"Around 7 p.m. on February 26, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin walked out of the gated community near Orlando where he was visiting his father to go get some Skittles and a can of iced tea at a neighborhood convenience store. On his way home, George Zimmerman (28) was in his car when he saw Martin walking on the street. He called the police and said, “There’s a real suspicious guy. This guy looks like he’s up to no good, on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around looking about.” The police dispatcher asked, “Are you following him?” Zimmerman replied, “Yeah.” The dispatcher responded, “OK, we don’t need you to do that.”
Martin was talking on the phone with a teenage girl and told her that he was being hounded by a strange man on a cell phone who was running after him. Zimmerman, carrying 9 millimeter handgun, shot and killed the 17 year old African American boy. There are many disputes about what really happened during this altercation, but the end result was that a 17 year old un-armed boy was killed, and thus far Zimmerman has not been charged with any crime, claiming his actions were in self-defense.
Martin’s English teacher described him as “as an A and B student who majored in cheerfulness.” Martin had no criminal record, yet Zimmerman was charged in July 2005 with resisting arrest with violence and battery on an officer. Zimmerman called the police 46 times since Jan. 1, 2011, and according to neighbors, Zimmerman was “fixated on crime and focused on young, black males.”
Why does this story matter? It matters to me, and should matter to us because unfortunately this event represents the continued racism that plagues our country and the lives of our brothers and sisters. With the upcoming election in November, I recently saw a bumper sticker that said, “Don’t Re-Nig in 2012: Stop repeat offenders. Don’t reelect Obama.” This blatant hatred is unacceptable, and as a community of faith is it our business to be involved in places of in-justice in our world. Micah 6:8 says, “What does the Lord require of you but to seek justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Sometimes it’s easier to walk humbly and love kindness than to seek justice. Justice is not just the work of courts, government, and legislators.
Educating yourself about white privilege is a step towards seeking justice. (I recommend
http://www.timwise.org/category/essays/) Supporting anti-prejudice and anti-racist organizations is a step towards seeking justice. Making an effort to get to know people different than you or learning about cultures other than you own is a step towards seeking justice.
Creating the Beloved Community here on earth is what Jesus taught us to do. This is the work we have been given and entrusted with. Will you join us?"
-Pastor Kayla
that's me writing
