We Need a New Black-White Dialogue in America

The renowned defense lawyer and Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz is calling for a federal investigation into civil rights violations arising from the George Zimmerman case — but he says the probe should focus on prosecutorial misconduct rather than on allegations of racial profiling and bias on the part of Zimmerman. Dershowitz is perhaps the most famous lawyer in America - and generally known for his support of civil rights causes in the follow-on from the 1960s federal push against the massive inequalities faced by Black Americans. Speaking to Newsmax, Dershowitz said the jury’s finding that Zimmerman was not guilty of either second-degree murder or manslaughter was “the right verdict.” He added, “There was reasonable doubt all over the place.” Immediately after the verdict was announced, however, the NAACP and outspoken activist Al Sharpton called on the Justice Department to launch a federal civil-rights probe, charging that the case had been racially tainted. Dershowitz is also calling for a civil-rights probe. But he contends the person whose rights were violated is Zimmerman. “I think there were violations of civil rights and civil liberties — by the prosecutor,” said the criminal-law expert. “The prosecutor sent this case to a judge, and willfully, deliberately, and in my view criminally withheld exculpatory evidence.” He added: “They denied the judge the right to see pictures that showed Zimmerman with his nose broken and his head bashed in. The prosecution should be investigated for civil rights violations, and civil liberty violations.” Dershowitz said the "flimsy" evidence against Zimmerman did not warrant a case being brought against him. He also does not believe the prosecution's case was sufficient to have been submitted to a jury for deliberation. “If the judge had any courage in applying the law, she never would have allowed the case to go to the jury,” Dershowitz told Newsmax. “She should have entered a verdict based on reasonable doubt.” Dershowitz described the prosecution’s attempt late in the case to add a third-degree murder charge by asserting the shooting constituted child abuse “so professionally irresponsible as to warrant sanctions and investigations.” He added it could warrant a federal investigation as well. “I think people’s rights have been violated,” Dershowitz told Newsmax, “but it was the rights of the defendant and the defense team, by utterly unprofessional, irresponsible, and in my view criminal actions by the prosecutor.” Although Zimmerman was cleared of all charges, the Florida special prosecutor who brought the charges against him told the media: “This case was about boundaries and George Zimmerman exceeded those boundaries." ~~~~~ Dear readers, the Zimmerman case threatens to once again divide America along openly racial fault lines. I lived through the 1960-70s civil rights crusades. I participated - as a college professor teaching reading skills to inner city Black young adults so that they could get meaning out of the college educations suddenly available to them - as a lawyer serving as the chair of a Community Equal Rights Commission helping Black citizens receive better housing and job opportunities - as a human being determined that no American's skin color would be the reason to deny him civil or legal equality. Like most white Americans, I saw the cancer of racial inequality and I set out in good faith to help eradicate it. ~~~~~ But, the management by the prosecution, media and political leaders of the Zimmerman case, the clear Black-white lines drawn by erstwhile "thought leaders," and the reactions to the clearly correct verdict are frighteningly like something that might have happened in America in 1965. What I see are Black Americans convinced that the system does not work for them, as one Black middle-aged Florida resident put it calmly on TV yesterday. What I see are Black political leaders such as Congressman Al Sharpton almost rabble-rousing and a Black President commenting on the racial bias of the US legal system they have sworn to uphold. What I see are liberal media reporters almost accusing the defense and jury of ignoring the "facts." What I see are conservative media reporters who lack the flexibility to understand the age-old fears of racism in a Black community where a Black teenager had been killed while walking home by a non-Black community watch member. IN BRIEF - what I see is an America whose Black-white communications lines are broken - an America where race defines the debate instead of common sense, good faith and the search for constitutional and civil equality and brotherhood as Americans. It took 20 years of hard work and soul-searching to break through the racism barriers built up prior to the 1960s. It took serious commitment by political, business, religious and academic leaders to make the effort succeed then. It is time for America to launch a second civil rights crusade. But, in the 1960s civil rights movement, there was goodwill in both the Black and white communities. I don't sense that goodwill today. America needs a core group of respected and dignified Black and white leaders in 2013 to call for dialogue - tough talk and tough love about the state of race relations in America today - and the stature to push the agreed changes through to completion. President Obama ought to see that this is his first priority. Without racial dialogue, peace and cooperation, America cannot succeed. Perhaps Americans knew this instinctively when they elected you, MNr. President -- do not fail America and yourself.