Enough! -- Stop the Rush to Judgment!

Here is the way Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson writes about Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman:

For every black man in America, from the millionaire in the corner office to the mechanic in the local garage, the Trayvon Martin tragedy is personal. It could have been me or one of my sons. It could have been any of us.

How many George Zimmermans are out there cruising the streets? How many guys with chips on their shoulders and itchy fingers on the triggers of loaded handguns? How many self-imagined guardians of the peace who say the words "black male" with a sneer?


Robinson is an idiot; anyone who reads his columns or watches his "comments" on MSNBC knows that. But the Robinsons of the world are dangerous and enemies of free people. Here's the problem -- neither Robinson nor any of the other pundits discussing the Martin case know what actually happened in Florida that night. By calling Zimmerman a guy with a chip on his shoulder with itchy fingers on the trigger, Robinson makes Zimmerman into less than human. By stating that Zimmerman says "black male" with a sneer, Robinson says that Zimmerman is a racist and that Martin's death was a hate crime. But remember, Robinson has no idea of the actual facts; he is just part of the lynch mob gathering in the media and in Florida.

Look, I know that Martin was not carrying a gun. I also know that reports say that Zimmerman had blood on his face from being hit and grass stains on the back of his shirt which indicate he was knocked to the ground. Is it possible that Martin attacked Zimmerman because he realized that he was being followed and thought that Zimmerman was about to attack him? Is it possible that Martin would have said the words "hispanic male" with a sneer? (Zimmerman is Hispanic and has black family members.) Is it possible that when Zimmerman says he was acting in self defense he is telling the truth? Sure it is.

I do not know what happened in Florida that night. Right now, the FBI and the Florida state police are investigating. The local police already determined that Zimmerman should not be charged with a crime. Are we to assume that the local police force acted out of racial malice? Why? Where is the proof aside from people being unhappy that Martin is dead?

To make matters worse, the usual race-baiters like Al Sharpton and Louis Farrakhan are arriving on scene to make the most of the racial hatred that they can stir up. Folks like Gene Robinson only add to the fire with their irresponsible words. People need to be calm. People need to let the police and the FBI do their jobs. People need to assume some good faith from the authorities. We already have a victim here; we do not need more.