Justice for Trayvon Martin Update

By now you have more than likely following the trial of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch vigilante who murdered Trayvon Martin back in the early part of 2012.  Back in March 2012 I wrote a blog entry on justice for Trayvon Martin while I was on board a northbound Amtrak train (Train 92, the Silver Star) headed to Jacksonville to spend a rental car-less weekend to get a few things done.

 

Unfortunately, the jury verdict was what not expected:  Not guilty.  That's the State of Florida sending a signal that it is OK to commit acts of extreme vigilantism thanks to Florida's Stand Your Ground law.

 

While what George Zimmerman did was a senseless and unjustified act, we need to understand that whatever the verdict of the jury is reached, good or bad, remember that the American criminal justice system has been around since 1776 from the day our forefathers founded our great nation, the United States of America.  In fact, we recently celebrated our nation's 237th birthday not too long ago on 4 July 2013.

 

I am not pleased at the jury verdict, and I know many of you agree with that.  However, we need to respect the jury's verdict and decision on the outcome of this case.  On another note, we Floridians need to keep pushing our legislators in Tallahassee at the next session of the Florida Legislature to reform or repeal Florida's Stand Your Ground law.

Moreover, here is also an email I received from MoveOn.org along with a link to sign a petition asking United States Attorney General Eric Holder to open a civil rights case against George Zimmerman that I would like to share with you:

A jury has acquitted George Zimmerman, but we are not done demanding justice for Trayvon Martin. Sign our petition to the Department of Justice today.  That's why I signed a petition to Department of Justice, Attorney General Eric Holder.

Will you sign this petition? Click here:

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/open-a-civil-rights-case?source=s.em.cp&r_by=32908

Thanks!