Small protests were held in about 100 cities throughout the US on behalf of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old unarmed victim in a shooting incident in Florida whose armed killer was found not guilty this week. Some were demanding that the acquitted killer, George Zimmerman, be charged with depriving Martin of his civil rights. Martin’s parents helped lead the protests in Florida.
The Martins have impressed many observers with their calm dignity and their determination to turn their family tragedy to good. They have created the Trayvon Martin Foundation:
“The Trayvon Martin Foundation was established by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin in March, 2012 as a not-for-profit organization, under the auspices of the Miami Foundation. The Foundation’s purpose is to create awareness of how violent crime impacts the families of the victims, and to provide support and advocacy for those families”
American criminal law is peculiarly focused on the state taking revenge on criminals for their crimes, but offers the victims of crime almost nothing. The Foundation is thus a wonderful idea and worthy of support.
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