The justifiable outrage over the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida should give all Americans reason for pause. How could an unarmed young man carrying a bag of skittles threaten gun-carrying neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who was almost twice Martin’s weight?
Certainly the situation grows more complicated as emotions soar, but a look into the crime statistics in Sanford, Florida might help to answer this question. According to neigborhoodscout.com, Sanford has a crime index of 3 out of 100 (100 being safest), which is one of the highest crime rates in America “compared to all communities of all sizes — from the smallest towns to the very largest cities.”
With a population of just over 50,000 Sanford has 59 crimes per square mile, 69 crimes per 1000 residents, and one in 15 for property crimes. The prospect of having your car stolen is one in 255, and the probability of someone becoming a victim of murder, rape, robbery and assault, is one in 150.
These crime statistics do not necessarily give license for vigilante justice, but they certainly help to paint a picture about the conditions of a place that most of us would not want to raise a family, if we had the choice.
There are always two sides to every story, and, according to the Sun Sentinel, there is much more about this story to be told. Police told the Sun Sentinel that eyewitnesses claim there was an altercation between the two men. Witnesses said Zimmerman “was punched to the ground by Martin, and his head [was] slammed into the sidewalk several times, leaving him bloody and battered.”
Was this alleged altercation grounds for shooting? The Sunshine State’s “Stand Your Ground’ law says it is. Because Zimmerman claimed, and initial evidence showed, he acted in self-defense, Zimmerman was not arrested. You can view the Sanford Police Department’s official statement on the city’s website that states Florida Statute prohibited the department from arresting Zimmerman based on facts and circumstances they had at the time.
Sadly, but to no surprise, the tragic death of this 6-foot-3 teenager has been turned into a political opportunity, a circus even, by those who prefer to paint the world in black and white. But it’s seldom that simple.
Had an adult been in residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, cooler heads would have certainly prevailed. President Obama’s public statement, “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon” did little to help matters, because soon after, conditions deteriorated. This race-baiting rally cry granted us the opportunity to peer through the same monochromatic lenses Obama uses to see life. (Remember his Boston cop comments and the ensuing beer apology party?)
Not long after Obama’s statement, activists declared war against white people. Despite the fact that Zimmerman is Hispanic, the New Black Panther Party pegged the incident as a white man’s crime, and offered a $10,000 bounty for Zimmerman’s capture. Adding insult to injury, the Rev. Jesse Jackson told a large Central Florida crowd, “If it’s a moment, we go home, if it’s a movement, we go to war.”
Yes, Reverend, we should all “go to war.” But, before we do, it would be beneficial to wisely choose our enemy. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2005, among one-on-one homicides, “93 percent of black victims were murdered by black offenders” meaning the biggest enemy of African-Americans is African-Americans.
Trayvon’s death is an indication of a serious problem brewing beneath the surface. As the saying goes, “United we stand, divided we fall.” The first item on the agenda should be a commitment to stand against those who would attempt to divide us by playing the race card. The next order of business would be to double down against crime in communities like Sanford, so residents would not feel as compelled to take matters into their own hands and “stand their ground.”
Susan Stamper Brown is an opinion page columnist, motivational speaker and military advocate who writes about politics, the military, the economy and culture. Email Susan at writestamper@gmail.com or her website at susanstamperbrown.com.
Photo Credit: werthmedia Creative Commons
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I find it quite strange the very people who are calling Sanford, crime ridden and claim the Police are unfairly against them and don’t side with them are the very ones who are commiting the most crimes! Don’t the Black people know they are the ones commiting most of the crimes so it would make it hard for the Police to side with them!
Of Course they do. But look at their King. He gives the rest of them a False Sense of Hope, thinking they will somehow be able to live off White people for EVER
The Blacks of America have had it EASY for far too long, and have lived FREE off Whity so long that they don’t know how to do anything else.
Sadly I expect that even in the Light of New Info about this case, that the Neighborhood watchman was being Threatened, and felt the need to defend himself, that the Blacks will still revolt because that is what they do best. Remember the Watts Riots?
Not really sure how “stand your ground” applies in this case. If Trayvon Martin was, in fact, on top of Zimmerman and bashing his head on the ground, a reasonable person can assume that his life and/or wellbeing is in extreme danger. Therefore, deadly force is warranted. If, as he states, Zimmerman turned around to return to his vehicle and Martin followed him there, Trayvon Martin had become the assailant and had escalated the threat level. Should Zimmerman be running around his neighborhood with a pistol, probably not. But, did he commit a crime, probably not. Of course, with the looming threat of race riots, I would bet my ranch that the special prosecutor comes up with some trumped up charge. This will only postpone the riots until Zimmerman is aquitted by a jury, however.
I do believe your correct.
Should not have been running around his neighborhood with a gun? What kinda crap is that? It is NOT illegal to be armed. It is your RIGHT the bear arms. Many people try to act like he was an idiot and what not and want to make him out to be a cold blooded murderer. If the man stalked this black kid and shot him in cold blood he would not have any marks on him. Who the hell is going to follow someone let them pound their head into the ground and then shoot them if all they wanted to do was shoot someone? No one that is who. This man defended himself the best he could. I do not believe at all that he went out that night wanting to kill someone. Stuff happened and he did what he had to to save his life.
One thing I have noticed in All my years of trying to Befriend Black people is that the Majority of them seem to think they Deserve our RESPEK. but they have no concept of You have to GIVE Respect if you Expect to get it. And I don’t respect anyone if they are point a gun in my face or threatening me with Bodily harm, and I am talking from Experience with many of them.
Honestly, I have to come to the Defence of All those Black people I have met that treated me as a Friend. I do NOT SEE THEIR COLOR, but I Do RESPECT Them, because they are Respectable People.
What ever happened to personal responsibility on the part of our citizens? It is lacking in criminals, public figures, celebrities, politician, journalist even pastors. And our children are following the example. It feels like the 60′s all over again. Flower power – love everyone, but let me do whatever I feel like. No rationale just emotions.
The leaders of all communities should be thinking twice before spewing facts that may not be true.
Yes, it is sad a young man (regardless of race) lost his life. But why did he disregard the rights of the property owners? What made him think he had a right to do that? Why did he disregard whatever the security guard said to begin with? Why did he think he didn’t have to?
Could it be that people like Sharpton, Jackson, Oprah and others have set the example for these children that says because I am black I’m better than the law, another person? In essence that is what all these current speeches are saying. We don’t have to wait for the law to do it’s job. And this guy is guilty because he isn’t a black brother. Hey if I had a son he’d look like the one that got killed. What value does or should that statement carry? Who should care – it has nothing to do with the circumstances. It was a useless statement except to say the black community is more important than justice because the kid is the same race as the president? How inane.
Yes, we all have a big problem. It is called non respect and non responsibility. Think before you speak would be an excellent motto for these persons whose words are seen and heard publicly.
Sorry to bring all this Up again, but Forced De-Segragation happened AFTER the FED Bankers Set Aside the constitution for the US Code. that is when the Bankers started their Social Engineering Program, trying to Mix up the Blood lines. Read WHY God didn’t want the Israelites to Mingle their Blood line with outsiders. The FED Bankers Intentionally caused Blacks to be Forced into White Schools and school districts, and encouraged blacks of all mentalities to seek to be Better then Whites. It’s all a screwed up mess. I don’t believe in Forced De-Segragation, but It sure would help. If I would prefer to live around people of my own Race, just as they are afforded the oppertunity to be around their own race, but I should be able to pick what kind of person moves into our neighborhood, I don’t believe a person of a different race should be allowed to move into a community of some other race, UNLESS, that off race is just as Civilized or more so then the people around where they wanted to move.
Forced De-Segragation, DOES NOT WORK, and is Contrary to a prosporus Community
The boon thug got what he deserved, why don’t the boons show an up to date photo of martin, instead of one more than 6yrs old,, probably the 6′ 2″ 220lb boon looks lie a thug that he was
“Adding insult to injury, the Rev. Jesse Jackson told a large Central Florida crowd, “If it’s a moment, we go home, if it’s a movement, we go to war.”
Well Mr. Jackson, bring it on. The best place for you will be right in front but, you know where you will be. Hiding and letting the other blacks do your dirty work. You are going to cause a lot of people to get hurt and YOU WILL pay for it.
Yep, it does signal more probs, it means that a full scale insurrection directed by the Mysery Man in the WH needs to be fully exposed and those like the imbecilic black panthers, Jackson and Sharpton, aka 3 stooges, be investigated and indicted along with their CIC.
If you want to stop wanton destruction and riots in the streets, then these people need to be fully sun lighted and jailed. Don’t ask for the government leadership help, it’s the problem. Make the rule of law do the work.