Sunday Roundup

This week began with the nation processing the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial. It ended with President Obama interrupting a press conference to give a remarkable and heartfelt talk about the verdict, and the history of race and violence in America. "Trayvon Martin could have been me," the president said. Having a president who can personalize and voice the frustration African-Americans feel about the verdict is an amazing moment in our history. And while the jury's decision can't be reversed, laws that encourage violence and more gun deaths can. As can other policies and practices -- like the drug war and stop-and-frisk -- whose effects fall disproportionately on minorities. Indeed, given that the president has admitted to past drug use, he might look at the hundreds of thousands languishing in prison on non-violent drug offenses and also say, they "could have been me."