Many in the black community are outraged that the jury found George Zimmerman not guilty in the death of Trayvon Martin. Yet the jury carefully weighed all the evidence and returned their verdict based on Florida law.
Some of the reaction has been a bit over-the-top. Martin’s death was a tragedy. But to compare the circumstances of Martin’s death with those of Medgar Evers and Emmett Till, who were murdered decades ago by white racists because of their color, is both intellectually dishonest and insulting to the Civil Rights movement. Zimmerman, by all accounts and despite any other flaws, was not a racist. And Martin’s well-documented assault on Zimmerman, whatever the reason and despite the outcome, does not render him completely blameless in the tragedy. Zimmerman said he reacted in fear for his life and the jury apparently believed the evidence that supported his claim.
The outrage expressed by so-called black leaders over the Zimmerman verdict seems hollow and somewhat disingenuous considering what they have not done to stem the epidemic of black on black murders in today’s inner cities. Where is their outrage over those crimes? That is a conversation that desperately needs to take place today in America – and it is long overdue.
David G. Johnson
Hamden