Tag: george zimmerman

In the wake of Trayvon Martin’s death on Feb. 26, 2012, and now again in the aftermath of the acquittal of his shooter, George Zimmerman, many commentators have speculated on how the outcome might have been different if some critical aspect of the case were different. I call this the What If game. For example, “What if Martin were white?”

I first learned about President Obama’s comments about racism and the Trayvon Martin case last week when a Facebook friend posted a link with this comment:

“Full text of the American President’s divisive and racist remarks today. He moves smoothly into his new role as race-baiter in chief.”

I will never have to have the talk. As the parent of a white child, I will never have to sit my son down and explain in painful detail how he may be unjustly targeted by police and neighborhood watch-folk, how his community may view him as a threat before he ever speaks.

Sure, I will talk to my son about sex. Drugs. War. Unbridled capitalism.

The George Zimmerman trial is all people have been talking about since the verdict came through on Saturday. The case has sparked a discussion about racism and our justice system.

Today (Sunday) at 6 p.m. there will be a rally on Division and Ruby streets in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman. On Saturday Zimmerman was found not guilty in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African-American high-schooler who was killed last year. Zimmerman was accused by many of being motivated by racism.