HOME VAN NEWSLETTER 3/23/12

JUSTICE FOR TRAYVON AND JAY

On the face of it, Trayvon Martin and my friend Jay didn’t have much in
common. Trayvon was a teenager from an affluent and well-educated family who
was successfully meeting life’s challenges and had a bright future. Jay was a
homeless man camped in the woods near Williston Road. He was in fragile health
and lived on disability. This is what they have in common: both were members
of disenfranchised and endangered groups in society, since Trayvon was a black
male teenager and Jay was a homeless man. Both were gunned down by people who
claimed a self-defense justification. When I heard that Jay had been gunned
down, in a public area in the presence of witnesses, by a man who was claiming
self-defense, I was stunned with disbelief. Jay was a gentle soul who never
gave anybody trouble, to the best of my knowledge. His severe asthma kept him
from many life activities but he did love to read. He came by my house maybe
twice a month to turn in a bag of books and get another bag. I’d usually make
him a cup of coffee and we would sit and talk about this and that. Who could
feel threatened by Jay?

I testified for Jay before the Grand Jury. I thought that indictment of
the man who shot him was going to be a slam dunk. When the Grand Jury did not
return an indictment I emailed the assistant district attorney in charge and
asked him what in the world had gone wrong. He explained to me Florida’s newly
passed “Stand Your Ground Law,” a law he regarded as abhorrent and that he felt
would lead to vigilante murderers walking free.

Prophetic words. Jay didn’t have anyone to fight for him, but Trayvon
does. I believe there will be justice for Trayvon and, in this justice, there
will be some justice for Jay and for all the Jays and Trayvons who have been
murdered by thugs and vigilantes.

There will be a Trayvon Martin Community Rally for Justice on Saturday,
March 31 at 6 p.m. at Faith United Methodist Church, near the corner of NE 39th
Avenue and across the road from Rawlings Elementary School. For more
information on this rally, you can call the Rev. Milford Griner at 665-4066 or 377-5022. May this rally
be well-attended. We cannot sit by in silence. This is our business and our
concern, as members of the human family.

SPRING AND PEANUT BUTTER

Since the price of peanut butter started skyrocketing, we have received
many, many donations of this essential manna. Thank you so much! Peanut butter
is the fuel that keeps the Home Van running. As for Spring, it is a time of
grace in the homeless community, without deadly cold or heat. On last night’s
run our folks were happy and relaxed and we all had a good time. I also had
long conversations with two old friends who have successfully gotten off crack
after many years of enslavement. One of them has moved into an apartment and
bought himself a fancy little scooter (bright red!) and just came by to show
himself off! The other, who has been off crack for three years, has received a
bus ticket back to Tennessee from his family, who now want him back. Crack is
possibly the most addictive substance on the face of the earth, from what I have
read. I am battling sugar addiction (with varying degrees of success). That
struggle, multiplied a zillion percent, is what it takes to get off crack, but
there are those who do it. I love happy endings!

WATER

The weather mavvens are predicting an unusually hot summer for the
southeast this year. Our ‘not unusually hot summers’ are bad enough. I am
glad the Home Van has gone to one official driveout a week, because we will now
have more time and more money to do water drop-offs at Tent City. If you run
into a sale on bottled water, think of us. It is not too early to start
stockpiling.

Peace and blessings to all of you,

arupa
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Home Van needs tents, tarps, bottled water,
Vienna sausages, creamy peanut butter, jelly, candles, white tube socks,
batteries books, games, personal hygiene supplies. Call 352-372-4825 to arrange for
drop off. Financial donations to the Home Van should be in the form of checks
made out to Citizens for Social Justice, Inc., earmarked for the Home Van, and
mailed to 307 SE 6th Street, Gainesville, FL 32601, or can be made online at
http://homevan.blogspot.com/
____________________________________THE HOMEVAN IS A PROJECT
OF CITIZENS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, INC. (FDACSREGISTRATION #CH35643). A COPY OF THE
OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE
DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE
STATE.REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY
THE STATE.