When this case first broke, I, like many others was infuriated about the whole thing.  I was and still am less angry with Zimmerman than I am with a system of “good ole boy” justice that allowed him to walk away from the incident virtually unscathed.

Am I angry with Zimmerman, sure, I tend to be angry when people can’t seem to use problem solving skills that do not involve taking the life of another but now that he has been arrested, I think that those whose focus is still strictly on Zimmerman and his actions are missing the greater point.

The media and special interest groups have done a great job at getting the public to focus on the Zimmerman-Martin “floor-show” instead of aiming the camera and computer keystrokes at the “man behind the curtain” that made is possible for this whole thing to get incredibly out of hand.

Now that Zimmerman has been arrested, I think that the core public focus in this case should be on the poor decision making of the people who allowed Zimmerman to walk away from the incident without having to be accountable or responsible for his actions.  It is my understanding that it is not the responsibility of the police to interpret the law, rather to enforce it.  It is up to the ELECTED county prosecutor to evaluate the case based on the facts, not based on how difficult the case may be to try in court or to fold like a house of cards because a defendant’s family may have a lot of political pull.  I think that civil servants have an obligation to do what’s right, and not what’s popular or to one’s political advantage.

Many believe that Zimmerman was charged based on public outcry and political pressure in an attempt to take the lid off of a boiling pot.  That may be the case to an extent, however, that could have been done with a lesser charge if that was the only motive.  I think that the special prosecutor chose the 2nd degree murder charge based on the inconsistencies of Zimmerman’s story and the facts of the case.  The facts of the case are often based on evidence that the public does not have access to, basically, they know something that we don’t, but it does call attention to the question, if the special prosecutor can find enough evidence to substantiate a 2nd degree murder charge, why couldn’t the county prosecutor?  THAT….. is an issue.

With as much information and misinformation that has been distributed in this case, there are only four things that the public knows for sure and those are:  Trayvon Martin is dead, Zimmerman pulled the trigger, the case was under investigated allowing Zimmerman to walk, and he’s now been charged with 2nd degree murder and awaits trial.  That’s IT!  The only people who will know the facts of the case will be the jury that is called upon to serve as the fact finders in this case.   Let the jury to its job.  To continue putting the focus on Zimmerman, and calling for a conviction or by some groups, his death, is displaying the same lynch mob mentality that others have been accused of displaying.  I am concerned that many will only feel that justice is served if Zimmerman is convicted and sentenced to the maximum allowed by law.  I think that justice, in this case, is having Zimmerman’s case formally heard in a criminal court.  Justice is having a jury of 12 competent people to make a decision on a case.  Justice should not be a legal reinforcement for the court of public opinion.

Do I think that Zimmerman is guilty?  I will say that I KNOW that Zimmerman is guilty of pulling the trigger…without being able to review the evidence ( and I WILL be glued to this trial when it begins), I can’t make any other claim.  As the trial unfolds, I am sure I will form an opinion one way or another.  I just wanted to see the case get to court.

Back to the system of foolery that allowed the case to reach this magnitude, a system like that is not just a threat to “black folks”, it is a threat to the public safety of “all folks”.  Allowing the people involved in the original investigation of this case to hold their elected positions is doing a disservice to all of the citizens in that community, Black, Hispanic, poor or politically unconnected.  Those elected officials are the one’s whose ability to serve the public is very much in question.  I think the voters in that area need to decide how truly angry they are.  Are they angry enough to recall officials or vote them out of office?  Only time will tell, but I do know that many feel it’s easier to “pick on Zimmerman” than it is to fight the system.  It’s time that people stop being bullies (he’s been arrested, there is nothing more that can be done), snatch that curtain down and handle business………that’s just my two cents.

**Update – As I type this, I have just read that Zimmerman has been granted 150k bail and he’s apologized to the Martin family.  According to the article in the Atlantic Wire , there are things that must be put into place before he is allowed to leave.