Here are some updates related to the verdict in the Trayvon Martin case:
— President Obama has released a written statement about the verdict. He calls Trayvon Martin’s death a “tragedy,” says “a jury has spoken,” calls for “calm reflection,” and urges Americans to “ask ourselves if we’re doing all we can to stem the tide of gun violence that claims too many lives across this country on a daily basis.”
— The U.S. Justice Department has announced it will investigate the Martin case for possible federal civil rights violations. That’s good, because the NAACP petition demanding just such an investigation almost broke the internets earlier today.
— Interested in protesting the verdict? Here is info about times and places for the vigils and demonstrations scheduled across the country tonight.
— Scott Lemieux makes an important point: the verdict apparently had nothing to do with Florida’s “stand your ground law.” But it had a whole lot to do with conceal-and-carry, which happens to be legal in all 50 states and which, says Lemieux, causes “many unnecessary deaths.” He adds, “cases like the killing of Martin should compel reconsideration of the lack of significant gun control in the United States.”
— Charlie Pierce is doin’ some fine writin’ about the disgusting likelihood of George Zimmerman’s future as a conservative martyr and hero.
— Finally, Zimmerman is getting his gun back. Ain’t America grand?
