I was planning, this morning, to write a post about the privilege inherent in “consumer activism” – the idea that you can buy your way to world peace, equality, social justice and generalized utopian bliss with things like Fair Trade coffee…
… but I just can’t. After reading this morning that Michael Dunn was not convicted of first degree murder for killing Jordan Davis. He was convicted of three counts of attempted murder, and one other odd charge (something like discharging a weapon into a vehicle, but I don’t recall the actual charge) – and at 47, the minimum sentencing effectively puts him in jail for the rest of his life.
But that’s just it: “effectively”. Michael Dunn, according to the law, is not a murderer. That’s why the verdict is so unsatisfying, because make no mistake: Michael Dunn IS a murderer. Allowing him to legally claim otherwise allows him to abdicate the guilt for what he did.
And for what? Ostensibly, for Jordan Davis and his friends playing music too loudly. That’s what supposedly started the confrontation. The truth, though? Jordan Davis was killed for being black, for not abasing himself to the power that Michael Dunn felt like he held. Michael Dunn made a demand of Jordan Davis and his friends, and when they did not respond obsequiously enough, he shot at them. Not just once, but 10 times in total, three separate volleys.
Michael Dunn then went to a bed and breakfast, walked his dog, ordered a pizza, drank a rum and coke, heard that he had killed a boy, and took a nap.
Jordan Davis’ friends tried to drive away with their dead friend in the car.
Seventeen years old.
Dead.
Michael Dunn ate a pizza and got some indigestion.
Jordan Davis died.
And yet, somehow, a jury couldn’t decide whether or not Michael Dunn was a murderer.
Seems pretty straightforward to me.