Jennifer Granholm dons Trayvon hoodie
Posted on 03/26/2012 8:20:33 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
DES MOINES -- More than 200 people turned up on the west steps of the Statehouse on Monday night for a gathering that was part rally, part memorial and part testimonial.
A majority of the crowd wore hooded sweatshirts in a show of solidarity with the late Trayvon Martin and the thousands of people who have taken up his cause across the country.
"I am tired of injustice. I am tired of our babies dying," said Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, D-Des Moines, who wore a black hoodie as he told the crowd about his son being shot and killed in 1996. He then led the gathering in chants of "No Justice, No Peace."
George Zimmerman, a member of his Florida community's neighborhood watch group, shot and killed the 17-year-old Martin last month. Authorities haven't charged Zimmerman, who claims he felt threatened by the unarmed Martin.
The slaying and the fact that Zimmerman has not been charged have led to protest marches nationwide. There are racial and political overtones in the case as well. Zimmerman is Hispanic, Martin was black, and Zimmerman's defense is tied to Florida's "stand your ground" law, which allows people to use deadly force against someone who they feel poses a threat to them or another person.
"I call it the shoot-first bill," Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, told the crowd on the Capitol steps.
She and other House Democrats walked out of the Statehouse this year when Republicans brought an Iowa version of stand your ground to the floor along with another pro-firearms bill.
Eventually both bills passed the House but were never called up in the Senate. The House sponsor of the legislation, Republican Rep. Matt Windschitl of Missouri Valley, said he intends to bring the bill back next session and called the Martin shooting in Florida "a tragedy."
IOWA LEGISLATION AT ISSUE
That legislation was the focus of a dustup in the Iowa Senate earlier on Monday when Democratic Sen. Jack Hatch of Des Moines criticized the 24 senators who have signed a petition to bring the legislation to the Senate floor for a vote.
"I want you to think real hard if you've signed it, why you signed it, and if you haven't signed it, keep your signature off that petition," Hatch told his colleagues. "This is a time in which we can no longer consider the tranquility of Iowa to be part of a Wild West show where vigilantes can take charge."
Sen. Mark Chelgren, a Republican from Ottumwa, criticized Hatch for his argument. "The death of a young man should not be used as an excuse to attack the very liberties that we have in this country, and personally I am offended and ashamed of what Sen. Hatch said today because he should not be treating the families who are grieving at this time in such a manner," he said.
Hatch would later join the gathering on the Capitol steps, where he held hands with one of Abdul-Samad's granddaughters.
LOOKING AHEAD
Monday's rally was organized by a group of six Drake University Law students who decided they had to do something, said organizer Kevin Patrick. He and his fellow students took down names, numbers and email addresses of the participants with the idea of creating a group that would work against attempts to pass stand-your-ground legislation in future general assemblies.
"I'm here to lend support to the cause," said Rep. Phyllis Thede, D-Bettendorf, who also joined the crowd on the steps. "It's showing that everyone across the (United) States is galvanizing together and we are a family. If you look around here, there're blacks, there're whites and that's a family."
Opal Turner, a Des Moines resident of 62 years, held up a hand-drawn sign that said Zimmerman was a murderer and a terrorist. She said she tells her children to be careful because the color of their skin could get them killed.
"I'm a mother who has sons as well as grandsons who wear hoodies, and I wear a hoodie," she said. "It could happen to any of us."
The predator-class is furious that their prey are shooting back.
Pretty much says everything you need to know about this forlorn mudpit.
Stolen (see my tag)...
Have at! Hope others follow.
I have a mental picture of former Gov. Jennifer Granholm with her ass-sagging jeans around her knees in solidarity. With or without the hood, that would command some good cash to see.
“I am tired of our babies dying,” said Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, D-Des Moines
Said a RatBastard who supports Ogama and abortions / baby killing.
The hypocrisy is as thick as london fog.
Damn, she was a disaster for us.
These guys have convinced me -
Triple funding for planned parenthood.
Demand 1 hour same day service. No fee for anything.
Make abortion available until 36th month.
Seriously - we don’t need this.
I wonder what % of average white guys are going to be CCW in 10 years? And I wonder - how they will get a jury to convict one?
There are words to describe this - but none proper to type in public forum.
“I am tired of injustice. I am tired of our babies dying,” said Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, D-Des Moines, who wore a black hoodie as he told the crowd about his son being shot and killed in 1996.
Oh really.....I’d like to know ALL the circumstances regarding his sons “death”. Dollars to doughnuts the off
spring of this Rep was proximate to some type of illegal activity that got him killed.
Don’t mistake this, what you’re seeing here is desperation. They got this legislation bottled up in the Senate by using a Senator who is retiring to keep it locked in his committee.
The GOP is 2 seats away from a majority and the LMF has candidates in all 26 seats at play. Some of those seats are Dems who aren’t running again, so things aren’t looking too hot for the Rats right now, and they know it.
>> Triple funding for planned parenthood.
Hang in there. It’s Leftism that fosters this denial of due process. A lot of good people get unfairly discredited in these egregious, Marxist games.
Proverbs 18
2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion.
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