The two hot topics for conversation among me and my friends right now are Trayvon Martin and Shaima al-Awadi. Due to the influence of social media, friends wear Hoodies in solidarity with Travon and female friends who don’t ordinarily wear the hijab have worn it in solidarity with Shaima. People speak very passionately about these tragedies and with very little patience for Law Enforcement. In addition to talking to friends, I’ve read several blogs and news stories about them. It surprises me how quick people are to link these two cases as instances of neglect and hatred toward minorities in America. In an effort to separate fact from fiction, let me remind people of a few things.
First what we know about Trayvon Martin.
1) Trayvon Martin (a 17 year old African-American boy) was shot dead by George Zimmerman (a Latino/White man) who admitted to shooting Trayvon.
2) The Sanford Police Department chose to accept George Zimmerman’s word about it being self-defense.
3) The Police did NOT to collect evidence that we see Crime Scene Investigators agonize over on TV every week.
a. George Zimmerman walked out of the Police Station in the same clothes he was wearing when he walked in.
b. George Zimmerman was not tested for drugs or alcohol.
4) Nothing seemed to have been done until the lack of action by the police led to activism in social media.
5) Since Trayvon Martin became national news, there have been leaks from the Police Department that have both smeared him and shed more light on the injustice that took place there.
a. He was suspended from school 3 times for none-violent offences.
b. 911 dispatch tapes recorded George Zimmerman calling Trayvon Martin a racial slur AND the Dispatcher telling George NOT to follow Trayvon.
c. Police confirmed that Trayvon Martin had no juvenile offender record.
6) Joe Oliver and a Lawyer crop up out of nowhere to defend George Zimmerman.
a. Joe Oliver claims to be a family friend but the only confirmed connection between Joe Oliver and George Zimmerman is the fact that they worked in the same place.
b. Joe Oliver claims George Zimmerman had a broken nose and huge gash on the back of his head.
c. No Medical records have been produced to confirm or deny these claims.
7) George Zimmerman’s story that Trayvon Martin knocked him down, punched him in the nose and then slammed his head into the ground is proven to be overstated by surveillance tape from the night Trayvon was shot.
a. The Police tape shows no blood or injury on Zimmerman.
b. The Police tape show him wearing a jacket. Why did a police report state his “shirt” was wet w/ grass stains if he was wearing a jacket?
All of these facts lead me to suspect the case was miss-handled. Whether or not these facts are the result of institutionalized racism or incompetence is not for me to say. I’ve never been to Florida. I’ve never had any dealings with any of the Police agencies there. However, I do see the failing that have happened in this case and they need to be correct.
Second, here’s what we know about Shaima al-Awadi.
There is a lot less information available about Shaima partially (I believe) because the events happened more recently.
1) Shaima al-Awadi (32 year old Arab woman) tragically was found savagely beaten in her own home by Fatima Al Himidi, Shaima’s daughter.
2) There was a broken window or door leading into the house.
3) A note was found near the body.
a. Daughter said the note said, "go back to your country, you terrorist."
b. El Cajon Police said the note was “threatening” but have not yet said what was written on it.
c. The family says they had found a similar note inside of their house before, but did not report it to authorities.
4) Unlike what happened with Trayvon Martin, no one waited for the Police to show up and say, “I did it.”
5) The previous note was thrown away by the family, leaving the Police no physical evidence to work with.
6) Police and Crime Scene Investigators are by all appearances are doing their due diligence.
7) Police have not ruled out the possibility that this was a hate crime.
8) Three days after being hospitalized, Shaima al-Awadi was taken off life support and died.
There is no evidence to suggest the El Cajon Police Department is in any way mishandling their investigation. The only thing Shaima al-Awadi has in common with Trayvon Martin based on what we know as fact is that they were both minorities and they were both tragically taken from us before their time. Trayvon Martin’s case appears to have been mishandled from the start.
Unlike Trayvon Martin’s State, I HAVE lived in California. I actually lived in El Cajon for a brief period when I was very small. I don’t remember much about it but I do remember living in other parts of San Diego. I also remember my family turning to the San Diego Police Department for assistance more than once. My memories of those instances were positive and when my parents spoke of them following the contact their gratitude was clear. In the absence of evidence that the ECPD has brushed aside the death of Shaima al-Awadi (the way the Sanford Police Department obviously did with Trayvon Martin) I can only conclude that racism is playing no part in the investigation. Tentatively (until a suspect is named or arrested in the Shaima al-Awadi case) however, there ARE facts that suggest both deaths were the result of Racism. This is why I urgently call on those in my wider religious community to make an effort to improve our relationship with Law Enforcement.
Until then however, I include both families in my prayers daily. I pray they receive strength, patience and mercy. I urge everyone to think before you speak and ESPECIALLY before you act.
