On Sunday, in a move which could have dramatic ramifications, the Justice Department confirmed today that it will look into the shooting death of Trayvon Martin to determine whether federal prosecutors should file criminal charges against George Zimmerman in the wake of his acquittal.
The department opened an investigation into Martin’s death last year but stepped aside to allow the state prosecution to proceed.
In a statement Sunday, the Justice Department said the criminal section of the civil rights division, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Middle District of Florida are continuing to evaluate the evidence generated during the federal probe, in addition to the evidence and testimony from the state trial.
The statement said that, in the government’s words, ‘experienced federal prosecutors will determine whether the evidence reveals a prosecutable violation.’
This moves follows demands from a furious NAACP for the Obama administration to intervene.
Already, over 100,000 people have signed up to an online petition and the NAACP has written a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder urging the Department of Justice to press civil rights charges against 29-year-old Zimmerman.
In his first public statement since the verdict, President Barack Obama called for calm on Sunday after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, saying his death was a tragedy and that the country should seek ways to stem gun violence.
‘We are a nation of laws and a jury has spoken,’ Obama, the first black U.S. president, said in a statement.
‘I now ask every American to respect the call for calm reflection from two parents who lost their young son.’
Obama, who last year said that ‘if I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon,’ added that he was aware the Florida case has elicited strong feelings.
‘And in the wake of the verdict, I know those passions may be running even higher,’ he said.
The president urged Americans to broaden ‘the circle of understanding and compassion’ in their communities and put some of the emotion the case has aroused into curtailing gun violence.
‘We should ask ourselves if we’re doing all we can to stem the tide of gun violence that claims too many lives across this country on a daily basis,’ he said.
‘We should ask ourselves, as individuals and as a society, how we can prevent future tragedies like this.’
‘That’s the way to honor Trayvon Martin,’ he added.