CNN--Irish singer songwriter Sinead O’Connor has posted an open letter to Treyvon Martin’s family on her website. The controversial singer expressed her sympathy towards the Martin family whose teenage son was shot in Sanford, Florida by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who claims he did so in self-defense.
O’Connor wrote: “I would like to extend my very deepest sympathies to the family and other loved ones of murdered teenager, Treyvon Martin. I am very sad today (and am certain the whole of Ireland is) to learn of poor Treyvon’s terrifying ordeal and horrified by the fact his known and named and admitted killer has not been arrested, despite the crime having taken place a month ago. This is a disgrace to the entire human race.”
On 26th February, the 17-year-old high school student was found dead in Sanford, Florida. Witnesses heard a scuffle, a cry for help and a gunshot. Zimmerman was found standing over his body with a handgun.
Martin was carrying no weapons, only a packet of Skittles and an iced tea. He had a bloody nose and a wound to the back of his head.
The police did not arrest Zimmerman, run a background test or test him for drink or drugs at the scene. Since the death of their son, the Martin family has being petitioning to have him arrested.
O’Connor has also set up a petition from her site. Other celebrities have also lent their voices to the Martin family’s campaign including Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Spike Lee and members of the NBA’s Miami Heat.
In O’Connor’s letter, she wrote with conviction about the Martin case, denouncing racist reaction and wrote about Africa being the birthplace of civilization.
She said, “For those out there who believe black people to be less than pure royalty, let me inform you of a little known, but scientifically proven, many times over, FACT. Which after reading, you will hopefully feel both very stupid and very sorry. For you dishonor your own mothers and grandmothers.
EVERY human being on earth, no matter what their culture, creed, skin color, or nationality, shares one gene traceable back to one African woman. Scientists have named it ‘The Eve Gene’. This means ALL of us, even ridiculously stupid, ignorant, perverted, blaspheming racists are the descendants of one African woman.”
She continued evoking Jesus Christ and how black people have contributed to our society.
“These beautiful people continue to believe in and even manifest Jesus Christ better than you do. That alone could stand as the greatest reason your racism is blasphemy, were it not for all the other reasons.
“These people you hate and fear ARE the body of Christ, just as we all are. Every child, woman or man. And they know it. Maybe that’s why you can’t bear to look at them. Because you see Jesus Christ and you can’t stand the light.
“Stop this ridiculous and uneducated attitude. You would be dead without black people. Think of all the greatest music ever composed. The greatest songs. The greatest inspirational heroes.. Muhammad Ali, Mandela, Martin Luther King, Harriet Tubman, Soujourner Truth, Bob Marley, Nina Simone, Curtis Mayfield. So many absolute angels, sent from God.
Without the inspiration of these people many millions of so-called ‘white’ people, including myself would not have had the strength to pay the price of life.
O’Connor goes on to urge black youths to love one another, end black-on-black violence and ignore the materialistic messages of hip-hop.
She wrote, “Go back to strong black musical guides who left you information in the 60s and 70s. when they were living through the civil rights struggle. Curtis Mayfield. The Impressions. Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson. Sing back the Holy Spirit ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, as those artists did.
“Forget bling. Forget “Get Rich Or Die Trying”. That is an evil message. Evil my dears is only life backwards. Turn it the right way up. With music. The messages American black youth are being given through music are not about the spiritual and therefore strong and conquering but PEACEFUL making of YOUR country into the wonderful place it secretly is and can be.. BECAUSE OF YOU, and BY YOU!!
“You know not how you are adored, appreciated, valued, loved, cried for, smiled for, prayed for, all over the world. You know not how much inspiration and uplift-ment of heart you give to millions just by your presence on earth. These musical guides will give you self-esteem. When you have self-esteem you can achieve anything. You can stand in the street as many did yesterday and change your country peacefully and with song. Chant down Babylon as the Rastas say. Rastafari will also give you self esteem. Investigate it.”
On her site she also gives the details of a petition she has set up on Change.org via her, temporarily reinstated Twitter account. She said “Friends and enemies.. I have briefly re-joined twitter in order to send around thechange.org petition set up by Trayvon Martin's parents, asking for the killer of their child to be arrested…again may I extend my very deepest sympathies to Trayvon's loved ones."
Posted By: Siebra Muhammad
Tuesday, March 27th 2012 at 11:02AM
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