Trayvon Martin: Son, Brother, Friend...Victim

Most people have at least heard the basics of the Trayvon Martin story. I want to present the story from a different perspective. Let’s take race out of the equation for a moment. Let’s say this was an incident between Joe Blow and John Doe.


Joe Blow is a grown man and John Doe is a 17 year-old kid. Joe has decided to protect his community by being a neighborhood watchman. He has a deep commitment to his role in the local community and he takes his job so seriously that some people call him overzealous. He has made it his mission that nothing happens under his watch. One night, Joe Blow and John Doe cross paths. Joe spots John walking in the dark. Joe thinks John looks suspicious so Joe follows John. Joe calls the police to inform them of the suspicious person. The dispatcher tells Joe to stop following John, but Joe ignores the warnings. John begins running, either because he wants to get out of the light rain or because he has realized that someone is following him. Whatever the case, Joe leaves the safety of his vehicle and goes to confront John. Joe isn’t afraid because he knows that he is armed. John is afraid because he doesn’t know why the person who was following him is suddenly trying to stop him and ask him questions. Somehow a fight starts, maybe Joe starts it with his aggressive behavior or maybe John starts it because he thinks his life is in danger. Either way, the end result is the same. Joe shoots 17 year-old John and John dies.

Fact: John would have made it home alive if Joe did not get out of his car.


In an alternate universe:


Let’s say Joe didn’t kill John. Let’s say instead, Joe hit John and fractured his jaw. Joe claims self defense and no charges are filed. John’s family decides to take their case to small claims court and at least make Joe pay John’s medical bills. Here is how the court room drama would unfold.


John would tell his side of the story and the judge would turn to Joe and ask Joe what happened. Joe would lead by saying that he acted in self defense. The judge would then ask a few key questions.


Judge: Was John running towards your car?
Joe: No.
Judge: What direction was he running in?
Joe: Um.
Judge: Was he running away from your car?
Joe: It appeared that he was trying to make a getaway.
Judge: I didn’t ask if he was trying to make a getaway. I asked if he was running away from your car. If he was running away from you then why did you get out of your car?
Joe: He was getting away.
Judge: He was getting away with what? Walking down the street? You didn’t know this kid. You didn’t see where he was coming from. You followed him and you got of your vehicle and confronted him. How do you expect me to call that self-defense when you were clearly the aggressor?
Joe: I felt threatened.
Judge: So threatened that you decided to get out of your car and confront this young man even after the dispatcher told you that you didn’t need to follow him? Sir your actions were not self-defense. I’m ruling that you pay this young man’s medical bills and you’re fortunate that this situation didn’t turn out worse because this could have been a tragedy. You could have killed him or he could have killed you.


I’m not saying throw the book at George Zimmerman. As many people have stated, we still don’t know the facts of the case and unfortunately, Trayvon will never be able to tell his side of the story. I don’t know what Zimmerman’s intentions were that night, but I do know that he behaved recklessly and an innocent young boy is dead because of Zimmerman’s actions. There has to be a consequence.

An article about the case: Outrage Builds Over Trayvon Martin Shooting After Release of Police Tapes.

Status: Wondering what things I could get away with, but too afraid to test the boundaries.