Date: 2012-03-22
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

He is certainly a lawyer whos practiced law. but I have met Mr. ELLISONs wonderful family of youth and young people. a young man. Thats what happens. People dont realize that we have families on both sides of the aisle. Good Republican friends whove been with our families. So whatever you see us saying here on the floor of the House. we are particularly sensitive and warm toward Members families because we are. in essence. despite our policy debates. we are a family here. So I simply wanted to indicate first to give good wishes to Congresswoman CORRINE BROWN. who is now with her constituents in a major protest in Florida on this sad and tragic incident. I wanted to say that we will gather on Tuesday to present an opportunity for the case to be heard on this issue and the Federal Governments responsibility or authority. One of the things that in this budget we are very keenly sensitive to are the needs of the Department of Justice. Again. an optimistic budget. because the Department of Justice is the armor in many instances that will come in and help a community when they cannot get help locally. Mr. Martin was killed on February 26. He was buried on March 1. Today is March 22. It was only when his parents came out or used their grief that theyre still grieving to start asking why. lawabiding citizens who were waiting for the city attorney and waiting on the chief of police. waiting on the Governor of the State of Florida to say something. Nothing was said. So. as the voices began to raise and the astonishment and outrage began to percolate. Mr. ELLISON. it was not isolated to Florida or Sanford. If you listen to the various media outlets. parents. no matter what their background. were calling and asking. What about my child? I think it is important that we show this young man. It could be any of our family members. Can we imagine our youngsters wearing the clothing of the dayhoodies. sneakers. jeans. Do I need to remind you that Mr. Trayvon Martin was simply getting some Skittles. on the phone with his girlfriend. walking back to where his father was and going to look at some games. In this instance. it was basketball. I come from local government. You come from State government. We know about Neighborhood Watch. We champion Neighborhood Watch. We have this Community Night Out. Police Night Out. whatever it is. and all of us have gone to it. We tell neighbors to watch out for each other. Its important for it to be said this was not watching out for each other. The basic 911 tape. if you frame it. the call came in. thats the right thing to do. The description I may not adhere to. some of the words in the description. but so be it. you described this individual as such. But it came back and asked the specific question. "Are you following him?" "Yes." "Do not do that." This youngster. football player. babysitterlikes to babysit. eating Skittlesa fun food to eat with a basketball gamewas on the sidewalk. Not coming out of a window. not knocking on a door. not standing in front of a door. not on a lawnwalking on a sidewalk. which the Progressive Caucus has stood many times on that First Amendment right. weve stood many times. He was walking. and we are now in an abyss of darkness in terms of what next happened. but the description is. this young boy was shot pointblank in the chest. We have to call upon the Federal resources. Weve called for a Federal investigation. Weve been joined by many colleagues. We have tapes of witnesses. meaning people inside their homes. saying they heard shouting and crying for help. Weve heard people ask the question: Why didnt the neighborhood watcher stand down in the car? Move away? Weve also heard the author of the "stand your ground" billwhich. by the way. is in 20 or so Statesa Republican State representative. articulate in newspaper clips that it is not a pursue and attack. It is that you can stand your ground upon someone coming. but it is not a pursue and attack. I just wanted to indicate that it is important for Members of Congressand I believe there is a sense of outrage. We are not taking this to the level that does not respect the family that is mourning. Were not creating hysteria. We are only begging for the relief of others whose names have not come up. There are people calling in and telling us about cases from the west coast to the east coast. to the North and the South. So I wanted to indicate that we will be joining as Members of Congress in hearing the circumstances. as much as we can. on the theory of the Federal Governments responsibility or authority. I think that is the more appropriate approach to take. I want to thank the gentleman for letting me articulate. I think. just the sheer horror of having our kids leave our homefor innocenceand not come back. As a mother. I believe that. and as one who sees this. I believe we owe that family a response.