It Could Happen Here, There, Anywhere!

It Could Happen Here, There, Anywhere! Photo source msnbc

A group of activists gathered in Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square to honor Trayvon Martin, the 17-year old who was killed in Florida.  “It’s not just an American issue, it’s a North American issue” said Trevor David. “There’s a lot of injustice in Canada too” stated another.  Many wore hoodies; the type of garment Trayvon was wearing the night he was killed. Many have said the hoodie contributed to his death.

US Rep. Bobby Rush of Illinois appeared on the floor of the US Congress wearing a grey hoodie, saying, “Just because some one wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum”.  Members of the NBA’s Miami Heat defended wearing the garment by posing for publicity photos in hoodies and some Washington D.C. Pastors conducted services in the garment.  It was raining the night Trayvon was killed.  Is it too much of a stretch to think he wore the hood up to protect himself from the rain?

In a Miami rally former NBA stars Alonzo Mourning and Isaiah Thomas joined singers Chaka Khan and Betty Wright in support of the slain teenager’s parents who are calling for justice.  Although the person who killed Trayvon, George Zimmerman has now been arrested, it took several weeks and a Special Prosecutor’s decision to lay second-degree murder charges before he was taken into custody.  Although he has admitted killing the teenager, he plans to enter a not guilty plea – saying he was only defending himself.

Perhaps Bill Cosby said it best:  “If George Zimmerman wasn’t carrying a gun, he would not have approached Trayvon.  When you carry a gun, you mean to harm somebody, kill somebody.  Without a gun, I don’t see Mr. Zimmerman approaching Trayvon by himself.”