“Our son is your son.”
Those are the words of Sybrina Fulton, mother of slain Florida teenager Trayvon Martin prior to a major demonstration yesterday in honor of her son. Hundreds of people gathered at Union Square in New York City yesterday, in what was billed as a “Million Hoodie March” in his memory.
“My son did not deserve to die,” the teen’s father, Tracy Martin, said after thanking the crowd. 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was killed February 26th in Sanford, FL while he was returning home to a gated community in the city after buying candy at a local convenience store. He was shot by 25-year-old George Zimmerman, a self-appointed neighborhood watchman who is believed to have racially profiled the teen for supposedly looking “suspicious” in the ritzy neighborhood. Trayvon was unarmed at the time and wearing a hooded sweat shirt, also known as a hoodie.
During the protest, demonstrators chanted “we want arrests” and called for the Sanford police chief to step down, after botching the investigation and failing to arrest Zimmerman.
Sybrina Fulton told the crowd: “My heart is in pain, but to see the support of all of you really makes a difference.”
"Our son is your son."Wow. No truer words have ever been spoken…particularly as those words relate to MILLIONS of Black mothers who for, generation after generation, here in America, have had to pray even harder for their Black sons. Zimmerman (who it seems may actually be a paranoid-obsessive headcase AND a racist) did act with intent to do harm to that young innocent Black boy when, armed with a GUN, he chased Trayvon down for NO good reason and cold-bloodedly killed him. And the police let Zimmerman WALK!?!Sadly, this tragic story does speaks to SEVERAL culturally/social issues, critical to the betterment of America as a nation and society, that MUST addressed: 1st: Racial profiling and other forms of racial discriminatory practices AND biases in the American Criminal Justice Systems. Zimmerman has NOT yet been arrested. Nor has the police chief been suspended of his duties. Need I say more?! 2nd. The "Stand Your Ground" Law: I just learned yesterday is actually enacted in at least 16 states. The truth is, before this shooting I'd never heard of it before. Now let… Read more »