Trayvon Martin rallies, organized by Al Sharpton, show his evolution

Trayvon Martin rallies took place across the US Saturday. Their tone and nonviolence point to how their organizer, the Rev. Al Sharpton, has become more 'mainstream.'

By Mark Sappenfield,?Staff writer / July 21, 2013

The Rev. Al Sharpton (r.) is joined by Sybrina Fulton(c.) as he speaks to the crown during a 'Justice for Trayvon' rally in New York Saturday. Mr. Sharpton's National Action Network organized 'Justice for Trayvon' rallies nationwide.

Mary Altaffer/AP

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The protests against the verdict in the George Zimmerman murder trial so far been overwhelmingly peaceful ? and the rallies in more than 100 cities nationwide Saturday were no exception.

Skip to next paragraph Mark Sappenfield

Staff writer

Mark is deputy national news editor for the Monitor.

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Given that the activism has come during the hottest days of summer ? when tempers are more likely to flare, according to research ? and has focused on perhaps the most divisive news event in America this year, the lack of violence is noteworthy. And while it is the result of a variety of factors, it is surely a reflection of those who have led the movement.?

That list begins with Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, the parents of the unarmed 17-year-old killed by Mr. Zimmerman in 2012. Though they clearly thought the neighborhood watch captain guilty of racially profiling their son and went well beyond self-defense in shooting him, they have not openly antagonized Zimmerman. And from the beginning, Ms. Fulton and Mr. Tracy have steadfastly condemned any violence.

But the Trayvon Martin rallies also cast a spotlight on their organizer: the Rev. Al Sharpton. Criticized for much of his career as a race-baiter and a self-promoter, Mr. Sharpton has begun to carve out a more nuanced image for himself during his advocacy for the Martins during the past year.?

To be sure, with a radio program and a show on MSNBC, Sharpton still knows where to find the microphone. But the tone of his message has been different ? still strident, still emphatic, but now more likely to play to the sentiments than to anger and divide.

His influence in the Trayvon Martin movement cannot be underestimated. He was one of the first to bring attention to the case through his television program, and he has been the leading activist in keeping the case in the public eye. While that dual role evokes concern among the media ? where he represents the most extreme case of the blurring line between journalism and advocacy ? it also suggests that the character of the Trayvon Martin movement bears the fingerprints of his leadership.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/vSq06eZSxX0/Trayvon-Martin-rallies-organized-by-Al-Sharpton-show-his-evolution

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