[Seapharris7]

I was in 6th grade - and why on earth a bunch of 12 year olds would understand and care about this horrendous crime is beyond me, but we did.

The verdict was to be read during my period in Social Studies, fitting I think. Our teacher, a crusty old former Marine, had told us days before that he would not be found guilty solely because the defense had played the race card, and at that point everything was too political. None of the jury wanted to task of possible starting riots and probably had reason to fear for their own safety because if they said he was guilty, they would be “wrongfully persecuting a *black* man”.

Days later, I found out he was right.