He participated and earned an
A in a law course that featured the infamous “Stand Your Ground” law that was pivotal
in his acquittal. He knew all the right things to say to the police after the
incident and provided his attorneys with the elements that were used in the
effective narrative to get him off despite the fact that he was and remains
culpable.
Now do not misunderstand what
I’m saying. This is NOT a call to arms. I am not advocating buying a gun and
learning the law, which would lead to the wild wild west. I AM urging everyone
who is disappointed and feels as if the system is not working for them to
change that dynamic through education.
I’m fortunate to live in a
state where I don’t feel the constant pressure of a state boot on my neck. No “Stand
Your Ground laws”, or voter ID or any of the laws that feel like they infringe on
my rights as a citizen… except for maybe the stop and frisk
program but that’s for another blog. Unfortunately that comfort zone has lulled
me into a state of political ignorance. I write and comment about issues all
the time, I’m informed on a national level, I've even written to my Junior
Senator a couple of times yet I don’t know who all my representatives are and have only really participated in national
elections because I’m comfortable with the progressive decisions made in my
district.
THAT - IS - WRONG!
Too many of us do the same
thing. We voted for Obama, sign a few online petitions for things we’re
interested in and Tweet or post our thoughts on Facebook thinking we’re doing
something. BULL SHIT! That my friends is NOT using the system. If you want real
change it's not going to come from a rally in Union Square UNLESS that rally sparks
action afterwards.
So I’m suggesting 2 things:
Get Informed
Become a Constituency
There is no user manual for
being a US Citizen so it's incumbent on you to find out. First- Know your
elected representatives. It’s not hard.
Click here and pop in your zip code. Then visit their website. Contact their office.
Educate yourself about the issues that impact you that they can affect. It's
what they got elected to do. Not knowing is like hiring someone to run your
business and complaining about the results after you decide to check out. Our responsibility
as citizens does not end after the vote is cast. Hold them accountable. Don’t
take your righteous indignation about the crumbling roads on your block to your
local barber shop or salon… take them to your representative. This is the
reason things are better in richer neighborhoods, well this and hefty donations
because money = votes but ONLY if the electorate in uninformed. We have the
power to change the dynamic.
A lot of black voters believe we are already a constituency
because our vote is so important. Not True. It's true the Democrats cannot win
elections without our vote but we are not a true constituency because the Democrats
know we don’t have a viable alternative. We're certainly not going to support
the Republicans who don’t even attempt to get our support anymore and any independent
candidate will have to caucus with the Democrats to get anything done, pretty
much making them a de facto Democrat like Angus King and Bernie Sanders.
So how do we do it? Organize and Act! We need to be active participants in shaping
the laws that govern us all. Much like what is happening every Monday in North
Carolina's Moral Mondays.
But you don’t have to go out and get arrested, just get involved. Vote in
everything you can. Historically voter turnout dips for midterm elections. This is a trend we have to reverse because the drop is not proportional on
both sides and as a result is skewed and not representative of the people.
Second- Become fully informed about the laws that are passed
in your state. For example if you live in a state where “Stand Your Ground” is
law it may be worth it to take a course and fully understand what that entails. Many people including myself believed
that although Zimmerman was acquitted he is open to a civil suit however that
may not be the case because of the Stand Your Ground Law. So until enough public outrage stops this “NRA inspired shoot first law” it’s probably a good idea to head down to your local community college or at
least pick up a book on it and become familiar.
This goes for anything that affects your life and makes you
feel as if you are serving the system instead of the system serving you. In
many states restrictive voter ID laws are in motion. Find out how it will
impact you, fight it and if worst comes to worst organize drives to ensure that
everyone that have been disenfranchised has access by getting the proper IDs
NOW ahead of any scheduled election. I was blown away that the Democrats were
caught off guard in the last presidential election after having 4 years to prep
voters. Why are we waiting for the last moment to act? To my young brothers and
sisters that have been so skilled at promoting parties, promote events to get registered, organize
carpools, transportation, folding chairs for the elderly in long lines, have a
plan way in advance to completely remove the power of this kind of restrictive
legislation and any other and BECOME a true voice to be reckoned with.
Remember, Government For the People By the People.
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