The
federal government announced late Monday night that it will investigate
the death of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African American who was
shot while unarmed in Florida last month by a volunteer neighborhood
watch captain.
The Associated Press
that the Justice Department will meet with authorities, officials and
civil rights leaders in the community this week and will “conduct a
thorough and independent review of all the evidence and take appropriate
action at the conclusion of the investigation.”
But the shooter, George Zimmerman, who was not arrested, may be
protected under changes in 2005 to Florida’s self-defense law. The
current law simply affirms the right of those in the state “to stand his
or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force,”
without requiring an attempt to avoid the danger first. As the AP
explains, unless there’s evidence to contradict Zimmerman’s (and the
Stanford police’s) claim that he felt threatened and acted in self
defense, a case against Zimmerman’s word will be difficult in the state.
