l****z
发帖数: 29846 | 1 April 16, 2012 by Rick Rice
And get “off the stage right now”.
So says Dr. Boyce Watkins, Professor at Syracuse University and founder of
Your Black World Coalition.
An excerpt of his recent piece:
Boyce-watkinsI haven’t spoken with Rev. Al Sharpton in a few months.
But if we were still speaking and he were to ask me what to do with the
mother of Trayvon Martin, my answer would be very simple:
Get her off the stage right now.
Trayvon’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, appeared on “The Today Show” this
week and actually said that she thinks that George Zimmerman, 28, shot her
son by accident.
…
There is nothing about the word “accident” that implies intent, which
is why it’s called an “accident.” Although Sybrina’s attorneys have
worked hard to clean up after her mistake, the truth is that she can’t
argue that Zimmerman “accidentally” thought that Trayvon looked suspicious
or that he “accidentally” chased him down. The only part of this
interaction where the word “accident” readily applies is in the actual
shooting itself. If I were George Zimmerman’s brother, I would send
Syrbrina’s attorney a thank-you card.
God bless Sybrina for being honest (if that is what she meant to say),
but there are some things better left unsaid. For the mother of the victim
to make a statement in national media that directly contradicts the efforts
of the prosecution is nothing short of disastrous.
“George Zimmerman stalked my son and murdered him in cold blood,”
Sybrina later said to MSNBC in another interview, retracting her earlier
statement.
My question at this point is this: Why was there another interview in
the first place? I am not a lawyer myself, but I presume that there’s a
reason that attorneys tell their clients to be quiet. All of the cleansing
in the world will never take away the fact that Sybrina’s comments have had
a remarkably negative impact on the ability of the special prosecutor to do
her work.
Sybrina’s words have opened the door for millions of people to
understand when George Zimmerman is let off the hook with either an
acquittal or a plea bargain for a lesser charge. This remark also
undermines her credibility as she seeks to have Zimmerman convicted of
second degree murder. Why would I tell someone to punish you for
deliberately doing something that I believe to be accidental?
Trayvon’s parents have done their work and they’ve done it well. They
’ve achieved the first steps toward justice for their son, and now it’s
time for them to try to rebuild their lives in private. Rev. Sharpton has
done a wonderful job of highlighting the racial dimensions of this highly
unfortunate incident. At this point, the conversation about black men in
the justice system must grow beyond Trayvon Martin, and the prosecution
should be allowed to do its work. The family, as well all associated racial
advocates, need to strategize in private, listen to the evidence and just
stop talking.
And I’m thinking Dr. Watkins, that this strategizing could begin with you
and other race-baiting, race-pimping snake oil salesmen whose very
livelihood depends on fomenting a false narrative.
I find it ironic that this guy is criticizing Trayvon Martin’s mother for
speaking the truth. |
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