Zimmerman was acquitted Saturday on second degree murder and manslaughter charges in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
The White House released the following statement:
The death of Trayvon Martin was a tragedy. Not just for his family, or for any one community, but for America. I know this case has elicited strong passions. And in the wake of the verdict, I know those passions may be running even higher.
But we are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken. I now ask every American to respect the call for calm reflection from two parents who lost their young son. And as we do, we should ask ourselves if we’re doing all we can to widen the circle of compassion and understanding in our own communities.
We should 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.
We should ask ourselves, as individuals and as a society, how we can prevent future tragedies like this.
As citizens, that’s a job for all of us. That’s the way to honor Trayvon Martin.
Honoring Trayvon Martin requires each of us to take action. First, let me suggest that you put your money where your mouth is and donate to a cause that you care about. Pick any organization that you feel contributes to our struggle and kick in some funds. NAACP, Urban League, Political action groups, gun violence prevention efforts,,,a contribution to any of these supports our struggle. Why not donate to the Trayvon Martin Foundation at http://justicetm.org/donations/org.
The next step is do your homework and stay current on news about every element of the struggle. For most people time is limited, but the Internet holds any information you could desire. The Grio is an excellent site covering issues relevant to African Americans. Check your local politicians web sites and see how your representative voted on the issues that concern you. Look at news from the White House to get reports on activity in the Obama administration. Watch your favorite media outlets for information on current issues. Carve some time away from the reality shows, music videos, and other entertainment and get serious about understating issues that affect our daily lives.
Lastly, make the time to participate in projects designed to strengthen the voice of the African American community. Get active now. Begin the work to secure your desired outcome on the local 2012 elections. Devote time to voter registration activities. Attend meeting presented by the political party of your choice. Mentor youngsters through organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Boys and Girls Clubs. Work in youth development activities through your church. There's so much work to be done and so few hands willing to do it.
We need to ask ourselves if we are doing all we can to address the issues that face our community. If we aren't doing all we can, let's be able to say we have taken the first steps to get involved and build on that new beginning until justice is served.
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