Trayvon Martin, Reflections

Part One:  Backstory

     This post was supposed to lay out action plans related to establishing voter registration drives and other @MattapanAction #Election2012 activities.  It was supposed to have been published a couple of weeks ago now.  


Issues far more urgent have consumed this working group, however; for the past ten days at least: seeking #Justice4Trayvon Martin (may he rest in peace #RIP); and more importantly, perhaps, justice for his parents--Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin.  

     It wasn't only that Trayvon Benjamin Martin--a baby-faced, 17 year old--was shot dead for no apparent reason.  Oh, that's right, "he look[ed] Black...," according to the 911 call George Zimmerman made that night.  

       It's that the Sanford Police handled  the investigation into Trayvon's death, and his body, as if he was the 'perp' rather than a murder victim.  Sandford Police approached their investigation of Trayvon with unusual diligence: they swabbed his hands, looking for gun shot residue; they conducted a background check on him; even drug-tested his body.    Curiously, it seems George Zimmerman didn't have to undergo any of these indignities, even with a 9mm gun in his hand.

     It's also that this initial mistreatment of Trayvon Martin has been, and continues to be, extended to his parents as well.  No time to grieve for their son, really.  Too busy seeking #Justice4Trayvon--at minimum, the arrest of his killer.  Too busy having to defend Trayvon from would-be character assassins who clearly have no shame.

     Of course the urgency of all this has been compounded by one simple fact: George Zimmerman--the 28 year old who first stalked, then chased, and ultimately shot Trayvon Martin, has yet to be arrested for this crime.  Even now--more than a month after the fact, George Michael Zimmerman remains free of all charges; despite probable cause to arrest.  None of this made sense; and the more the State of Florida ignored their pleas for answers, the more Trayvon Martin's parents grew stalwart.

     Initially the Sanford Police Department claimed it was powerless to effect an arrest: Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, they said, gave Trayvon's killer a 'pass.  Initial reports claimed  Zimmerman felt threatened; and on this basis, had a right to defend himself under the law.  


Yet we know--from the 911 call George Zimmerman made to the Sanford Police--that he (mis)characterized Trayvon Martin as "a real suspicious guy" for nothing more than "just walking around, and looking about...;" that Zimmerman can be heard chasing Trayvon; and that the dispatcher told him, "we don't need you to do that."  What part of "no" didn't Zimmerman understand?


We also know that Trayvon wasn't the only person George Zimmerman terrorized that night. Several 911 calls to the Sanford Police that night attests to the anguish Zimmerman's actions brought to everyone within earshot.  See the trauma this event brought to a 13 year old nearby.


     We know Trayvon Martin cannot 'speak' from the grave.  So we must rise, to speak in his stead.  

Timeline

     

     

     

Presidential Primaries, Local Elections

Next Tuesday the Boston Elections Commission will once again oversee the conduct of the Presidential primary elections.  Of course Boston's Election Department does the actual work of managing 254 polling locations throughout the City on election day.


This means the Election Department hires people to work on a per diem basis.  Even at this late date it might not be too late to get hired as a poll worker, especially if you are bi-lingual.  The application can be submitted electronically as well.


If you get hired as an Elections Officer in time for Tuesday's Presidential primaries (not very 'presidential,' actually), other than the early call (6 AM), it's likely to be easy day-work.  


Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts, is considered the inevitable winner of the Republican primary; and Barack Obama, current President of the United States, is running unopposed for the Democrats.  So turnout will be low.  


Certainly this comes as no surprise, however.  Mattapan voters must be used to an 'air of inevitability' hoovering over local elections by now.  Most of our local elections afford an opportunity to cast a vote; but more often than not, candidates running for office in Mattapan are running unopposed.


There's so little real choice that's it's no wonder so few register to vote, and so many registered voters don't bother showing up at the polls.  


This suggests a call to action--something for our working group to consider going forward.  


If we want people to get involved--to register to vote, and vote on election day, then our elections should offer them viable options from which to choose.