
I left Florida 10 years ago. I will never go back there either. ever.
Anyone of any race can join the NAACP. Let us send out a clarion call. Also, I haven’t been a member of NOW for years. Or Planned Parenthood. Strenghth in numbers. We need to let the American Brotherhood know we are mad as hell as we will not take it any more. Non-violently.
I just donated $25 to the NAACP. And will join as well. I want to raise $1 million to the NAACP tonight. #1millionforNAACPforTrayvon
can a Canadian legally donate?
I think you can. Limits to donations are for political organizations only, like a campaign or a political party. The NAACP is a 501c3 organization so officially non-partisan. Canadians can probably donate to a 501c3. But check first before sending that check.
Donate:http://trayvonmartinfoundation.org/
I’m always wary of sites like that Carol, do you know if it is approved by the Martin family?
It is. I saw the representative on the Melissa Perry show as one of the commentators.
Okay, thanks Carol.
For some of the questions:
501(c)(3)
http://trayvonmartinfoundation.org/message-from-the-parents/
Trayvon Martin’s parents approve of the foundation, and foreign people can donate.
I won’t even express the extent of the anger I feel right now. I know as a Christian that some of the thoughts entering my mind are wrong. I will just echo the words of Bill R. above when he says that Zimmerman will probably not have a moment’s peace or happiness the rest of his days. And I know it is wrong of me to hope for that, but I do. I hope he is watched daily; his every move, and he lives under the black cloud of his actions.
Saw this posted comment: Emmett Till please give Trayvon Martin a hug tonight… no justice today.
I thought of Emmett Till this week. It’s a real shame what some people get away with in this world.
Bloom is being so critical of the prosecution. Is she an attorney? Does this prove that Zithead is not guilty?
Gloria Allred’s daughter?
Is that her daughter? Wow.
I asked on Twitter: What do I tell my son who is so cynical about this country? I tell him about the good in this country. I tell him – beg him – to get involved politically, but he is so cynical. What do I tell him tonight?
You hug him, tell him you love him, and tell him that he needs to work to make it better. Our jobs as citizens to fix a broken system….turn the cynical into an activist. Then you hug him some more.
THISSSSSSSS,,,,,
You tell him that this is OUR Country and that we will not give it up!!!!!!!!!!!…..That we will continue that March Towards Freedom!
Well said, desertflower!
Sabreen, if you are African American you may want to sit with him and sing the Black National Anthem “Lift Ev’ry Voice and sing.” The words in that song, as far as I am concerned, captures the essence of the Black experience in America-especially the struggle to never give up hope in spite of the horrors we’ve suffered. It was composed, in 1900, by the Johnson brothers, James Weldon and J. Resmond, in Jacksonville, Florida, at the height of lynching and non-stop laws mandating segregation and disfranchisement of Black people. For Black people, cynicism and despair is really not an option; and neither is complacency.
Please ask him to look around and see how many people are outraged at this verdict. That they share his pain. Please tell him that cynicism is what the other side wants. Cynicism means they have won. Cynicism is an easy way out, absolving the cynic of personal responsibility to act. Please tell him there are so many, throughout the country that love and value him and every other child, and desertflower is right; there need to be lots of hugs.
I just read a comment above about hoping the jurors speak out; I wonder how the jurors can live with themselves having delivered this verdict? There is only two feelings about that … they are racists themselves (and I hope this is not the case) or they were going strictly by the letter of the law in FL. I know that had I been on the jury for OJ, I would have had to vote not guilty. I listened to and/or read every piece of evidence in that case. And having served on a jury myself in the past also, I would have had to admit to not being convinced of his guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt” because of the timeline. So, feeling as many of us do in the case of OJ, that he either killed his wife or he had a hand in it in some way, I am glad I was not on that jury. If the jury today delivered a verdict based on racism and hate, I feel that they too will have to live with this for the rest of their lives and that somehow they will suffer from their decision to let Zimmerman go free and unpunished by the law.
As far as I am concern that jury have said enough. Don’t try to excuse their disgusting horrible decision. It is ashame,
I have to shut my eyes from this day. Retreat to the quiet of my room. Hugs to everyone and special thoughts to Trayvon’s parent’s tonight. If I could send them strength….
First they took away the 1965 Voting Rights Act, (because we are not a racists country anymore), and now they let a killer of an unarmed black child go free. I don’t know what it will take to wake up America. My heart is broken….he could of been my son too.
We cannot forget they were never going to prosecute him at all. I am so uncomfortable with all the gaping holes in the Prosecution’s choices of process, witnesses, framework, etc. etc. This could easily be a set up and they are in their offices laughing right now.
And another thing. Boxing isn’t the only game were the fight is thrown.
Yeah, you would think she had won an award for producing and directing that show that was called a trial. I was expecting the pageant wave at some point.
Me too.
“And another thing. Boxing isn’t the only game were the fight is thrown.”
So.Very.True. Every step of the way, I felt the prosecution was phoning it in. They glossed over what should have been major issues, rather than hammering points home. Pro forma direct examinations; questions unasked; points not emphasized; lack-luster cross examinations — They.Phoned.It.In.
I’m sayin’! They didn’t arrest GZ until there was public pressure and that took 44 days. HELP ME SOMEBODY!
“And another thing. Boxing isn’t the only game were the fight is thrown.”
You speak TRUTH! There have been so many instances in the lives of Black folks where trials were just conducted for show– really a mockery- to make the system appear to be interested in justice.
Yup.
Good night, friends. We’ll need strength for the foreseeable future.
Good night LL. Yes, we will.
Just
saw on twitter that Zithead’s brother just said that he hopes that vigilantes wouldn’t take the law into their own hands and his response was like your brother did towards Trayvomn?
There are no words the jurors can say. No defense they can use that will make me care or listen. I’ll repeat what I just swore as I stood brushing my teeth, staring in the mirror: “no forgiveness.” I wish I could be Christly and turn the other cheek, but no forgives. It’s too much to ask for. Maybe if I were a person of stronger faith, my will wouldnt be so easily tested. But my faith is battered and bruised, it’s been that way for two years. I went from never really knowing anyone personally who died to having my 20 year old cousin poisoned in a friend’s house in 2011, to his dad being assassinated last July because he was going to testify against some people who were stealing from a branch of a company he managed, to my best friend being killed in a car accident, through no fault of her own in February. These three people never got their days in court. They died senselessly. So did Trayvon. There is no part of me that wants to hear anything those jurors have to say. May the rest of their days on this earth be damned. Just as they damned Trayvon.
Lisa, my heart is beating next to yours. Our combined strength will carry us through it all. We are still here as of this moment, so we will use our combined hearts, minds, and souls to continue to fight for all of your family and friends, mine, and Trayvon’s mother and father and family.
Our forgiveness will come with our concerted goodness in our actions to move this nation and its justice system to a pure and better place.
((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Good night my TOD family)))))))))))))))))))))))) Pray for me knowing that I have requested it in all of my humbleness tonight. Good night to Ms. Fulton and Mr. Martin.HZ
Thanks HZ, for your beautiful words filled with love and compassion.
So sorry for your tragedies, Lisa, and yes- no forgiveness on my part either. Not until I can truly understand how I am to accept being repeatedly berated as an African woman (no longer will I use the term African American), and having to explain to the young ones in my family that, though they are “citizens” and they pay taxes to a government that doesn’t protect them, that they should be respectful law-abiding people; that they have to “watch” how they respond to a police stop in what is supposedly their own country, when their white friends do not have to live with the same cautiousness and fear and condescension. Til then, no- no forgiveness.
Lisa…I am with you on this. There are some things in life that are unforgivable; this is one of them.
I am sorry to hear of your loses Lisa! Today,I feel the same way as you do. I do’t want to hear any thing from these jurors who failed to do justice. I don’t want to hear any of the stupid pundits would try to argue the process and not the injustice that was committed. I especially don’t wan’t to hear anything from the officials of the State of Florida who enacted the law that enabled Zimmerman to Lynch–yes I said Lynch, (and not the imaginary lynch that Justice “uncle” Thomas claimed at his confirmation) — a seventeen years-old boy, with impunity. Nothing!
eclecticbrotha @eclecticbrotha 1h
The week in review: a woman with tampons and a black kid with Skittles are both more dangerous than a white man with a gun
he said it much better than I. goodnight.
Will Smith – We live in a country where the woman who threw flower on Kim K. went to jail but the killer of Trayvon Martin walked.
Not shocked or surprised.
Wise words from our Reggie, a young man who seems to totally be a kindred spirit to his former boss – and friend – Barack Obama.
Thus ….
Yes We Can
We can quit or get up. In the time I have left I chose to stand.
Thank you, yardarm. Music gives healing to the heart and mind. We all are broken in our spirits this but not in our power to make a change come.
” In my time that is measured out for me to be on this earth, I pray that I will continue to be a part of that change. I have see many things as you have in my life on this earth, and some tried to tell me that things would not change because of my feet, hands, words, and actions; but I looked straight ahead and ordered my words, my footsteps, my strong hands, and my loving but firm actions, and Change happened for the better for so many young people and families.
I will walk with you, my dear yardarm, and make the time that I have left to Stand. Thank you for your words, yardarm. HZ
Good to know I’m not alone. {{HZ}}
You are never alone, Sailor. Lots of us benefit from your courage and wisdom.
I’m humble by that for I don’t consider myself wise. I just know where the stones are.
You are very wise, my friend. You gave me so much courage tonight in the middle of my crying. I am just so sad for Trayvon’s family. HZ
Never! Especially with your wisdom forged from/by experience.
Thanks yardarm for always being on time with your selection of music pieces that fit the moment. As I’ve been writing throughout to day, quitting and despair, especially for Black folks, is never an option. We cannot afford that luxury!
I will stand with you, Yardarm.
I never thought I would feel again the way I felt when the Simi Valley jury acquitted the policemen who beat Rodney King within an inch of his life. In fact this is much worse. #NoJusticeNoPeace.
It’s time to get busy!
I think I read in one of your comments that Emmett Till was your friend. I was ten years old when he was murdered and his murderers were allowed to go free. I still remember not only the horror older people talked about, but also their defiant resolve to push on in the struggle to be free. Yes indeed, “It’s time to get busy!”
Yes, YES and HELL YES.
What is a hot mess is that florida seems to be NOTORIOUS for ineptitude. The sexual predators, casey Anthony and now Trayvon. Like the Keystone cops!
GN everyone,,,,
This song is on my mind right now: Billie Holiday – Strange Fruit
I should be gong to sleep right now, but I just can’t seem to go to sleep just now. I literally have been sitting here lying in bed trying to go to sleep, but my mind is too full of …. to settle down I guess.
I finally had to call my sister to tell her to hug my nephew for me and my cousin to tell her to give my 17 year old godson a hug for me too. When this trial started and when the murder became bigger news, we joked that my nephew and my godson should throw out any hoodies they owned, even though we don’t live in FL. Now though, the joke has turned serious.
Anyway. I’m just go back to bed and try to sleep and not stare blindly at the world eventually my mind will settle. I already have a hard time getting to sleep on normal days, but when I have something on my mind, I have an even harder time.
Ah…good night TD peeps.
Funny, was just listening to Raul Midon’s version… http://thedecoders.bandcamp.com/track/strange-fruit-feat-raul-midon
Father, in Jesus Name. I am thanking you for another day that I am alive. Thank You, Sir, for showing your loving kindness and tender mercies towards me and my family. Thank You for making things right concerning the Trayvon Martin situation. Thank you for healing hearts and minds in families across this nation especially the Martin family. I thank you that the Angels protect them and keep them. Keep Your strong Hand on them and their hearts and minds. Shower them with Your Love. You said ‘vengeance is Mine, I will repay’ so thank You for making things right for them. Let Your Truth and Justice prevail. Lord, I know that you can and will move swiftly to right these wrongs. Thank you for all that You do. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Amen, Vitamin loverl
Amen to that.
Great minds, etc…
The system most change, eh?
That’s the way I see it, Yardarm! Without the heroic struggles, and untold sacrifices, we would not be where we are now. I am thankful to the abolitionists who struggled mightly to abolish Chattel slavery. I am thankful for the Black freedom movement that spanned centuries, which eventually made me a citizen with the right to vote. I think the mistake some of us make is to think that once changes have been made, you can sit back and relax and enjoy yourself. Positive change require both vigilance and constant struggle. There are always those determined to undo positive changes. Our obligation is to fight back to change the system in a positive way. As we used to say in the 60s every generation has an obligation to pick up the baton in the struggle freedom and human dignity.
There is some truth to that, but I hope this is not used to make us resign and accept the status quo. A system can be changed, but as is in everything in life changes can either be for good for evil, or changes can move the country forward or backward.
Delurking to add my voice to the TOD community response. So saddened and angered by the outcome of this trial. I had hoped against hope for better from those jurors. I don’t know if this has been posted, but thought I would share the following response from Trayvon’s parents. God bless them. http://newsone.com/2633084/tracy-martin-sybrina-fulton-respond-to-zimmerman-not-guilty-verdict/
Thank you for sharing that. God bless those people and God strengthen our determination to take back what this tragedy has taken away.
Oh my goodness..I read the article and then I read the comments — UGHHH — absolutely disgusting!
Just read about Trayvon. A horrible verdict. Sending virtual hugs to the Martin family and to all in the African American community who, surely, are suffering because of this. There is something very rotten about what just happened. Hugs too to all at TOD – but must find a way to honour Trayvon’s memory and get justice because justice wasn’t served today. I’m sad because even with all the publicity this happened and I think about all the young men who are profiled and murdered on a daily basis who we never hear about. Must organise – nothing – nothing seems to be keeping the innocent safe.
When I pass young black men on the street, I smile at them and they smile back, they are not big, bad, awful monsters — why are they treated as such??
OMG. Make it stop.
When it comes to a father losing a child, there is no racial divide.
Livestream from Oakland. Hope nobody gets hurt.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/live
https://twitter.com/McDGG/status/356253192272625664
I’ll say goodnight with this.
This is absolutely heart-worming and uplifting! This is exactly how we must respond in honor of the memory of Trayvon Martin.
We need to keep working.
I blame the prosecution. They did an absolutely lousy job of lifting all doubt in what seemed to be an open and shut case. They did an absolutely lousy job of preparing witnesses. Zimmerman’s lawyers had no problem in poking holes in every aspect of the prosecution’s argument. I am disgusted. And I an deeply saddened that this is how justice works. That Zimmerman had a right to stand his ground but Trayvon didn’t have a right to life.
The performance of the prosecution made no difference. Zimmerman, who was armed, heavier, trained in MMA, knew the neighbourhood and was the instigator of the conflict was acquitted because six racists wanted it so. It’s just that simple.
Prearranged and predetermined. The fix was already in. That’s why prosecutor was taking a victory lap thanking folks like she was at an award ceremony.
I was not satisfied with the performance of the prosecution, but I realize they were limited due to the very poor police work of the Sanford police department. The p.d. botched their job badly. Far too much evidence was very poorly collected and handled. That initial evidence is so critically important.
If we think the decision by the all white jury to set Zimmerman free for killing Trayvon Martin was wrong, go to the NAACP website and sign the petition to AG Eric Holder at the Department of Justice. http://www.naacp.org/DOJ-petiton. I got a email from them already and I sign that petition. Let us get all our friends and family to sign that petition today.
Okay five white women and one latino woman. Let us get the DOJ to look into this.
amk, what proof we have that he is white? Who says he’s white? The white folks.
good question, ab. Indeed.
Best thought I saw on Twitter. “If Zimmerman as a neighborhood watch volunteer had just offered Trayvon a ride home in the rain, this would have never happened.
As a Florida woman that looks like 5 of the jurors…I am sorry. I cannot believe this happened. This is not the America I want to live in.
Anyone celebrating this verdict is a racist, plain and simple. You cannot tell me otherwise.
I agree Claire.
They couldn’t even find one black person for jury?
No – every black person in the district knew that Zimmerman was guilty – and told the truth when asked. Those who wanted to be on the jury – did they tell the truth during jury selection?
Yes, the bad ones always do…right GZ.
(I will not spell out that one’s name….it doesn’t deserve to be recognized as an individual.)
I’m not a Beyonce follower, but this was thoughtful.
Beyonce holds moment of silence for Trayvon Martin
https://socialreader.com/me/content/5LGxa?chid=80117&_p=trending&utm_source=theroot&utm_medium=Widgets&utm_campaign=wpsrExternalTrending-TheRoot
https://twitter.com/Trayvon_Updates/status/356276761543196672
On his headstone is says “Job well done” YES, indeed — he has become the face of a new movement — from one Martin to another — 45 years later, YES WE CAN!
Morning:
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/07/14/morning-28/
I have been in lurkdom for a long time but thought I’d convey my shock and sadness at this verdict. Wow – speechless!! The justice system is broken in the States – wow. My thoughts and prayers are with Trayvon’s parents and loved ones. It is like he has been murdered all over again.
That a man can go to jail for dog fights and another go free for taking the life of a human being – your justice system is eff up man. WOW – SMDH.
I am in shock and shaking at this!!