Barack Obama on Trayvon Martin's case

I am very impressed by the stand Barack Obama took on the case of Trayvon Martin who was murdered by George Zimmerman.


"You know, when Trayvon Martin was first shot, I said that this could have been my son. Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago. And when you think about why, in the African- American community at least, there's a lot of pain around what happened here, I think it's important to recognize that the African- American community is looking at this issue through a set of experiences and a history that -- that doesn't go away," he said.

 “There are very few African-American men in this country who haven’t had the experience of being followed when they are shopping at a department store. And that includes me.” 

 He also called for a review of so-called "Stand Your Ground" laws, a central issue in the case. 

Read the NBC story here.

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Rev. Al Sharpton speaks out on Trayvon Martin case

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Civil rights activist Al Sharpton has announced a national movement - to protest in front of courts over the course of a year - in reaction to the verdict where George Zimmerman was acquitted for the murder of Trayvon Martin. The verdict in this case is an affront to civil rights, a black teenager, unarmed, minding his own business, was pursued and murdered.

The verdict highlights that there is still a long way to go for true civil and human rights in America, that while much progress has been made, there is still a long way to go. We are a long way from a post-racial society.

This verdict is a huge step backwards, validating racial profiling. Also, for African-Americans in Florida - or in any state with "stand your ground" laws - they have very good reason to be worried about their safety and security. After all, George Zimmerman was let off for killing an African-American teenager who was unarmed.

In the United States, there is a very strong racial bias to stand your ground laws - which Zimmerman used to get let off - against African-Americans. This chart is very telling.

 Zimmerman was taken to the police station and let go, and Trayvon's parents were not notified for 24 hours, by which time their son lay dead in the hospital.

This is pure injustice.

Update: An interesting picture which appeared on the front page of the NY Daily News.

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Zimmerman Walks

An unarmed black teen is dead, and his killer - who is white - walks free? What is wrong with Florida? Meanwhile, in another Florida case, a black woman who fired warning shots to protect against an allegedly abusive husband received 20 years in jail.

On the Zimmerman acquittal, one of the prosecutors stated that, "You had a 17-year-old kid who was minding his own business, wearing a hoodie, and gets accosted, gets followed by an individual who wants to be a cop."

This is pure injustice.

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Canadian Boats Seized by Israel

Gaza situation is one of the worst injustices in the world. Why Harper and other western leaders are not speaking out. They were fast to intervene in case of Libya. What happened to democracy and justice in case of Palestinians and Gaza? Israel is one of the worst human rights violators in the world.

Read the story in the Toronto Star here.

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Tom Delay - Justice Delayed

Although the courts have found him guilty of money-laundering and other offences, and he has been sentenced to three years in jail, Tom Delay is free on bail and he is going to appeal the sentence. Unfortunately that's what happens when you are influential and have money to spend on lawyers; who knows, it may be years before Delay actually sees the inside of the slammer, or he'll manage to go free.

The World is full of such injustices.

You can click here to read about Tom Delay.

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U.S. Moral Authority in the World

Although the US has a black President, the discrimination and subjugation of blacks and other minorities is not over.

You have to travel into the Southern US and you will see more blatant examples of such human rights violations. How can America tell other nations about human rights and democracy given its own past record of slavery and its ongoing human rights violations. Yes Hitler was evil and no one can, or should, condone his atrocities. However, dropping a bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was not any less cruel. Unfortunately it is winners take all and winners are not made accountable. Now look at the atrocities committed in Iraq. Millions of men, women and children perished, millions others are refugees in neighbouring countries and still millions others live in squalor with no proper sanitary conditions or food. Is that the example of human rights and democracy? Similar atrocities are being carried out in Afghanistan and now are being extended to Pakistan. Is that spreading democracy?

Every effort is being made to disarm the Middle East and Iran. But what about arming Israel to the teeth with over 200 nuclear heads and drones. Drones which are regularly used to kill Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Israel carries out the slaughter of its neighbours at will and takes Palestinian land on a daily basis, destroying their homes and building new settlements. Is that an example of democracy and human rights? To bring peace in the Middle East Israel must be disarmed too.

When US has that kind of brutal history then how can it tell other nations that they are unjust societies. Let justice begin at home. When it comes to the violations of human rights, nationally and internationally, US makes top of the list. As long as that continues we will see no peace. It is a very sad state of affairs. Injustice breeds more injustice.

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Harper the King!

Canada turns crucial corner
Thomas Walkom
NATIONAL AFFAIRS COLUMNIST
OTTAWA - Canada is on its way to becoming a civilized country again. The Supreme Court has ruled that if the government wants to lock up people indefinitely without charge, it has to at least let them muster a defence. Click Here to Read More.

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