Black Out on Black Friday

In the aftermath of Mike Brown's killer walking free, there has been a call to arms sent out. Today is Black Friday, the best shopping day of the year and the start of Christmas shopping. To show solidarity to the Brown family, it's been asked that Black Americans NOT shop today. Boycott all the sales. Use our buying power to make a point. That point is simple: Black lives matter. Protests have popped up all over the U.S. After Brown's killer was not even indicted over his murder. People are understandably upset. People want justice. We want to know that the murderers are held accountable for their actions. We deserve justice. So, today, boycott, let the powers that be know that we are mad as hell and aren't gonna take it anymore. We need to effect change in this country. I am tired of young Black people being slaughtered in the streets and no one caring. Let's do this, people. #JusticeForMikeBrown today!

Justice For Mike Brown

Police kill another unarmed Black teen. ANOTHER. When will this stop?!? The police are supposed to protect and serve. They are not supposed to kill at will. They are not supposed to take life as if they gave it. There are conflicting reports about what happened. I am inclined to believe the words of witnesses on the scene. These witnesses bombarded Twitter with their accounts mere moments after it happened. They say Mike Brown was walking in the street on his way home. The cop who executed him passed Mike and his friend and told them to use the sidewalk. Words were passed between the two parties. Mike and his friend kept walking. The cop put his cruiser in reverse and almost hit the two young men. The cop swung his door open in an attempt to hit Mike. Mike pushed the door back towards the car. The door hit the cop who in turn pulled out an M16 rifle and shot into the car. Mike ran away from the car. Then raised both hands in surrender. The cop shot Mike in the back of the head, execution style. Mike's body fell to the ground. The killer cop walked up on Mike's body shot him four more times. He stood over Mike and shot him some more. For what?!? What did he do to deserve this? Nothing. No cop is judge, jury and executioner. None of them. 

Mike's body lay in the streets of Ferguson, MI for over 5 hours. In that time, a large crowd grew. They were shouts of "I am Mike Brown" as well as "No Justice, No Peace." Mike's parents were a part of the crowd as well. The crowd left the crime scene and marched to the Ferguson police department. They were back this morning for the Chief of Police's press conference. The spin is already on in this case. They are report's that Brown stole candy and was running from the police. Another report is that he walked up to a cop's car, pushed the cop and tried to take his gun, which makes no sense. The victim is seemingly on trial in the court of public opinion. I hate it. It's as if Black lives do not matter in this supposed world of post-racial America. Brown just graduated from high school. He should not be dead. This disgusts me. I am heartsick about this. I am an auntie, a sister, a Godmother and a friend. There are too many Black boys and men in my life for me to take this sitting down. This is a travesty. I am so pissed. Justice for Mike Brown. 

Justice For Renisha McBride

Today, Renisha McBride and her family received justice. It came in the form of a GUILTY verdict for McBride's killer, Ted Wafer. I've written about this case before, here and here. Wafer faces a sentence of life with the possibility of parole. This case struck a chord in me for a few reasons. McBride was looking for help after crashing her car. She knocked on the wrong door. Wafer, who claimed he was afraid, shot McBride in her face. She died on his porch at the age of 19. I am so glad that the jury did their job this time. I loved this Ebony article by dream hampton. She played an integral part in this case/ His sentencing is scheduled for August 25, 2014. I hope he gets life since he took one willingly. Justice for Renisha indeed. 

Trayvon Martin: One Year After The Verdict

It's been a year since one of the biggest miscarriages of justice ever occurred. Trayvon Martin's killer was found not guilty. How?! I will never know. The facts of the case were clear. Martin was stalked and hunted and executed for nothing more than being a Black man in a hoodie. There is nothing right or just about that. His killer deserves to die a horrible slow death locked in a tiny cell. Instead, he is still breathing and walking free. This is not justice. A year later, I am still disgusted by the verdict. I've written about Trayvon Martin a lot. There is something about his murder that struck a deep cord in me. It's been a year since Martin was denied justice. A year filled with ridiculous actions by his killer. The most recent being a report that he is homeless and broke. Good. Martin's killer deserves much worse than that for taking a life. I still weep for Martin and his family.  

"I will never accept the verdict," Sybrina Fulton said. "I still feel like my son was murdered."

A year later, the fight still continues for Martin's parents, Sybrina and Tracy. There is a Trayvon Martin Foundation housed at Florida Memorial University. The people who wrongly believe that we are living in a post-racial America are quite deluded. Racism is alive and well and thriving in these United States of America. Almost 57 years after the brutal killing of Emmett Till, a case like Martin's still exists. Both young men who were killed because their skin color made someone uncomfortable. Both too young to be taken in such a brutal manner. Where is the justice? There is nothing we can do to bring Martin back. But, we can all make sure no one ever forgets his name because his story is important. Also, so his murder won't be in vain. A year later, the injustice still stings. A year later, we are still angry. A year later, a murderer is still walking free. I do not know about you but there is nothing just about that. No Justice, No Peace. R.I.P. Trayvon Martin.

Justice For Jordan...Not Exactly.

Michael Dunn, killer of Jordan Davis, was found guilty on 4 of the 5 charges. What he wasn't convicted of was murdering Jordan Davis. That charge was ruled a mistrial. This means that Dunn can be (and most likely will be) retried on the murder charge. He will be sentenced next month. I am happy that he was found guilty on the other four charges. I am, however, not satisfied. Jordan Davis should not be dead. Davis should be celebrating his 19th birthday tomorrow. The picture above is of Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, embracing Lucia McBath, mother of Jordan Davis. This must end. It has to. It is like open season on young Black boys. My heart is still heavy for Davis' parents, Lucy and Ron. This is a series case of a miscarriage of justice. Being Black is not a reason to be dead, playing rap music loud isn't a reason either, and neither is wearing a hoodie and carrying tea and Skittles. I am so afraid for all the little brown boys and girls in my family and in the world. This is a horrible way to live. We need to feel and be free. We deserve and demand justice for Jordan and Trayvon and Johnathan and Renisha and every other unknown murdered Black person. Justice for Jordan!

Justice For Jordan Davis

Jordan Davis' killer is finally on trial. It started this past Thursday. This case happened on the heels of the Trayvon Martin murder. I've written about Davis' murder before here and here. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Being Black is not a reason to be shot and killed. I am just praying that the Davis' family gets the justice and peace that was not afforded to Sybrina and Tracy. We want justice for Jordan. Let's put cold blooded killers where they belong: behind bars. #JusticeForJordan

"100 City Vigil" for #JusticeForTrayvon

I've spent the last two weekends at #JusticeForTrayvon rallies. The first was not as well attended as the second. The second one, which was today, was a huge success. So many people came out to support. I was excited to see that people really do care. We are upset. We are outraged. We will be moved to action. Trayvon's life will not be lost in vain. From the home made signs and t-shirts to the hundreds of people in hoodies. everyone was there for the same cause. It was peaceful and well orchestrated. The former mayor, Marc Morial, spoke. I was always a fan of him and his politics. I'm still angry about the verdict. I'm still so sad for Sybrina and Tracy. The judicial system failed their son, failed them. And, we were all witness to it. We need a huge change to come. The "Stand Your Ground" laws need to be either abolished or severely revised. I truly hope all this movement pushes the Department of Justice to do the right thing and charge Trayvon's killer with a civil rights case. I feel like I have to show up to these rallies because I care. I hope you all did the same. No Justice, No Peace.  

 

NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE

Justice was NOT served tonight. George Zimmerman was found NOT GUILTY of murdering Trayvon Benjamin Martin. Excuse my French, but how in the holy fuck did this happen??!!??! If George Zimmerman is not guilty of killing an unarmed kid, then please tell me who killed Trayvon? Who? Who will be held accountable for his murder? Let's be clear, I am pissed. The same way I have been since I started writing about this case on March 15, 2012. This case struck a chord for me for so many reasons. None more than the fact that I have 4 nephews under the age of 10. This case and verdict scares me. I am afraid for them. This case was about so many things: racism, profiling, clothing, and privilege. Zimmerman killed a kid and then went home.  If not for the public outrage, this case would've went away. Zimmerman was arrogant as was his brother, mother and father (who wrote a book that blamed "Blacks" for his son being on trial no less). The trial started and I was disgusted by the defense team. I was prepared for this verdict.  

Do you see the smile on this murderer's face? Do you see the utter glee on his face? This is the body of a soulless, Godless murderer. Yes, he was found not guilty criminally. But, morally, this is the face of a cold blooded killer. He took the life of a 17 year old kid. He said that he does not regret taking Martin's life. He is guilty of that. No verdict could change that fact. He has to live with that. The all woman jury let a murderer walk. They did not do their job. This is sickening. I feel so deeply for the Martin family. Their son did not get the justice he was due tonight. I hope that they sue the Zimmerman family for all everything they have. No amount of money will bring Trayvon back. But, no murderer should be able to profit from his crime and Martin's death.

Moments like this really put things into perspective for you. I've been stressed over my heart and my emotional health and Sybrina and Tracy lost their child and didn't get justice. I feel incredibly shallow at this moment. Good job, Florida. The defense team put Martin on trial and convicted the victim. It is a gross misjudgement by West and O'Mara. The kind of karma that will come from this will have to be huge. If you are the parents/aunts/uncles/friends/Godparents of little Black children, hold them tight. America doesn't value Black people. Black President or not, this is not a post-racial land. This was proven tonight.  I'm just really sad. This makes me so sad for us as a people. We have so far to go. Jesus, help us. Rest in peace, Trayvon. We all know who killed you and why. I hope that Zimmerman never has another moment of peace. Killers do not deserve it. This night calls for dark liquor. I just can't. There is a petition by the NAACP to urge the Department of Justice to open a civil rights case against Trayvon's killer. If you agree, sign it. We can still fight the fight to the finish. For Trayvon. For Sean Bell. For Oscar Grant. For Jordan Davis. For the nameless, faceless ones who die each year to gun violence all over the world. For truth, For peace. Do something.