WASHINGTON, July 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday issued a statement on the acquittal of George Zimmerman, calling for calm as well as efforts to curb gun violence.
Obama said in the statement that the death of Trayvon Martin, who was killed by Zimmerman, was a tragedy. Noting that "this case has elicited strong passions," Obama said those passions may be running even higher in the wake of the verdict.
However, the president added, the jury has spoken and made its verdict. He called on "every American to respect the call for calm reflection from two parents who lost their young son."
"We should ask ourselves if we're doing all we can to widen the circle of compassion and understanding in our own communities," said Obama, adding "we should ask ourselves if we're doing all we can to stem the tide of gun violence that claims too many lives across this country on a daily basis."
"We should ask ourselves, as individuals and as a society, how we can prevent future tragedies like this," said Obama.
A Jury in Florida on Saturday night acquitted Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed African American teenager Martin last year.
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