Posted on 07/23/2013 9:20:21 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Just as they did during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, last Saturday’s demonstrations in more than 100 cities around the nation to protest the not guilty verdict for George Zimmerman on charges that he murdered 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, many ministers were in the forefront of protests at federal buildings in their communities.
They started off by standing with Rev. Al Sharpton who announced plans to contest “Stand Your Ground” laws in Florida and 28 other states. More than 20 Black clergy leaders joined Sharpton last week in front of the Justice Department in Washington, D.C. to express their concerns about the “Stand Your Ground” self-defense statutes and the dangerous message that the Zimmerman verdict carried.
Sharpton said that if we don’t change the “Stand Your Ground” laws, we risk having more Trayvon Martin cases, because the law emboldens people.
“There is a license through the George Zimmerman verdict that any White male that feels threatened can shoot a Black boy and be justified,” said Rev. Anthony Evans, president of the National Black Church Initiative. “We’re going to have to teach our boys how to be safe. We’re going to have to teach our young boys about what the law says what are their rights and how to protect themselves and using a buddy system. We’re going to have to do something significant to protect our young boys.”
Other Black pastors said it’s not just our young Black men that need an education, but also anyone that believes that the election of President Obama ushered in a new, post-racial chapter in American society.
“When people believe that race is not a factor in the Trayvon Martin case, when people believe that class and culture are not [factors] in this case, there is some serious education that needs to be done,” said Rev. Lisa Jenkins, pastor of Saint Matthews Baptist Church in Harlem.
Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, pastor of Empowerment Temple in Baltimore Md., said that many people fooled themselves into believing that now that we have a Black president, being Black is no longer an issue.
“That’s very far from the truth,” said Bryant.
Rev. L.B. West, pastor of the Mount Airy Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., said that Black clergy members have always played critical leadership roles in shaping local, state, and national dialogue surrounding social justice and civil rights issues. West added that it was also critical for their congregations to see that they also struggled with the not guilty verdict in the George Zimmerman trial. West said that he was personally angry that a young Black boy, that did nothing wrong, could lose his life, and no one is held accountable.
“It’s important for people to see that even spiritual people can have anger and it’s a righteous anger,” said West. The Washington pastor added that the anger surrounding the not guilty verdict in the George Zimmerman trial needed to be channeled into constructive acts instead of destructive ones.
Sharpton’s National Action Network organized “Justice for Trayvon” vigils in 100 cities on Saturday, July 20. Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton joined Sharpton for the vigil and rally in New York City, N.Y.
Even though it’s important to honor the memory of Trayvon Martin, the Black pastors wanted to ensure that this tragic moment would not be lost to history.
Bryant said the laws and the climate that catapulted this case onto the international stage need to be addressed.
“I don’t want us to get so caught in the personality that we miss the principle,” said Bryant. “The principle is unequal sentencing and other [disparities] in the judicial system. There are 30 states under the banner of ‘stand your ground.’ It’s bigger than George Zimmerman. He’s just the representation of the principle of stand your ground. So, the focus has to be much bigger than that.”
Working with the Florida state legislators, the National Rifle Association and the American Legislative Exchange Council helped craft the controversial “Stand Your Ground” law in 2005. The law basically extended the “Castle doctrine” [a person’s home is his or her castle and can be defended with gunfire] to the streets, allowing a people in what they feel is a life-threatening situation outside of his home to defend themselves with deadly force, rather than retreat.
According to In the Public Interest, a resource center on privatization and public contracting, “ALEC plays an important role of providing corporations with valuable and unfettered access to state legislators. ALEC works with its members to draft model bills that state legislators can introduce and push in their states.”
The watchdog group said that ALEC eventually dismantled the task force that helped Florida state legislators craft its “Stand Your Ground” law, after coming under fire for also promoting controversial voter suppression laws.
During a national pastors’ conference in Miami, Fla., this week, Sharpton addressed a number of key issues that came to light during the George Zimmerman trial, including ALEC’s involvement in shaping “Stand Your Ground” laws across the nation. Even though, many of the pastors present at the news conference last week hinted at boycotting companies that financially support ALEC, no specific plans had been developed at that time.
The Black pastors pushed back on the notion that Black leaders are simply fanning racial flames instead of addressing the crime and gun violence that claims the lives of thousands of young Black males in our nation’s largest cities.
“All across the country in urban centers and cities across the country there have been people raising their voices around violence. In New York City, in Chicago, in Philadelphia, it’s not just one time,” said Rev. Michael Walrond, senior pastor at First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem. “Because of the national scene and the national view of the Trayvon Martin case any reaction we have to it, any engagement we have with it, is going to have larger-than-life proportions.”
Walrond added that organizations, across the country have been dealing with violence in the Black community. Unfortunately, those smaller movements just don’t make it into the newspapers.
Bryant’s Empowerment Temple in Baltimore, Md., will host a gun buy-back program on Tuesday, August 6.
Rev. Frederick Haynes, senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, said that it’s unfair to point fingers at the young men who are the victims and perpetrators of most of the crime in our communities, without pointing a finger at those who create the insufferable conditions that force those young men to make tough choices.
“In darkness crimes, will be committed,” said Haynes. “You just don’t indict those that commit the crimes you also go after those who cause the darkness. The darkness is poverty, the darkness is a lack of options, the lack of opportunities, the darkness is a lack of a quality education and until we address the darkness, crimes will be committed.”
Haynes continued: “We do our part in terms of mentoring our young men and showing them a better way, but if they do not have options, because of economic, educational, political and social injustice, then the sad reality is that there’s darkness that will be created, where the crimes will be committed.”
Have fun, fellas.
I guess we can just call it Martinized from now on?
If they were truly “men of God”, they would be asking their Black Community why nearly 75% of black children have no fathers. They would be asking why so many black babies are aborted every year. They would be asking why black males commit such a disproportionately high number of violent crimes. But they won't! Like Jackson and Sharpton, these bogus preachers don't want to lose their gravy train...they don't want to disappoint their white, liberal masters.
These Revs make me want to puke!
Well, yes. Though it isn't just about "white males" and "black boys" Rev. The standard here in my State is if you reasonably believe your life or someone else's life to be in danger, you have the right to use deadly force to protect yourself or others. Being pinned to the ground by a 6-2 185 lb person and having your head beaten and slammed into concrete hard enough to split your head open - yeah, I'd call that reasonable fear for your life.
“We’re going to have to teach our boys how to be safe.
Great idea. Start with: don't attack people and resort to physical violence. Don't threaten someone else's life and you won't risk yours. Fairly simple lesson Rev. Get to it, I want to hear to say it.
Not if the black boy isn't attacking the white male.
So black guy dressed like a thug wearing a sweat shirt in tropical Florida is walking through a gated community where he neither lives or knows anybody that lives and where he has no business being.
I am simply sorry. If I were black and really thought that all non-blacks were out to get me and lynch me from the nearest tree those are the last behaviors I’d be doing together.
If blacks don’t want to be accidentally killed by whites who feel more terrified than privileged then perhaps some discretion as to where they walk and what they wear is in order.
“We do our part in terms of mentoring our young men and showing them a better way....
Yeah, and you’re doing such a good job of it. Congratulations on perpetuating the plight of “your people”. Oh, but you’re righteous and it’s always someone else’s fault. As long as that’s your chant you can expect more of the same. Disgusting. But not unexpected.
“when people believe that class and culture are not [factors] in this case, there is some serious education that needs to be done,”
The Education needs to occur within the Black community where relatively few grown black men are role models for being responsible adults - husbands and fathers in the home are few are far between which results in many young blacks falling into gangs, cult groups, etc. Until true education of their “culture” happens, we’ll just see the “victim mentality” that the political leaders EXPLOIT for personal gain.
and always remember”
95% of black Protestants voted for Obama...
The First Church of Hate. rev son of satan pastor.
Clergy? What a sick joke.
Subject: Re: Re:How Neighborhood watches operate
Since the Zimmernan not guilty verdict has been rendered, the facts of this case are still being shamefully being concealed by the media to the extent they are advancing and are complicit in permitting a putrid injstice to be committed of the worst order,organized and instituted by governent. It began as a miscalculation when a surname of a Jewish origin shot up and lighted the heavens like a star shell in the darkest of nights. It would have been difused if the media used pictures of both side by side because they look like cousins. And the area where this occured of paycheck to paycheck struggling homeowners of all races trying to protect themselves had been investigated.
Instead Zimmerman must be the egg that is to broken,. sacrificed, so that we have an omlet just like Stalin did to the Ukrainians in a soclal engineering plan to better distribute grain and food during a Russian drought..
Just as with the energy plan where the cost of fuel used for energy and transportation has skyrocketed placing those on fixed or limited incomes dependent on government handouts because of this regimes socialist policies the sacrifice of Zimmerman must die for . This time to another communist plan. We all move together in centers designed and approved by comrades running the collective who (just like Obamacare aren’t on in it) won’t and don’t live there.
Too bad half of the so called conservatives talk show hosts I’ve been listening to can’t seem to be willing to connect the dots to what a heavy hand his imperious highness played in this despicable example of socialist justice which will turn on an innocent staunch supporter and churn out vicious life threatening propaganda against him just to mete out diatribes to serve the policies of the state . Turning this into a show trial replete with wall to wall tv coverage..The least they can do is get the facts out for tthe reason for the trial and its background instead of cope-ing with Obama moving the ball futhur and furthur away from what was done in a “Neighborhood Watch Area” while they’re milking the emotion response.routine like “big brother “does..
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/3044800/posts
An example of this is demonstrated by the “news” circulating in local black or mixed areas in publications like the The New Amsterdam (linked) that unquestionly follow, follow,follow, like martinets., Are they being duped by the handouts of lies they’re getting from this government. and unwilling accomplices to a horrendous and disgusting injustice ? Or are they contributing to it for the good of the collective ? Is a question only they should be made to answer. For those vehicles which contributed to this disgusting demonstration of disinformation of a continuing injustice should be asked and severly dealt with if they did.. It’s time to hold them accountable” ..
Many Neigborhood Watch areas consist of modest dwellings including the one Zimmerman was a “watch captain in are comprized of single dwelling units or as in Zimmermans case townhouses.His was a mini US melting pot which includes a number of black families which banded together and set up patrols to protect their area.. In this case they were struggling with single and groups of young blacks from other “hoods” on the prowl., In some instances armed, preying on homeowners in his area..Watch activities are closely co-ordinated with local police departments and follow very set protocols. Most conservative hosts demonstrate their ignorance.and are rendering no futhur information then their listeners get from MSM .thus allowing the MSM to set an agenda of distraction from this regimes history of corruption and scandal..
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3043817/posts
Usually such neighborhood watch areas are posted with a window or garden sign announcing that fact and those patrols will observe any one; black,white, green, or blue. If the area is “gated” even stop and question them. .When such an area is “gated” public right of way is restricted to the entrances and exits to the area.. .That fact and the area wasn’t even divulged by any of the so called media because it wouldn’t fit their agenda if true journalisim existed, because it couldn’t support any racial assertion or questioning of movement. ..
It explains Zimmerman’s action taken during his surveilance of Martin because this watch volunteer got out of his car and continued his observation on foot because he lost sight of Martin. In many watch areas that’s done frequently when the subject disappears from view they may leave their vehicle and continue surveilance on foot.. ....
According to the testimony there was an exchange after Zimmerman was going back to his vehicle. Martin attacked him and was severly beating him to the extent he feared for his life. To put it bluntly Saint Trayvon was a smart ass punk who attacked a guy with a gun and got killed in the struggle over it when he had the guy on the ground beating the hell out of him..
Obama in his latest attempt threw more gas on the fire by portraying Saint Trayvon as what he was, an irreponsible pot head and subsequently found to be a petty thief ..That explains Bengahazi, where he left a top American diplomat and his aides die and the rest of his pay to play vacation scandals Obama hopes his diatribes will hide. .
Even after learning the shooter was a staunch Obama supporter, not Jewish, (very quickly dismissed ?) and a dark skinned “hispanic”. Obama did nothing to curtail the hyperbole or tone down his edict creating this as a white racist episode. Obama the boss of bosses and gets all the information about anybody ignored Zimmerman’s defence of a homeless black maltreated by a local police officer which resulted in the disciplining of the offending officer which Zimmerman fearlessly waged a campaign for and got.. .
The socialists controlling the media propaganda machine oblidged.. They began claiming the exclusive “gated” neighborhood watch captain was a “white hispanic” . Used a picture of a 12 year old Martin instead of the 6 foot 165 pound person he was vs the smaller 140 pound lttle fatty neighborhood watch captain. Worse yet allowed his US Attorney General to use questionable activities to promote a show trial and ignored using a threat of prosecution to black militant groups threatening the watch captain’s life.
Do not confuse todays politicians and their ahearants in the press and academia as followers of “Liberalism”. . These are die hard God denying I’m right you’re wrong socialists incapable of independent thinking running todays media.. Devising political campaigns of lies and manipulated inflamatory languange disguised as “news or reliable information” designed to destroy any opponent or group to what is edict-ed by their leader. You must wind up goose-stepping in unison protecting the collective otherwise we will through the use of the government we control step on you and squash you like some insect..
Why is this being done ? Who accompained Obama on his many trips around the world at taxpayer expence ? Were they the heavy hitters or their friends holding the president’s hand ? Seems like that could be considered pay back at US taxpayer expence. Isn’t that an impeachable offense ? Now if somebody even suggests impeachment. What better way to discourage that by organizing the base for riots in the streets ?
And, they sure as he** wouldn’t be voting Democrat if they were truly “men of God.” That party opposes everything Biblical. No, they are black first and foremost. Notice the words, social justice? That tells you everything you need to know about these so-called “pastors.”
Jesus had some strong words for pastors who lead their sheep astray. God help them because they can’t see anything but the color of a person’s skin.
The ignorance of the “stand your ground” meme is pathetic.
Although that is an important message, and certainly better than the one that they are bringing, these alleged pastors should be preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Exhorting their flock to 'Be kind, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you'.
These other 'messages' of being perpetually offended reveals that they are nothing more then wolves in sheep clothing, come to feed on and to scatter the flock.
Yeah..we got to do something to protect our boys...like how about being a good father and moral example so they don’t turn out like Travon! Daaaaa! bunch of idiots...
Well, Al, I’d rather have the law stating I can kill someone coming into my house meaning harm than to have your law of allowing someone to come into my house with me unarmed and I cook him dinner. Then he packs up all my stuff and walks away all time time a new song called “Trayvon changed the tune”.
Good for Mr. Scott.
You are correct! <(((><
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