[Occupymendocino] Fwd: We still fight for Trayvon

[Irene L. Malone]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Rashad Robinson, ColorOfChange.org" <info at colorofchange.org>
> Date: July 14, 2013 1:06:15 PM PDT
> To: "Irene Malone" <irenelsm at mcn.org>
> Subject: We still fight for Trayvon
> Reply-To: "Rashad Robinson, ColorOfChange.org"  
> <info at colorofchange.org>
>
> Today, admitted killer George Zimmerman is a free man.

> Join the movement to end the senseless violence perpetrated by  
> unaccountable vigilantes and police due to racial profiling: demand  
> federal civil rights charges be brought against Zimmerman.
>

> Dear Irene,
>
> George Zimmerman stalked and killed Trayvon Martin in late February  
> of last year. It took 45 days for Sanford, Florida police to arrest  
> 17-year-old Trayvon Martin's admitted killer — and only 16 hours  
> for jurors to acquit him of second-degree murder and manslaughter  
> last night.1
>
> We are angry. We are sad. And we are in pain.
>
> We send our love and support to Trayvon’s parents — Sybrina  
> Fulton and Tracy Martin — and we grieve with them and the  
> countless other families of Black children who have been killed  
> just for being Black.2
>
> In this time of national sorrow, let's turn our rightful  
> frustration into action and grow a movement to hold the criminal  
> justice system that fails Black Americans every day3 accountable.
>
> Since the beginning, the Department of Justice has closely  
> monitored the state's case against George Zimmerman, and the DOJ  
> can still bring charges against Trayvon's killer. Please join us in  
> calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to bring federal civil  
> rights charges against Zimmerman, and help us strengthen our  
> efforts to end racial profiling and the violence it creates.
>
> What does it say about our society when a civilian can shoot and  
> kill a Black child who is just walking home from the store, and  
> what can it mean when the killer is set free? What does this say  
> about the value our society places on the lives of young Black  
> children? It tells us that a Black life has little worth. It tells  
> us that Black youth are seen as nothing more than violent criminals. 
> 4 And it tells us how much more work we must do to achieve a just  
> society.
>
> The police department in Sanford botched the investigation from  
> start to finish.5 But we did not stay silent. Had it not been for  
> the dedicated activism and work of Trayvon's family, ColorOfChange  
> members and countless others, Zimmerman may have never been  
> arrested — let alone gone to trial. Our collective commitment to  
> fight for justice for Trayvon was overwhelming. We responded. We  
> organized. We forced authorities to make an arrest in a case that  
> easily could have been forgotten, just like so many before. The US  
> Department of Justice was forced to intervene, and although it took  
> 45 days, Zimmerman was eventually arrested and charged with murder.6
>
> Thousands of ColorOfChange members spoke out against Florida's  
> "Shoot First" law, which initially shielded George Zimmerman from  
> arrest and prosecution.7 The shadowy lobbying organization the  
> American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) — and its deep- 
> pocketed supporters at the National Rifle Association (NRA) —  
> proliferated these laws around the country. Since ColorOfChange  
> began drawing attention to ALEC's role in crafting these deadly  
> Shoot First laws, 52 corporations and nonprofits and at least 70  
> state legislators have publicly disavowed any relationship with the  
> group.8
>
> Working together, our movement is a powerful force for change.  
> Please join us in calling for an end to impunity. Demand that the  
> Department of Justice file civil rights charges against George  
> Zimmerman. And when you take action, please ask your family and  
> friends to do the same.
>
> Thanks and Peace,
>
> --Rashad, Arisha, Matt, Jamar, Aimée and the rest of the  
> ColorOfChange.org team
>   July 14th, 2013
>
> Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU—your  
> energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large  
> corporations that don't share our values, and our tiny staff  
> ensures your contributions go a long way.
>
>
>
> References
>
> 1. "Zimmerman found not guilty in killing of Trayvon Martin,"  
> Washington Post, 07-14-13
> http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2787?t=9&akid=2991.1023540.Dakz4O
>
> 2. "Hey America! Can you please stop killing our (usually) innocent  
> Black male children now?" Daily Kos, 12-02-12
> http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2788?t=11&akid=2991.1023540.Dakz4O
>
> 3. "Michelle Alexander on the Irrational Race Bias of the Criminal  
> Justice and Prison Systems," Truthout, 08-01-12
> http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2789?t=13&akid=2991.1023540.Dakz4O
>
> 4. "Zimmerman Walks: Black Life Not Valued," The Root, 07-13-13
> http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2790?t=15&akid=2991.1023540.Dakz4O
>
> 5. "Trayvon Death Case 'Botched', Says Former Miami-Dade Top Cop,"  
> CBS Miami, 07-02-13
> http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2791?t=17&akid=2991.1023540.Dakz4O
>
> 6. "Jury finds George Zimmerman not guilty," NBC News, 07-13-13
> http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2792?t=19&akid=2991.1023540.Dakz4O
>
> 7. "ALEC Disbands Task Force Responsible for Voter ID, 'Stand Your  
> Ground' Laws," The Nation, 12-14-12
> http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2793?t=21&akid=2991.1023540.Dakz4O
>
> 8. "Running Scared: ALEC Anticipating an IRS Audit?" PR Watch,  
> 12-14-12
> http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2107?t=23&akid=2991.1023540.Dakz4O
>
>
>
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>

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