Justice demands objective equality beyond political consideration
By Derek Joy
Get on this. . .
Summer is rolling right along. Brought two U. S. Supreme Court decisions that hold particular interest to people of color.
There was the decision on the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Weakened it to the point that the 15 states – Florida included- no longer have to submit to the U. S. Justice Department any proposed changes to their voting laws.
Yep. Open the doors for any and all kinds of election law tomfoolery. Just the kind of atmosphere that invites discrimination by the barrelful.
The Court, to a lesser extent, tampered with the opportunities for Black Americans to enter professional schools – law schools and medical schools.
In essence, the U. S. Supreme Court overturned a decision by the U. S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, in the Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin case.
Miami Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson, (Dem., D-24), weighed in on both decisions. In this case, Wilson offered this insight.
“I applaud the U. S. Supreme Court’s decision to preserve the principle that universities may consider racial and ethnic diversity as one factor in making admissions decisions,” said Wilson.
“Diversity is America’s greatest strength. The Supreme Court acknowledged this simple and enduring truth. The Court preserved its longstanding position that campus diversity benefits all Americans by ensuring a broad range of perspectives in the classroom and ensuring that people from all backgrounds have the opportunity to attain professional success.”
Tragically, Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old Miami Gardens resident, won’t get the opportunity to experience professional success. He was gunned down by George Zimmerman in Sanford, Fla., on Feb. 26, 2012.
Martin was returning from a nearby convenience store to his father’s residence in the gated community of the Retreat at Twin Lakes. He was unarmed and had not committed any crime.
Zimmerman, a frustrated, wannabe cop on medication for a bipolar condition, disguised himself as a neighborhood watch volunteer where there were no legally constituted neighborhood crime watch group.
He called the Sanford Police Department, told them he was following Mar-tin, and ignored their warning, “We don’t need you to do that.” Instead, Zimmerman countered, “They always get away.”
Black Americans in growing numbers seem to think the deck is stacked for Zimmerman to get away with shooting and killing Martin. Six women – five whites and one Hispanic – sit on the jury that will decide.
Too bad diversity is conspicuously absent on Zimmerman’s jury. Not a single Black American.
So, here is a point to objectively ponder in search of justice.
Zimmerman had a 9mm handgun. He followed Martin against the warning of a Sanford Police Department dispatcher. He made it clear, “They al-ways get away.”
Consequently, the objective equality of justice based on those facts alone, show clear and unmistakable intent.
