Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Trayvon Martin case: Empty police car shot up in neighborhood where teen was killed

Already reeling from weeks of tension over the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, the town of Sanford, Fla., is dealing with a new controversy.

Several shots were fired at an empty city police cruiser around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Witnesses reported hearing at least six gunshots, according to multiple local media reports.

The police car was parked near the site where Martin was fatally shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman on Feb. 26. Zimmerman claims he acted in self-defense, and has not been arrested or charged with a crime — a fact that has sparked protests nationwide.

The cruiser had been parked across from Sanford’s Bentley Elementary for several weeks at the school's request, according to The Associated Press.

In a statement, Sanford police said it was being used as "a visible deterrent due to tour buses using the school property to park during the day and evening hours."

The shots hit the car's windshield, pierced its hood, and shattered one of its windows, police told Fox Orlando.

No one was hurt.

The shooting comes at a time when tensions are running high in the small central Florida city.

"Are we a kindling box? Sure," Mayor Jeff Triplett told ABC News. "But we're working down a path and so far it's been absolutely peaceful."

The shooting comes a day after State Attorney Angela Corey, who is prosecuting Martin's case, announced her decision not to use a grand jury. In Florida, grand juries are only used in first-degree murder cases. Corey's office said in a statement Monday that the decision not to use a grand jury "should not be considered a factor in the final determination of the case."

Protesters blockaded Sanford Police Department headquarters on Monday, temporarily shutting down the station.

Since Martin's shooting, the city has become a magnet for racially charged gestures. Members of the Detroit-based National Socialist Movement have pledged to protect Sanford's "white citizens" in the event of a race riot. The New Black Panther Party had earlier announced a $10,000 bounty for George Zimmerman's capture.

Original Article
Source: ny daily news
Author: Braden Goyette

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