Can Neighborhood Watch Members Be Trusted?

In light of the recent neighborhood watch slaying, neighborhood watch programs across the county are in question. Those who missed the news about the neighborhood watch slaying click here for more information. The slaying has brought up issues that have long been dormant. Are neighborhood watch captains always trustworthy? Is the program on the right track? Do prevention measures need to be taken to keep this from happening again? These are all questions suddenly being asked about neighborhood watch programs all over America.

In Florida, the state where the slaying took place, community members who support neighborhood watch are trying to send a message. They want the nation to know that the program itself is not in jeopardy. They seem to claim that this is the act of one man who stood alone.

Thousands of miles away in California, film makers are pulling their trailers and promotional posters of an upcoming comedy about neighborhood watch. The film stars Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn and is titled "Neighborhood Watch". Film makers still plan on going forward with the release of the film, stating that it is nothing like this recent slaying. They say that they are pulling the adds to be conciseness of the people who are suffering due to the crime.

As for neighborhood watch programs across the country, officials are urging members to take a second look at their program. They suggest making sure that neighborhood captain can handle the responsibility. They also urge members to discuss protocols used when a suspicious person is spotted. All of this in hopes of preventing another tragedy.

Geraldo Rivera Gives an Apology for Comments Made Concerning Martin Case

Seventeen year old Treyvon Martin's lost his life on the night of February 26th when walking home from a convenient store. The young black man, Martin(who was unarmed) died from wounds he received when Lation neighborhood watch captain, George Zimmerman, shot him. Everyone from President Obama to Geraldo Rivera has weighed in on this one. While Obama receives criticism, Rivera has created an outright backlash which has that lead to an apology for his comments on the situation.

Rivera went on what can only be called an emotional rant. Rivera blamed Martins death on the fact that the 17 year-old was wearing a hoodie. He went on to criticize teens for what they wear, saying that if they dress in a certain way they are inviting violence upon themselves. These comments have spurred outrage in people across the nation.

This is not the first time Rivera has created a backlash, but at least this time he is apologizing. Rivera has not only apologized, but admitted that blaming this horrendous crime of appearance is wrong. Furthermore, he stated that his comments obscured the true race issues that lay underneath.

What about the neighborhood watchmen shooter? Zimmerman did not get arrested the night of the shooting because police felt that he had probable cause. Florida's strict self-defense laws give reason for police not to act. Police say that Zimmerman's claims of self-defence gave him the legal right to shoot. There is no evidence that Martian attacked Zimmerman, yet his story alone is keeping him a free man.