They Always Get Away

“They always get away.” These words were spoken by George Zimmerman, a Sanford, Florida man identified in the media as a Neighborhood Watch captain.

Certainly, Mr. Zimmerman is justified in his frustration about preventing crime in his neighborhood. Certainly, he is justified to question the suspicious behavior of an unknown young, African-American male walking through his neighborhood.

I mean, who would not be suspicious of seeing something out of the ordinary in their neighborhood? I know I would. I, like Mr. Zimmerman, would call 9-1-1 to report such behavior in an attempt to prevent something tragic from happening.

So, what was the suspicious behavior that raised Mr. Zimmerman’s concern enough for him to pursue this young man – even when the 9-1-1 operator told him not to do so? According to multiple reports, Trayvon Martin did several things to raise the suspicion of Mr. Zimmerman. Trayvon was: 

• Returning to a house in the Retreat at Twin Lakes neighborhood after going to a local 7-11 to purchase – not steal – a snack.

• Walking down the street. Anyone who hears the claim when it is about an African-American male should believe that there is something suspicious about this.

•  Running from an unknown man who was watching him from an SUV, then following him on foot.

•  Wearing a hoodie. Perhaps to protect his head from the rain?

Separately, each incident has little bearing on the inevitable outcome of the tragic end to Trayvon Martin’s life on February 26, 2012. Collectively, these incidents paint a picture of justifiable murder of African-American males in the United States.

I must point out that according to USAonWatch.org, the organization that administers the national Neighborhood Watch program, the community where Mr. Zimmerman felt obligated to protect from Trayvon’s suspicious behavior is not registered with the Neighborhood Watch Program.

Nevertheless, George Zimmerman apparently reacted to his gut instinct on how to quell a dangerous situation. Because certainly, the expectation is that African-American males are a menacing threat to one’s personal safety.

Further, part of America’s history is the acceptance that there is something inherently criminal about these men. And with that acceptance there are some who still believe that Mr. Zimmerman and others like him are justified in stopping these men. By any means necessary.

“They always get away.”

Was Mr. Zimmerman’s declaration a blanket indictment of African-American males for being human by walking down a street, or running from an unfamiliar person? Or, was this his prediction of what would happen to him after he murdered a 17 year old?

Let us hope and pray that this time justice will prevail and they will not get away.

"There are two types of laws: there are just laws and there are unjust laws...What is the difference between the two? An unjust law is a man-made code that is out of harmony with the moral law.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.