General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMarian Wright Edelman rocks a hoodie:
Essay by her:
Walking While Black
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marian-wright-edelman/walking-while-black_b_1371428.html
You go MWE!
BlueIris
(29,135 posts)"In 2008 and 2009, 2,582 black children and teens were killed by gunfire. Black children and teens were only 15 percent of the child population, but 45 percent of the 5,740 child and teen gun deaths in those two years. Black males 15 to 19 years-old were eight times as likely as white males to be gun homicide victims."
Every week shows over and over on the Police Shows and jail shows on TV. Black kids in Hoodies murdering convenience store clerks. No wonder the public is afraid. They put up the Hood to try to stop being identified. It does not seem to me to be a good idea running around with a Hood over your head to protest a wrongful investigation. This is turning in to another crazy media driven fiasco like the Anthony trial was. Why is there never the concern shown about the wrongfully convicted? Hundreds of wrongfully convicted citizens languish in prison with impossible odds at unravelling the injustice. Only the wrongfully...in the opinion of the mob...exonerated, get massive attention.
Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)There are many crimes that they don't show that aren't committed by African-Americans or by people wearing hoodies. To watch the news, you would think that only African American males commit crimes or that pretty, young caucasian girls are the only people that go missing.
As for mobs, when did legal protests get to be 'mobs.' Faux News anyone?
Hoodies are as good a way to protest as any.......unless you don't like 'mobs' as you seem to define them.
.
CAPHAVOC
(1,138 posts)like "mobs". Of any kind. I do not like stereotypes either. MSNBC and the others create the stereotype. One thing is sure. The shooter told the operator he "looked suspicious". The shooter was suspicious because of the stereotype. Protesting wearing hoodies will not go over well with the people who are afraid of the stereotype created by the media of the young Black Male in a Hoodie. It will alienate those who should be enlisted in the cause. Give the authorities a chance. There will be a Grand Jury on this matter. If the protestors appear to be a mob what will be the advantage? Let the actual facts come to light. All we have now are media reports. A mob demands immediate action with no trial. The worst outcome of all would be if the demonstration got out of control and violence erupted. Then what?
Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)The only thing that got any action was a huge twitter, Facebook, etc. campaign. The 'mobs', as you call them, will keep the pressure on. BTW they are LEGAL PROTESTS., not mobs. What don't you get about that???
As for the authorities, you can trust them to take the correct action because I don't. If they were so hot for justice, they would have entered the case without prodding. AND they were prodded by the national attention the case got.
The worst outcome would be to let it drag on forever and be forgotten in another media storm about someone else. I don't want violence, but I believe these protests are necessary. Maybe people will think twice about stereotyping.
I'll bet you would have told Emmett Till's mama to wait because the law would help.
Methinks thou doth protest too MUCH.
CAPHAVOC
(1,138 posts)It has the Police Reports and all the calls. The shooter stated that he was the one yelling for help. His back was was as though being on the ground with the victim on top of him. There are actual eyewitnesses in the 911 logs. We do not have the results of the interviews. Many things we are not privy to. None of this is reported in the media. I am not aware of the Till case. I mean in the sense of Mob or Group thinking without the benefit of all the information. Mob is a bad choice of words. Trevon will be spoken for. As much possible information as can be had will come out in the Grand Jury. I want all available information before I form an opinion. Many have drawn conclusions regarding this without the benefit of all the reports. What was the Emmett Till case about? Was it similar? We do know that Trevon was unarmed and was not a threat to the shooter until the shooter made contact with him. We know the shooter was following Trevon. Lets wait for the the FBI and State Grand Jury to report is all I am saying. If Zimmerman can be gotten they will get him.
Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)Because he has the gun and of course he wouldn't have fired it without a real threat.
I've read and heard a lot. I know enough to believe that the police prejudged what happened as much or more than Zimmerman prejudged what Trayvon would do. Because they did such a horrible job on the initial investigation, anything they do I suspect. I won't believe them and neither will anybody else.
The DOJ can't take action unless it is a hate crime or clear violation of Trayvon's civil rights. Those are not slam dunk certainties. As far as the Florida jury system, they have been notorious about broadly interpreting 'self-defense.' One man got off after chasing in another man and stabbing him. Another got off when he shot a man in the side of the head who was on a ladder climbing out of the water. So excuse me if I am skeptical about what will happen.
I want them to know they are being watched like hawks every minute, and that they will not get way with anything again. If they could, they would. The pressure from outside forced an investigation when they were ready to bury it. I want them to feel the pressure to talk to every single possible witness and overturn every rock. They won't do it if everybody is being mild and meek.
I'm sorry, but they had their chance to prove they were going to try to do the right thing. They proved the exact opposite. You don't get do-overs when you want people to trust you. The grand jury and the DOJ are under the same cloud of mistrust. ALL the authorities have to prove they are doing the right thing.
Sitting back and trusting others to handle is no longer an operative strategy. Time and time again,in every arena, it has been proven that the only thing that those in power care about is covering their asses and getting over on anybody and everybody.
CAPHAVOC
(1,138 posts)Zimmerman acted as Judge Jury and Executioner. He profiled Travon and made his own decision without giving him due process. In my opinion doing the same thing to Zimmerman would be just as bad. Thoughtful consideration is needed here. Not media madness. I want to know more first.
Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)I don't want him hung by a lynch mob. However, those protesters have very right to demand action and to keep the pressure up too. As I said, I want them to know that they better do the most thorough investigation known to man.
That kind of investigation isn't just for Zimmerman. It is also for Trayvon. He deserves to have his death thoroughly investigated. Nobody should die and then the death be shrugged off or buried especially in a case like this. Every move should be open and reported.
If an investigation like this had been done at the beginning, I think a much fairer and believable conclusion could have been reached. At least they would have treated Trayvon and his shooting as a worthwhile matter to investigate as it should have been.
The authorities know they are being watched. Good!
CAPHAVOC
(1,138 posts)Treyvon was minding his own business walking home. He sees himself being stalked by an unknown man with a Gun. He runs off and hides. The gunner keeps looking for him.
Now, under the stand your ground law would he be in the right to attack the man in self defense? I think so. He has no idea who Zimmerman is.
In the struggle Zimmerman kills him and claims self defense. You see how complicated the is going to be. I know how awful the Police and Prosecutors can be. Poor Blacks and the Justice Systems are one of my main concerns in wrongful convictions.
Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)However, the police never intended to do a thorough investigation until all hell broke loose. i have no idea what you are arguing about or for now.
they could have started a full investigation to begin with and avoided this. until everything is done to find out what happened, it's not over. pressure has to be kept up to remind them to keep moving and to warn all that this isn't acceptable.
CAPHAVOC
(1,138 posts)I am thinking of more than this one case. I worry that some may jump the gun on it and harm the bigger picture. I remember the Duke case and others. Though this appears to be a good one to hang your Hat on at the moment. There is a difference between legal and factual innocence. Once wrongfully convicted it is a long hill to climb. I do not yet know all the facts. Look what went on with all the "pressure" in the Anthony Trial. Or that Atlanta Bomber. Or even OJ. Just to name a few. Now the TV Pundits are calling him a Murderer...not alleged before the trial. I do not even know if the "investigation" was over and closed. What do you think? This is all assuming that all the Cops are Racists against Blacks and will allow the Murder of a young black male to go unchallenged. All I know for sure is never believer media reports until verified.
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)If there was no great public display saying NO MORE sweeping under the rug these Zimmerman style attacks, the poor kid would be just another statistic.
As it is, the authorities may just deliver justice in this and future cases. And if so, it will be because the people have loudly and clearly said: ENOUGH.
savalez
(3,517 posts)CAPHAVOC
(1,138 posts)But what is going on with this? Seems the story line is being shut down. Cancel Mobs call it Crowds. But where are they? I only hope we can get to real Justice. Believe me. After all the MSNBC Cop shows with Black Kids in Hoodies murdering convenience store clerks what do you expect? Musta been a bad poll. Our Justice system SUCKS for the poor!.
LooseWilly
(4,477 posts)Neither hoodies nor Skittles, nor even iced tea, should be added to our list of capital offenses... let alone capital offenses liable to be brought to court at a time when they have no staff to collect evidence
ananda
(28,888 posts).. and banks against millions of Americans???
Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)They deserve punishment big time!