The Trayvon Case

The Trayvon Martin case has been a disturbing wake-up call for the American public. However, for me it unfortunately came as no surprise. For as long as I can remember I've noticed regular incidences of blatant racism in our police force, often with violent outcomes. Even in my own hometown or Austin, TX. As a regular reader of the Austin Chronicle I've remained aware of local news and have come across shocking instances of police brutality, often reflecting racial biases within the force.

Just last Fall a young man named Byron Carter was shot in by an APD officer(http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2011-10-21/carter-called-home-before-fatal-police-shooting/). He was neither armed nor dangerous. A few years ago, in 2009, there was the tragic shooting of Nathaniel Sanders II, who was shot dead while sleeping in his friends car (http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2009-08-14/821751/). Years before, in 2007, Kevin Brown was shot in an altercation with an APD officer (http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2007-11-23/563811/). Brown was fleeing from the officer, who was interrogating him about a public disturbance, but he was unarmed.
These incidents represent three very different situations, but similar themes resound regarding the ethics of our police force. In all three situations the officers at hand greatly over-estimated the threat posed by their victims, assumedly due to racial prejudice. To shoot a citizen point-blank when there is no threat posed to an officer is unconscionable and unacceptable. Cases like these always stuck out to me as particularly relevant to the health of our communities, as the point towards a fundamental flaw (or possibly many...) in our police force. How can we as citizens feel safe when those who are payed by our tax dollars to protect us are posing as one of our greatest threats? It's a heavy problem and one I've always thought deserves more attention.
Now, I know the shooter in the Martin case was not a police officer, but rather a neighborhood watchman. However, I can only assume that if in a city like Austin we've had so many cases of police violence with blatant racial undertones that it may well be a nationwide problem. And, if the police force operating in this part of Florida were acting as ours so often does, then it leads to reason that this neighborhood watchman might mimic the destructive behaviors displayed by his civic employees. While Martin's shooter is individually and personally responsible for his actions, I do think that they are indicative of larger persistent problems within our justice system.
As tragic as young Mr. Martin's untimely passing has been, the one piece of good that may come from it is an impetus for change as a nation. Hopefully we will begin to look with more scrutiny upon our police force and hold them accountable for unjust actions.