Like many in America and around the world, my heart went out to Trayvon Martin's parents in their pursuit of justice in an area of the country where it proved to slip away. Many laws are developed and legislated for the sake of modifying, controlling, and preventing criminal behavior. In George Zimmerman's case in Sanford, Fla., color-blind justice in America was on trial.
As I see it, a 17-year-old African-American minding his own business was followed and killed by a man with no authority to pursue him. When Zimmerman made a 911 call to report that Martin was in the area, the dispatcher told Zimmerman not to follow Martin; Zimmerman followed Martin anyway; whether Martin turned to defend himself or chose to run, he was unarmed.
Justice was not served in Florida, and Zimmerman was exonerated. All communities that have "Stand your Ground" laws might now experience some gun carriers shooting and killing people of color, and later just hiding behind the law.
—Alfred Waddell
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