FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2013
CONTACT: Jennifer Riley-Collins, (601) 354-3408, jriley-collins@aclu-ms.org
JACKSON, MS - Today, American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi's Executive Director Jennifer Riley-Collins released the following statement in the wake of the not guilty verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman:
Today, our thoughts are with the family of Trayvon Martin. Our thoughts are also with the youth throughout this nation and throughout Mississippi. Many are wondering "What does this mean for me as a young African-American male, a young Latino male, or a young LGBT person in Mississippi?" The verdict rendered this weekend casts serious doubt in the minds of youth whether the legal system truly provides equal protection of the laws to everyone regardless of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. Mississippians are encouraged to have open and honest dialogue with the youth around them so that this tragedy is not repeated on our streets. Policy makers are asked to examine policies and practices that paint a picture of a child as a threat. This verdict whispers from a past we do wish to repeat but echoes a present we must admit still exists.
The ACLU-MS receives calls on a weekly basis highlighting the disparate treatment of youth of color and LGBT youth in their schools which should be safe places and on the streets by law enforcement officers who stop them merely because of the way they look not because of any wrongdoing. The verdict highlights what we unfortunately find on a routine basis in our work with young people across the state, that there is a pervasive mistrust and lack of communication exist between minority youth and law enforcement and school officials in their neighborhoods and communities.
Nationally, the ACLU issued a statement, calling upon the Department of Justice to "thoroughly examine whether the Martin shooting was a federal civil rights violation or hate crime" and urging "Congress to pass the End Racial Profiling Act. These specific actions would go a long way to ameliorate the widespread problem of racial profiling. Highlighting the importance of greater change, the ACLU stressed that "We need solutions not only in Trayvon Martin's case, but also systemic reform."
The ACLU of Mississippi, calls on all Mississippians, particularly those in positions of authority, whether a school official or a neighborhood watchman to stop, think and have a conversation rather than an on-the-spot conviction. As a community, we must work toward a better Mississippi where we promote equal treatment for all. While we may not agree with the outcome of the Zimmerman trial Mississippians are asked instead to focus on action that will bring an end to policies and practices that discriminate against youth because of the color of their skin, their sexual orientation or the manner in which they express their individual style. Download the Press Statement
