Legal system could do more to prosecute Zimmerman
Death is an inescapable fact of life. It often comes naturally, but sometimes, another person plays the role of fate and tragically ends a life, sending repercussions throughout a community.
Trayvon Martin, a 17 year-old African-American student from Florida, was shot in a neighbor’s backyard by a power hungry neighborhood watch vigilante named George Zimmerman. Zimmerman, who is 11 years older than Martin, followed Martin home in his SUV from the gas station on Feb. 26 and called 911 to report a suspicious person. After authorities instructed Zimmerman to abandon the situation, Zimmerman disregarded their requests and chased Martin into a neighbor’s yard.
A fight ensued. Zimmerman, who weighs approximately 100 pounds more than Martin, claims he shot the young man in self-defense, and the police let him go. Emergency responders received numerous calls from witnesses saying Zimmerman unnecessarily pursued Martin. When Martin’s body was examined, all officers could find was his cellphone, iced tea and a bag of Skittles.
Now, the issue of police inaction in the weeks following has left the nation reeling.
How is it possible that Zimmerman — who ended the life of an innocent, promising young man — is allowed to walk the streets without even being tried? Why did he choose to pursue a defenseless, innocent African-American man? No one appointed Zimmerman head of his neighborhood watch, and he definitely was not on the payroll. But more important, when is it permissible to take another person’s life? I argue that there is never an acceptable time to end someone else’s life, especially not on a whim.
Everyone has an opinion on what many are calling a hate crime. Some think Zimmerman was protecting himself, and some think Martin should be sitting in class right now daydreaming about football. More than a million people have petitioned for Zimmerman to stand trial. Marches have been organized across the nation in honor of the Martin family. Although Zimmerman’s right to protect himself is sanctioned by Florida law, details of this case point to a misuse of this legal provision. Justice has not been served in this instance; no morally conscious judge or jury could find that the ending of Martin’s life constitutes a transgression that is legally excusable.
Zimmerman should be brought to trial, and soon. One can only hope his cold-blooded crime will be brought into the light.
We as students are expected to live up to a certain standard of morality as stated in our Carolinian Creed. If we are supposed to follow the law for our own good, what exempts Zimmerman from following it like the rest of us? It is our duty as moral citizens and an outstanding student body to do the right thing. I encourage you to speak out against race-related crimes and protect those who are unable to protect themselves.
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