Trayvon Martin AND #blacklivesmatter Speaker: Cynthia Schmidt, Director Center for Law and Policy, Univ. of Central Florida July 26, 2017

Fresh Air of Free Speech

Central Florida is Ground Zero for the #blacklivesmatter dialogue

Some historical context: 250 years of slavery 100 years of Jim Crow laws 60 years of Mass Incarceration

Sentencing disparities between powder cocaine and crack Mandatory minimums “Three strikes and you’re out” The politics of “tough on crime”

Meanwhile: Disparities in achievement Inherited wealth Abilities to obtain loans Implicit bias, institutional racism Joe vs. Jose experiment Black students are 3 x more likely to be suspended in school Black drivers are 30% more likely to be pulled over A majority of doctors have unconscious racial bias against black patients

President Obama was elected in 2008: A Post-racial America?

Trayvon Martin case (Feb. 26, 2012) Common images in the media George Zimmerman

What images did the media run with? It depends on which media.

Months later still no arrest, and insufficient explanation from the police. Hence protests:

Professional and Nonprofessional Media

Timeline: February 26, 2012: Trayvon Martin was killed. For the first week it was a nonstarter of a story until Attorney Benjamin Crump started to shop it out to National Media. March 8, 2012: Change.org petition started (eventually 2.2 million signatures) March 16, 2012: 911 call was released March 22, 2012: Sanford Police Chief Lee stepped down. March 22, 2012: State Attorney Angela Corey was assigned to the case. April 11, 2012: Zimmerman turned himself in and left jail on bond. June 22, 2012: Chief Lee was fired. July 12, 2012: 30 reports from SPD released to the media, indicating the shooting was not based upon race, that Zimmerman’s neighbors were complimentary July 18, 2012: Zimmerman gives his first interview. Media battle. Framing. Summer of 2012: 3 protests of 25,000 people in Sanford. No indication of a trial date. “Why is he free?”

Timeline, continued: November, 2012: Blue Ribbon Panel begins its work. November, 2012- trial : Pastors Connecting begins its work. June 2013: Blue Ribbon Panel releases its report. June 24, 2013: The trial begins. July 13, 2013: Zimmerman is found Not Guilty. Thereafter protests around the world:

The birth of #blacklivesmatter “Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise.  It is an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.” Founders: Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi, Patrisse Cullors

Eric Garner, NYC July 17, 2014 No charges, instead cop got a big raise. 2 arrests for videographer though.

Mike Brown and Ferguson, Missouri August 9, 2014 Grand jury failed to indict

Aftermath of Ferguson Although Darren Wilson was cleared, the shooting led to a Justice Department review that found racism against black people in “nearly every aspect of Ferguson’s law enforcement system.” Findings: Ferguson police officers and court workers exchanged racist emails, targeted black citizens and used unjustified arrests to bring more money into the local government. Birth of #BlackLivesMatter

Tamir Rice, Cleveland, Ohio Nov. 22, 1014 No Indictment

Freddie Gray, Baltimore, Maryland April 12, 2015 All charges dropped against all officers.

Walter Scott, N. Charleston, South Carolina After a hung jury former cop pled guilty, facing a life sentence.

Alton Sterling, Baton Rouge, LA No federal charges.

Philando Castille, Minnesota Officer was found Not Guilty at trial

54 officers were charged with crime. Out of more than 10,000 fatal police shootings by on-duty police officers between 2004-2014: 54 officers were charged with crime. Only a handful were convicted. Source: Washington Post and Bowling Green State University, 2015.

BlackLivesMatter, BlueLivesMatter?

How did #blacklivesmatter affect the 2016 election? The turnout rate among African-American citizens tumbled sharply in 2016. Only 59 percent of black citizens voted in 2016, down from 66 percent in 2012 and 65 percent in 2008. (Source: Politico.) The 59-percent black turnout rate last year more closely resembles the 60-percent rate in 2004 than either of former President Barack Obama’s elections. (Id.) Many in the black community did not like Hillary Clinton. See: “Superpredators,” and Bill Clinton $30 billion 1994 Crime Bill.

Which group of people is most impacted by Mass Incarceration? Blacks.

Black Lives Matter wins global peace prize: Previous Winners include: South African civil rights activist Desmond Tutu

Justine Damond “The most innocent victim of police brutality this nation has ever seen.” - Her lawyer, 6 days ago

Was Justine Damond “the most innocent” victim? Or just the whitest? Akai Gurley, shot in the stairwell, officer walked by offering no aid, and argued for minutes about who they should call. Jordan Edwards, high school Freshman, 3.5 GPA. Shot in the head driving home a party. Aiyana Jones, 7 years-old, asleep on her couch when police shot her

Will the cop who killed Justine Damond do time?

What do you think? Officer Mohamed Noor

Thank you. Any questions?