Sunday, July 14, 2013

The Day After The Verdict: Florida v. Zimmerman

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The Killing of Trayvon Martin was a lynching. It was predicated on an assumption that a black man must explain to an unknown white man why he was in a certain neighborhood. This is a centuries old question that black men have had to answer or face possible death or imprisonment. During the Antebellum period, slaves or free people of color needed to show proof as to who they were and why they were out of their area. Sadly, this is true today some 148 years later that we must prove our legitimacy, our right to simply walk around on the sidewalks of any America city as the free people the United Sates of America Constitution 13th Amendment says we are able to do as citizens. It says: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." Formally abolishing slavery in the United States, the 13th Amendment was passed by the Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified by the states on December 6, 1865.[Library of Congress website: We according to "Amendment IV have: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

That part about "persons" means self. That means as a free American we have the right to walk freely, not answer questions from non-law enforcement officers, and not be killed for doing what is perfectly legal. Now, it seems as though George Zimmerman, the man that shot and killed Trayvon Martin and his legal team may seek to get an order of immunity so that Mr. Martin's family cannot sue him in civil court where there is a lower bar of preponderance of evidence versus reasonable doubt. That is galling! The Martin family legal team surely planned for this action and again America must wait for some semblance of justice for Trayvon Martin he certainly did not get it last night.

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