July 17, 2013
sportiani» (Obstruer
Page 15
Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the views of the
Portland Observer. We welcome reader essays, photos and
story ideas. Submit to news@portlandobserver.com.
We Needed This Verdict
A new call for
action in the
fight for justice
by D onovan M .
S mith
With all due respect
to the loved ones of
Trayvon Martin, most
importantly his parents,
America needed a “Not
Guilty” verdict to shake
up its senses.
Unfortunately in the wake of this
young m an’s death, Trayvon has
gone on to symbolize a number of
things reflective of the darkest
thoughts people usually discuss
only amongst their closest peer
groups but subconsciously and
consciously act on every day.
Had George Zimmerman, the then
28-year-old neighborhood watch
captain who took the unarmed 17-
year-old’s life, been convicted on
any of the charges brought against
him, there would have been an un
necessary calm amongst the people,
and “Justice” would have been
served for Trayvon.
Trayvon’s parents would have
justifiably reminded everyone that
they have lost their son; civil rights knew it, and so does George.
leaders would have said this is
Was this the first time Trayvon
progress but we still have more work had been assumed a criminal in his
to do; and the racial divide that was life without proper justification? He
truly the star of this nearly year and lived in a country where race affects
a half saga would have marched on. matters of interaction every single
The one person who day. It is ignorant to think other
knows exactly what took wise.
place on that rainy night of
Sanford Police concede that dur
Feb. 26, 2012 in Sanford, ing the near two years George
Fla., lost his life regardless Zimmerman had been a neighbor
of the outcome.
hood watch captain, all of his suspi
Zimmerman, like the cious-persons calls regarded so-
teenager he shot and killed called African-American males. The
at point blank range, has gone on to jury was not allowed to consider
symbolize something much greater that fact though.
than him self too.
Before the night o f Feb. 26,
For some, he’s a testament to 2012 the American judicial system
being able to stand-up for one’s self was broken, and so it rem ains af
in the midst of a conflict. For many ter a predom inately Caucasian
others, in America and around the ju r y o f six w o m en d e c id e d
world, his call to 911 before he even Zim m erm an’s fate.
exchanged words with Trayvon was
Our justice system was built
revealing to his mindset. In the call, with racial bias since its 1776 in
he assumed Trayvon was a drug ception. It has only been within
user and labeled him a “f------punk” the last few years that state gov
and “—hole.”
ernm ents, including Oregon and
The state may not have been able Iowa, have considered how cer
to prove guilt by the traditional tain laws can affect certain races
modes of law, but Trayvon Martin disproportionately.
was profiled to be a threat simply
People are frustrated now. Pro
because of the skin he woke up in tests have already started. Social
every day for 17-years. Trayvon media continues to erupt as people
mnmnmhi
virtually shout their disappoint interview alongside her husband,
ment that a young man with col and then-candidate Barack Obama
lege prospects has been gunned said in an interview, “The realities
down on his way home and that are as a black man, Barack can get
his killer gets no tangible punish shot going to the gas station.”
ment.
Calling and interacting with law
The reason we needed this ver makers in the Legislature to demand
dict was to galvanize action for change is obviously necessary in
change.
the wake of this case. You may have
We can shake our heads in dis no faith in the system, but you are in
gust and stomp our feet all we it, and to accept it as it is only allows
want, but if we do not force change other people to dictate the rules for
we have done absolutely nothing you.
but exhaust energy to make our
It is a must that people organize
selves feel better. And we cer if a change is to come about. If not,
tainly have not brought justice there will forever be a legion of people
for all o f the Trayvon M artin’s whispering I want things to change,
that exist in this world.
while others yell over them.
Give some blame to the m ain
It is your right to continue living
stream m edia that granted, has a in a world that outrages you, but if
flare for sensationalism , but this change is truly what you desire,
was undoubtedly a racially m oti take the action that justice calls for
vated case.
outside your front door.
Trayvon M artin’s life was in
Rest in peace, Trayvon Benjamin
jeopardy for most of his life be M artin(Feb.5,1995-Feb. 26,2012).
cause there are a boundless num
Donovan M. Smith is a writer,
b e r o f p e o p le w h o m lik e photographer, and web-editor fo r
Zimmerman would have found his The Portland Observer. A north
brown skin and the notion of crim i east Portland native and graduate
nality synonym ous, thus provid o f the prestigious Oregon Episco
ing a groundless but long culti pal School, he is committed to bring
vated basis for their fear.
ing the m o st im p o rta n t a n d
Even Michelle Obama, in a 2008 impactful stories to the community.
RHMMMMMH
Paying Attention to our Basic Civil Rights
Democracy
requires
vigilance
by M .
L inda J aramillo
Just a few days ago
we celebrated Indepen
dence Day. Flags were
flown. Parades marched
through our com m uni
ties. The day c u lm i
nated with a wide array
o f fireworks. In the m idst of all the
picnics and parties, I wonder if we
paid enough attention to the real
m eaning of independence. I w on
der if we take our dem ocracy as
seriously as we should. If we did,
we w ould dem and that our de
m ocracy belongs to the people —
to all the people.
By definition, democracy means
equality and fairness. U nfortu
nately, in so many cases this seems
to apply only to the w ealthiest,
hence m ost powerful.
The pow er o f w ealth is dem on-
strated over and over during the from generation to generation to
election season when the most prove that all m em bers of the de
viable candidate is m easured by m ocracy are included.
his or her ability to raise money
At the turn o f the 21st Century
rather than votes. There is further — w h en we c o n s id e r ra c e ,
evidence in the legislative pro ethnicity, and class — we finally
cess when highly financed lobby experienced some level of equal
ists converge on elected officials ity and fairness at the polls. More
to e n s u re th a t th e ir African A m ericans and Latinos
wealth is protected dur registered and voted in 2012 than
ing deliberations on laws in years before.
meant for the common
In many states, there were fewer
good — also known as instances in which voters were
equality and fairness.
denied access to the basic right
O ur dem ocracy is 237 that democracy affords. However,
years old. We must re many more states still create struc
visit the prem ise of our basic civil tures intended to m aintain con
rights from time to tim e, lest we trol by the historically powerful.
forget what democracy is all about.
Just when we thought legal pro
T hroughout history, when we tections were in place so that de
realized that equality and fairness m ocracy could expand voting ac
was denied to som e citizens, laws cess to citizens in all states, it was
were revised to rem edy the situa interrupted when the Suprem e
tion. Pow erful exam ples com e to Court nullified section 4 o f the
m ind such as the abolition o f sla 1965 Voting Rights Act.
very, citizenship to C hinese per
The Court claim ed that racial
sons brought to this land to build discrim ination is no longer prac
our railroads, provision for women ticed in this country. The very
o f the right to vote, and the Voting states that have a history o f racial
Rights Act o f 1965. Laws must discrim ination can once again do
stand the test o f tim e spanning ju st that. Because o f a slim 5-4
Suprem e Court m ajority, the m o
m entous work o f m illions o f vot
ing rights activists must begin
anew.
On July 2, the General Synod of
the United Church of Christ re
newed its commitment to join with
the church’s Council of Racial and
Ethnic M inistries and other part
ners in this m ovem ent to reclaim
voting rights for everyone.
Our denom ination will add its
prophetic voice along with the
voices o f our faith partners, be
cause equality and fairness are
fu n d am en tal to o u r C h ristian
teachings. We will be vigilant until
a dem ocracy that belongs to the
people — all the people — is real
ized.
M. Linda Jaram illo is E xecu
tive M inister f o r Justice M inis
tries in the U nited C hurch o f
Christ.
S
llH
s
c
r
ih
p
f
O llU d U lU C J
503-288-0033
F ill O u t & Send To:
illc^portlanb (Dbseruer
A ttn : Subscriptions, PO Box 3137, Portland OR 97208
$45.00 for 3 months • $80.00 for 6 mo. • $125.00 for 1 year
(please include check with this subscription form)
N ame : ________________ ____________ _
T elephone : ______________
A ddress : ____________________________ _