[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 27, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H1580]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REVEREND AL SHARPTON AND TRAYVON MARTIN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Al Green) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say to all who 
are within the sound of my voice or may be viewing what is said that I 
am exceedingly grateful and I thank God for Reverend Al Sharpton.
  Reverend Sharpton has been involved in the Trayvon Martin 
circumstance for some time now. That is not unusual. What may be 
considered unusual is that he is involved at a time when he has lost 
his mother, and he is acting under some courageous circumstances that 
require courage, I might say, under these circumstances. I admire what 
he does, but I especially admire the fact that he is doing it under 
these circumstances, and today he is funeralizing his mother.
  So to Reverend Al Sharpton, I want to express my gratitude; and I 
would like to just take a very short brief moment of silence and 
express my sympathies silently to Reverend Sharpton and his family.
  Thank you.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of my colleagues who have supported 
what the Justice Department is doing. It is exceedingly important that 
people understand that this is a bipartisan effort across the length 
and breadth of this country. This transcends the lines that can divide 
us. This is not about being a conservative. It's not about being a 
liberal. It's about justice for Trayvon Martin. I believe that people 
of goodwill come in all stripes, they are affiliated with all parties, 
and people of goodwill want to see justice done.
  My colleague before me expressed that it has been 31 days and there 
has not been an arrest. We are now hearing more about what may have 
happened. I say ``may have happened'' because we have not had an 
eyewitness to come forward and give statements. It's important to note 
that what we're hearing is not coming by way of eyewitness testimony. 
Someone has had someone say something that they are repeating.
  My hope is that there will be a thorough investigation. There should 
be an investigation. My hope is that we will have the opportunity to 
produce evidence by and through the constabulary to show what actually 
happened to the extent that the standard that is commonly used to make 
an arrest is applied to this case. That standard is probable cause. It 
is not guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, not clear and convincing 
evidence, but, rather, probable cause. It is whether there is probable 
cause to make an arrest.
  We have many laws that are coming into play, and I want to thank 
Chairman John Conyers. I call him chairman. He is now the ranking 
member of the Judiciary Committee. I want to thank him because he is 
taking the lead today on a forum that will take place. In fact, he's 
making it possible for us to have this forum today. At this forum 
today, there will be some clarity brought to how the Federal Government 
is involved in these kinds of circumstances.
  In '09, there was a hate crimes law that was passed. There will be 
some considerable talk about this hate crimes law that was passed. 
Federal jurisdiction has been expanded under the '09 law, pursuant to 
the 14th Amendment and the equal protection provided thereunder. There 
will be talk about how the Justice Department has a role in these 
processes from time to time. There will be talk about how financial 
support can be accorded the local constabulary under certain 
circumstances. There will be talk about how Federal charges can be 
promulgated and enforced under certain circumstances. So I will be 
honored to have an opportunity to be at this forum today so that we can 
talk more about the Federal role.
  In the final analysis, here's what we're dealing with. We're dealing 
with a circumstance wherein there are at least two people who deserve a 
fair trial. Trayvon Martin is one of the two people, at least, who 
deserves a fair trial. He deserves a fair hearing on what happened that 
day. He cannot speak for himself, but there is evidence that speaks 
volumes about what happened on this occasion. That evidence has to be 
considered such that some impartial body can make a determination as to 
whether or not there should be an arrest.
  If there is an arrest--and I believe that the evidence exists such 
that there is probable cause--if there is an arrest, then there can be 
a trial and then there can be the transparency that the United States 
of America produces whenever we have trials, because there will be an 
opportunity for all sides to present their evidence in a court of law 
before a jury if a jury is desired. This is the way we do things in the 
United States of America.
  Regardless of his color, he deserves a fair trial. Regardless of what 
he had on, he deserves a fair trial. And to those who say that hoodies 
make you a criminal, I say: Be careful, because you're getting 
dangerously close to saying women can cause themselves to become 
victims. You're dangerously close, so be careful.

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