Civil & Human Rights

The verdict in the killing of Trayvon Martin: Some people doubling down, AZ Edition

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By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings

 

After Saturday night's acquittal of George Zimmerman on charges
stemming from his killing of Trayvon Martin, reaction was swift across
the country, including in Arizona.

State Sen. Steve Gallardo tweeted this in the aftermath of the announcement of the verdict –

And this –

Or former State Sen. David Schapira –

Sadly, other Arizona "leaders" aren't quite as thoughtful.

George Zimmerman verdict: let’s change the law

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

It is simply too easy to assert that the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial was due to racism, although racial profiling and stereotyping, and appeals to racial prejudice were certainly part of the defense strategy in this case.

In the end, the defense successfully put Travyon Martin on trial rather than George Zimmerman. The defense made Travyon Martin the perpetrator rather than the victim of the crime. They were able to do so because of Florida's perverse criminal laws.

I was deeply offended by defense counsels' statements after the verdict, when asked if the race of the individuals  had been reversed, would the outcome of the trial have been the same? Defense counsels asserted that there never would have been a trial because civil rights organizations would not have pressured prosecutors into bringing charges against an African-American — a perverse claim of "reverse racism" that the race-baiters at FAUX News Fraudcasting have been hyping incessantly to their white grievance audience. (FAUX News was promoting the possibility of post-Rodney King verdict race riots breaking out after the verdict in this case. FAUX News is a malignant cancer in American journalism). As defense counsels tell it, George Zimmerman was the innocent victim of a lynch mob of civil rights organizations and the media. This is an alternate reality designed expressly for consumption by the conservative media entertainment complex. Defense counsels are shameless.

From DC to Texas: Men Behaving Badly (video)

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Texas-flagby Pamela Powers Hannley

From the failure of the Farm Bill to the ups and downs of Immigration Reform to last-minute,late night anti-abortion bills– it’s been a wild ride lately. And, the craziness is not likely to stop any time soon.

After the jump, check out several news stories and two videos which highlight [Republican] men behaving badly in the Congress and multiple state legislatures. Heavy sigh. Will this strategy of "subtraction" work for them in 2014 or 2016? I personally don't see how it can.

The GOP war on women: ‘This is Texas, baby. Remember the Alamo’

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

While the Christian Taliban is still working on its anti-abortion bill in the North Carolina Legislature, the Christian Taliban in the Republic of Texas Gilead wrapped up its work today, just in time for Sunday services!

The Texas Senate voted 19-11 early Saturday to pass sweeping
restrictions on abortions, the conclusion of a weeks-long standoff over
reproductive rights in the state.

Although the bill’s passage was all but assured, opponents still turned
out in droves. One T-shirt favored by protesters invoked another lost
cause: “This is Texas, baby. Remember the Alamo.” Fearing a disruption,
Department of Public Safety officials confiscated anything that could be
thrown from the gallery — leading some protesters to lose tampons,
condoms, glitter and other potential projectiles.

Tampons of mass destruction — who knew? You can carry a gun in the Texas Lege, but security will confiscate tampons? Wow.

Screenshot from 2013-07-13 15:36:54

“The fight for the future of Texas is just beginning,” said Sen. Wendy Davis (D) as the vote on the legislation she successfully filibustered last month neared.