More than 71,500 ColorOfChange members have demanded that the U.S. Department of Justice‘s criminal civil-rights section bring federal charges against George Zimmerman, who has yet to face any legal consequences for profiling and killing Trayvon Martin. The DOJ’s civil rights investigation, launched after Trayvon’s death last spring, remains open,¹ and the Department is now actively seeking public input on how it should proceed.²

This week, we’re planning to deliver tens of thousands of powerful comments from ColorOfChange members like you urging the DOJ to do what’s right — so we only have a few days left to get the word out about the Department’s call for public comment. Can you take a moment to sign the petition to the DOJ, and to include a personalized comment when you do?

Thanks,

Rashad Robinson Executive Director, ColorOfChange.org

References

1. “Eric Holder says he shares concerns about Trayvon Martin case,” Washington Post, 07-15-13 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2841?t=2&akid=3091.1174326.KVoDw6

2. “Justice Dept. collecting public feedback on Zimmerman case,” Washington Post, 07-17-13 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2847?t=4&akid=3091.1174326.KVoDw6

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Today, admitted killer George Zimmerman is a free man. Join the movement to end the senseless violence perpetrated by unaccountable vigilantes and police due to racial profiling: demand federal civil rights charges be brought against Zimmerman.

Dear Friends

George Zimmerman stalked and killed Trayvon Martin in late February of last year. It took 45 days for Sanford, Florida police to arrest 17-year-old Trayvon Martin’s admitted killer — and only 16 hours for jurors to acquit him of second-degree murder and manslaughter last night.¹

We are angry. We are sad. And we are in pain.

We send our love and support to Trayvon’s parents — Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin — and we grieve with them and the countless other families of Black children who have been killed just for being Black.²

In this time of national sorrow, let’s turn our rightful frustration into action and grow a movement to hold the criminal justice system that fails Black Americans every day³ accountable.

Since the beginning, the Department of Justice has closely monitored the state’s case against George Zimmerman, and the DOJ can still bring charges against Trayvon’s killer. Please join us in calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to bring federal civil rights charges against Zimmerman, and help us strengthen our efforts to end racial profiling and the violence it creates.

What does it say about our society when a civilian can shoot and kill a Black child who is just walking home from the store, and what can it mean when the killer is set free? What does this say about the value our society places on the lives of young Black children? It tells us that a Black life has little worth. It tells us that Black youth are seen as nothing more than violent criminals.⁴ And it tells us how much more work we must do to achieve a just society.

The police department in Sanford botched the investigation from start to finish.⁵ But we did not stay silent. Had it not been for the dedicated activism and work of Trayvon’s family, ColorOfChange members and countless others, Zimmerman may have never been arrested — let alone gone to trial. Our collective commitment to fight for justice for Trayvon was overwhelming. We responded. We organized. We forced authorities to make an arrest in a case that easily could have been forgotten, just like so many before. The US Department of Justice was forced to intervene, and although it took 45 days, Zimmerman was eventually arrested and charged with murder.⁶

Thousands of ColorOfChange members spoke out against Florida’s “Shoot First” law, which initially shielded George Zimmerman from arrest and prosecution.⁷ The shadowy lobbying organization the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) — and its deep-pocketed supporters at the National Rifle Association (NRA) — proliferated these laws around the country. Since ColorOfChange began drawing attention to ALEC’s role in crafting these deadly Shoot First laws, 52 corporations and nonprofits and at least 70 state legislators have publicly disavowed any relationship with the group.⁸

Working together, our movement is a powerful force for change. Please join us in calling for an end to impunity. Demand that the Department of Justice file civil rights charges against George Zimmerman. And when you take action, please ask your family and friends to do the same.

Thanks and Peace,

–Rashad, Arisha, Matt, Jamar, Aimée and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team   August 5th, 2013

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