In January 2006, 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson died after being beaten by seven guards at the Bay County Boot Camp in northern Florida. The initial autopsy concluded that Anderson died of “natural causes,” but a video later surfaced showing the brutal beating that caused his death. Protests led by the outraged African American community forced a second autopsy, revealing the truth.
The second autopsy report confirmed that Anderson died because he was suffocated and forced to inhale ammonia,
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Despite the overwhelming evidence and the community mobilization against this crime, all eight people charged with manslaughter in his death were acquitted in late October. Following the verdict, defense attorney Waylon Graham said publicly that they would celebrate the acquittals with “heavy drinking and lots of cigars.”
“I sobbed after I heard the verdict,” said Susan Taylor, a nurse. “It’s not just an African American issue. We’re all one. Our system is inherently racist.”
Robert Anderson, Martin’s father, was not allowed in the courtroom for the verdict. The judge had him and three others removed from the courtroom during testimony several days earlier. The judge said Anderson was removed for being disruptive, but Anderson maintains that he was being silent when he was ordered out of the courtroom.
“The testimony was not in their favor so they needed a distraction,” said Gerald Bryant, Robert Anderson’s cousin. Bryant also was removed from the courtroom. “It’s called growing up Black in Bay County.”
On Oct. 23, buses filled with outraged activists assembled in Tallahassee, Fla. to condemn the overtly racist ruling. Supporters from all over the state joined the demonstration, which was led by the NAACP. Young students marched side by side with older activists, who have been in the streets fighting racism since the 1960s.
The NAACP and several state legislators have called for a federal investigation into the Anderson case.
Further investigation into the case, although welcome, will not resolve the racism behind Anderson’s brutal killing. Getting to the heart of national oppression with a united movement against racism is required.
