Rep. John Lewis Says Death Of Trayvon Martin Is A Tragedy

cbslocal.com ^ | March 21, 2012

[Tailgunner Joe]

Rep. John Lewis made this statement about the shooting of the unarmed teen in Sanford, Florida:

“This shooting is a tragedy. It reminds me too much of what happened in the 1930s, 40s and 50s in this country when thousands of people of color were murdered without impunity simply because their lives were thought to be cheap. The death of Trayvon Martin has a chilling effect on black parents and their children, especially their sons.

“They realize that in the 21st century they may still live in a circumstance where the law is no protection, government authorities permit the worst violence, and little is done to enforce justice. Hundreds and thousands of African American boys in Atlanta and other urban cities are killed, just disappear everyday. Of all the violence we hear about on the news, we rarely hear the stories of these boys. It’s as though no one even expects them to survive so their loss is not newsworthy.

“There are forces in America today who want to take us back. They are suppressing voting rights across the country and encouraging legislatures like that in Georgia to expand the right to carry and use violent weapons.This tragedy is a reminder to all those concerned about justice that we cannot be complacent. There is no door that closes, no wall that is built, no line drawn in the sand that prevents us from going back. The only prevention is us.

“We must get informed, know the history, be aware of current attempts to change progressive law. We must advocate and struggle against regression and injustice and march in the streets if necessary to dramatize the need for justice.”

[DMZFrank]

There is a reason other than Lewis’s normally ignorant historical epistomology that accounts for his use of the description of thousands rather than dozens of seemingly lynched blacks. The implications of THOUSANDS of lynched blacks rather than dozens is more inflammatory, particularly when you wish to agitate a mob.

We need to oppose such careless demagogery with fact whenever and wherever we can, lest it become common knowledge and conventional wisdom. Too many other unchallenged premises by the left have become ingrained; i.e. that conservatives are nazis and facists when the truth is that their beliefs are more akin to those shared ly the left.

[Oztrich Boy]

Reality is that he was a 6'3 punk. They also don't report that he jumped from behind and overpowered the hispanic 5'2 Zimmerman guy

He was 6'0" and skinnier than Obama, Zimmerman was 5'9" and built like a brick outhouse.

[roadcat]

Hard to know exactly what is true, there is so much media spin and second-hand comments out there. I have now found various reports of height and weight, a few that match what you say, and they all differ. I found the arrest report, with many pertinent facts on description blacked out. The arrest report does say that Zimmerman is 5'9, no weight indicated. So I stand corrected, thank you for the update.

The arrest report does corroborate other statements I made, that the police reported Zimmerman was found with his back wet with grass stains, the back of his head was bloody, his nose was bleeding, and he was treated at the scene. Martin was found face down on the grass. Zimmerman had a Kel Tek 9mm. Other reports say the weapon had a full magazine, which indicates that only one round was fired, one in the chamber. Media reports were saying multiple shots but that is untrue.

Anyway, still sounds like self-defense to me, let a jury sort it out.