Huffington Magazine Issue 58 | Page 33

Voices need you to do that.” He, a selfprofessed community watchman, made assumptions such as, “This guy looks like he’s up to no good or he’s on drugs or something.” Zimmerman even had the audacity to say “f__king punks. These a__holes, they always get away.” Well, who are “they”? The bottom line is, if Zimmerman had not defied the orders of the 911 dispatcher and acted on his own assumptions, Trayvon would be in the loving arms of his parents today. When states failed us decades ago, it was the federal government that stepped in with federal protections. Today, as we are watching another grave setback to justice, it is incumbent upon the federal justice department to investigate possible civil rights violations in this case. One voice distinctly absent from the court proceedings the last few weeks was that of Trayvon. His voice will forever be silenced because of the actions of one individual. On that horrific day in February of 2012, Trayvon went to the store, bought Skittles and an iced tea. Young Trayvon, who had only recently turned 17, had a civil right to go home. He had a civil right to walk in that neighborhood. He REV. AL SHARPTON HUFFINGTON 07.21.13 had a civil right to ignore some lone civilian questioning him if he wanted to. He even had a civil right to defend himself if followed and attacked by Zimmerman. Trayvon had undeniable civil rights that are to be protected under the laws of this nation. We must fight for those rights be- “Last weekend was upsetting and frustrating to many, but we cannot remain in a state of sorrow... we must fight for truth.” cause he no longer can. Last weekend was upsetting and frustrating to many, but we cannot remain in a state of sorrow. While we continue to mourn Trayvon’s death, we must fight for truth. We may have lost the battle, but the war for equality has just begun. Together, we will get there; together we will bring light to the depths of dark injustice that still remains. We owe it to a kid that just wanted Skittles and an iced tea. Rev. Al Sharpton is president of the National Action Network.