Prayers for Trayvon, Prayers for Justice System

“Lord during my darkest hour I lean on you. You are all that I have” — Trayvon Martin’s Mother

The high profile case of George Zimmerman came to and end with a jury of six women handing down a not-guilty verdict, after deliberating and deciding that Zimmerman acted in self defense when he shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Sad.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Trayvon’s family and friends, whom I feel were made even bigger victims of this senseless tragedy by professional Civil Rights opportunists Rev. Jesse Jackson, and activist turned TV commentator, Al Sharpton. The two grabbed the spotlight in Sanford, Fla., with their campaign to intimidate the state and nation into a costly legal battle to grab national attention by forcing the conviction of Zimmerman.

The intimidation was well organized with large, vocal demonstrations staged in major cities like New York, Miami and in Martin’s hometown of Sanford. Not surprisingly, President Obama weighed in the issue saying that if he had a son “he’d look like Trayvon.”

In the end, Sharpton and Jackson got their publicity, Zimmerman got due process and American justice and Trayvon’s family got all of the heartbreak from being used as pawns by individuals attempting to redefine justice in America in terms of black and white. This trial should never have been about race, but with Sharpton and Jackson on the scene, there was no way for it not to be. Their involvement assured them (Sharpton and Jackson) revenue of hundreds of thousands of dollars off of the family’s sad, tragic and unfortunate loss of life of their young son. Yes, young son. Not young white boy, young black boy or young hispanic boy.

Equally as tragic is when local and national wannabe journalist and radio jocks also jump on the race bandwagon to exploit the emotions of black communities rather than using their talent and exalted positions to soothe, comfort and educate the community through basic logic and a clear understanding of the law and American justice. To witness and hear supposedly educated and responsible community and civic leaders, both white and black, claiming that the not-guilty verdict handed down to Zimmerman is a verification and confirmation that 21st century justice still eludes African-Americans is an irresponsible, tragic injustice and insult to all Americans.

We have only one criminal justice system in America and it operates the same for everyone. Just because someone is not happy with the outcome does not mean the system is broken, does not work or is racially unfair. Justice is justice.

In America, we often refer to it as blind and use the term justice for all. American justice cannot be defined by emotion, opinion or historic bias. If it was, then Casey Anthony and O. J. Simpson would have never been acquitted.

Again, my thoughts and prayers remain with Trayvon and his family. We can only hope this kind of needless exploitation of innocents will soon stop. If not, then you can expect crime to escalate by adding yet another category called “black exploitation” to the crime list; Not a good thing for any American.

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