Crime

Outraged Protests Continue in Wake of Zimmerman Verdict

Published

11 years ago

July 22, 2013

The world was stunned last Saturday when jurors in the George Zimmerman murder trial returned with a verdict after only 16 hours of deliberation.

Zimmerman was found not guilty in the murder of unarmed Trayvon Martin, 17, who he profiled, shot and killed.

Zimmerman’s claim of self-defense and Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law supposedly justified the shooting of the teenager.

But the response has been a public outcry against America’s justice system, and prominent leaders and civil rights organizations are taking a stand, while street protests have occurred in cities across the country.

As the verdict was announced, the NAACP was holding its annual convention in Orlando, Florida. Attorney General Eric Holder spoke at the convention, retelling how his father had to sit down with him and tell him how to interact with the police as a young Black man.

He spoke of his own experiences of being racially profiled while attending Georgetown University and running to catch a movie.

Attorney General Holder, reflecting on the election of the nation’s first Black president, said, “For all the progress that we’ve seen, recent events demonstrate that we still have much more work to do and much further to go.”

He further confirmed that the Department of Justice would complete a thorough investigation.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee released a statement: “…Trayvon’s tragic murder ignited passion and indignation among our nation’s young people as they peacefully marched, rallied, and engaged in social media movements.

“We must carry this peaceful momentum forward as we fight against inequality and unjust laws across the country…”

However, people around the nation want their voices to be heard now. Protesters have gathered nightly demanding justice for Trayvon Martin in many cities including San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, New York, Houston and Orlando.

More than 300 hundred people rallied in front of Oakland’s federal building last Saturday demanding the federal government to press civil charges against George Zimmerman.

Justin Jones, a student organizer of The National Action Network – Rev. Al Sharpton’s organization, and rally organizer, said at first he was denied demonstration permits to organize a peaceful protest in Oakland in response to the Zimmerman verdict.

“OPD told us we could not apply for a permit and if we demonstrated, it would be deemed an unlawful protest,” Jones said.

Conversations and debates on social media sites are engaging young people and begging government officials to take a stand.

NAACP President Ben Jealous announced last Tuesday that one million people had signed a petition asking the Department of Justice to pursue federal and civil charges against Zimmerman for murdering Trayvon.

Legendary musician Stevie Wonder has vowed to no longer perform in Florida or any other state with a “Stand Your Ground” law. Twenty-two states, including California, Nevada, and Louisiana, have some version of the law. Since, other artist like gospel-duo Mary Mary, Hip-Hop Mogul Jay Z, and singer Justin Timberlake have also boycotted scheduled performances in Florida.

Following the verdict, President Obama, called Trayvon’s death a tragedy “not just for his family, or for any one community, but for America.”

Obama encouraged the nation to begin the conversation on ways to “stem the tide” of gun violence but asked for calm reflection, keeping protests and rallies peaceful in Trayvon’s memory.

“I know those passions may be running even higher. But we are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken,” Obama said.

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Activism

‘Donald Trump Is Not a God:’ Rep. Bennie Thompson Blasts Trump’s Call to Jail Him

“Donald Trump is not a god,” U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., told The Grio during a recent interview, reacting to Trump’s unsupported claims that the congressman, along with other committee members like vice chair and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, destroyed evidence throughout the investigation.

Published

11 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Congressman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. Courtesy photo.

By Post Staff

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said he not intimidated by President-elect Donald Trump, who, during an interview on “Meet the Press,” called for the congressman to be jailed for his role as chairman of the special congressional committee investigating Trump’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021, mob attack on the U.S. Capitol.

“Donald Trump is not a god,” Thompson told The Grio during a recent interview, reacting to Trump’s unsupported claims that the congressman, along with other committee members like vice chair and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, destroyed evidence throughout the investigation.

“He can’t prove it, nor has there been any other proof offered, which tells me that he really doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” said the 76-year-old lawmaker, who maintained that he and the bipartisan Jan. 6 Select Committee – which referred Trump for criminal prosecution – were exercising their constitutional and legislative duties.

“When someone disagrees with you, that doesn’t make it illegal; that doesn’t even make it wrong,” Thompson said, “The greatness of this country is that everyone can have their own opinion about any subject, and so for an incoming president who disagrees with the work of Congress to say ‘because I disagree, I want them jailed,’ is absolutely unbelievable.”

When asked by The Grio if he is concerned about his physical safety amid continued public ridicule from Trump, whose supporters have already proven to be violent, Thompson said, “I think every member of Congress here has to have some degree of concern, because you just never know.”

This story is based on a report from The Grio.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 11 – 17, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 11 – 17, 2024

Published

5 days ago

December 13, 2024

Oakland Post

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Outgoing D.A. Pamela Price Releases Report on County Gun Violence Epidemic

The 84-page report is divided into two parts: the Public Health Impact of Violence and the Contribution of Structural Inequalities; and the Public Safety Impact of Gun Violence and the Regulation of Firearms. Each section documents trends in rising gun violence in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with special attention to the rise in gun-related deaths of women and children in Alameda County. Each section advises innovative approaches for the County to address gun violence and build safe communities.

Published

1 week ago

December 8, 2024

Oakland Post

Exclusive interview with County D.A. Price days before recall election. Photo by Ken Epstein.

Pamela Price was recalled in the election on Nov. 5. File photo.

By Post Staff

Criminal Justice Reformer District Attorney Pamela Price, who is leaving office this week after losing a recall election, released a comprehensive report on the gun violence epidemic and public health emergency in Alameda County: “Tackling Gun Violence Epidemic in Alameda County: A Public Health Emergency (2019-2023).”

This report represents an unprecedented collaboration between public safety and public health partners and provides data and recommendations to guide the County’s continued work to reduce violence while advancing justice reform.

Each section documents trends in rising gun violence in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with special attention to the rise in gun-related deaths of women and children in Alameda County. Each section advises innovative approaches for the County to address gun violence and build safe communities.

“Between 2019 to 2023, an average of three residents were killed by firearms each week in Alameda County, and behind every statistic is a shattered family and community,” said Price.

“Under my administration, the DA’s office has taken bold steps to combat gun violence while promoting equity and healing for survivors,” she said.

The report highlights strategies for keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people. Last month, the DA’s office secured a $5.5 million grant from the California Judicial Council to help improve compliance and case management for gun cases and gun relinquishment orders —the removal of guns from people prohibited from possessing a firearm – with law enforcement and court partners.

This effort builds on Price’s work in 2023 and 2024 in attacking the gun violence epidemic.

“We launched an innovative Gun Violence Restraining Order Outreach Project to educate communities about the availability of tools to remove guns and ammunition from people who are a danger to themselves and others and the intersectionality of domestic violence and gun violence and convened gun violence roundtable conversations with our law enforcement partners and collaborated with the Alameda County Public Health Department to produce this comprehensive report,” she said.

“We supported Oakland’s CEASEFIRE program through its transition and implemented a pilot Mentor Gun Diversion Program with our collaborative court partners, offering non-violent youth in possession of a gun pathways to interrupt the potential for escalating harm.” added Price.