Posted on 08/06/2013 9:03:56 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The National Association of Town Watch will hold its 30th annual National Night Out celebration, otherwise known as "America's Night Out Against Crime," on Tuesday. The event, which celebrates crime prevention throughout the country, encourages communication between communities, police and neighborhood watch groups.
While National Night Out is intended to be a fun event, filled with celebratory block parties and cookouts, one might wonder whether the George Zimmerman case has cast a shadow on neighborhood watch groups and influenced how they are perceived.
"Everyone uses the neighborhood watch umbrella for what [Zimmerman's] group is, when really there is a severe separation," Matt Peskin, the executive director of the National Association of Town Watch in Wynnewood, Pa., and the founder of National Night Out, told Crimesider.
"I don't know who Zimmerman's [neighborhood watch] group is, or whether he belonged to a group, but the first thing they said in training in the early '80's is: 'Don't carry a weapon and don't get involved," said Peskin.
Zimmerman, a 29-year-old neighborhood watch leader in Sanford, Fla., was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin during an altercation last year in a gated community. He pleaded not guilty, claiming he shot the teen in self-defense. His acquittal, which was handed down July 13, prompted rallies nationwide calling for a civil rights probe, and the case has sparked debate about race and self-defense laws.....
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
Local media reported on this event. Lots of neighborhoods featured in this report. My first thought was Zimmerman.
So is this event vigilantism or being good neighbors???? Confused/s
“They will tell you to maintain a visual, but do not confront,” she said.
Which is exactly what GZ was attempting to do.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.