Amidst all the news regarding the Trayvon Martin story, the New Black Panther Party (NBPP) has inserted themselves into the mixture to mixed reviews. On one hand, you have activists who support the group’s distribution of “Wanted: Dead or Alive” leaflets as incentives to finally having justice. The other side, the issuance of a $10,000 bounty for the capture of Martin’s shooter George Zimmerman turns this situation into a potential shootout at the OK Corral. As anger surrounding the killing has risen, spurring rallies and protests, Jesse Jackson has responded directly to the New Black Panthers’ actions.

Jackson on the NBPP: “The violence comes from [George] Zimmerman. The cover-up from the police department. We would do well to remain disciplined, focused and non-violent. Any diversion from that takes attention away from Zimmerman and Trayvon and the family. I hope we remain in the face of all these provocations, focused and non-violent. We need to keep the focus on Trayvon, and who killed him and how that killing will be processed.”

“There’s something serious about the protection of Zimmerman in the face of all the crises being created in Florida and all the nation,” Jackson continued. The New Black Panthers are not affiliated with the original Black Panther Party. In fact, the NBPP has been designated a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Anti-Defamation League. So, with those things in mind, will the NBPP get the message that what they’re advocating is more hurtful than helpful?