When it comes to voting, failing to do so can result in deadly consequences. Politicians have the power to enact laws that can benefit African American lives, or endanger them.
Key Focus Points
- American politicians have a history of enacting laws that harm and kill African Americans
- Florida’s Stand Your Ground law was created by an NRA lobbyist and signed into law by Governor Jeb Bush – an elected official
- The law has been weaponized by white male gun owners to justify the murders of unarmed Black people in the state of Florida
- Voting the right candidates into political offices and lobbying for change can put an end to harmful laws like Stand Your Ground
It’s no secret that America has an obsession with enacting laws that harm and even kill Black people. From the horrific institution of slavery to the “separate but equal” segregation laws of the Jim Crow era, politicians—as well as the lobbyist who fund them—have relentlessly established laws that encourage violence against Black people at the hands of white supremacists and racists. More recently, Florida’s Stand Your Ground law has been proven to fit in this category.
The Governor, the Law, and the Granny
The Stand Your Ground law authorizes the use of deadly force in self-defense. In essence, what classifies as “self-defense” is based solely on the beliefs of the individual claiming it. It is also dependent on who the individual, in that moment, perceives to be a threat to life. One can easily see how such a law could be weaponized in the hands of a racist.
Gov. Jeb Bush signed Stand Your Ground into law. The architect of the law was a long-time lobbyist for the NRA (shocker…) and a 4-foot 11 grandmother named Marion Hammer. Hammer claims to have pulled her gun on a carload of men who were threatening her one night. The men pulled off and she credits the gun for saving her life. And thus came the inspiration for one of America’s most extreme gun laws.
Marion Hammer: I heard somebody say one time we don’t shoot to kill, we shoot to live. And that’s what it’s all about, being able to protect yourself when you’re under threat of death or great bodily harm.
This is the point where I would usually suggest playing a game of “what color is she?”, but I think we are all intelligent enough to have figured it out.
The Consequences
Since Stand Your Ground was enacted, it’s been used time-and-time again as a shameful justification for the murders of unarmed Black people at the hands of armed white men. In 2012, George Zimmerman used the law as a basis to justify murdering 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. A jury acquitted him of all charges and he continues to be an unyielding dirtbag to this day.
Also in 2012, Michael Dunn murdered 17-year-old Jordan Davis in a gas station parking lot. Dunn claimed that the unarmed teen’s “loud rap music” made him feel threatened. D-bag Dunn attempted to use the Stand Your Ground law defense in court, but it didn’t work in his favor. Dunn was sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole plus 90 years.
In 2018, unarmed Markeis McGlockton was shot and killed by Michael Drejka, a “wannabe law enforcement officer” (according to Circuit Judge Joseph Bulone) who felt it was his duty to be the parking space police at a convenience store in Clearwater, FL. Drejka, in typical racist Floridaman fashion, attempted the Stand Your Ground defense in trial. That got him 20 years for manslaughter.
The Lesson? VOTE!
The lesson we as Black voters should take from this, you ask? Politicians have the power to enact laws that can determine if we as a people will live in peace while minding our own business, or have our lives taken away at the hands of racist murderers without consequence. This is why we need to vote. By mail, early voting, or on election day, make sure to make your voice heard! Voting the right politicians into office and lobbying for change can and will bring an end to the virus that is systemic racism.
For more information Check out Eliminate Systemic Racism – VOTE! comics and merchandise!
Sources: NBC , NPR , Wikipedia , Florida Today