Opinion
NAACP continues to seek for federal charges in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s murderer’s acquital
Zimmerman’s lawyers used the Stand Your Ground law to argue that he acted in self-defense. Under the “Stand Your Ground” law people fearing for their lives can use deadly force without having to retreat from a confrontation, even when it is possible.
It was the first time Holder has addressed the Stand Your Ground issue. Then again, the Department of Justice has strictly limited authority to change such state laws.
In the wake of the verdict the Justice Department said it would reopen its investigation into the case to determine whether any civil rights laws had been violated by the state court handling it.
“Times of great peril,” warns NAACP Head
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 would require the government to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman, who is white and Hispanic, shot Martin because of race.
The Sanford jury rejected the second degree murder charge that was based on the allegation that Zimmerman acted with ill will, spite or hatred.
Ben Jealous, the NAACP’s president, said he cried when he heard of the Zimmerman verdict in the Orlando hotel suite where he was meeting with his board and staff.
