“The Zimmerman case illustrates the importance of the right to trial by jury. At the end of the day, it is apparent that the courts of justice are better venues for deciding guilt and innocence than the court of public opinion. Hopefully, Americans will continue to cherish the right to trial by jury which our forefathers deemed to be the bulwark of our liberties. If not, the fate of unpopular people will forever be left to the shifting tides of public opinion.“ Ken Connor
Well, it’s finally over. The verdict is in. George Zimmerman was acquitted of the murder and manslaughter of Trayvon Martin. Despite the sensationalism and emotion surrounding this trial, the State of Florida failed to meet the burden of proof required for a conviction. No words can describe the pain a parent feels at losing a child, and it’s more than mere lip service to say this ordeal has been tragic for everyone involved. It seems safe to say that neither George Zimmerman nor Trayvon Martin anticipated what would happen on that fateful night. What we do know is that there was a verbal confrontation and that a physical altercation occurred in which Trayvon Martin was the aggressor. This was enough to dissuade the jury from convicting George Zimmerman as a murderer.
As expected, an outcry has erupted in response to the jury’s verdict. “Racism won,” tweeted former Obama advisor, Van Jones. Al Sharpton referred to the verdict as “an atrocity” and a “slap in the face.” He’s vowed to pursue justice at the federal level, and it looks as though Attorney General Eric Holder is primed to pursue civil rights charges. Jesse Jackson is “stunned.”
The controversy surrounding the Zimmerman trial and the outrage at the verdict shows how courts of law differ from the court of public opinion…
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