Mohler: The Central Tragedy of this Case Remains—Trayvon Martin Belongs to Us All

Several, including myself, have wondered why this case in particular went national and so many other murders (of both black on white and white on black) do not. Judicial Watch had an interesting article out last week on this…

(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that it has obtained documents in response to local, state, and federal records requests revealing that a little-known unit of the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Community Relations Service (CRS), was deployed to Sanford, FL, following the Trayvon Martin shooting to help organize and manage rallies and protests against George Zimmerman.

JW filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the DOJ on April 24, 2012; 125 pages were received on May 30, 2012. JW administratively appealed the request on June 5, 2012, and received 222 pages more on March 6, 2013. According to the documents:

March 25 – 27, 2012, CRS spent $674.14 upon being “deployed to Sanford, FL, to work marches, demonstrations, and rallies related to the shooting and death of an African-American teen by a neighborhood watch captain.”

March 25 – 28, 2012, CRS spent $1,142.84 “in Sanford, FL to work marches, demonstrations, and rallies related to the shooting and death of an African-American teen by a neighborhood watch captain.

* March 30 – April 1, 2012, CRS spent $892.55 in Sanford, FL “to provide support for protest deployment in Florida.”

* Correction to bulleted point number three: “to provide interregional support for protest deployment in Florida.” Correction required due to unintentional copywriting error.

March 30 – April 1, 2012, CRS spent an additional $751.60 in Sanford, FL “to provide technical assistance to the City of Sanford, event organizers, and law enforcement agencies for the march and rally on March 31.”

April 3 – 12, 2012, CRS spent $1,307.40 in Sanford, FL “to provide technical assistance, conciliation, and onsite mediation during demonstrations planned in Sanford.”

April 11 – 12, 2012, CRS spent $552.35 in Sanford, FL “to provide technical assistance for the preparation of possible marches and rallies related to the fatal shooting of a 17 year old African American male.”

…Set up under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the DOJ’s CRS, the employees of which are required by law to “conduct their activities in confidence,” reportedly has greatly expanded its role under President Barack Obama. Though the agency claims to use “impartial mediation practices and conflict resolution procedures,” press reports along with the documents obtained by Judicial Watch suggest that the unit deployed to Sanford, FL, took an active role in working with those demanding the prosecution of Zimmerman.

On April 15, 2012, during the height of the protests, the Orlando Sentinel reported, “They [the CRS] helped set up a meeting between the local NAACP and elected officials that led to the temporary resignation of police Chief Bill Lee according to Turner Clayton, Seminole County chapter president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.” The paper quoted the Rev. Valarie Houston, pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church, a focal point for protestors, as saying “They were there for us,” after a March 20 meeting with CRS agents.

Separately, in response to a Florida Sunshine Law request to the City of Sanford, Judicial Watch also obtained an audio recording of a “community meeting” held at Second Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Sanford on April 19, 2012. The meeting, which led to the ouster of Sanford’s Police Chief Bill Lee, was scheduled after a group of college students calling themselves the “Dream Defenders” barricaded the entrance to the police department demanding Lee be fired. According to the Orlando Sentinel, DOJ employees with the CRS had arranged a 40-mile police escort for the students from Daytona Beach to Sanford.

This administration is in constant campaign mode.

• “Tying” Hurricane Sandy to global climate change . Those who oppose him part of “flat earth society”
• Using Sandy Hook to advance gun control
• Citing Occupy Wall Street for anti-business screed.
• Using the Trayvon Martin case to foment racial divide

He (Obama) has an agenda … the main street media (I mentioned NBC earlier this thread) supports him.

Rosa Parks was another Trayvon Martin- a media fabrication designed to kick off the civil rights movement and the start of the NAACP….

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2013/02/the_communists_and_rosa_par…

The reason this matters is that the misleading reporting was part of an orchestrated effort to “de-thug” Trayvon Martin and demonize George Zimmerman. Was Trayvon going to make purple drank? I don’t know. But the professional race hucksters that latched onto the family did know that watermelon juice and Skittles are used to make it, so the story was put out that Trayvon was carrying iced tea. Even though the crime scene photo (and while I didn’t post that here, I assure you that it is the can pictured above) very clearly showed what Trayvon had, that iced tea story was repeated again and again. You still believe it. Hopefully you’ll change your mind in light of the facts. This is the same reason that they released the several years old picture of Trayvon looking angelic in the red Hollister shirt. They were painting an image. But the image wasn’t true. And it would help everyone if people like you and Dr. Mohler who I fully believe mean well would stop allowing preceptions of the case to be shaped by these falsehoods.

The Arizona label is known for Ice Tea. That’s why I stated it in the first place, but I agreed that it was the watermelon flavor fruit juice. I never believed that it was Ice Tea in the first place. And then because I don’t see eye to eye with you, you unfairly put me in the category with the naiveness of others. Anyway, that’s not my point. My point is that Trayvon stated on facebook, he uses soda and cough syrup to make his purple drank. Of course you need some sort of candy to make it work as well. He never said anything about fruit juice.

Also, George Zimmerman didn’t do himself any favors when he lied before the judge that he had no money when he actually had almost $200,000. Why should I automatically believe his version of the events? If he could lie before the judge earlier in order to get out of using his savings to pay for the court costs, why wouldn’t he lie before a jury to save his skin?

And again so that you do not keep on stereotyping me, I don’t think he should have been convicted based on the evidence of this case……..

I am not stereotyping you or anyone else, I m responding to those who allow false statements to shape their view of this case, and since you are in that group, I am responding to you. The “iced tea” is a prime example. In this most recent post you say, “I agreed that it was the watermelon flavor fruit juice. I never believed that it was Ice Tea in the first place.” Of course that isn’t true. In your first response you said, “the Watermelon flavored Iced Tea” and then when I pointed out the error you said, “the watermelon flavored juice, with the Ice Tea label.” That is still wrong, and that’s why I posted the photo.

You are so attached to your narrative that even after being shown photographic proof that there is NOTHING about iced tea on the can Trayvon bought, you prefer to talk about the company that makes the drink and their other products rather than admit that there was an intentional effort made to portray Trayvon Martin in a more positive light and that many people including you are still repeating that falsehood (along with many others) as if it were true.

I suspect we have reached the end of any useful conversation on this topic but the facts are clear to anyone who is willing to see.

[Robert Byers] the facts are clear

Yes they are, due in no small part to your pitbull efforts here.

Brother Byers has sent me a genuinely respectful and gracious private message, and I am now repentant of the sarcasm I engaged in above. As I said to Robert:

93% of the people (especially my age) who see an AriZona label think one thing: iced tea. By any semblence of fair reading (in my opinion) Joel referring to it as Watermelon Tea had nothing to do with commitment to a narrative and everything to do with an extremely successful branding campaign by the AriZona people. I hoped to imply by my sarcasm that it was perhaps another party in this conversation that was overly committed to a narrative.

I was wrong to make the point in a sneaky jab rather than to communicate my thoughts in a straight forward manner, and so ask brother Byers to forgive me my lack of Christian charity.

I think everything that can be said about this case, has been said. I thank all of you for your participation.

I think we all agree with the basic premises presented by the people commenting on this thread. Mainly that,

1. Trayvon Martin belongs to each one of us. He is our flesh and blood.

2. Trayvon Martin was our responsibility, and we betrayed him.

3. We need to take ownership of Martin’s actions. His truancy, his rebellion, his drug use, his hatred, his violent acts… we have blood on our hands.

4. If the Church had been doing its job, we would still have Martin sitting here among us, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and breaking bread with us.

5. Next time we are awaken by a noise in the middle of the night, and we look out our windows and see a dark hooded figure moving about in our back yards, we should resist the urge to feel suspicion towards the person or to confront him. Instead we should look at him as we would Trayvon, a young man just walking home from the store with a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos and some Laffy Taffy. We should welcome him into our home- as he is one of us… He belongs to us all.

Or do you not remember the words of the Apostle Paul when, speaking of Trayvon, he said, “Receive him as you would receive me”?

–––—

WWTD = What would Trayvon do?

Christian, I do not agree with your little summary at all. So maybe you speak for some, but assuming all is assuming too much.

[James K]

Christian, I do not agree with your little summary at all. So maybe you speak for some, but assuming all is assuming too much.

James- I think Christian was typing with his sarcasm hand.

[christian cerna]

I think everything that can be said about this case, has been said. I thank all of you for your participation.

I think we all agree with the basic premises presented by the people commenting on this thread. Mainly that,

1. Trayvon Martin belongs to each one of us. He is our flesh and blood.

2. Trayvon Martin was our responsibility, and we betrayed him.

3. We need to take ownership of Martin’s actions. His truancy, his rebellion, his drug use, his hatred, his violent acts… we have blood on our hands.

4. If the Church had been doing its job, we would still have Martin sitting here among us, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and breaking bread with us.

5. Next time we are awaken by a noise in the middle of the night, and we look out our windows and see a dark hooded figure moving about in our back yards, we should resist the urge to feel suspicion towards the person or to confront him. Instead we should look at him as we would Trayvon, a young man just walking home from the store with a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos and some Laffy Taffy. We should welcome him into our home- as he is one of us… He belongs to us all.

Or do you not remember the words of the Apostle Paul when, speaking of Trayvon, he said, “Receive him as you would receive me”?

–––—

WWTD = What would Trayvon do?

I think we can also agree that:

1) Trayvon Martin was a drug-addled hooligan that deserved to be stalked, hounded, and shot. “Watermelon drink” and skittles can only be used by black teenagers for manufacturing drugs.

2) His death is a blessing because he was a horrible person most assuredly bent on a life of crime.

3) Rascism does not exist in the US.

4) WASPs from the Midwest are the most accurate barometer of racial and socioeconomic conditions in our country.

5) The media is all liberal except for Fox News…they present accurate and unbiased news.

6) Al Mohler is a puppet of the liberal media because he wrote a blog post that we disagree with. He obviously is completely bereft of spiritual discernment and theological understanding.

7) Anyone who disagree with me about Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman is either a liberal commie or ignorant.

*Obviously this is a satirical post. Some people have graciously disagreed with each other on this thread…others have not. The hyperbole of this comment is merely to highlight the absurdity of mischaracterizing or denigrating other people’s positions. This should not be understood as an attempt to accurately recount any direct statements on this thread…unless someone actually said one of these things….

[Todd Bowditch]

[christian cerna]

I think everything that can be said about this case, has been said. I thank all of you for your participation.

I think we all agree with the basic premises presented by the people commenting on this thread. Mainly that,

1. Trayvon Martin belongs to each one of us. He is our flesh and blood.

2. Trayvon Martin was our responsibility, and we betrayed him.

3. We need to take ownership of Martin’s actions. His truancy, his rebellion, his drug use, his hatred, his violent acts… we have blood on our hands.

4. If the Church had been doing its job, we would still have Martin sitting here among us, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and breaking bread with us.

5. Next time we are awaken by a noise in the middle of the night, and we look out our windows and see a dark hooded figure moving about in our back yards, we should resist the urge to feel suspicion towards the person or to confront him. Instead we should look at him as we would Trayvon, a young man just walking home from the store with a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos and some Laffy Taffy. We should welcome him into our home- as he is one of us… He belongs to us all.

Or do you not remember the words of the Apostle Paul when, speaking of Trayvon, he said, “Receive him as you would receive me”?

–––—

WWTD = What would Trayvon do?

I think we can also agree that:

1) Trayvon Martin was a drug-addled hooligan that deserved to be stalked, hounded, and shot. “Watermelon drink” and skittles can only be used by black teenagers for manufacturing drugs.

2) His death is a blessing because he was a horrible person most assuredly bent on a life of crime.

3) Rascism does not exist in the US.

4) WASPs from the Midwest are the most accurate barometer of racial and socioeconomic conditions in our country.

5) The media is all liberal except for Fox News…they present accurate and unbiased news.

6) Al Mohler is a puppet of the liberal media because he wrote a blog post that we disagree with. He obviously is completely bereft of spiritual discernment and theological understanding.

7) Anyone who disagree with me about Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman is either a liberal commie or ignorant.

*Obviously this is a satirical post. Some people have graciously disagreed with each other on this thread…others have not. The hyperbole of this comment is merely to highlight the absurdity of mischaracterizing or denigrating other people’s positions. This should not be understood as an attempt to accurately recount any direct statements on this thread…unless someone actually said one of these things….

Great post Todd. LOL.

DATELINE JACKSONVILLE: Update: Police just made an arrest and say more arrests should come shortly. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is calling it an armed robbery and not a hate crime, even though it appears nothing was stolen.

Two white teenagers were murdered in the parking lot of a Golden Corral in Jacksonville, FL. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s office says they were killed by multiple perpetrators, and that they have a photo of the suspect’s car. There were also multiple witnesses. However, they have not released any information or description of the suspects or the suspect’s car.

Family and friends took to social media to report that the brothers had a “Free Zimmerman” bumper sticker on their truck. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office issued a statement denying that the killings were related to the Zimmerman trial.

The sheriff says it isn’t related to Zimmerman at all. And maybe it isn’t. But I can’t wait for the Albert Mohler column telling us who these victims of a shooting belong to.

Robert,

You seem to be trying to control the narrative rather than allowing me to explain what I meant by what I said because I never believed it was Ice Tea in the first place. Do you know why? Because I did research. I looked up what exactly he was carrying and that it was a fruit juice made by the Arizona label (which often makes Ice Tea as well) I found it on a site that was very pro-Zimmerman. Do I have do show you my browsing history for you to believe me? Unbelievable!!!!! You are absolutely wrong on this. You came across assuming the worst. Or else you wouldn’t have thrown me in with everyone else as if I am repeating a falsehood.

And by the way, my main point in response to you was Trayvon’s facebook post. His ingredients for it was soda and cough syrup. But you had to try to strain gnats because I didn’t get the exact wording right with the Arizona label.

Yes Robert, they belong to us as well……….