It is said that in other countries, the government fears the people. But America is unique because the people fear the government. Perhaps things are starting to change . . .
The US is in an uproar over the juror's decision to free confessed killer George Zimmerman for his murder of Trayvon Martin, a black teenager who Zimmerman picked an altercation with, and then killed with a gun. There is no question as to whether Zimmerman killed Martin, however Florida's gun friendly 'Stand Your Ground' laws permitted Zimmerman to be acquitted.
It is unfortunate whenever a tragedy like this happens, and it seems like an even greater insult to that tragedy when justice is not reached in the courtroom.
However, there may be a silver lining to this verdict. The silver lining is that people are angry. If Zimmerman had been found guilty, he would have gone to jail and people would have forgotten about Martin's case. But because Zimmerman was found innocent, Trayvon Martin has become a martyr. The people are angry, and in a show of this discontent, protestors took to the streets all across America.
Perhaps the most brazen of those protests took place here in LA, where 200 Tryvon Martin supporters marched out onto the freeway, effectively shutting it down. As they tend to do, the police showed up in riot gear, intimidated the citizens they were sworn to protect, before finally opening fire on the crowd (which included senior citizens, women and children--as seen in the photos below) with rubber bullets.
M&F thought this was so empowering because it shows how a small group of peaceful protestors--only 200 people, can effectively shut down one of the city's most major veins of transportation. And this is a great example of how a small group of people will be the ones who change America. Sure, the police can shut down this protest, and another, and possibly a few more. But what if there were more? If 200 angry citizens can shut down the 10 freeway, imagine what would happen if all 4 million residents of Los Angeles stood up to take a stand for what is right.
The fact remains, the police can't stop ALL the people ALL the time. Every single system in America, every institution from the government to the very police department itself, all of these are dependent on the people. When we say no, they've got to go!
Its time to stand of for the values that made America great, and hopefully the Trayvon Martin case will lead as an example to end America's ever-growing police state.
***Pics taken from the Huffington Post Los Angeles***
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