Justice Now for Trayvon Martin!
2012John Leslie 2012-04Read it in the scan (PDF at ETOL), page 12 →
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Haraz N. Ghanbari / AP Outrage at the murder of Trayvon Martin has sparked a wave of protests. Demonstrations numbering in the tens (Above) Many thousands join protest in Sanford, Fla., on March 22. (Left) Washington, DC, rally for Trayvon, March 24. cent woman as a “terrorist.” People building on the Tray von Martin mobilizations have started a Million Hijabis for Shaima Alawadi campaign. Organizers in the Muslim community are making common cause with the Trayvon Martin movement as well as with campaigns against stop and frisk programs.
Moreover, violent vigilante groups along the U.S.Mexico border, like the far-right Minutemen, target im migrants from Latin America daily. Politicians of both parties aim their rhetoric at the undocumented. These crimes are abetted by government policies of surveillance and entrapment of Muslims, curfews, and stop and frisk programs aimed at young Blacks, and the increased scapegoating of undocumented workers. All of these measures create an atmosphere of paranoia and hate, widening divisions within the working class and hampering the building of a united movement against our oppressors.
Obama’s crocodile tears for Trayvon should not fool anyone. The first Black president has done little or noth ing to address the social and economic crisis of Black America. Nothing has been done to address the mass in carceration of Black youth or the mass unemployment in the community.
Obama has done nothing to revitalize the education sys tem. Instead, he has slashed budgets, which has resulted in thousands of laid-off teachers, and endorsed privatization schemes that will only damage public education. Obama remained silent when the state of Georgia executed Troy Davis, an innocent man. His “Justice” Department has done nothing to deal with the unjust and unconstitutional treatment of political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. Obama’s statement of sympathy was a cynical ploy to win Black votes in the election and had nothing to do with winning real justice. Like his predecessor, Obama cares little for the lives and needs of Black workers and youth and serves the interests of the richest one percent. How do we win justice for Trayvon?
It is critical that mass mobilizations in the streets con tinue to put pressure on the system to arrest and try Zim merman for this murder. We cannot have illusions that Obama, the Democratic Party, and Obama apologists like Al Sharpton are real allies in this struggle. Their rhetoric is aimed to defuse the situation and channel popular anger into safe, legal channels.
Nor can we put our faith in capitalist courts, cops, or the so-called justice system. The oppressed and exploited have in their hands the power to make real change; to do that, they need to mobilize independently of the parties and organizations of the ruling class.
Socialist Action says: Justice for Trayvon Martin! Ar rest the murderer Zimmerman now! Repeal all reaction ary Castle Doctrine laws now! Fire the incompetent racist cops who failed to investigate this crime! Stop the mass incarceration of Black and Latino/a youth! Jobs at living wages; free education and health care for all! n