(CelebNMusic247-News) President Obama Breaks His Silence on Zimmerman Acquittal
On Friday (July 19) President Barack Obama spoke out on his feelings towards the the George Zimmerman acquittal stating that this “could have been me 35 years ago.”
President Obama credits African-American’s for knowing the pain and the loss that the Martin family is going through. He continues to shed light on how many African-Americans believe that “both the outcome and the aftermath might have been different” if Trayvon Martin had been white.
The President somberly reflects during a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room regarding “what happened one night in Florida,” saying:
“You know, when Trayvon Martin was first shot, I said that this could have been my son.”
“Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago.”
In searingly personal terms, Obama described his experience with race-based prejudice and racial profiling. He adds:
“There are very few African-American men in this country who haven’t had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store—that includes me.”
“There are very few African-American men who haven’t had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. That happens to me—at least before I was a senator.”
“There are very few African-Americans who haven’t had the experience of getting on an elevator and a woman clutching her purse nervously and holding her breath until she had a chance to get off. That happens often.”.
Obama seemed to pour cold water on prospects that a Justice Department review of the case would lead to federal charges against Zimmerman.
The president continued:
“I think it’s important for people to have some clear expectations here. Traditionally, these are issues of state and local government, the criminal code, and law-enforcement is traditionally done at the state and local levels — not at the federal level.”
“And for those who resist that idea — that we should think about something like these ‘Stand Your Ground‘ laws — I just ask people to consider: If Trayvon Martin was of age and armed could he have stood his ground on that sidewalk? And do we actually think that he would have been justified in shooting Mr Zimmerman, who had followed him in a car, because he felt threatened?”
“And if the answer to that question is at least ambiguous, then it seems to me that we might want to examine those kinds of laws.”
In closing:
“We need to spend some time in thinking about how do we bolster and reinforce our African-American boys” and to “give them a sense that their country cares about them and values them and is willing to invest in them.” Obama said he wasn’t calling for a grand new federal program but suggested he could bring together “business leaders, local elected officials, some clergy, and celebrities and athletes” to find a way to do a “better job helping young African-American men feel that they’re a full part of this society and that they’ve got pathways and avenues to succeed.”
President Obama has called for a review of laws such as Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” statute, suggesting that they re-write traditional self-defense rules in a way that fuels violence rather than smother it.
The President also wants to encourage churches and families and communities to discuss issues surrounding the case and urged all Americans to engage in some “soul-searching.”
Any comments? Did you see the breaking news from the White House just moments ago?
