This week, the media is full of conversation regarding the tragic death of seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin at the hands of George Zimmerman. There has been a massive outcry for justice for this young man, as the family has felt that the circumstances surrounding his death were inadequately investigated and that Zimmerman should have been arrested.
From the start of the conversation, my position has been neither to defend Zimmerman nor to assume his guilt. I was not there, I do not have all of the facts, I do not know. What I do want is swift and certain justice from the authorities. At this point, the Department of Justice is involved. I believe they need to have the space to do their job, and we need to give them the time to do so.
Unfortunately, emotions are messy and tend to spill out. Overwhelmingly, I have seen people responding to the emotions of a life taken too soon, and the emotions of racial tensions still sadly raw. I am not criticizing these emotions. These are valid reactions. But they are clouding judgement, obscuring the view to other injustices also being perpetrated by these very same emotional outpourings.
Consider this: The strongest indictment against Zimmerman is the accusation of vigilantism. Against the express recommendation of the 911 operator, Zimmerman pursued Trayvon, while carrying a loaded weapon. Following a set of circumstances, which are still not clear, he discharged his weapon, killing an unarmed boy. He was suspicious, he pursued, a young man died.
Now, consider the following three events:
1. On March 19, an organization called the New Black Liberation Militia declared that they will be attempting a "citizen's arrest" in order to bring George Zimmerman to justice. Here's the problem: such a seizure would, at this point, be considered illegal. It would be kidnapping. This is vigilantism, as well.
2. Last weekend, the New Black Panther party offered a $10,000 bounty for Zimmerman's capture, adding, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth," and "He should be fearful for his life." This is a death threat. This is vigilantism.
3. Several days ago, Spike Lee re-tweeted an address that was believed to be Zimmerman's residence. That home was subsequently flooded with threatening phone calls, vile hate-filled mail, and a swarm of media and bounty-hunters looking for George Zimmerman. The problem is that this home was miles from where George Zimmerman lives. It is, in fact, the home of an elderly couple; her son is William George Zimmerman, aged 41, who has not lived there for seven years. These people have had to flee their home and take up residence in a hotel, in fear for their lives. This is also vigilantism.
So as you read and link and tweet and post references to "Justice for Trayvon" be aware that this hunger for justice at any cost does indeed have a high price: It is costing Elaine and David McClaine the just use of their own property and the right to a freedom from unjust persecution and threat of harm. It is costing George Zimmerman his opportunity for due process under the law, because, frankly, the emotion is getting in the way.
Justice for Trayvon, certainly. Let the justice system work. Don't be blinded by your emotional responses. Because justice for one must not be at the expense of justice for many.
