Sunday, 4 August 2013

How To Prevent Another Trayvon Martin Verdict

By Vanessa Jones


For those of us who are not American, George Zimmerman's acquittal could give an added sense of helplessness.

While we feel rage and discomfort, the reality that the decision is not in our justice system might leave us feeling that we have no opportunity for action.

Below, nevertheless, are some things Canadians can do.

1) Inform ourselves about the prison system in Canada.

Canadians frequently feel that injustice against Black people/people of color is restricted to the South/Texas/Florida. Canada imprisons a few of the greatest varieties of individuals in the Western World and those numbers are expanding. Enlighten yourself and others about Harper's policies in the justice system. Advocate around detainees' rights.

2) Proponent for neighborhood justice-- and I mean real area justice, not bike deputies.

We know the justice system does not serve our demands, so why are we leaving the defense of our neighborhoods up to the authorities? White vigilantism is excused while we accept the absence of justice services for which we pay taxes.

Learn about true transformative justice. Run rites-of-passage programs. Get seniors to step in. Inform areas about how we can protect and support our own families and next-door neighbors. Work to refurbish and not penalize.

If we stand against the criminalization of Black youth we have to end our complicity with the systems that criminalize them.

3) Support criminal offense sufferers.

Many of us feel sympathy for Trayvon's mom but desert the moms in our own communities or criticize them for how they raised their children. Pay attention to criminal offense sufferers. Support their have to be heard. Don't sweep abuse under the rug. Work in our neighborhoods to provide healing. If you are enraged about Trayvon but don't sustain child sufferers of the Nova Scotia House for Colored Children, ask yourself why some children are expendable. If we cannot support sufferers in our own neighborhoods, then the solutions provided by the justice system will never offer us healing.

4) Supporter for youth rights in our own areas.

People are rightly surpriseded that a grown guy can stalk and kill a kid, yet numerous of us preserve policies that strip children of their rights and voices and leave children prone to violence in our houses and communities. Kids are often based on physical violence in their own houses, which is supported because they lack the rights of grownups to bodily stability, company and power. Advocate with and for youth for the rights of children to be dealt with as equals with self-respect. Los Angeles Attorneys

5) Work to empower children and youth in our own areas.

We have the power and resources to inform, prepare and sustain our kids. Why are we leaving their education to institutions and companies without their best interests at heart? We don't need government money to run activities, courses, tutoring, sports, songs, and so on for our youth. Commit to taking some time to work with youth.

6) Enlighten ourselves and our children about racial discrimination.

Yes, it is very important to tell kids they can follow their dreams. However we also must provide them details that secures them. This case showed us racial discrimination isn't over, so let's stop being frightened to level to children, leaving them susceptible and baffled. Teaching about racism likewise indicates teaching them Black Power principles. Do not pretend race does not exist for them; provide them the understanding to comprehend themselves.

7) Remember we are not hopeless or reliant.

This is a 400+ year resistance. Stop being complacent, and enlighten, act and work in our neighborhoods for empowerment. Spend our cash with Black companies. Construct Black programs. Stop accepting platitudes. Stop believing the fight is over. Get out in our neighborhoods, in the streets, wherever, and fight for our right to be human.

8) When they hope us dead our finest resistance is to live and live strongly, with purpose.

Keep enduring. Stop being ashamed to be Black in public. Stop trying to assimilate and live your life, because that's exactly what they despise to see.




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