As I get older, I become more observant. I watch for signs of sincerity from my vantage point of societal politics. As an idealist, I listen for the sincere dissemination of news, fact and information so that I can accurately inform my constituents in order that they may make informed decisions. In regards to the ongoing saga surrounding the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on February 26, I’ve observed the behaviors of America’s constituencies - as usual, divided along racial lines, with each protecting their interests. No surprise there. For the group supporting George Zimmerman, protecting liberty is sacrificed in favor of protecting their interests.

As I noted in a previous commentary on this topic: Trayvon Martin was shot by an over-zealous citizen patroller under the guise of looking and acting “suspicious” and the usual suspects have staked out positions based on long-held perceptions of crime and race. Analyses of the prima facia incident would hopefully lead one to make judgments based on not only the inherent fairness within the human spirit, but because each of us has a stake in advancing good public policy.

What is keenly obvious was the immediate and acutely polarizing divisions of opinion along racial lines, no matter how straightforward the facts: A white Hispanic male citizen-patroller follows a young, Black male - who in an instant becomes “suspect” because the white male perceives him as suspicious. The citizen’s civic duty results in the shooting death of the “suspicious one,” a Black male - again.

What immediately unfolded following the shooting was an oft visited scenario that leads whites to question the unknowns, and thereby “reserve judgment”. On the contrary, Blacks, nationwide, acknowledged the ‘knowns’ in this equation: the shooting in the back of an unarmed Black male; the circumstances of the shooting; the timeliness of the police response; and collusion between law enforcement and in this instance, the shooter. Anything other than the ‘knowns’ creates a “cloud” that leads Americans to miss the point: an unjust shooting of an unarmed American.

As Black Americans across the nation cry racism, whites across the country see a “rush to judgment.” I posit that, as a Black American, the rush is toward justice so often deferred and ultimately, denied, when Black males are the victims. Blacks have elected (this time) to not accept America’s legacy of unequal protection under the law - in this case, protections to ensure the integrity of a thorough, transparent investigation by the Sanford, Florida Police Department. Why would anyone malign such a demand? White commentators across radio, internet and television networks persisted in their assertion that Blacks “drummed up” the cry of racism. Come now. Really? The facts justify our cry.

What we see in this criminal case is law enforcement’s selective and deliberate “leaking” of information aimed to disparage murdered victim Trayvon Martin. Leaks, such as “multiple school suspensions” and marijuana use, formed “clouds of distraction” - tools used successfully in the past to exonerate guilty white males. In reality, even if true, the leaked information has absolutely nothing to do with George Zimmerman’s illegal act of fatally shooting an unarmed, innocent person.

Much like the tactics of neo-conservative politics, a disinformation campaign began to cloud the issue. The shooter’s family began appearing on news networks, recounting both Zimmerman’s “Black friends,” and how he was attacked and physically assaulted by Martin. His nose was broken in the confrontation and his head bashed repeatedly against the concrete…so claimed his family. The attempts to try Zimmerman in the press and defend his character, reputation and behavior, were nothing more than obvious attempts to protect “one of their own.” In the name of justice and liberty, we cannot allow such clouds to blind us. Not again.

Yet, we do know that the police failed to interview eyewitnesses immediately following the shooting. Why, when memories are freshest immediately after an incident? In a CNN Interview, an eyewitness contradicted Zimmerman’s story by saying the shooter (known only because he was the one who got up and walked away) was on top of the “the smaller man” and that they were in the grass, as evidenced by the police surveillance video that showed police wiping grass - not blood - off the shooter’s jacket.

This witness is relevant because white America sees the need to “wait until all the ‘facts’ come in to determine guilt.” Insane! Enough facts were already known to gain an indictment and arrest at the scene of the murder. Such rush to judgment occurs most of time when Black males are accused of a crime! What Black America wants is what ALL Americans should want: justice.

The good thing is the disinformation campaign began falling apart and even the defenders of traditional processes were left in an indefensible posture. The clouds of distraction began clearing and Americans are seeing this incident for what is: premeditated murder. That’s their story and this time, they’re sticking to it. Perhaps, we’re fortunate to have so many non-Blacks with us on this one.

Allow me to also add that this cloud-clearing was no organic evolution of American justice. It came only because of the well thought out strategizing of the Martin family and their advisors. To hire a legal advocate who understands social change and the power of organizing, to understand the tactics of “trial by press,” to understand the need for demagoguery in a time of desperation, is not by accident. I applaud the Martin family for “doing something” now! Most of us wait, expecting someone else to act, but the Martin family took matters into their own hands.

Although enough evidence existed to arrest Zimmerman on day one, we prayed that the Florida Attorney General’s investigation would lead to his arrest. It did. Now, we stand vigilant as the motions and hearings begin, as he has pled not guilty to the 2nd-degree murder charge. The trial could be years away.

Meanwhile, the Black community and our allies will Occupy For Justice by occupying the Justice Department on April 24 at 11am in Washington, DC to continue the pressure on our elected officials to dispense justice in accordance with the facts and the law. The involvement of the DOJ and FBI must label Zimmerman’s cowardly and heinous act for what it is: a hate crime and an attempted cover-up by the Sanford Police Department.

What I know is that guns only embolden typically rational humans to act in inhuman ways. The Sanford Police Department initially believed Zimmerman’s claim that he acted within the Florida’s NRA - and Wal-Mart-backed - “Stand Your Ground” law. This belief clouded George Zimmerman’s mind and, apparently, the mind of the police, too. A rational, unclouded mind hopes that members of the police department also will be arrested. Anything less is justice denied.

BlackCommentator.com Columnist, Perry Redd, is the former Executive Director of the workers rights advocacy, Sincere Seven, and author of the on-line commentary, “The Other Side of the Tracks.” He is the host of the internet-based talk radio show, Socially Speaking in Washington, DC. Click here to contact Mr. Redd.