Trayvon Martin

It seems most people have been able to figure out how horrific the situation is concerning the pursuit and shooting of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida. This young black man, according to all reports, was walking through an area and ended up being pursued by someone who seems to be an overzealous neighborhood watch participant.

There are lots of questions and plenty for people to be outraged about. Some people don't seem to be aware that Trayvon Martin's body was drug tested but the shooter never was. It is also reported that his body was in custody for three days and that the police didn't seem to make attempts at identification or notification of next of kin. Martin's cell phone was in their possession but there doesn't seem to have been an attempt to have traced or investigated last numbers called or incoming calls. Martin's father was calling the cell number trying to locate his son it's reported.

The local police are saying they are following procedures and their hands are tied by the Florida "Stand Your Ground" law. None of this seems to make much sense. The law in question doesn't stop you from identifying a body or investigating a 'potential' crime. Why the shooter wasn't arrested just doesn't make sense. Police seem to have acted as judge and jury in determining that no crime was committed. If these are normal operating procedures of the Sanford Police Department, that city and its citizens are not very well served.

It is easy for people who have not been subjected to racial profiling to dismiss the reality of what many minorities feel. It is easy for members of racial minorities to be frustrated and angry at what they're seeing unfold in Sanford. Sadly, the response of the city or lack thereof is common in cases where people in power think they have acted appropriately. Situations like this do need independent review and a spotlight of national and international attention. Honestly, it has taken too long and the local response has proven to be inadequate to many.

The really horrible part of all of this is the loss of a 17 year old, Trayvon Martin. A seemingly nice young man, talking to his girlfriend on his cell phone and carrying Skittles and ice tea. More facts will come out but for now we should be pretty horrified that this could happen and potentially few questions asked within a system of supposed citizen protection.