Posted March 22, 2012 by killakam 5 comments

Photo: Dwayne Rodgers Stands His Ground With The Million Hoodie March

Words and pictures by Dwayne Rodgers

Okayplayer exclusively presents a photo essay by artist Dwayne Rodgers, the man behind The Black Vernacular, documenting yesterday’s NYC protest, The 1,000,000 Hoodie March, entitled “Stand Your Ground.”

On February 26, 2012 George Zimmerman, a white 28 year-old neighborhood watch “captain” in a gated community in Sanford, Florida fatally shot black teenager Trayvon Martin as Martin walked back to his father’s house after going to the store for snacks during half time of the NBA All-Star Game. Ignoring directions from the police — whom he had called from his car— not to approach a young man he’d described to them as “suspicious,” Zimmerman got out of his SUV with a loaded gun and confronted Martin. That confrontation ended with Zimmerman shooting Trayvon Martin in the chest, killing him. Not only the aggressor but armed and 250 pounds, Zimmerman has claimed self-defense. Trayvon Martin was 140 pounds and carrying candy and a soft drink.

911 tapes released earlier this week reveal the gut-wrenching final moments of 17 year old Trayvon Martin’s life with Trayvon screaming helplessly in the seconds before he was shot. At the scene of the murder George Zimmerman, who had called the police 46 times in the space of year (apparently intoxicated at times) and had been the subject of complaints by neighbors for his aggressive tactics, wasn’t tested for drugs or alcohol. Incredibly, he was not arrested. This case has highlighted the controversial “Stand Your Ground” gun law which allows Florida residents to use lethal force against an attacker if they feel their life is threatened. Stand Your Ground is the reason the Sanford police have given for not arresting George Zimmernan outright.

The only problem: Trayvon Martin didn’t attack George Zimmerman, as is clear from all available information. Along with with igniting more controversy about gun laws, the murder of Trayvon Martin has yet again put the spotlight on the undue use of deadly force against black people by white people in the U.S., which has its roots in slavery and continues to this day. Sadly, Zimmerman’s actions and the Sanford, Florida’s Police Department’s inaction has re-scarred the national psyche around the issue of personal racism, institutional racism and how they can collide in a very deadly way. Yesterday in NYC’s Union Square and all over the country people of all races and ages came together to call for the arrest and prosecution of George Zimmerman.

As of today George Zimmerman hasn’t been arrested and is still licensed to carry a gun.

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Comments

Amrit

Thank you for posting this story. Me, being from Vancouver, no one at my University has heard about this story and I am trying to share it will all my friends via Facebook and it’s hard to get people to listen. This is racism, plain and simple. Trayvon did not deserve to die, and being black does NOT make him a criminal. If I had seen someone following me, I would have ran too. I would be scared for my life.

While listening to the audio tapes of the 911 calls, I broke down crying. It was just not fair and so gut-wrenching to hear him pleading for his life. How can George Zimmerman plea for self-defence if Trayvon was calling for help? RIP Trayvon and my condolences to the family and friends of this little boy. The rallies all across America are showing that America will not stand for this injustice, and I am thinking about starting a rally here in Vancouver to bring attention to this important story.
xoxo

I co-sign with Amrit
http://aydeethegreat.com AyDot

For Trayvon:

The only thing I know is he was seventeen.
I also know that he was dead when they left the scene.

Police know the guy who pulled the trigger, but
have not detained him,
have not arraigned him.
It’s hard for me to figure what
the f_ck’s going on. Another life down the drain.
The family and community cry out the pain.
No weapon on his body—he was listening to headphones,
being chased by a grown man who was dead wrong.

Guy called 9-eleven for suspicion.
The police told him sit and wait for ‘em, but he didn’t.

Thinkin’ “I’m a go get him.” Went and got him.
Had a tussle and a scuffle, pulled the piece out and shot him.
And told the cops that it was self defense.
Police let the man go. I think that’s what they call negligence.

Community Watch—impunity walks—
so I’m hoping everyone in the community talks,
and I ain’t talkin’ ’bout no unity walks.
I’m ’bout fed up with knowing about the best thing we do will be talk.

I’m saying get off yo’ ass—raise up your voice!
If you make enough noise, you gon’ make ‘em make a choice.
No justice, peace or speeches!
Preachers, Lawyers, Teachers, teach this!
Need this! Knees get bruised from praying. Heedless
people leaving loving mothers seedless!
Jesus, I don’t want to see another CNN news-
feed, blog, telling me what I should do!
We

better try and get the love back.
‘Cause if it happened to your family, then you wouldn’t be above that.
You prob’ly thinking you would bust back.
Now, I ain’t saying that’s the answer, but I’m saying that we must act!
‘Cause if we don’t, what’s that say about us?
That we can watch a kid die and end up saying ‘so what?’

I’m wishing peace for you, Trayvon Martin.
If anybody’s with me, this here’s the way I’m starting.

It’s your turn…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpMu_Ws00-c
Mister X

These photos are beautiful. To the point and deep.
miguel pabon

Mr. Holder is doing nothing about this horrible case. I don’t see any action in other cases like this either. Mr. Obama with all do respect you have to be more enerjetic to resolve this case and order its arrest just right now, as president you have the power to do it and you are going to
have so much more votes than ever. I’m a white man, but for me everyone is equal, we have the same blood and we have the same
God.