Beyond the Zimmerman Verdict

Beyond the Zimmerman Verdict | Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers | CWR



In the wake of the Travyon Martin case, African Americans have an opportunity to redirect their energies toward healing their families and communities.


The “not guilty”
verdict in the George Zimmerman trail for the death of Trayvon Martin has
unleashed a firestorm of criticism regarding gun violence, stirred deep
emotions over the enduring legacy of racism in America, and spawned senseless
acts of retaliatory violence.  Without question, racism did play a role, in that Mr. Zimmerman profiled
Mr. Martin as a “person of color” in the “wrong” neighborhood at the “wrong”
time.  If Mr. Zimmerman had significant
safety concerns or thought that Mr. Martin was acting suspiciously, he should
have called the police (which he did) and then went about his business as the
police investigated.  I know what that
feels like, because it happened to me back in 1990.  The police officer treated me like a criminal
until he found out I went to Notre Dame, which all of a sudden made my being
black OK in his eyes.  My point is this:
if Mr. Martin were white, Mr. Zimmerman would have most likely ignored him and
the incident would never have occurred. 

Despite the efforts
of Dr. Martin Luther King and the countless others who gave their hearts,
souls, and lives to the cause of justice, peace, and equality, racism remains
an evil that endures in our society. 
This is not because Dr. King failed. 
Racism persists in our country because of the existence of evil and
sin.  “Racism is a sin; a sin that
divides the human family, blots out the image of God among specific members of
that family, and violates the fundamental human dignity of those called to be
children of the same Father.  Racism is
the sin that says some human beings are inherently superior and others
essentially inferior because of race.  It
is the sin that makes racial characteristics the determining factor for the
exercise of human rights.  It mocks the
words of Jesus: ‘Treat others the way you have them treat you.’  Indeed, racism is more than a disregard for
the words of Jesus; it is a denial of the truth of the dignity of each human
being revealed by the mystery of the Incarnation” (U.S. Catholic Bishops
Pastoral Letter on Racism, Brothers and
Sisters to Us, 1979). 

In this case, the profiling of Mr. Martin by Mr. Zimmerman was
racist.  The jurors determined that Mr.
Zimmerman did not shoot Mr. Martin because he was black but in
self-defense.  Whatever you think about
the outcome, the facts of this case and racism in America will be debated for a
long time to come. 

I would like to draw attention to the incredible sense of outrage and
injustice that many black Americans have felt since the verdict, and the
mindless episodes of violent retaliation that have ensued.  Many feel a misplaced sense of “righteous”
anger over this case and have taken it upon themselves to commit acts of
violence in the name of Trayvon Martin. 
Rather than take our anger out on innocent people, I suggest that we
take this indomitable energy and redirect it toward strengthening black
families.

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