Can Justice Survive Media Lynch Mob? » Publications » Family Security Matters

Can Justice Survive Media Lynch Mob? » Publications » Family Security Matters: As more facts have come out about the tragic death of young Trayvon Martin, the news media have been confronted with the consequences of their rush to judgment when news of this story first broke nationally. The first week or 10 days of national coverage turned out to be more of a lynch mob than a sober take on an unfolding story. It had all the makings of “First the hanging, then the trial.” And then more facts began to emerge.

The word of the day was justice, as called for by the likes of Al Sharpton and Ed Schultz, the MSNBC hosts who are among the leaders of the “presumed guilty” rush to judgment of the Hispanic American, George Zimmerman, for what they believe was a cold-blooded murder of an unarmed, black teenager, Trayvon Martin. The problem is, that’s not the way our justice system is supposed to work, and there are significant facts in dispute.

Undoubtedly, this was a tragedy. If a jury finds that Zimmerman committed a crime, and murdered Martin, he should face the consequences and do the time. In our system, those decisions are left to judges and juries, not talk-show hosts desperate to goose their ratings, who act as if they are unquestionably perched on some moral high ground.

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