President Obama on Thursday commemorated the third anniversary of the death of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old black high school student shot dead in Florida by a neighborhood watch volunteer.
“Today on the third anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s death, showing all of our kids, all of them, every single day, that their lives matter — that’s part of our task,” Obama said during a White House reception for Black History Month that was attended by Martin’s parents.
“Progress in this nation happens only because seemingly ordinary people find the courage to stand up for what is right, not just when it’s easy but when it’s hard,” Obama said.
Earlier this week, officials announced that the Justice Department would not file civil rights charges against George Zimmerman in the fatal 2012 shooting of Martin, saying it did not find sufficient evidence. Zimmerman, who said he killed Martin in self-defense, was acquitted in a Florida trial.
After Zimmerman’s acquittal in 2013, Obama made a surprise appearance at a White House press briefing where he empathized with black Americans outraged by the decision.
https://twitter.com/splcenter/status/571354253727387648
““Progress in this nation happens only because seemingly ordinary people find the courage to stand up for what is right, not just when it’s easy but when it’s hard,” Obama said.”
And those ordinary people include the officials at the Department of Justice. I would rather have seen George Zimmerman indicted and tried in a federal court AND HAVE LIVED WITH THE OUTCOME than for the DOJ to just back off and say, “Naw, we don’t think we can get him, there’s not enough evidence to rise to the high standard of a hate crime.”
Well, then if that’s so, the hate crime laws need a lower standard. That would be first on the agenda. Because if these DOJ prosecutors cannot prove that the 17 year old unarmed child was walking home, talking on a cellphone with a friend, but unknown to him was being racially profiled and stalked, then what in the blazing hell can they prove? We know that Zimmerman confronted him and slapped the cellphone away from him, or somehow got it to drop to the ground. And we know that the 17 year old child ends up begging for his life, we’ve all heard the death shriek that stops in the moment that the Zimmerman fires the killshot.
Seriously, DOJ, what do you need to prove a hate crime? Or, let me rephrase, what do you need to even TRY to prove a hate crime?
For crying out loud, the DOJ prosecuted John Edwards for taking money from two rich friends to support his mistress.
You know I have to tweet this, right? I just have to figure out how to get it all in a screen shot. :)
Hey, SG2. I am disappointed with DOJ decision, as I’m sure you know.
This is good. I’m tagging them in the tweet. Somebody gone KNOW today.
And some folks better learn to walk the talk.
Whew! Liza’s taking the switch to the DOJ. GET.THEM.
Liza beat the living ISH out of them. Been waiting for her input.
I love our President but this should have been investigated much more fully.. We knew nothing was going to come out of this DOJ. If the Martins can maintain their grace, courage, and strength to not say what they had to be thinking, I can too. Their dear son was murdered by a slug who never did anything but cause misery in everyone’s life, even before his bullet shot through a screaming kid.
I, as a white southern grandmother would at least like to see 2/26 declared as Trayvon Martin Day. Because, for me, every single 2/26 will be sadly remembered as the day it was just fine for a nobody to murder an AA teen, just 17 days after his birthday.
Someone mentioned to me that wolves hiding in sheep clothing went to investigate hate crime charges against GZ and there wasn’t going to be ANY charges. They said basically everything Liza stated above.
Obama Meets with Trayvon Martin’s Parents at White House on Third Anniversary of Their Son’s Shooting
http://www.people.com/article/obama-trayvon-martin-parents-white-house-black-history-month
Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin – the parents of Trayvon Martin – paid a visit to the White House to honor the third anniversary of their son’s shooting.
They joined President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for a special reception in recognition of African American History Month on Thursday, during which the President thanked the Martins for their attendance “on what’s a very difficult day for them.”
“Today, on the third anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s death, showing all of our kids, all of them, every single day, that their lives matter, that’s part of our task,” President Obama said. “Where we are today didn’t come easy. It came through thick and thin.”
The couple’s 17-year-old son was shot and killed on Feb. 26, 2012, after a confrontation with George Zimmerman, who was acquitted of second-degree murder charges in the teenager’s death the following year. It was also reported this week that the Department of Justice is set to announce it will not be filing charges against Zimmerman in the shooting of the unarmed teen.
Enough meetings.
Indict one of these killer cops and/or white supremacists. Nothing changes until someone hears a cell door slam.
This worsening situation cannot be made better without the federal government. Broad, sweeping reforms are just dandy, but DO MORE. Put some folks in the slammer, the ones who deserve it.
BINGO! JAIL THE MUTHAFUCKAS!
What’s frustrating is that this only emboldens the racist killers – especially those who hide behind their tax payer paid uniforms and firearms, roaming about looking to put people of color in their place. It’s not a good look for the DOJ to look this emasculated. How can they not even make just that bit of effort? Truly boggles the mind.
Emasculated, that’s perfect. Are they possibly treating this the same way they handled the crooks on Wall Street? Let’s not go for the guilty individuals, let’s investigate and recommend “reforms”, let’s cut deals and let time heal the wounds (maybe).
You know Liza, I’ve come to realize that as much as there are good, competent civil servants in these agencies, there are also the incompetent, and those who have an agenda that won’t always coincide with the progressive, moral intentions of the political appointees the rank and file report to. There are those who’ve been planted there in permanent positions by previous administrations to thwart progress. There are also some who are there for job security and those who’re just looking to move up the ranks at any cost, and will do nothing (including take a stand for and do the right thing), if it might in any way impede *their* own career advancement now or in the future. They see instances such as the blocking of Debo Adegbile’s appointment, and they demure. Of course some don’t ever need an excuse to not rock the boat. There are just some who can’t be bothered and others who don’t even know how to go about doing it right.
There are all those scenarios, but frankly, there are no excuses for us not getting this done right at this most opportune time that we might never get again.
https://twitter.com/NYDailyNews/status/571132425629245441
In Loving memory.