Posts tagged gun violence.

It really is disheartening to know that people in general are trying to justify why this adult male went after this teenage, young man. You can’t justify it. You can’t give a reason why. Because he was wearing a hoodie? Because of the color of his skin? Because of what he thought? [I]f this adult had remained in his vehicle, like the police dispatcher advised him to do, then this situation could have been avoided. He chose to follow my son. He chose to pursue my son. He chose to confront my son. And the result is my son’s death. I believe the responsibility lies on him as an adult because my son was not following him. He did not confront him. He did not chase him. And he did not have a weapon.

Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s mother, on the anniversary of his death. (via derasso)

(via loveyourchaos)

#Trayvon Martin  #fault  #justice  #gun violence  
∞  February 27, 2013 at 08:52pm
1,941 notes
via Washington Post

Youth Violence in Toronto and our Hierarchy of Victimhood ›

Simon Black, a researcher in urban social policy at the City Institute at York University, hits the target right on in this editorial for the Toronto Star.

And this reality isn’t unique to Toronto - it’s endemic of all major cities of ‘Westernised’ countries. The shame for me is the lack of outrage from the general population, ahem, white people. Because let’s be clear - the people of these communities are angry; they are simply too poor, disenfranchised, and too often racialized to have their voices heard.

So I think it’s up to us (‘us’ being those who live in largely safe neighbourhoods of relative wealth and whose opinions are actually considered) to speak for the many who can’t - and often won’t - be heard.

We are only as strong as our weakest link.

#violence  #youth  #gun violence  #Toronto  #racism  
∞  June 24, 2012 at 06:37pm