What's a Lynching Among (Black Panther) Friends?

You really can't characterize it as anything but a lynching. The Black Panthers have put a $10,000 price on the captured head of George Zimmerman, the admitted killer of Trayvon Martin. There are contradictory witness reports about what happened. One witness says she saw Trayvon and George physically fighting, with Trayvon on top at one point. Another witness said he heard nothing until Trayvon screamed, and then the witness reportedly heard a gunshot. He did not actually see anything.

It is completely unclear why Zimmerman was not taken in for questioning. We do not know what evidential material the police have in their possession, such as his clothes, the gun, shells. Clearly, this case will need to be processed through the courts. Even if "stand your ground" turns out to be a legitimate defense, it needs to be proved. Tweeting the shooter's address in broadcast fashion, and offering a reward for his capture by civilians, however, are vigilante tactics. The public is not conversant with the facts and evidence in this case. And the public is neither a judge nor a jury.

Trayvon's death is a horrible event. The court system needs to resolve it. It should not be compounded by illegal persecution of the shooter.