07/23/2013
on behalf of our youth, specifically our senior young adult leadership, I wanted to pass along their statement regarding Trayvon Martin. Our senior (new college freshman) leader Tabitha Colon along with input from the younger youth and those in our group that have already departed for college wrote this in hopes that it strengthens the movement. Thank you
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We are the Youth Undoing Racism in Westchester County, New York. We are joining our voices with the millions of others who are speaking out about the George Zimmerman trial and verdict.
We are upset and saddened by the decision the jury made by finding George Zimmerman "not guilty" of the murder of our brother Trayvon Martin.
The verdict is just another example of there being no justice for innocent boys, girls, men and women of color in our country. We are deeply worried and fearful for our friends, family (of color) and for ourselves; we fear for theirs and our safety in school, community and doing simple tasks such as walking to the store.
Our concern for the safety of our friends and family of color is not unfounded as we watch our peers profiled, stopped, frisked, harassed, followed, hassled, abused by those with power, police and people who look at us and our friends with suspicion.
We understand we may not be able to change how people see youth of color immediately, but we are asking that you stop legalizing the profiling and abuse through policies like "Stop and Frisk" and "Stand Your Ground". We are asking that you stop attacking us in our communities and in our streets and then justifying it by allowing defense based on these biased laws.
Institutional racism is the overlooked factor in the Trayvon Martin case and is what allowed George Zimmerman go free. Ignoring the depth and history of institutional racism allows the continued killing of black and brown people in our country. If we continue to ignore this fact, more people will learn to take advantage of these laws and use them to knowingly or unknowingly exploit communities of color, legally.
We are urging all of you who are reading our statement to begin organizing in your community to Undo Racism and bias in the criminal justice system and other systems that treat people of color unjustly. We believe working together and organizing is the only way to do this. We are also asking the Department of Justice to file charges against George Zimmerman for violating Trayvon Martin's civil rights; he ended a child's life and should be held legally responsible. We must end these terrible events and send the message that we will no longer stand by and watch as our generation experiences the same disrespect and discrimination as our parents and grandparents. We will not be silent about this anymore.
We know this is just one case of many, even here in our community in Westchester. However, we stand committed with our allies to be sure we or someone we know will not be the next Trayvon Martin.
Sincerely,
*The Youth Undoing Racism in Westchester
