Trayvon protests aren’t helping

Trayvon protests aren’t helping

The George Zimmerman trial has stirred up angry protests against our legal system. The legal system is not perfect and needs some reform. However, these protests viewed in a larger context, do more harm than good.

The protests contribute to the polarization of a black and white society and are a distraction from a more fundamental problem.

I watched the entire trial. The jury made the right decision. If Trayvon Martin felt threatened he had plenty of time to leave the area. He chose to confront George Zimmerman and initiate the physical attack resulting in his death. In Trayvon’s world, violence is an acceptable way to solve a problem.

During the last week of the trial, more than a dozen African Americans were murdered by African American males in Chicago. This “black on black” violence is common in urban settings. Using violence to solve problems is learned early in life. Young children learn most coping skills from their parents. The lack of positive role models for these African American children in their early years make them more likely to adopt negative coping skills. If these protesters want to solve the fundamental underlying issue, they will mentor or be a positive role model for an African American child.

Trayvon Martin would be alive today if he chose a more rational response to a perceived threat.

Ron Mengarelli

Gilberts