Today Congressman Bobby Rush was removed from the floor of the house for wearing a hoodie (hooded sweatshirt) in support of Trayvon Martin, the young black man who was gunned down by George Zimmerman. (video below)
What’s made the news is mainly his being removed, but I don’t actually think that’s the most important part of this. I’m most drawn to the fact that as he was being removed he was quoting scripture as he was doing it. Specifically he was quoting two core Biblical texts on justice.
Micah 6:8 ” He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly[a] with your God.”Luke 4:18-19 “18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
As a pastor this wanted me to stand up and cheer because, finally, someone is actually quoting scripture in the way that it was meant to be quoted. Yes, I do think that a massive injustice is/was being done to Trayvon and yes, race plays a factor (but not the only factor) in this situation. It has exposed some deep systemic problems in our culture, problems that result in peoples deaths.
This is bigger than Trayvon’s death.
This matters.
Pay attention.
Also, if you’re wondering how the hoodie became a symbol in this situation, it’s because of this.
To be specific, the problem with what Rivera said is that he is shifting the blame for this crime from the perpetrator to the victim. It is absolutely no different than saying that a woman who was raped was asking for it because of the clothes she was wearing.