A Jury of His Peers Decided

Six women constituted a jury of George Zimmerman's peers in Sanford, Florida last week as they handed down a not guilty verdict in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.  We have all heard about this case for months, going all the way back to the 2012 death of this 17-year old teenage boy under circumstances that apparently left the jurors with enough doubt to follow the law and acquit. 

I won't bother going into all of the details.  Most are probably tired of hearing about it all. Even though the loss of life saddens us still, most feel it is time for the next 15 minute news cycle.  Or is it.  Obviously, MSNBC and other liberal media do not think so.  They continue to fan the flames and provide exaggerated coverage of the aftermath.  Obviously, with the race-based rhetoric continuing to be offered up by some politicians, including our President, they are not ready to move on.  Obviously, the protest rallies scheduled by some liberal civil right leaders speak to their unwillingness to acknowledge that justice has been served.  And, finally, there are some misinformed and ill-meaning citizens who are determined to use this verdict as an excuse to riot and cause mayhem in the name of misguided justice.

In Los Angeles, after the verdict, rioters attacked a Walmart and other community businesses in the Crenshaw area, using it as an excuse to loot and destroy property.  In Baltimore a man was chased and beaten by a gang of people who kept shouting, "This is for Trayvon Martin" as they kicked and punched the innocent victim of their outrage.  Folks, Trayvon Martin had nothing to do with these unlawful, senseless and violent acts.  I can't say with absolute certainty, but more likely, poverty, unemployment, feelings of hopelessness, impotence, financial incapacity, feelings of entitlement and a pent up rage for a couple of centuries of past bigotry and prejudice in these United States was the real motivation....or a hundred other reasons.

I don't pretend to know all of the facts in the Zimmerman case.  I heard it all like you did through the filter of whatever television, radio, newspaper, Internet site or blog is your favorite edification source.  But, it seems to me, a qualified, intelligent jury of six women heard all the evidence, considered the rule of law and decided the man was not guilty of second degree murder.  Even given the last minute alternative offered by the female judge presiding to consider the lesser charge of manslaughter, the jurors unanimously decided to acquit.  Game over.

Now we can talk some more about stricter gun control.  We can question whether arming community watch groups is a good or bad idea.  We can even debate whether civil rights laws should have or should be applied to this situation now that the state criminal charges have been resolved.  But George Zimmerman will remain not guilty of murder.  Period.
And the likes of Al Sharpton and, even, Barrack Obama, for all of their divisive, racially-motivated rhetoric, protest marches and stirring of the pot, are powerless to change that.

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