The acquittal by a Florida jury of George Zimmerman on murder charges in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on July 13 sparked outrage and demonstrations in cities across the country, including Baltimore. The protests have been criticized, mostly by conservatives, who question why the case has received so much attention.
Brian Griffiths, chairman of the Maryland Young Republicans and editor of the conservative blog Red Maryland, questioned why people were concerned about a case thousands of miles away when there are local problems—crime, drugs and failing schools-- to deal with.
There have been several rallies in response to the recent spike in violence in the city.
Yet Munir Bahar, who organized the 300 Man March along North Avenue July 5, said people like Griffiths may have a point.
“We’ve had an incident here where an officer choked a teen to death and was just let off; he was acquitted and is going back to the force out in Baltimore County. There was no public outcry from that,” said Bahar.
Rodney Burris, a member of the Baltimore City Democratic Central Committee, said the Florida case created hope for change in the justice system.
“In Baltimore, with the same sort of issues or similar issues, there’s a sense that not much will change, even if we do, and I think that is what we need to address,” he said.
The local protests against the Zimmerman verdict were organized by the Rev. C.D. Witherspoon, president of the Baltimore City Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He said the lack of outrage over black on black crime is caused by frustration with local government and the lack of reaction from politicians on issues that he believes feeds into violence; cuts to social services, lack of job opportunities, poor performing schools and the closing of recreation centers.
“We believe quite frankly that working class people, poor people and people of color because they receive the hits in relationship to the cuts; they are wondering whether or not the public officials and elected officials give a damn about their condition,” Witherspoon said.