(AllHipHop News) In a move that is as shocking as it is emblematic, President Barack Obama addresses race in America in the wake of George Zimmerman’s acquittal in a recent speech.
“There are very few African-American men in this country who haven’t had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store. That includes me”
While President Obama states that Florida’s Stand Your Ground law was not apart of George Zimmerman’s defense he does believe alterations to it is pertinent in order to ease “racial disparity” in the law:
If we’re sending a message in our societies that someone who is armed potentially has the right to use those firearms even if there is a way for them to exit from the situation, is that really going to be contributing to the peace and order? For those who resist that idea, I’d just ask people to consider if Trayvon Martin was of age and armed, could he have stood his ground on that sidewalk? Do we actually think he would’ve been justified in shooting Mr. Zimmerman because he followed him in a car?
Invoking the theme of “it takes a village to raise a child”, President Obama called for athletes, celebrities, businessmen and others of influence to set positive images for young African American males.
The full transcript of President Obama’s speech can be viewed here.
Watch President Barack Obama discuss Trayvon Martin, legislative acts to help race relations in America and more below: