Caylee's Law Petition, Porch Lights for Caylee, and Outrage Sweep the Web: What You Can Do

On Tuesday July 5, 2011 Casey Anthony was found not guilty on first degree murder charges of killing her baby girl and the public is outraged. People are horrified at what they feel is lack of justice for two-year-old Caylee and want to replace their helplessness with action. Caylee's sad story touched many hearts and millions have participated in Caylee's Law petition, Porch Lights for Caylee and other tributes as people struggle to find a way to do something to help.

Caylee was not reported missing for a month. The child's grandmother, Cindy Anthony, reported Caylee missing in a 911 call. Casey's failure to report Caylee's disappearance has especially horrified many.

Within hours of the verdict, Diane Crowder of Oklahoma took action by starting a petition on change.org, a web platform for social change. The petition would make it a felony for not reporting a child missing in a timely manner. As of Saturday morning the petition neared 880,000 signatures.

Several states legislators are voicing support for the law including West Virginia and Oklahoma. OK state Rep. Paul Wesselhoft has said he plans to introduce the law in the 2012 legislative session. But others say the law may not be constitutional as state laws usually cover criminal cases. Child neglect laws should already cover such situations.

But people need to take action in the face of what is widely felt to be injustice. Facebook is covered in outcry for Caylee. Many individuals have put up pictures of Caylee as their profile picture. Dozens of pages have sprung up for Caylee.

The Porch Lights for Caylee Marie Anthony event page has nearly 3 million 'attending'. The event asks you to leave your porch lights on for a month from July 5 to August 5 as a tribute to Caylee. The page urges people to sign the petition for Caylee's Law and to pay it forward by volunteering or donating to a children's organization.

If all the people who joined the event paid it forward, "Could you imagine what WE could accomplish?" the page asks in the information section. Indeed. Perhaps this is the key to taking action for Caylee.

People want to feel something good came of this senseless tragedy. Can you imagine what we could do if everyone who is calling for change volunteered or donated in Caylee's name?

We could save a child.