by Carl Dix
Stop-and-frisk has been much in the news in New York City. A federal judge ruled a civil suit against it could go forward as a class action suit, saying the city’s arguments “do not withstand the overwhelming evidence that there, in fact, exists a centralized stop-and-frisk program that has led to thousands of unlawful stops.” The New York Times wrote an editorial titled “Reform Stop & Frisk,” which concluded, “the city should be trying to settle this case and working immediately to reform a policy that violates rights and undermines trust in the police.” NYPD chief Ray Kelly announced new measures that center on greater supervision of street cops.

On June 5, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed legislation to reduce the penalty for possessing a small amount of marijuana from a misdemeanor to a violation. More...

It took 45 days of nation-wide protest to get Trayvon Martin’s killer, George Zimmerman, arrested. 

Now, the powers that be and their mouthpieces are creating public opinion to exonerate Zimmerman. NOT AGAIN.  NOT THIS TIME. 

June 5th marked 100 days after Trayvon’s murder.  On that day, activists across the country wore hoodies to let people know that we will not let this case be swept under the rug.  We will win justice for Trayvon.
The fight for justice for Trayvon must be linked to fighting against how the criminal ‘injustice’ system in this country comes down on people. His murder concentrated the outrage so many feel about racially targeted mass incarceration. 2.4 million people in prisons across the U.S., Blacks and Latinos treated like criminals; guilty until proven innocent, if they survive their encounters with cops to prove their innocence; torture-like conditions faced by those in prison and former prisoners forced to wear badges of shame and dishonor after they’ve served their sentences. It is way past time to say NO MORE to all of this.

Until recently George Zimmerman, his murderer, was out on bail—while Marissa Alexander, a Black woman who fired warning shots to chase off an abusive former boyfriend who was threatening to kill her, got 20 years in prison. No stand your ground protection for her.

We are being told it’s time to get out of the streets and let the system work. The system was working when Florida cops found Zimmerman standing over Trayvon’s dead body and let him walk free. It’s working now, as news stories appear backing up Zimmerman’s claim he was defending himself and slandering Trayvon’s name. What are they telling us—that traces of marijuana in your blood is a reason to kill you?

They want us to think our job is done, and now we should step back and let the gears of justice turn. We say no to that! It is only because masses of people poured into the streets that Zimmerman now faces charges. This is part of the workings of a system that continues to quietly grind away warehousing more than 2.4 million mostly Black and Latino people in prison and victimizing millions more with racial profiling.

Now's the time to continue to deliver the message: We are all Trayvon, the whole damn system is guilty!  Here’s what you can do:

1. Wear your hoodies and encourage others to do the same. Take pictures and spread them.

2. Organize speakouts, spread the message We Are All Trayvon Martin, The Whole Damn System is Guilty!

3. Bear Witness: Break the Silence--End the Shame.  Tell your story of abuse by the cops, of suffering in prison or discrimination against former prisoners.  Record your own story (go to www.bearwitnessproject.tumblr.com) or contact us and we’ll record you.  Organize “Bear Witness” days in your school, community center or church.

4. Most importantly, stay connected! Tell us what you did—or are planning to do.

The massive response to the vigilante murder of Trayvon pushed some of the truth about the way this system heaps abuse on Black and Latino youth out there for all to see. Let’s keep on pushing and fight for justice for Trayvon, bring to light all the crimes this system has perpetrated and condoned and through that change the way people look at racial profiling and mass incarceration.