Congressman on George Zimmerman Verdict: Defense Attorney 'May Incite a Riot'
In a dramatic end to a case that has unwinded for over a year, George Zimmerman was found not guilty of any charges related to the death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager who was shot by Zimmerman.
The case wasn't just a fascination for the broader American public, but for politicians as well. This was especially true after President Obama said in March, 2012 that, if he had a son, "he'd look like Trayvon." On Saturday night, the reactions from D.C. started coming in soon after the not-guilty verdict was reached.
The first came from Rep. Corrine Brown, who represents Orlando, Florida:
Thoughts are with #TrayvonMartin family. I pray for peace.
— Corrine Brown (@RepCorrineBrown) July 14, 2013
This bold response came early from Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro, who is widely viewed as a big part of the Democratic Party's future:
Defense attorney Mark O'Mara may incite a riot by his arrogance alone. Talk about adding insult to injury.
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) July 14, 2013
Castro was referring, in part, to statements during a defense press conference Saturday night where O'Mara said that if George Zimmerman had been black, he never would have been charged with Trayvon Martin's murder. In explaining that opinion, O'Mara said that "those people who decided that they were going to make [Zimmerman] a scapegoat would not have" if he he was black. As The New Yorker's Jeffrey Toobin pointed out, O'Mara didn't really do himself any favors opining here, calling his statements "absurd." The defense's position, which won out in the end with the jury, was that Zimmerman shot Martin in self-defense.
Castro later followed-up:
Thankfully, all is peaceful across the country tonight.
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) July 14, 2013
In a separate press conference, Benjamin Crump, the attorney for the Martin family said: "To everybody that put their hoodies up, and to everybody that said 'I am Trayvon,' his family expresses their heartfelt gratitude." In response to a similar question about what would have happened had Zimmerman been black, Crump said:
Well, we know that a 17-year-old unarmed boy was killed. And I think all America has to dig deep in their hearts to find how we as a society can learn from this tragedy and make sure it's not repeated.
Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York kept the "I am Trayvon" sentiment alive into Saturday night:
#Zimmerman verdict inexplicable. Justice delayed will not be justice denied. #IAmTrayvon
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) July 14, 2013
And Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland used the verdict as a call to action:
Turn your pain into passion and your passion into purpose. Now is the time to do so for #JusticeForTrayvon
— Elijah E. Cummings (@ElijahECummings) July 14, 2013
Rep. Gregory Meeks joined the other New York members of Congress in commenting on the verdict on Twitter. Like Rep. Cummings, he hoped that change could come in the case's aftermath:
I hope that our country now engages in a much needed conversation about the consequences of racial profiling #IAmTrayvonMartin
— Gregory Meeks (@GregoryMeeks) July 14, 2013
Former congressman and New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner also weighed in:
Keep Trayvon's family in our prayers. Deeply unsatisfying verdict. Trial by jury is our only choice in a democracy.
— Anthony Weiner (@anthonyweiner) July 14, 2013
On the Republican side of the aisle, former RNC chair Michael Steele also spoke out on Twitter:
Defense Atty:"if George Zimmerman were black, he never would have been charged with a crime" Is he high?
— Michael Steele (@Steele_Michael) July 14, 2013
Just because Zimmerman has been cleared on all charges doesn't mean that this case is over. The NAACP on Saturday night posted a petition to the Department of Justice, asking Attorney General Eric Holder to file civil rights charges against Zimmerman. New York Congressman Jerry Nadler seemed to voice some support for such an effort:
Trayvon Martin's death was a senseless tragedy & I'm deeply saddened tonight. Pleased that DOJ is continuing to evaluate evidence.
— Congressman Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) July 14, 2013
In a retweet of NAACP president Ben Jealous, Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen did the same:
"@BenJealous: We can move from anger to action. Ask the DOJ to pursue federal civil rights charges: http://t.co/7PHmV1de1D#TrayvonMartin"
— Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) July 14, 2013
Although, as ever, a retweet is of course not necessarily an endorsement.
We'll keep updating this post throughout the weekend.