Atlanta Daily World Digital Edition July 11, 2013

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George Fraser Page 3

Cloves Campbell Jr. Page 4

Deion Sanders Page 6

Volume 85 • Issue 49

Page 8

July 11 - 17, 2013

Detective Chris Serino, Hero or Villain of the Zimmerman Trial? By Jason Johnson Special Real Times Media Correspondent

I have long maintained that the final verdict from the Zimmerman trial will change absolutely nothing, and the value of the trial is in what it highlights about our flawed but functional legal system. If George Zimmerman is found not guilty, who can really be shocked that a bunch of Southern White women felt it was okay to kill a Black boy under mysterious circumstances. If Zimmerman is found guilty then it took Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, national protests and the president of the United States just to get the Florida legal system to do their due diligence. No matter the ruling, nothing has radically changed. However, the most critical part of this case for the viewer is not the final jury verdict but the behavior of the local police in this case, which is horribly and shamefully exemplified by the testimony and behavior of lead Detective Chris Serino. To much of the nation’s African-American community, skepticism about the legal system and apprehension about institutions is not based on some abstract fear or ignorance. It is based on day-to-day interactions or anecdotal stories about police officers. As I watched the Zimmerman trial, I was struck not by the occasional flaccid nature of the prosecution, or the smarmy dog-whistling and race-baiting by the defense attorneys. What struck me most was the horrible, petulant and insubordinate behavior of lead Detective Chris Serino, who has done all he can to torpedo the State’s case. Serino, a 15-year veteran on the force, interviewed Zimmerman three days after the murder of Martin and seemed less than convinced of the neighborhood watchman’s story. He pointed out that it was hard to believe Zimmerman was beaten so viciously by Trayvon Martin if he was able to go to work the next day and not even visit a hospital. He and another officer pointed out that Zimmerman was obviously following Trayvon and that his failure to identify himself as Neighborhood Watch might’ve scared the kid. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, he pushed back on Zimmerman’s characterization of Trayvon as a “Punk,” chastising Zimmerman and pointing out that he’d shot an unarmed kid with

Avery*Sunshine

candy and iced tea in his pocket. All of this interview, which was put into evidence last week, is pretty damning and certainly looks like effective police work. That’s when things get sticky. Despite these obvious inconsistencies and questions, mere days after the shooting, Serino felt there wasn’t enough evidence to arrest -- let alone file charges against -- Zimmerman. There are hundreds of thousands of cases with much less evidence on the table where people get arrested, even if they are released later. Yet somehow Serino didn’t feel like filing charges against Zimmerman. Serino claims he was “pressured” to file charges by fellow officers and higher ups in the state of Florida, and he was demoted in his job. Consequently during this trial, Serino has made it a point to throw a temper tantrum during testimony, editorializing on George Zimmerman’s behalf, answering questions in ways that help the defense. The problem with this entire case can be boiled down to the saga of this cop who is either incredibly noble and willing to risk everything for what he thinks is right or he’s a disgruntled, petulant civil servant who puts his own ego ahead of the life of a dead 17-year-old boy. Serino is the reason why so many African Americans don’t trust the police. And when we see law enforcement take the lives of Black children to be political footballs rather than lives to be spared or victims to be avenged, it reminds us that no matter what the ruling in the Zimmerman trial, as long as there are cops like Serino, nothing has truly changed. Dr. Jason Johnson, of Politic365.com, is a political science professor at Hiram College. He is a widely-respected political analyst best known for “telling the story behind the story.” He is currently on assignment for Real Times Media throughout the duration of the trial. Viewers can visit any of the following RTM sites for the latest on the George Zimmerman murder trial: atlantadailyworld.com, michiganchronicle.com, chicagodefender.com, newpittsburghcourier.com and tri-state defender.com.

ADW Seeks Nominations for Pastors Salute 2013 By ADW Staff

The Atlanta Daly World is pleased to announce its inaugural Pastors Salute, a program to celebrate the area’s clergy. “Today, more than ever, the church plays a critical role in keeping the community nurtured and motivated to take on everyday challenges and to celebrate its triumphs,” said ADW Publisher M. Alexis Scott. “We want to show our church leaders how much we appreciate what they do and who they are.” The church carries significant influence in the lives of African Americans, and its leaders are among the most highly-respected individuals in the community. “With the help of our readers, the Atlanta Daily World will honor 25 of the city’s most esteemed and influential pastors,” Scott said. “We solicit your nominations for pastors who deserve this distinction.” A nomination form is on page 7 of this issue. Following the public nomination process, which ends July 19, a panel will select 25 from the list of nominees. The Pastors Salute will observe and applaud their contributions at a special luncheon on Sept. 19. Tickets for the luncheon will be available at $65 each. The 2013 class will be the inaugural group of pastors. Each year, a new group will be highlighted to showcase their good works in the community. In addition to the luncheon, The Pastors Salute will pay tribute to the 25 pastors through a special commemorative section in the ADW. In a pictorial special, the ADW will share their fascinating stories and honor their remarkable faith. The section will be a keepsake for the pastors and their congregations. Their stories will serve to inspire others, especially young people who aspire to be leaders in the faith community. It will be an issue of the ADW to be treasured for years to come, both as a commemoration of the community’s heroes and a testament to the community’s strong faith.

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Atlanta Daily World

Look Inside for Nomination Form


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