Racism Is Alive And Well In America

On February 26, Trayvon Martin, a 17 year old black male, was walking through a Sanford, Florida neighborhood, on his way to his father’s house.  He was shot and killed by a 28 year old white male, George Zimmerman.  Trayvon Martin was carrying a can of iced tea and a bag of Skittles.  George Zimmerman was carrying a legally registered 9mm handgun.

George Zimmerman is a self appointed neighbor watch captain.  He has contacted the Sanford Police on 46 previous occasions to complain about suspicious persons in his neighborhood. 

On the night February 26, George Zimmerman saw Trayvon Martin walking through his neighborhood.  Zimmerman called 911.  On the released 911 tapes you can clearly hear Zimmerman notifying the dispatcher that he has observed a suspicious person walking through his neighborhood.  The dispatcher asks Zimmerman if he is following the individual.  When Zimmerman affirms that he is following the person the dispatcher clearly advises him to stop his pursuit.  Zimmerman ignores  the advice and continues to pursue Martin.  On the tape you can hear Zimmerman clearly utter “f—king” and what sound like “coons.”   

At the time Martin was walking through the neighborhood he was talking on the phone with a friend.  He tells his friend that he believes that he is being followed.  His friend can hear Martin shouting at someone: “Why are you following me.”  The friend can then hear the sound of a scuffle.

A neighbor hears someone screaming for help.  The neighbor calls 911.  On the tape you can clearly hear someone screaming “help” numerous times followed by a gun shot.

The Sanford, Police were called to the scene.  They questioned Zimmerman who said that he shot Martin in self defense.

Martin’s body was taken to the morgue where it laid for three days until his parents were finally notified of his death.  Until that notification the parents had no idea where Martin was or what had happened to him.  This three day delay is suspicious given that the Sanford police had immediate access to Martin’s cell phone and cell phone log.

Martin’s corpse was tested for drugs.  George Zimmerman was not tested for drugs.

The Sanford Police have not arrested George Zimmerman.  In spite of having the tape recording of George Zimmerman’s 911 phone call…the tape recording of the neighbor’s 911 call…and the friend’s testimony; the Sanford Police have not found probable cause to arrest George Zimmerman.

George Zimmerman is currently free to walk the streets of Sanford.  And he still has possession of the gun he used to shoot Trayvon Martin.

It’s been twenty four days since George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin.

Let’s take the circumstances surrounding this incident; but this time let’s suppose the Trayvon Martin is White and George Zimmerman is black.

If you believe that it still would have taken the Sanford Police three days to notify Martin’s parents of his death; if you still believe that the Sanford Police would have tested the corpse for drugs without bothering to test the shooter; if you still believe that after 24 days George Zimmerman would have been allowed to walk the streets still carrying the gun that he used to shoot Martin.  If you believe that all of these things would have remained the same if Martin was white and Zimmerman was black…

…then you are living in an alternate universe.

Racism is alive and well in America.