The acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin has sparked a national outcry surounding gun laws and racial profiling.
Outraged demonstrators have taken to the streets to condemn the not-guilty verdict issued by an all-female jury this past Saturday. Rallies across the country ranged in size from a few to several hundred, reports the Associated Press.
To date, nearly 450,000 people have signed a petition created by the NAACP calling for the Department of Justice to launch an investigation into whether Zimmerman violated Matin’s civil rights. Shortly after, the Department of Justice released a statement confirming that it will review the State of Florida’s case against Zimmerman to determine “whether federal prosecution is appropriate in accordance with the department’s policy governing successive federal prosecution following a state trial.”
The Department of Justice is acting, the NAACP is mobilizing the masses. But what, in your opinion, should we do as everyday citizens? Should we demonstrate, sign petitions, boycott Florida—as some groups are suggesting? Is it enough to spread the word on social media? What do we do to heal our communities and the country from this terrible tragedy? Share your thoughts and comments with us below.
Be sure to join us on Twitter at @ESSENCEDebates today at 12:30pm EST as we discuss hate crimes and George Zimmerman’s acquittal.
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