State v. Mann Emotional Appeal

Today we are gathered to determine whether or not the fine of $5 for shooting a slave is just or unjust. The fact that we are even gathered here today to discuss this is outrageous. You, John Mann, are seriously going to stand there and complain about a $5 fine for shooting someone? What about the girl you shot? Do you even care that you shot her? That she could have died? Her name is Lydia. Lydia is a slave, but she is still a human being. She breathes like us, talks like us, walks like us, yet we still sit here and debate that she should be considered property? You should be ashamed of yourself, Mr. Mann, for not even thinking about Lydia’s well being. Lydia ran away because you were beating her. Then you shot her for running from you. She has suffered her entire life due to the abomination of slavery, and yet here you stand, demanding that you do not need to pay the $5 fine. You should be paying even more money for partaking in slavery and for hurting a person for no just reason. If pain were being inflicted upon you, would you not do what you could to stop it? To get away from it? There is no justification 

You can say that Lydia has no right to be running from her master, and not stopping after being commanded to do so. But just how the colonists protested and resisted the tyrannical rule of the Brits, Lydia did the same. Just how Moses went to Egypt to free the slaves from the tyrants, Lydia tried to free her self. Just how the French rebelled against their government who brought nothing but pain and suffering upon them, Lydia rebelled. All of these people stood up and freed themselves from injustice, so why can’t Lydia too? Why must she be subject to harsh, unfair treatment? Would you not fight back if you were in her shoes?

 

You can look at the law and say that the shooting can be justified, but the law is unjust. Unjust law is no law at all. St. Thomas Aquinas stated that, and it is absolutely true. How can we sit here and defend unjust laws? I pray that we do not allow this man to leave today without paying his fine at the minimum. We cannot allow John Mann to walk free. Allowing him to walk free would show just how inhumane we are as a society. To allow a man to maim a person of color and walk away with no punishment or substantial consequence would show just how inhumane America truly is. Allowing him to walk free would set the precedent that human lives do not matter. Allowing him to walk free would set the precedent that unjust law must be upheld. Allowing him to walk free would set the precedent that killing people is ok. Is that what you want? Is that what you want for your children? We cannot allow that to happen. John Mann must be held accountable for his actions. Thank you.