Statement in support of Trayvon Martin protests
Fifty-seven years after the murder of Emmitt Till and 49 years after the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, Trayvon's murder is yet another galvanising, public call to action to combat ongoing inequities and foster justice.
The February 26, 2012 slaying of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman in Florida reminds us of the continued manifestation of racism, as well as the ongoing prevalence of gun violence, in the United States. Trayvon's murder is also a poignant reminder of the dangers all African American youth, and young African American males in particular, chronically face as a result of racial stereotyping and profiling. The local police's failure to detain Zimmerman, coupled with suspicions of police bias, provoked outrage amongst Americans, especially those in the African American community, resulting in nationwide protest.
As an organization historically committed to community action and social transformation, the Association of Black Sociologists (ABS) stands in support of these protest efforts. We encourage all ABS members to contact your local, state and national legislators to continue to challenge the Justice Department and FBI to thoroughly investigate the crime, apprehend Zimmerman and secure justice not only for Trayvon Martin and his family, but also for the nation as a whole. Furthermore, continued pressure is required to amend, reevaluate and in many cases repeal "Stand Your Ground" legislation across this country – laws tantamount to state-sanctioned use of deadly force against innocent individuals.
ABS members are encouraged to remain vigilant in the continued struggle to monitor and proactively respond to all forms of inequality experienced by marginalized people. It is imperative that our grief and anguish over racial micro-aggressions and deleterious systemic forces be harnessed in tangible ways that benefit marginalized communities. Fifty-seven years after the murder of Emmitt Till and 49 years after the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing that killed Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley, Trayvon's murder is yet another galvanizing, public call to action to combat ongoing inequities and foster justice.
ABS sends our condolences to Trayvon Martin's family and to the myriad African American families whose children have been taken from them as a result of racism and violence. For further information, refer to http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/Trayvon You can also provide your support on Facebook at the "Justice for Trayvon Martin" page or tweet your support with hashtags "justice4trayvon" and "tweetforjustice." I challenge each of you as citizens and ABS members to support this effort for redress as well as policies and leaders committed to creating safe spaces for all youth.
Sandra L. Barnes: 2011-2012 ABS President (March 25, 2012).
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