bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

US Attorney General Eric Holder has called for a rethink of "stand-your-ground" laws following the acquittal of a neighbourhood watch volunteer who fatally shot an unarmed black teenager.
Addressing the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP), Holder acknowledged the passions stirred up by the Florida trial of George Zimmerman, who was found not guilty on Saturday of murdering Trayvon Martin.

"Separate and apart from the case that has drawn the nation's attention, it's time to question laws that senselessly expand the concept of self-defence and sow dangerous conflict in our neighbourhoods," he said.
"These laws try to fix something that was never broken. There has always been a legal defence for using deadly force if - and the 'if' is important - no safe retreat is available."
Zimmerman's trial lawyers did not explicitly invoke Florida's stand-your-ground law, arguing instead that he acted in self-defence in a confrontation with Martin in February last year.

	These laws try to fix something that was never broken. There has always been a legal defence for using deadly force if - and the 'if' is important - no safe retreat is available
But the case has stirred up controversy around such laws, which assert that citizens can use lethal force if they feel their lives are threatened.
"By allowing and perhaps encouraging violent situations to escalate in public, such laws undermine public safety. The list of resulting tragedies is long and - unfortunately - has victimised too many who are innocent," Holder said.
"We must stand our ground to ensure that our laws reduce violence, and take a hard look at laws that contribute to more violence than they prevent."
Critics of the verdict from the six-woman and mostly white jury argue that Zimmerman had racially profiled Martin - who had no criminal record - and was able to kill him with impunity because of a biased criminal justice system. Holder, who spoke at the NAACP national meeting in Orlando, not far from where Martin died, remained non-committal on whether the Justice Department might pursue Zimmerman on civil rights grounds.
"The Justice Department has an open investigation," he said.
"While that inquiry is ongoing, I can promise the department will consider all available information before determining what action to take."


HBO drama review: We Own This City – The Wire’s David Simon returns for another gritty tale of American politics and police corruption

No charges for policeman who killed black teen Michael Brown, sparking Ferguson riots in 2014

Trump and the US should focus on George Floyd rather than Hong Kong and Tiananmen Square

George Zimmerman sues family of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed teen he shot and killed

Trayvon Martin

Holder urges rethink on US self-defence laws

Attorney General Eric Holder, says laws must reduce violence

News

World

US Attorney General Eric Holder has called for a rethink of "stand-your-ground" laws following the acquittal of a neighbourhood watch volunteer who fatally shot an unarmed black teenager.
