PCUSA chimes in on Martin shooting
The Layman, March 30, 2012
The Presbyterian Church (USA) released comments today suggesting that the recent shooting of a Florida teen was racially motivated despite the fact that the case is still under investigation.
PCUSA Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons signed a statement on behalf of the PCUSA released by Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC), a group that includes 10 denominations. The document offers condolences to the parents of slain teenager Trayvon Martin and calls for more investigations, despite the fact that such inquiries are already ongoing at the local, state and federal level.
On Feb. 26, Sanford resident George Zimmerman admitted to fatally shooting Martin shortly after Zimmerman reported to police what he called suspicious activity as he met Martin leaving a neighborhood convenience store on foot.
Zimmerman said he shot Martin, a 17-year-old black male, in self defense after an alleged altercation between the two in which Zimmerman claims to have been punched.
Because police say Zimmerman apparently acted in self defense under Florida law, the 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer has not been charged, sparking a media firestorm in which both the police and Zimmerman have been accused of racism.
The CUIC statement quotes the Bible verse: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
However, the statement seems to draw conclusions about the incident before the justice system has a chance to complete a series of investigations.
“We write because we are appalled at a local justice system that has presumed the guilt of a dead child and has failed to thoroughly investigate his killing,” the CUIC statement claims.
However, local law enforcement and prosecutors, the Sanford city manager’s office and the Florida Attorney General’s office are continuing investigations both into the incident and into the police department’s handling of it.
The state has also appointed a special prosecutor to investigate and a grand jury is scheduled to meet. The U.S. Justice Department has also launched an investigation.
“It is a time to understand the burden that some of us have to live always facing the stereotypes of others and the danger that these stereotypes might cost us our lives,” the statement read. “In humility, we invite the Body of Christ to join in serious self-examination about how our communities by our silence support racial profiling and stereotyping.”
“We write because we cannot remain silent at the continued ‘criminalization’ of black and brown peoples with laws that give license to people to shoot first and ask questions later.”
Although Zimmerman has been accused of alleged racial profiling in his past duties as a neighborhood watch official, no evidence has been presented that he specifically called police because of Martin’s race.
Speaking of Martin, Zimmerman told a 911 dispatcher, “Something’s wrong with him … He’s coming to check me out. He’s got something in his hands.” That “something” turned out to be a packet of candy and a can of tea.
The incident has drawn national attention and increased calls for Zimmerman’s arrest as well as vigilante action.
A petition allegedly signed by 2 million people calling for Zimmerman’s arrest has been presented by the Rev. Al Sharpton. Members of the New Black Panther Party have offered $10,000 for the vigilante capture of Zimmerman.
On Wednesday, film director Spike Lee apologized for posting an address on Twitter he believed to be that of Zimmerman. The address turned out to belong to an elderly couple who had received threats and harassment as a result.
After posting the statement to its website, the PCUSA immediately drew criticism for its participation in the CUIC action.
“It’s amazing that in one portion of [the CUIC statement], you would call for an unbiased investigation into the facts, yet this request is surrounded by your overzealous contention that this was a racist act,” said reader Bob Hartsell, commenting on the PCUSA’s news page.
“Racism may well have been the underlying cause of this,” he added. “The shooting may well have been totally unjustified, and, if so, Zimmerman should be prosecuted. Then again, this teen, who may not have been as angelic has his widely circulated picture would indicate, may have been the aggressor. At this point, no one knows.”
Reader Carol Bates also pointed out that accusations of racism were premature. “I pray when all the truth is discovered that we can move forward without judging and pointing fingers and crying the color of his skin was the problem,” she said, adding, “I believe it was not and some of us use that as a way to keep the race card in play. Jesus would not want us to use that as our crutch for lack of responsibility.”