Politics

Obama’s Harvard law professor: ‘Stand your ground’ law wouldn’t protect black men [VIDEO]

Sarah Muro Contributor
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Dr. Charles Ogletree, who taught both Barack and Michelle Obama at Harvard Law School, aid during the National Action Network convention Wednesday that the slain teen Trayvon Martin is a “symbol of whats wrong” with America.

Complaining about the Florida “stand your ground” law that may protect Martin’s killer George Zimmerman from prosecution, Ogletree encouraged his audience of activists to imagine the racial tables were turned.

“Just think about changing the race,” Ogletree said. “I want to see the first black man who uses the ‘stand your ground’ defense and see if it works — first white victim of the Stand Your Ground by a black defendant and see if it works.”

Ogletree did not mention the December 2010 shooting case of Trevor Dooley, a black man from Florida. Dooley shot and killed David James, a white military veteran, in front of his 8 year old daughter. The ‘stand your ground’ law is Dooley’s defense in the case. A ruling is expected in the next few weeks.

On Wednesday, New York City Mayor Bloomberg and leaders of national civil rights organizations announced a nationwide campaign to reform and repeal what they called Florida-style “Shoot First” laws that have passed in dozens of U.S. states.

The Daily Caller reported Tuesday that Ogletree will teach a Harvard Law School class this spring called “Understanding Obama.”

“I’m an Obama fan, I love the president — love him and his wife,” he explained.

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