Readers of the Economist push back against the "newspaper's" leftist leanings and narrative:
A controversial case
SIR – The most important circumstance of Trayvon Martin’s death was
buried in your article assessing the reaction to the verdict in his
shooting: 
he assaulted George Zimmerman (“Trayvon’s legacy”,
July 20th). This is not merely what Mr Zimmerman “maintained” as you
eventually and sceptically admitted, but is a consistent account that
was verified in part by eyewitnesses, confirmed by the available
forensic evidence and believed by both the investigating police and the
jury.
Instead, you poured oil on the fire by saying Mr Zimmerman
“stalked” Mr Martin. Rather, Mr Zimmerman followed Mr Martin, which he
had every right to do.
Roger Chapman Burk, Alexandria, Virginia
SIR – Legal experts had been predicting a not-guilty verdict in the
Zimmerman case for months; it is hard to see how the jury could have
concluded otherwise given that the evidence points to him acting in self
defence. There is also nothing to suggest that he is racist. He
registered as a Democrat in Florida in 2002 and has black relatives and
friends, according to his family. Mr Zimmerman was certainly overzealous
in trailing Mr Martin, but would he have also tracked a white kid who
was a stranger in his burglary-plagued neighbourhood? Perhaps.
It is unfortunate to see the race card being played in this tragic
case. Mr Martin’s death was defined as “racial” from the outset, even
when facts emerged that suggested a more complicated story.
Richard Robinson, Chicago
