We didn’t cover the Trayvon Martin story, case and verdict for a reason. It’s not that we don’t have thoughts and opinions on the situation, it’s just that A) we really try to stay focused on celebrity, pop culture and entertainment gossip and B) I personally didn’t want to create some kind of forum where everyone starts yelling at each other. I can’t read the comment threads on many sites because the threads upset me too much. This particular situation is extraordinarily painful and sensitive for many people, so just keep that in mind with your comments. I’m not going to go on and on about it, but I’ll just say this: as a half-Indian woman who is often confused for Hispanic and Arab, I have more to fear from an armed wannabe cop than a black kid, you know?
Anyway, these are some photos from the NYC rally in honor of Trayvon. Hundreds of rallies took place across the country this weekend, and this NYC one was co-hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton. Beyonce and Jay-Z came out, but didn’t speak.
A day after Jay Z and Justin Timberlake dedicated the song “Forever Young” to slain teen Trayvon Martin at their July 19 concert at Yankee Stadium, the rapper and his wife, Beyonce, attended a rally to fight for justice in the teen’s honor in New York City on Saturday, July 20.
The rally, which was also attended by Rev. Al Sharpton, community leaders, and members of public, was organized in wake of the highly-publicized trial and sentence involving Martin.
(During a February altercation, George Zimmerman, 29, a neighborhood watch volunteer, claimed he shot Martin in self-defense after the youth, who was unarmed, knocked him to the ground, punched him, and slammed his head against the sidewalk. The fatal shooting sparked a heated debate about racial profiling around the country after Zimmerman was found not guilty of second-degree murder and was acquitted of manslaughter during the July 13 sentencing.)At the rally, the “Girls (Run the World)” singer, 31, and her hubby, 43, kept a low profile, but posed with Sharpton and Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton at one point during the day.
According to Huffington Post, 58-year-old Sharpton, a civil rights activist, recognized that the star couple were in attendance during his speech.
“Jay Z and Beyonce said they didn’t want to speak and they didn’t come for a photo op,” Sharpton said. “Beyonce put a beautiful message up on Instagram. Let me tell you, that before a lot of you were down, Jay Z always supported us.”
“Jay Z told me, ‘I’m a father. Beyonce is a mother.’ We all feel the pain and apprehension — the laws must protect everybody, or it doesn’t protect anybody,” Sharpton continued. “We do not come from hate, we come from love of children.”
In the Instagram post Sharpton was referring to, Beyonce wrote “#justicefortrayvon” and posted a black photo a week ago. During her July 13 concert, which started shortly after the sentence was reached, she also asked the crowd to participate in a moment of silence for Martin before singing “I Will Always Love You” and “Halo.”
At Jay Z’s sold-out with Justin Timberlake on July 19 at Yankee Stadium, the duo dedicated their final song, a rendition of “Forever Young” in honor of Martin. “This is for Trayvon, so light up your cell phones New York!,” Jay Z yelled, with the “Mirrors” singer adding, “One more time for Trayvon, New York!”
In a newly posted picture from the rally, the mom to Blue Ivy, 18 months, posted a picture of four hands wearing bracelets for Martin, simply captioning the Instagram picture, “#ActNow4Trayvon.”
What pleased me about the first rallies – and what has continued throughout this weekend’s rallies – is that the African-American community isn’t the only group upset about the verdict. There are parents and young people and concerned citizens from every race and walk of life who are upset by what this situation means and what it says about our country. Just so.
Beyonce also posted this photo on her Tumblr – she and Jay-Z standing with Trayvon’s parents.
Photos courtesy of Bey’s Tumblr and WENN.
Thought Obama gave a great speech. Glad some celebrities are speaking out (or just lending their presences : ) and joining the fight.
Reverend Al is looking sickly. What’s up with that?
(Also, Hooray for John Oliver and the Daily Show’s response to the verdict. Boils the whole situation down to its core: a vigilante following a teen, getting out of his car to pursue the person then killing that teen because the tables were turned and the teen got the upper hand in his own self defense. That’s not okay.)
On Sharpton: I think he had that lap-band surgery. Al Roker and Al Sharpton look better with a little more weight than they are presently carrying.
Also, I completely agree with you about the verdict. Horrible. But I also feel like the prosecutor “phoned it in”, unfortunately.
You are right about the prosecution phoning it in. In fact, had they pushed to have another portion of Florida law included in the jury instructions (to paraphrase–that if you start a fight and someone bests you, you can’t then escalate it by whipping out your penis, I mean gun), the verdict would have had to have been different. But the defense got that piece excluded, basically on the grounds that it didn’t apply. And the prosecution rolled over and got spanked. Someone is guilty of, if not misconduct, then suckitude here.
Kiddo, I agree re the prosecutor. The jury did their job; the prosecutor didn’t. Based solely on what was presented, the right verdict was reached.
As far as the GZ trial the prosecution did not prove their case. That’s the bottom line. Although I am not fond of Mark O’Mara he did his job and did it well. I still dont like him saying that it was Trayvon’s fault. All I will say is that it could have been one of my nephews.
Dear George Zimmerman,
I am not a bitch but karma is.
I understand people’s pain at the loss of an innocent young life. I also think the verdict was the right one. The prosecution simply didn’t prove that this was an intentional second-degree murder. George Zimmermann should have stayed in his car, but there’s simply no evidence that he came out of his car with an intent to kill.
That said, I respect Jay Z and Beyonce’s desire to peacefully make clear their point of view. I also respect other people’s desire to peacefully make clear an alternate point of view.
Very accurate and well said Lindy.
I agree, I don’t blame the jurors. I think according to the law, they had to vote the way they did. The prosecution overshot on the charges, they should have charged him with reckless manslaughter and I don’t think Zimmerman would be a free man.
@MrsB, I agree with you. Unfortunately, the jurors didn’t have any choice but to accept his self-defense argument because of the (in my opinion) crazy Florida law that you can follow someone, instigate a confrontation and then kill them if you think they are winning the fight and your life is in danger.
Zimmerman’s reckless behavior caused the death of that young man. They should have found a way to convict him according to the law, though it would have meant a lesser charge. At least he’d be in jail.
The truly scary thing here is that an armed man can start a fight with an unarmed person, use lethal force then just claim he had no duty to retreat and that he was merely standing his ground. Those of you who never have to worry about being profiled by a crazy vigillante, should atleast consider that. Think about what that could mean for say bar fights. Aggressors, and stalking is in itself an act of aggression, can get away with anything under that wtf law.
I dont agree with that verdict but the fact is GZ will rue his actions of that day for the rest of his life. Karma doesnt work by jury! Proud of everyone who has raised their voice for Tray and future potential victims. Go Bey and Jay!
@ Janet,
I agree, and Obama kind of alluded to the need to revisit this law in his recent speech. Through unfortunate family acquaintance, I’ve encountered so many angry racist white men who don’t necessarily go looking for trouble, but would happily take the “righteous” and legal opportunity to aggressively attack a black man. What this tragedy proves is that the stand-your-ground law is just as inappropriate as the Arizona stop-and-identify laws, or racial profiling in NYC.
It’s not what the law states – it’s what it allows people to do in practice that we must interrogate, and this is a prime example of how legality can obfuscate real intent.
I’m with you Janet.
I also believe there was a enough evidence for a manslaughter conviction. As an african american woman, I’m extremely frightened for the lives of my young nephews due to this verdict.
I’m hardly a fan of Beyonce and Jayz but I’m glad to see them getting involved.
I agree! If an armed person comes at an unarmed person, the unarmed person is the one and only one acting in self defense. No questions!
However, in this case one of the bigger questions was why wasn’t evidence processed at the scene? Why wasn’t he charged until they proved he “stood his ground”? Why did it take national outrage to get the police to even look at the situation.
I have never been profiled so I can’t imagine that hell, but I do know without a shadow of a doubt if Trayvon has been white and Zimmerman was black this entire situation would have been handled different from the start.
The jury failed him but I’m not sure they really had a choice because the police and prosector failed this young innocent man first! Trayvon was murdered in cold blood because he was a black kid in a hoodie, and the police should have treated the case like that from the word go. Zimmerman should have not only been tried for murder but a hate crime IMo.
I agree. Lots of smart women here.
So many things are utterly awful in the UK – but im glad as all hell that this isn’t one of them – what with our drinking culture Saturday night in the city would be piles of bodies.
Agree with majority of your post put this: but there’s simply no evidence that he came out of his car with an intent to kill.
Why did he bring his gun then if he didn’t think he was gonna use it? To me he had intent to use his gun that night.
Exactly – He chased the young man down with a gun – what’s that? That’s not self defense. Self defense would be calling 911 – and then realizing you are racist because you’ve called 911 simply because a young guy was black in a white neighborhood. Glad Trayvon’s parents have heavy hitting support.
So, every person with a concealed weapons permit has the intent to kill every time they carry? This makes no sense.
Legally it was the correct decision. I say this as a lawyer with many lawyer friends who all said he would be acquitted. The prosecution did not meet their burden and in Florida that burden is even greater as its on the prosecution to prove it was not self defense. They simply did not prove that.
But from my perspective, morally and socially, it feels wrong. It sends an odd message. Even more so, after I listened to that one juror talk and rationalize. The basis for her vote wasn’t grounded in the law so much as it was in her sympathies for Zimmmeman’s plight.
Anyway I’ll leave it at that before I go too far.
Agree with everything you said. Also, with the juror, how was she able to get a book deal so quick? They should look into that especially with how she kept calling him by his first name.
When someone makes a verdict decision based in part on someone “having a good heart”, I question that that decision was made with strict consideration of the law.
An injustice happened. I don’t want to get into what should or shouldn’t happen by the prosecution. At the end of the day, a boy lost his life, parents lost their son and the whole situation is a tragedy. Zimmerman should have gotten at least manslaughter, I’m glad that the public is showing outrage over this senseless case.
Yes, what was that ‘Georgie’ nonsense about? And she referred to Martin as ‘that boy’, or ‘the coloured boy’. She would have him over for dinner? She shook his head? She already talked herself out of a book deal, maybe she’s aiming for a mistrial.
Shaz,
Thank you.
Zimmerman was a part of the neighborhood watch. His job was to as neighborhood watch was to observe and report not follow. If he’d seen someone he thought was suspicious his job was to call the police and let them handle it. Also, as a neighborhood watch I don’t think you’re even supposed to carry weapons. I don’t agree with the verdict, but the juror followed the law like they were supposed to.
Sorry I have to disagree. Zimmerman was a racist and if he had just stopped following Martin liked the 911 operator told him to do we wouldn’t be talking about it today. Zimmerman was the aggressor and got off free. The venue should have been changed and the jury should have been a mixed jury. Do you really believe if it was the other way around that Martin would have gotten off by claiming self defense? Wake up people.
Oh well he avoided prison but now he’s hiding in an even bigger prison, the world.
The FBI investigated Mr. Zimmerman for nearly a year and a half, and found NO EVIDENCE of racism at all.
Too many people are too quick to play the “racism” card.
And when I hear the names al sharpton and jesse jackson, all I think of is Tawana Brawley and the Duke rape case.
Don’t think al and jesse apologized for either one of those cases.
I don’t think he would have followed Trayvon if he didn’t have a gun. He may not be a racist, but he is a Punk.
I believe the outcome would’ve been different if the roles were reverse.
Can you imagine if a Black teenager shot an unarmed white man after the 911 operator told him to stay put? He would be doing life in prison. There would be no questioning his intent to kill.
A few years ago in Long Island, A black man was convicted for shooting a white teenage boy after the teenager and a group of his friends trespassed on this man property looking to beat up his son. They shouted some racial epithets towards the family.
He said he felt threatened. The jury thought he should have just called the police. I agree with that.
But, I know it would’ve been a different outcome if that had been a group of black teenagers on a White man’s property looking to beat up his son. The jury would have justified that shooting.
If Martin Luther King Jr. and millions of others in every race didn’t protest against inequality there would still be “Jim Crow” in the South.
At first I was outraged by the verdict but once I calmed down I realized that like in the Casey Anthony case, the jury really had no choice because there just wasn’t enough evidence to convict. Dan Abrams said that even had they gone for a lesser charge in this case, they still wouldn’t have enough to convict Zimmerman. For me, he IS guilty of causing Trayvon’s death because he should never have gotten out of the car and had he not done that, Trayvon would still be alive. And unfortunately, since there were no actual witnesses to what happened once Zimmerman did get out of the car, he is walking around free and Trayvon’s family is left to grieve.
I believe the reason for Zimmerman exiting his vehicle was not to confront – bc he didnt know where Martin was – was bc the 911 operater asked where Martin was…according to testimony and the 911 tape. To hypothesis what he was thinking at the time isnt right. Zimmerman got the crap beat out of him. Why would he just kill Martin for no logical reason, other than self-defense? it doesn’t make sense…but i do believe that he NEVER should have left his car…and will pay for that decision for the rest of his life and unfortunately, may pay for it WITH his life, with some sort of vigilanty justice…which wld be unfortunate.
I read a comment above – someone made a comment about this opening doors for more white on black crime. statistically, more black men are killed (FBI statistics) by black men, then by white men – this is a major problem – see Chicago, for instance, and Detroit. It’s a sad state of affairs in the black community and should be addressed, especially by Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, AND Obama…but they are mum on that. It’s VERY sad, b/c it’s mostly gang violence and in poverty ridden areas, where families are stuck and children are being caught in the crossfire. Just this weekend, 18 people were murdered in Chicago. I think, i read somwhere that Chicago’s murder rate was worse than Iraq. Don’t know if that still holds true at all times, but the fact that it was at one time true is sad in the United States. And remember, there are VERY STRONG anti-gun laws in Illinois. So that isn’t the issue.
I agree 100% Lindy.
What happened is a tragedy but all these protests will not change the verdict.
All the time, money & energy people are spending on these protests could be served so much better & be making a bigger difference for the African American & all communities. These people should spend this time volunteering at a childrens hospital, at the Boys & Girls club, at a soup kitchen, a at domestic violence shelter, etc.
We are not trying to change the verdict, we’re trying to change the future.
And how do you know the protesters do not actively support other worthwhile causes? A country that provides security, equality and civil liberty for her people is an example for the rest of the world. People protest because they care. Do you?
I agree with you, Kaiser. I was at the NYC rally and there were so many people – the entire human spectrum was represented. And the message was don’t protest violence with violence, protest with your presence.
“Jay Z and Beyonce […] they didn’t come for a photo op”
Hmm… really? Because she’s dressed for one.
The whole situation was a tragedy, but in the end the jury made the correct decision.
Zimmerman may be a horrible human being – a racist with delusions of authority, who bought a gun when he lost sight of his penis and should never have followed Trayvon in the first place after being repeatedly told not to – but the moment he had his head slammed into the pavement he was legally entitled to open fire.
It sucks, but it’s true.
Well put Tapioca, I agree, I have struggled to articulate my thoughts on Trayvon.
Bey is trash for fame whoring at something like this, but I do not believe narcissism comes with an off switch.
I also think the U.S. has a long ways to go in terms of racism, toward ALL races. That being said I wish the offensive n-word could be removed from the vernacular entirely. I think it’s use by ANYONE is offensive and degrading, no matter their intent (I’m looking at you Rae Dawn Chong).
There’s no denying that Trayvons death was an unnecessary tragedy, I wish I knew, that everyone knew and agreed on, what the best plan is to make sure it never happens again.
You are on point and I also agree with everything Tapioca said.
Re: Beyonce.
I’ll give her a pass this time. It may be narcissism, but it also may be an opportunity to use her celebrity to make a point. She’s not aggressively political (her support of Obama feels more celebrity-driven than political most of the time), and she knows that attending such an event will get it on the front page. If I were her, I’d attend for such a reason.
Completely. Another case where I don’t care about motive. The end justifies the means.
You’re right. I was about to say she was fame whoring, but this is once when she used her celebrity for a good cause (and she didn’t lip sync!).
I disagree with you. His injuries were very insignificant.
What we know is Trayvon and George were in a fight. Trayvon had every right to defend himself and stand his ground against a creepy adult following him at night with a gun in his pocket.
I’m not sure why people can’t see this from Trayvon’s point of view. He was a child who was in fear.
George did not have a right to use a gun because he was losing a fight… that he started. I think this is why there is so much outrage.
George also claimed Trayvon bashed his head about 30 times. Obviously that didn’t happen.
Self defense isn’t just thinking your life is in danger. Your life has to actually be in danger. George’s life wasn’t.
The thing about self-defence is that you don’t have to wait until you’ve been knocked unconscious before retaliating, you just have to prove that the other guy was the aggressor.
There is obviously the argument that TM may have felt that HIS life was in danger, which is why he attacked GZ, but the defence were able to show that Trayvon threw the first actual punch and that is why Zimmerman walked free.
I don’t LIKE it, but I understand the verdict.
I feel it necessary to point it out that the medical autopsy states that: “Other than the gunshot wound, Trayvon Martin only had one other pertinent injury. A 1/8 inch-by-1/4 inch mark on his ring finger.”
There’s a lot of misinformation floating around. So to say they both fought each other would be a mistake.
I’ve also seen people saying how Trayvon was probably held at gunpoint which would explain the lack of wounds. Just in case anyone might reason with this, I would like to point out: Bear in mind there were recordings of shouts for help and witness statements to this. I don’t believe the natural impulse would be to shout out for help if being held at gunpoint. But again, no one knows what happen. The most important thing is to be informed.
Also, I’ll just put this out here, I really don’t believe this started as a race issue. Perhaps it was, perhaps it wasn’t. But I do find comments that go on in this thread of thinking to be fuelled by a certain feeling of racism.
Beware, a bit of self-righteous indignation:
At the end of the day, why should the race of the person who was tragically killed matter? White, black or latino you should put the person before the race. To turn this into a matter of race I find to be shameful. A young man died not a young, black man.
Theres no escaping the racial motivations behind GZ foolishness. Honestly I am baffled by people who claim otherwise. Baffled and disturbed. I mean theres a camp that refute the racial profiling (becaise GZ had black friends *cough) while in the same breath calling Trayvon a thug! You just know how ugly they are inside. Then theres another camp tjat seems more reasonable but also divorced from the realities of casual racism. I dont know which camp is more dangerous in the long term, frankly.
The only consolation is that GZ will never feel safe again. He will truly understand the fear he caused in that poor kid.
You can’t ‘kumbaya’ your way out this, it’s a race issue. This isn’t about the death of a young man, it’s about the death of a young black man. Suggesting otherwise is being willfully obtuse.
The boy didn’t have offensive marks on his body- if Zimmerman’s story was true, there would have been evidence on the boy. Instead, his body looked as though he hadn’t done anything. ZImmerman also didn’t have injuries to match his story. Manslaughter and stalking charges would have stuck, even in Florida. Sad that they’re going to give this guy his gun back. He really is dangerous. They should have tested him for drugs, legal and illegal. Something is very wrong with him.
@Tapioca, I guess this is where we disagree. I don’t like the verdict and I don’t understand it. Actually maybe I do.
When I heard the jury was all women. I had a little hope. Okay, these women would be able to see Trayvon as their son and understand his fear. However upon listening to Juror B37’s interview, the prosecution never stood a chance.
Instead of seeing Trayvon as her son & a victim, Juror B37 saw Georgie as her son/victim. Her sons don’t scare her but I’m guessing a Trayvon does… at night… when he has his hoodie on.
The defense did not prove Trayvon threw the first punch. No one knows exactly what happened other than George and the child he murdered.
I thought the prosecution proved manslaughter. A number of legal analysts thought so as well. As so did half of the jury in the beginning. I guess they allowed themselves to be swayed by jurors like B37 who knew beyond a reasonable doubt that George had a good heart.
He purportedly told them he had ADD. If he had been treated for that diagnosis, he would have been on pharmaceutical amphetamines. Take that as you will.
They’re selling us ‘A’ and serving us ‘B’.
A white female jury will send a black male to jail more than any other sort, so by transitive property, they’re less likely to defend a black man if there’s possibility of sending someone who isn’t black to jail for having wronged him. I’m sure that hollow-headed crone of a juror thought he was being proactive.
We knew that this is how it goes though, didn’t we? Or, at least, we had a sense of this tendency, but it was a nebulous awareness of the ‘mothers, lock up your daughters’ variety. And it was all about the mothers, wasn’t it? That makes it easy to suggest that a panel of mothers will sympathize with the parents of a slain child because a mother’s love trumps all right? Pfft. So why weren’t there any black jurors if that kind of relationship is universally understood? Is it that it’s only white people who are capable of eschewing bias? That must be the case because when the defense saw that (Heavens!) a black man had been selected for the jury, they bitched about it until the judge dismissed him. There’s your ‘blind’ frigging justice.
This kind of jury was not going to see a crazed, hateful, missed opportunity for an abortion defendant in Zimmerman. What they see is a protector throwing himself on his sword in order to protect and defend the honour of imperiled white women (you know, like the ones he likes to beat and molest so much) who are prized beyond all else as the pinnacle of desirable femininity
from the violent, primal, overtly sexual reptilian brain-enslaved black thug.
So transparent, and they thought we’d fall it. Not that it even matters.
jwoolman: manslaughter was on the table but it didn’t stick! Look at what the law says:
http://gretawire.foxnewsinsider.com/2013/07/12/florida-manslaughter-crime-defined/
Some of it is indeed shocking but it is the law. You can understand why accidents are excluded because otherwise anyone killing somebody else through misfortune and not negligence would end up in prison but the problem is that this ends up benifitting the likes of zimmerman!
There is no way in this case to prove beyond a reasonable doubt anything. BUt the burden of proof is on the prosecution…
And people who say: Treyvon had a right to…legally NO he didn’t. Treyvon had a right to call himself the police, he also had a right to call for help, he didn’t legally have a right to physically attack his follower. Anyone who thinks Zimmerman the ultimate wimp would be the agressor is clearly mistaken. He’s an idiot who panicked when he got in over his head. With dire circumstances.
Sorry but the second you come at a kid with a gun he is legally within his rights to bash your head in to keep YOU FROM SHOOTING HIM.
Gun more dangerous then fists! That young man if he did actually bash his head in, there has been debate if that happened, was the one and only one acting in self defense.
Zimmerman was planning on killing that young boy, if he wasnt he wouldn’t have brought a gun.
I know! What the hell was the boy supposed to do, just accept his own murder without fear or question? We already had one Boris and Gleb–that’s enough.
I had a big ‘life moment’ when I was nineteen. I was almost raped by an acquaintance (or at least, someone I *thought* I knew), but for whatever reason I was able to fight myself out of there and run into the temporarily unlocked car of the person with whom I was traveling. Until now, I erroneously considered that to be the luckiest moment of my life, but finally I understand that I was in the wrong–repent! I repent!
Totally agree Tapioca.
The thing is there is no law against stupidity. And Zimmerman is the epitomy of a self-important idiot.However,legally there was no way the prosecution was going to be able to prove manslaughter let alone murder. They caved in to political pressure like idiots.
The trial was a complete catastrophy for the prosecution and the jury could do nothing but acquit.
It’s a complete waste all around: Zimmerman shouldn’t have followed him, Treyvon shouldn’t have engaged him, the prosecution shouldn’t have gone with those charges etc… I am beyond disgusted by the media treatment and the political usage of this tragedy.
Have these people actually looked at the evidence? Do they care about the law? If anything they shoud be arguing about amending laws, making it easier to get condemned harshly for harassment, review gun laws (what about just getting a tazer when it comes to self defence) but blathering on about racism is racial fear mongering and missing COMPLETELY the issues at hand. Despite what the media and a whole bunch of people who didn’t actually look at the evidence say I don’t believe this had anything to do with race. It has to do with one man’s overzealous super hero complex and one teenagers over confidence:
I’ve argued with some friends that Trayvon’s downfall wasn’t being black but being male: I think as a female most of us have escape plans in case of being followed: you know: call the police, run to the nearest house; ring the door bell, scream “someone is following me, I’m calling 911”, calling 911 etc… Not: let me call a friend and then after some trash talking let me go confront the guy that has been following me and then let me get into a fight with the dude. BAD idea. Because the douchebag can be following you for miles but if you lift a finger legally YOU are in the wrong, not the stalker! Then said stalker can “defend himself” and yes end up killing you and the law is ON HIS SIDE! There is clearly something wrong there but it is the law. And Treyvon clearly lifted more than a finger and Zimmerman panicked. Total waste.
NOw this state of affairs is true. Even when you have money! Even when you are white:
Look at what happens with Paparazzis every day! They stalk people and provoke them verbally but when a celebrity lashes out they are the ones who are charged and have to pay big fines. They know the law and take advantage of it.
The pic with Trayvon’s parents says it all. Everyone is smiling like it’s a photo op, except for his mom. Her face expresses the true tragedy of this situation, like she’s carrying on for her son, but she’ll never truly smile again.
At the end of the day, it is terribly sad that a 17 year old is dead. Both parties made mistakes, but TM’s cost him his life. My hope is that lessons are learned from this- including how parents are raising their kids, and how kids are responsible for their actions.
No love from me for the near-billionaires who wouldn’t have let that kid anywhere near their homes. Their security would have flushed him out in a nanosecond. This speaks of complete hypocrisy.
This should have been a local problem. The media blew this story up for publicity. Where’s the outrage for all the people of color who are killed everyday? No dedications of songs to THEM, Beyonce?
Yeah. Trayvon Martin made the mistake of carrying skittles, wearing a hoodie and being pursued by a strange man who never identified himself. It was up to him to run away and not stand his ground, under the threat, because…he didn’t have a gun?
Both parties made mistakes, but TM’s cost him his life.
What mistakes did Trayvon Martin have? Was it wearing a hoodie and having on him a can of tea & skittles? Or was walking in “the wrong neighborhood at night”?
The only one who made ‘mistakes’ was George Zimmerman and those mistakes cost a 17 year old boy his life.
Didn’t he get aggresive though? I mean I wonder what would have happened if he just calmy said “hey man I’m just getting back to my dads place. No problems here”. George also shouldn’t have followed him. But alas there are many cases like this all over the country and none get the attention this one did due to race baiting by the media and president.
Zimmerman never identified himself as a neighborhood watchman. He looked like a person with a problem. Trayvon Martin might not have wanted a perv or freak to follow him to his house.
“Didn’t he get aggresive though?”
There is no witness to the start of the fight, other than the woman on the phone with Trayvon. The only other witnesses saw the fight after it started.
I think people are more likely to assume that Trayvon got violent, even though there is no evidence to support this, because of his race.
It wasn’t any of Zimmerman’s f***ing business as to where Martin was going. Should he have handed over sin SSN number and banking information to this grown-up stranger, too? What right or authority does he have over that public space to even presume that he has any entitlement to it? None. And yet, he believes that ‘they always get away’. With what, what with not being dead?
What were trayvons mistakes again?
Being black.
The media ‘blew up’ because there was public outrage over the fact that the police knew who killed Martin and went two months without arresting him. Had it not been for that do you think that they would’ve ever bothered to do it? It seems as though every once in a while, the state of Florida has to be reminded that child murder isn’t supposed to be America’s Pastime.
If you start a fight and you are geting your ass beat .Pull out your gun like a punk ass bitch.Next
that’s pretty much what I take away from all this. Zimmerman thought he’d be a big man and confront Trayvon. Instead Trayvon got the upper hand and is dead because of it. All of this mess was preventable, instead a teen is dead with no one legally responsible. ridiculous.
Exactly!
mte.
Yep.
Oh yeah? Why didn’t Zimmerman identify himself as well? Why didn’t he say he was on patrol for neighbourhood watch? None of this is that kid’s fault, no matter how you slice it.
Yeah, he was so good at his ‘job’ that he killed the only person he was watching. I wonder, how in the world he flunked out of Police Academy?
Lol, YAASS girl. And let the church say amen!
Beyonce likes that BBC.
I don’t care for Jay Z or Beyonce doing that rally. I was SHOCKED when I read the comments from people on the verdict at the DailyMail site. Almost EVERYONE there agreed with the verdict and said “Justice was served” and “it was self-defense”.
it’s scary how quickly people ate up zimmerman’s story no matter how many facts about the guy and the situation came to light. i am upset about so much of TM’s background being put out in the media but hardly anything about GZ’s past with the arrest for battery on a cop, domestic violence issue, and let’s face it bad credit which cost him his spot in the police academy…yet a 17 yr old acting stupid on twitter and suspended from school is somehow a hardened criminal. GZ was not some perfect citizen so why buy his story automatically? he had no accomplishments, no career, no degree, and had been arrested.
Don’t forget his cousin, you know, the one he repeatedly molested. It looks like she’s going to make another attempt to bring him to book over that seeing as how the trial is over. I don’t remember Sean Hannity bringing up that bit of information during his little televised interview lickfest.
It is very shocking to me that the fact TM has a different skin color than them A LOT of people seem to be unable to identifies with him. The truth is a kid went to the store to buy candy and a drink, when he was making his way home a stranger followed him and started a fight with him, the minute the kid tried to defend himself, the stranger pulled out a gun and shot him. That is wrong. Now substitute the kid with your son, nephew, brother, cousin, friend etc. No matter who the kid was, black, white, brown, yellow, it is wrong and it makes me really sad to see that the majority cannot see the situation for what it really is.
Amen. If Zimmerman had shot a white kid, people would have no difficulty in saying “that man is a danger to the public”.
Bravo. I think a lot of them can’t see it because a Trayvon scares them as well.
Even though these people are screaming off the top of their lungs that race has nothing to do with it, at the end of the day they’ll never admit it that they would have been scared of Trayvon as well.
They can’t imagine Trayvon as their son or nephew because their sons and nephews don’t scare them and Trayvon does.
There’s nothing complicated about this case. Trayvon was a child who was in fear and tried to run away only to be caught and shot by a murderer who had just told 911 these assholes always got away. Trayvon did everything he should have done that night – first run and then defend himself against an adult stalker.
At the end of the day, Georgie held true to his words. He made sure “this suspect” didn’t get away.
Completely agree.
I have friends who are in deep denial about racism, most of them thinking it simply doesn’t exist anymore and that people are “inserting” race into everything.
I just don’t see how we can move forward as a country by sweeping racism under the rung instead of addressing the issue full-on.
*rug not rung.
My nephew is 3 years old. He has an amazing smile, soft brown curls and he jumps up and down in excitement when he spots birds’ nests. One day he will be all grown up and too cool to let me kiss his little face and give him a cookie when my sister and her husband aren’t looking. That’s okay because i am soexcited to see the young man he will become. Will he have my brother’s sense of humor or our grandfather’s strong work ethic?
It is so hard for me to believe that anyone could ever seehim in a different light – see him as a menace, a thug, a threat…
So screw the verdict. The jury spoke and that can not be undone. But what can change are attitudes and perceptions. Challenge yourself to see people for who they are, not what you have always believed them to be. Even if you never admit it to anyobe else examine your own negative thoughts about race and equality and then do a little spiritual spring cleaning.
And maybe, just maybe our nephews won’t end up slain – their brown eyes closed forever and skittles strewn on the ground around them.
WORD.
Some of the looniest right-wing US websites link to the Daily Mail, which is why you can never find a positive comment about Obama. Instead you get the most horrible racial abuse of Michelle (and even the kids).
I know not to read the comments on these sorts of stories because they are just horrific and if you try and post a comment that is reasonable and positive – it won’t get published!
But I have to say, quite apart from the racial aspect of this case, I’m finding that there is a HUGE gulf of opinion between Americans and the rest of the world on the outcome of this trial – based solely on the gun aspect.
For someone not from the US, it is INCONCEIVABLE that someone carried a loaded weapon can follow a complete stranger in the street, be directed by the cops to NOT follow that person but CONTINUE to follow them, not identify yourself and then SHOOT and KILL an unarmed stranger.
Quite aside from the racial overtones of this case (which are considerable, but – again – somewhat baffling from the perspective of someone who is not from the US)… the way the ‘right to bear arms’ is interpreted in the US is utterly incomprehensible.
For an armed person to have instigated the entire episode and kill an unarmed 17 year old kid… and be found not guilty is just mind boggling.
But then, in my country, to even own or carry a gun is a sign of a nutjob.
If I live to be a hundred years old I will never understand the love of guns in the US. (And yes, I know the history – I just don’t understand it).
Forgot to add… a lot of the comments on sites like the Daily Mail imply (if not state outright) that Trayvon somehow ‘had it coming’ because he was wearing a hoodie and low-slung pants. (Quote: “if he wasn’t out after dark dressed like a thug…”).
I really don’t know where you go from a comment like that.
How can you possibly reason with someone who can’t actually identify with the victim in any way? Or even acknowledge that he WAS a victim?
Sorry for all the ranting, but this case has really upset me.
I’ve actually been amazed at the dignity and restraint of protestors, Trayvon’s parents etc. after the verdict. I can’t imagine how angry they must be feeling.
I’m an American and I don’t get gun loving culture either. People treat it and defend it as fiercely as they would their religion. There’s far too many guns to make banning them a realistic solution. Maybe over time and with restrictions, those numbers will dwindle. I don’t think it will happen in my lifetime though. And the whole hoodie and low slung pants crap is just a version of the rape victim wearing a short skirt scenario.
@Kath…I’m not from the US either and let me tell you, that gun-loving thing is CRAZY to me. I didn’t even know about the second admentment until recently when the gun debate started. I found it shocking that it is a fondamental right for a people to have guns. Also, I cannot imagine a society where someone can just arm themselves, follow a child, kill said child and then go home like it’s nothing. SMH.
I’m from the US and the gun-loving culture is crazy to me.
The worst part is that if you tell people on the Right that other countries think the US is literally INSANE with our love of guns, they accuse you of not being a patriot or they start screaming “YOU’RE NOT GONNA TAKE MY GUN AWAY!!!”
It’s scary that we have to share the same soil with a lot of lunatics, and even scarier that a lot of those lunatics have firearms.
Please don’t make generalized statements about people on the Right, including gun owners.
It’s pretty much impossible to make statements re:gun-love in the US without making some generalizations. The issue is THAT divisive.
I have no problem with responsible gun owners, but the truth is that the majority of arguments coming from the Right are reactionary, extreme and very fear-based and I have seen very few exceptions to that.
It is because those types of inflammatory people make for “good TV.” I can assure you that those sentiments are not nearly as widespread as they are made out to be. I live in Kansas, so I consider myself enough of an expert on conservative viewpoints as necessary. (Don’t worry, though- I was raised in Jersey so I am able to think for myself- Not all Kansans subscribe to creationsim and banjo lessons.)
🙂
I am an American, and I am horrified by the gun lobby in the US.
For some reason, people have forgotten that “well regulated” is a part of the right that they are so passionate about.
I am completely disgusted that any time there is a horrific event involving guns in this country, gun sales go up exponentially (and usually the specific model of weapon used in the crime becomes very popular). I don’t get the mentality of “Let’s honor the memory of Aurora/Newtown/Columbine/Arizona/etc. by buying MORE guns!”
“I can assure you that those sentiments are not nearly as widespread as they are made out to be.”
That is part of the problem. The NRA lobbies for gun laws that even gun owners and NRA members don’t agree with!
Universal background checks are supported by the vast majority of Americans, even the vast majority of NRA members! But the NRA itself lobbies against it…and their money and influence always wins.
Ha ha…fair enough 🙂
Point taken and it wasn’t to say there aren’t reactionary liberals as well.
Anyway, thanks for reminding me to keep an open mind and to refrain from stereotyping.
Al sharpton race baits like no other and quite honestly their anger should go to the prosecution right now not the jury
Al Sharpton may be a opportunist, but for this Trayvon Martin case he has been very good by getting the case noticed. He and others were the first ones to put pressure on the police for the arrest of Zimmerman b/c it took weeks before he could be arrested after the killing.
If Sharpton is an opportunist race baiter, then so was MLK who was called way worse in his time.
It’s sad that in this day and age, we still need the Sharptons and Jesse Jacksons. I think we all hope we can come to a day when there are no more injustices for people of color.
Until then, I’m very glad we have Al Sharpton to help bring attention to cases like Trayvon’s. It hurts my heart to think we might have never even heard about this case had it not been for people protesting.
Yes, but unfortunately that same “pressure” caused the ill prepared prosecution of George Zimmerman for the wrong crime which ended up in chaos. Perhaps if people like Al Sharpton had let the case follow a slower path, the State of Florida would have gotten it right and prosecuted GZ for the CORRECT crime. Instead, they raced in reaction to celebrity and media pressure, prosecuted for the wrong crime and ended up setting a guilty man free. I don’t thank Sharpton or any of the others who capitalized on this issue. In my opinion they share the blame in setting a guilty man free. The wheels of justice move slowly for a reason. Yes, it is painful for victims and their family to wait it out, but history has proven time and time again that rushing to justice more often than not ends up with the wrong verdict. Given the parameters within which the jurors had to do their job, I doubt that you or I could have come to a different verdict. GZ was prosecuted for the WRONG crime and THAT is where the anger should be directed.
@Kiyoshigirl
I’m not a huge fan of Sharpton, in general, but he was on the side of real justice in this case. I couldn’t disagree with you more. I don’t think that the prosecution failed because they had inadequate time to prepare and try the case. I think that they may have been philosophically more aligned with the defense and therefore their hearts were not in it. Remember, the law that grants standing your ground, etc. is, politically, very conservative supported legislature. Not universally, but statistically, I’d argue that a great deal of prosecutors lean toward the right. Further, they didn’t prepare witnesses properly, and didn’t come across as passionate advocates for the victim, nor did they humanize him to any great extent.
@Kiyoshigirl, The wheels of justice weren’t moving slowly. They weren’t MOVING AT ALL.
The Sanford PD had decided not to charge George. They didn’t even want to release the 911 calls. They didn’t even collect blood from him that night. They however made sure to get the blood of the dead child.
It wasn’t until Al Sharpton and others started protesting that the Governor stepped in and assigned the case to Angela Corey.
Also the Prosecution did an okay job in my opinion. They did enough to prove manslaughter IMO. However when you have women like Juror B37 on the jury with obvious biases, they never really stood a chance.
@Veronica
As much as I have criticized the prosecution, I would have found him guilty of Murder 2 or manslaughter. I believe that there was malice involved. I simply believe that they could have done a much better job.
I don’t know if there is a pace slower than ‘let’s not do anything for two months’. That’s more than enough of time for Triggerman and his cadre of fanatics to dream up a good story and have physical evidence get literally washed away.
I find Sharpton’s ‘Emperor Of Black People’ schtick grating much of the time but I’m in line with what he’s saying here. Chiefly, it’s because no one else was saying anything, especially not Sanford P.D. Sanford P.D. let Martin rot on a morgue slab for two days before even contacting the parents who had already reported the boy missing by that time. They certainly didn’t say, ‘Oh, we know who killed your boy because we questioned the killer the night of the incident and sent him home without any arrest or follow-up. We also gave him the weapon back, Merry Christmas!!!’
Some say “Race baits,” others say. “Points out the facts.” Tomato, tomato.
@Matia Agree with you 100%
I find it very difficult to respect Rev. Sharpton. He claims he wants equality but has made disparaging remarks about gays, Jews, Mormons, and I believe he is on tape referring to someone as a “white interloper” before. He can take that ish elsewhere. Give me someone who wants equality for ALL.
Um, Matia, do you know what Sharpton and others have actually done for this case? “Race baiting” is an offensive and flippant term, period. Organizing protests against racial injustice and the death of a teenager due to racial profiling is not race baiting. If there were no protests and no attention paid to the series of injustices perpetrated against this child by Zimmerman and the Sanford police, there would have never been a trial against Zimmerman in the first place. Not only did they not bother to charge Zimmerman, they couldn’t be bothered to notify the parents of a minor where their child was for two days. The whole world observing is what’s going to change the stand your ground law and make the police be more careful about what kind of crap they try to pull in the future.
Please stop. Just stop. As a lifelong NYer, I have known of Sharpton since I was a little kid. He is a race baiter who makes anti-Semitic, anti-white, anti-gay and anti-Mormon remarks relentlessly. He didn’t do a damn thing to help anyone but himself. Trayvon Martin should not have died, but Sharpton cares about no one but himself. See above for a small list of what he’s done, which includes inciting riots in Brooklyn at the worst possible time.
I happen to think George Zimmerman was wrong and that when a fight came he couldn’t handle, he took out his gun because he was an untrained idiot wannabe who started something he couldn’t finish. That said, Al Sharpton is known for race baiting. He incited riots in Brooklyn and Harlem that ended in deaths (no one cared that an innocent Jew was killed in Brooklyn because Sharpton had riled up a mob; no one cared about the deaths in Harlem he caused by getting a mob into a frenzy). He walked in a Kill the Police rally after he tried to race bait in the Sean Bell case and found out two cops involved were African-American and had to back off. He accused an innocent man of raping a teenager and smearing her with fecal matter and then refused to pay damages, back off, or apologize. This is who you defend? Trayvon Martin is a dollar sign to him, just like everyone and everything else.
Instead of focusing on an anomaly in the justice system I wish celebs like Jay-Z and Beyonce would focus on the daily injustice of wrongful incarceration. Since 2000 in Dallas county alone, 24 innocent men have been exonerated after spending a collective 300 years in prison for crimes they didn’t commit. The only reason these gentlemen were set free is due to the work of the Innocence Project and work and cooperation of Dallas county’s African American District Attorney, Craig Watkins. I understand that emotions run high over high profile cases like Trayvon Martin’s. But if you truly want to take on the cause of racial bias in the judicial system, this was not the case for your cause. Sadly there is a plethora of other cases that illustrate your point.
You make some valid points about other injustices, but you don’t get to decide what people want to fight or protest about.
As someone who donates monthly to the Innocence Project, I am also extremely outraged by Trayvon’s case.
This case has caused so much outrage because a jury of 6 women in Florida just told the world it’s okay for an adult male to stalk and kill an unarmed black child and get away with it. That’s a MAJOR ISSUE, and a cause worth fighting for.
To say that this case not indicative racial bias in the judicial system is really absurd. Not to mention, that it’s not your place to dictate what people do and do not find offensive and worthy of protest. What is offensive is diminishing the significance of this case for people who have black sons. A murderer is not being held legally accountable for racially profiling and shooting down a 17 year old kid in the street like a dog, and all throughout the trial this child was racially profiled again as a black teenage thug by the defense and blamed for his own death.
Not even a dog. People would care if it were a dog. I don’t support dog fights at all, but Michael Vick goes to jail for it and Zimmerman gets a freaking ticker tape parade for so bravely murdering a child.
This is why black people aren’t sentimental about animals. Animals are pure and loving and good and perfect and deserve only. And we get murdered. And no one gives a shit. They don’t have to, we’re just playing out the script. I mean, if it’s already ‘like my babies’, why bothering fussing over an actual one? I like animals, but that’s it.
I hate to say it but some of the comments above mirror that of Juror B37.
I guess it’s just hard for some people to see Trayvon as a victim. A 17-year-old child who was in fear for his life, rather than the thug the defense portrayed him to be.
It’s sad that people continue to say Trayvon was also at fault.
I’m just not sure what a child who is being followed at night by a stranger is supposed to do.
He tried running and lost the creep. Only to continue to be followed. Then after being confronted, he tried to defend himself.
Thank you!
This, so much. It amazes me that people are finding it so much easier to put themselves in Zimmerman’s place than in Martin’s. I’m 33, female and white, but I find it all too easy to imagine walking along the street one night, wondering if that guy is following me, and finding out that he is following me and he has a weapon. I’m not armed. I’m terrified. And this guy will not leave me alone. If he stops me, what the hell do I do? Do I defend myself?
Apparently not. You’re not allowed to defend yourself against a stalker with a gun, or you deserve to die.
On the other hand, I find it very hard to see it from Zimmerman’s point of view. Safe in a car with a gun, actively looking for trouble, ignoring the advice of the police when they say to stay put and do nothing – all “provoked” by the sight of a 17-year-old kid walking by with a bag of candy. I cannot fathom the mentality of a person like that. I can’t understand why he felt so threatened by Martin that he felt justified in stalking him with a handgun even after the cops told him not to. And I don’t understand why so many people find it so easy to see it from HIS point of view, when his actions are so utterly incomprehensible.
@ Londerland. I couldnt agree more, that is exactly the situation that scares me, how would i know if he is in plain clothes that he is not some criminal that will mug me or worse. And i believe Trayons friend that he was talking to on the phone said that the guy following him could be a rapist and he should be careful. For my money its bizarre that you can follow someone and claim self defense when you kill them when they did nothing to provoke you.
I agree Londerland.
Especially since Zimmerman admitted that Trayvon was running from him.
What type of person sees someone running in fear from them, and continues to move in? Zimmerman intended to have a confrontation. If someone is running away from you, if you have no ill will, you IDENTIFY YOURSELF. Otherwise, you are acting like a threat and will be treated like a threat.
Zimmerman thinks:
Oh, this real, actual police officer with a badge and uniform wants to arrest me with an actual concrete reason. We are both grown men, too. My only option is resist arrest and assault the cop.
I don’t have a badge, I’m not in uniform because I’m not a cop, but I demand more authority as a self-appointed vigilante than a paid and professional officer of the law. I was completely within my rights to resist arrest and assault another adult male, but if someone much younger and much smaller than me resists, it’s too much for a grown man to have to bear. It’s only okay if I’m picking on the little guy because he’s a far greater to me than I ever was to someone my own size.
Beat women, kill children, molest cousins, lie about having had no knowledge of the SYG law (other than that one time he took a course on it and received an ‘A’ grade. Go figure the only class he didn’t flunk (well, to be fair, there were some ‘Ds’ too) is the one about how to murder people and get off for it, brag about your daddy getting your three felonies brought down to misdemeanors–is there anyone cooler than this guy? And now this fool wants to flunk out of law school, so he can help other people like him. Is that ‘other people who shouldn’t have bothered being born’?
And you know some POS maniacs would pay all of his school fees like they paid his legal fees. Lucky for their pocketbooks that this semi-literate freak wouldn’t likely make it through semester one.
My point exactly. I don’t know about the other jurors, but juror B37 had her mind made up from the get go. She was gonna find GZ not guilty no matter what because she sees him as a victim of the proverbial “scary black man”.
WORD.
and since I fit the PROFILE of Trayvon, I’d better not catch my ass on the street past a certain time just walking home from the store. nuff said.
@Veronica- Thank you for your comments on this thread. Your comments are giving a voice to the so many of the black folks who are fatigued discussing racial issues with the willfully ignorant and racist on the internet. Like myself. I’m just so tired and angry that the racial profiling of black men and the numbers of dead and incarcerated black men keep piling up but some people want to act as though racism doesn’t exist. You are amazing, and your nephews are lucky to have such a great advocate in you to protect them in the future.
Just a quick question:
Who in this case brought up race in the beginning?
To be honest, I never thought of it as race, I always thought of it as a wanna-be cop who didn’t want to listen and took matter into his own hands. I feel for Trayvon’s parents, but I also feel for the jury and Zimmerman’s parents. The jury most likely followed through with what they thought was right according to the laws in Florida, and Zimmerman’s parents are only trying to be supportive of their son. All around the situation is sad IMO.
If it’s not about race, then why did Zimmerman only call the cops on BLACK boys only?
All of his phone calls of suspicious people were of blacks. Even calling the cops on a 9-year-old black kid.
By the way, blacks make up less than 20% of the population of Sanford.
So based on the above, I would say it was definitely about race. Zimmerman made it about race. I get that race makes some people uncomfortable but let’s stop denying the obvious.
If you go on CNN and TMZ to read the comments, you’ll lose count of how many N-words, monkeys, and go back to Africa comments you see. But yet somehow this is still not about race.
Zimmerman is a racist. Zimmerman profiled, stalked and killed that child because he is a racist. And its easy to assume that the outspoken juror is also racist. But the reason Zimmerman was not originally charged and why he ultimately was acquitted was not racism. Its because the laws of Florida regarding self defense and Stand Your Ground (and their carry permit laws etc) are lousy and shameful. We need to get these horrific laws off the books because all they do is facilitate murder. And the law is race blind. Reverse their ethnicity and it would have still come out the same. This case says less about racism in America than it does about stupid NRA drafted gun laws that are on the books in 30+ states.
And let the church say Amen!
here is exactly what happens when you reverse the ethnicity:
“Of all the things comprising the Trayvon Martin case, the most interesting is the notion that if the races were reversed, the white (according to the liberal narrative) Zimmerman would not have been acquitted. The races were reversed. Here’s what happened:
Not guilty: The verdict in the manslaughter trial of Roderick Scott. After more than 19 hours of deliberations over two days, a jury acquitted the Greece [New York] man in the shooting death of Christopher Cervini, 17, last April. …
Scott says he acted in self defense when he confronted Cervini and two others saying they were stealing from neighbors cars. He told them he had a gun and ordered them to freeze and wait for police.
Scott says he shot Cervini twice when the victim charged toward him yelling he was going to get Scott.
Scott didn’t need to show that Cervini was bashing his head against the sidewalk in an evident attempt to kill him as in the Zimmerman case, because Scott was African American and Cervini was a white Italian
Thus there have been no thinly veiled calls for riots from prominent liberals or plans by the Injustice Department to place Scott in double jeopardy, and as Joe for America points out, Obama did not exploit his bully pulpit to shout, “If the white half of me had a son he would have looked like Christopher Cervini.”
What I’m asking is: did Zimmerman’s camp bring up race or was it Martin’s?
I understand that people are going to be rude about race all around, but as I said before, I never saw it as a race issue, merely Zimmerman being a jerk and on his high horse.
I take into consideration both sides of the argument, but again, it has become a sad situation for the Martin family.
46. He called them 46 times.
Stop being reasonable, people will start yelling at you :). I agree with you 100% but that’s not sexy or inflammatory.
She can “Stop being reasonable,” or, alternatively, and this is suggestion, and I’m not race baiting, and she can take it or leave it . . . she could try opening her eyes and coming back to reality.
Easier to live in denial I suppose.
What you mean is “Stop being reasonable, don’t bother listening to the multitudes of black people who feel like they are being racially profiled or that they’re sons are in danger of this happening to them. This has nothing to do with race. They’re just making it up!”
Less ‘reasonable’, more ‘not accurate’.
Obviously it is about race now, and I understand about Zimmerman’s comments from previous calls before but I was just curious.
In all reality I have no take on this case other than it is a sad situation, and ultimately it has become a lose-lose one.
So instead of implying that I need to come back to “reality” some people should understand that some people see both sides of the situation, not just one.
Oooh, oooh, now me, now me!!
Race Revesral Genie Says…GO!!!
Does anyone remember John White? Few years back, John White’s son, Aaron, was at his home, in bed, when he was confronted by a group of white teenagers who threatened his life and threw around some racial epithets. As the threats grew, Aaron went to his father’s room and said that they said they were going to kill him and they were in the front yard, refusing to leave. John went to the front yard to figure out what in the world these kids threatening his son’s life and calling him every name under the sun planned on doing. He told them that they were on his property and that he had a gun and showed it to them, hoping that would end the conversation–there was his warning to them. But the taunts still grew, threats came louder and as John waved the gun around to prove that he was serious, the crowd neared the boy and his father, undaunted. John got jumped and in the ensuing struggle one of the teenagers who had lunged himself at John was shot dead. Do you think that the cops waited around for two months before arresting him?
John White got 5 to 15 years in prison, arguably for defending his property, his life and the life of his son.
Jo “mama” besser- Yes girl! You are giving me life, lol.
The prosecution didn’t meet the burden of proof for either charge, and I think the jury made the right decision in this case. I do wish that certain groups would stop pushing for additional/federal charges to be filed. AG and investigators have said there isn’t evidence to support civil rights violation charges and continuing to call for them is a poor attempt to circumvent a valid jury verdict.
Agreed. People can’t separate evidence from feeling. I think Casey Anthony is a murderer but if the evidence wasn’t there it wasn’t there.
But that evidence may have been adequate for a different panel of jurors to find her guilty.
Doesn’t matter if it would have been adequate for another jury to convict. It matters that the prosecution didn’t prove it to the jury selected.
Yeah I agree, for the sake of consistency more than anything else.
I was one that defended the acquittal of Casey Anthony (even though I DO think she’s guilty) because I DO believe that the burden is on the prosecution.
I do not envy any jury that has to serve on a high-profile case like this, much less any juror that is in a position to end one’s life, be it by lethal injection or a life sentence.
It doesn’t change the fact that I’m angry though. The thing that frustrates me the most is seeing people question the Martin family’s right and the right of others to hold peaceful protests. The Martins LOST THEIR SON, for crying out loud. They have every right be upset and to make their voice heard.
I’m concerned about the intent to file a second charge against him. Love or hate the verdict, it was a firm verdict. I don’t want to start seeing people get tried more than once. Our legal code is supposed to prevent against double jeopardy, and I feel like a second trial would set a dangerous precedent.
Hey there- I may be wrong, but I believe a similar scenario occured with the OJ Simpson trial. He was acquitted of the criminal charge of murder, but was found guilty in the civil case brought by Nicoles family. Criminal and civil charges are two separate charges in two distinctly different types of court, so it is not considered dounle jeopardy. But I feel ya and understand the logic behind your concern.
@Barhey: My point exactly. If we start finding clever ways to “double dip” now, how long before we are trying people over and over and over to get the verdicts the masses deem acceptable?
@Ms. Peacock: This is wholly different from the OJ case. OJ was acquitted, and then his victims’ families sued him in civil court for wrongful death and were awarded a monetary sum. In Zimmerman’s case, DOJ is being pressed to file federal civil rights violation/hate crime charges, which are criminal–not civil–charges that would result in jail time if convicted. Furthermore, even if the DOJ pursued these charges, Trayvon’s family could still sue Zimmerman in civil court for wrongful death and damages.
@Annabelle
Very difficult to charge for a hate crime if there is no crime. GZ was acquitted therefore- legally- no crime was committed. Further prosecution in this respect would be expensive and reduntant. Prior to requests for hats crime charges there was considerable lobbying for the Martin family to file a civil case. Even before GZ was indicted. In this respect both this and the Simpson case are comparable. And a civil case is likely the only remaining approach that could change the end of this story.
Actually, the Florida case has no bearing on a federal case. He was acquitted but he *could* be charged with federal hate crimes, which is unlikely but Sharpton, Ben jealous and NAACP are petitioning for it, which is what the OP meant. (I think)
Absolutely- legally it has no bearing on the POSSIBILTY of federal charges. However considering the national exposure this case and verdict has received it is IMPROBABLE that further criminal charges- at any penal level- will be filed. That’s why I said above that civil charges are the most LIKELY to have any further impact on this case. Americans are already disenchanted with the judicial system; as far as Florida came from convicting him, I am simply doubting that federal hate crime charges will follow. Not doubting the legal possibility.
Al Sharpton’s James Brown will always crack me up.
Well so far this has been one of the few sites I’ve been to where the discussion of this case hasn’t made me want to throw up out of anger and disgust.
As a black gay extremely non-threatening male who’s been followed in stores, pulled over for going 67 in a 65 mph zone, etc. I’ve lived much of my life in fear of being attacked by white people. I avoid situations with straight white males and alcohol, I just don’t take chances. That said, I thought things in this country were getting better but Obama’s presidency has brought out so much racism (a word so misused recently that it’s lost its meaning) that I’m more depressed than ever about our country’s future.
Oh and Al Sharpton totally had gastric bypass surgery. He’s got that deflated balloon look.
Don’t give up Neelyo. That is a fatal mistake for rights in this country.
Sadly, Obama being elected a second term changed nothing in regards to racism. His presidency simply gave the racist fear mongers a new target to focus their energy on.
And I remember thinking on that night in November 2008, ‘There is going to be some End Of Days racism rolling through the lands. I wonder about the forms it will take.’
And Bob’s your uncle.
Okay, I know I am in the minority, but I believe Zimmerman. Before I get yelled at (and ducking for cover now), I just want to make a few points about misconceptions I see in this thread:
1.) Zimmerman reported that Trayvon was black because there had been a series of robberies in the area committed by black teens, not because he was some crazy racist.
2.) Zimmerman went out of his car to find an address, not to follow Trayvon Martin. Looking at the time line, Trayvon easily could have made it home if he had gone directly.
3.) Zimmerman stated that Trayvon reached for the gun, which is why he felt his life was in danger. We’ll never know this for sure, but just pointing it out to counter the people who say Zimmerman just wanted to win the fight.
4.) Zimmerman was, in fact, part black and grew up in a racially integrated household. It’s shocking how few news outlets have reported this.
I’m only writing these 4 points, because I think a full on debate helps nothing.
What I think would help everyone is an acknowledgment that this is a tragedy on all sides and I hope that it spurs new dialog on better laws and better discussions on race relations.
Most of what you wrote was according to Zimmerman who had much to gain, so you believe his version of events without question.
So you have proof he was lying?
Well only two people know exactly what happened that night, and one of them is dead.
Advantage: Zimmerman.
Seriously, you really sound like Juror B37 with believing everything good about Zimmerman.
Also, what does Zimmerman being “part black” have to do with anything. Anyone can racial profile, which is what Zimmerman did. He s
Of course you know far more than a juror does about the case.
Yes, unfortunately anyone can racially profile. I’m just pointing out that it is less likely to be prejudiced against a race to which you partially belong.
You would be shocked. Shocked.
Zimmerman lived in that neighborhood. By his own admission he’d patrolled the area frequently. Why then would he need to get out of his car to verify the address of an an area he should have known like the back of his hand? Also, you can grow up any where and still harbor certain prejudices. I guess you’ve never heard or read some the things his brother has said. Both of them harbor ill feelings towards Black people.
Check your facts Strawberry, Zimmerman is white/latino and if you don’t think Latinos can be racist against black people, you are VERY wrong. I’m saying this as a Black Hispanic.
I’m not going to yell at you. I’m simply going to ask that you take your ignorance and go have a seat.
There is no such thing as “white latino,” just as there is no such thing as Obama being “white African-American.”
Next time you call someone out for ignorance, do a google search first.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/zimm_own_black_roots_drive_to_aid_acj8TBRV1K2T3VbQZYo9JK
Thank you! I find it extremely ignorant that people believe minorities are incapable of being racist towards other minorities. It’s the most asinine thing ever.
Zimmerman himself made racist comments about Mexicans on his old myspace page. But it doesn’t matter cause his heart was in the right place right juror B37?
Also, I’m pretty sure the Prosecution pointed out 10 lies Zimmerman told, or as the defense put it – 10 minor inconsistencies.
@Strawberry Most biracial Hispanics I know call themselves White/Hispanics.Also years ago most Hispanics were considered Caucasian depending on their phenotype. Regardless of that Marty was right in saying that Zimmerman is not part Black. BTW Obama is bi-racial. But because of America’s racist one drop rule he is mostly identified as African American.
Thank you V4Real, exactly! I don’t know how Strawberry can say there’s no such thing as white/latino. I think there are a lot of biracial people out there that would disagree.
Well said Strawberry.
Also, he said TM was black because the 911 dispatcher asked him to describe the kid.
Why was 911 called again? Oh yeah, TM’s skin matched the skin of other INDIVIDUALS who had committed crime in the area.
thank you Strawberry, I agree with most of what you said.
it drives me absolutely bonkers how many people go along with the media narrative on this. they know barely half of what happened because they refuse to look for themselves. There is always more to the story than you hear, do your research.
As far as GZ being a racist, the FBI looked into him for 18 months, they found absolutely nothing to prove this was a racially charged incident. NOTHING.
As far as GZ carrying a gun and that we need gun laws. we have them. you have to have a back ground check to buy a gun. I had to have one, everyone has to have one. you need to be registered to have carry a concealed weapon. This is within the law. just because I carry a gun, it doesn’t mean I am looking to kill someone. I use it in case I need to defend me or my kids.
As far as stand your ground, that had absolutely nothing to do with this case. this case was self-defence. GZ was getting his head beaten in, he felt his life was at risk so he defended himself. Two diferrent things.
If you want to find out more about Trayvon and this case please watch this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebu6Yvzs4Ls
They asked the jury to consider Florida’s self-defense laws and Stand Your Ground when forming their verdict, so while GZ’s defense team didn’t use SYG as a reason for their defense, it was indeed part of the trial.
I agree with what TOKitten said about Stand Your Ground. It was in the jury instructions and the juror who has spoken out said it was a part of their decision in this case.
Additionally, you do NOT need a back check to buy a gun in many states if you buy through a gun show or a person-to-person transaction. Univeral background check legislation was recently defeated in congress.
It would be great if everyone needed a background check to buy a gun, but that isn’t the current law.
Really, Geraldo Rivera? Justice for Trayvon is your new tune?. Please. He was one of GZ’s biggest supporters in the wake of the shooting. I can’t with this opportunist. -_-
You had to bring up his name? Now I have that vomitous image in my head of his selfie that Michael K posted today.
Nooooooo Kiddo!!! Not that again please!
Geraldo has spent the last year talking about the killing of TM and constantly referring to him as an unarmed teenager. He was on O’Reilly saying that it should be a murder two conviction, you can google it, and called the jury decision an abomination. I’m not sure where you’re getting your facts regarding his support for GZ, but they’re not accurate.
You are correct BUT Rivera has also made comments suggesting that wearing a hoodie caused the problem instead of Zimmerman calling 911 when no crime on Martin’s end was committed.
It was and is a tragedy all around. It’s been tried in the courts and a verdict was agreed on by 6 people. It’s time to move on, and take a hard look at our laws and make changes.
Easy for you to say.
One of the many upsetting things about this case is realizing how unwilling so many white people are to consider the perspective of African Americans. (I’m white.) I will never forget when many, many years ago a black friend told me that there is not a single day in which she does not experience some reminder (small or large) that she is black or “not as worthy as white people.” Dirty looks, being followed in stores, etc. And sometimes when we would hang out in public, people did give us mean looks. I will always be grateful to my black friends for helping me see how unequal the the US really is. It hurts my heart, but it is true. I wish more white people were willing to consider that.
It’s because so many people think “oh we have a black president” and “people like Oprah and Jay Z are millionaires” so therefor racism today is a myth and no one should complain. Don’t even get me started on this whole “black people are more racist than white people these days” stuff that has been going around. Are we keeping score? People of all races can have prejudices! It doesn’t mean that black men aren’t unfairly profiled on a daily basis!
I live in a very race-isolated place (can’t describe it any better than that). The only reason that we even have any people of different ethnic backgrounds is because we have a big engineering school (Michigan Tech, if anyone’s ever went) nearby.
I look white. I mean, I am PALE. I look exactly like my mom, but a white version. I don’t tan, in the summer, I might get half a shade darker than I usually am. The only way you can even tell that I’m black is because I have a triangle shaped afro (when my hair is combed out). I’ve worn my hair in an afro, braids, etc.
And yeah, I still get looks. I’ve had people make faces at my hair. My older sister (who looks the same as me, but has wavy hair), has been followed around in Walmart because there were some other black people acting straight fools in there. My twin brother, who is about the same shade as Trayvon (for comparison purposes), used to cry in elementary school (here) because none of the kids would play with him. The first night my mom went out with my grandma in this town (we had just moved here, ten years ago), my mom got called the “n word” by some drunks that were people that my grandma knew.
So yeah, it still amazes me that a lot of people don’t think racism still exists. One of my brother’s friends, a white female, didn’t think that people still thought like that in this day and age.
As a white person, I think white people that try to say racism is a thing of the past are being willfully ignorant.
I have seen racism in my neighbors, family, co-workers, politicians, police force and justice system. I have lived in a variety of places, but it is always there.
If a person doesn’t see it, it is because their eyes and ears are closed. You don’t have to be a victim of injustice to be outraged by it and call for change. I am so tired of this obvious inequality! How can anyone with a sense of justice not be?
I think for a lot of white people, saying “I don’t see the color of a person’s skin” is a misguided attempt to illustrate that they are somehow “past racism”.
Lost on them is the fact that by ignoring the inherent physical and social differences in races, they are perpetuating the idea that racism is dead, and that black/brown people are treated the same as white people.
IMO in order to move forward we need to acknowledge the difference between growing up as a black American and growing up as a white American. Denying that the experiences are very different is not progress, it’s DENIAL.
Hello TOKitten.
I believe what they’re talking about is their personal position on race. Whether they themselves act in a racist manner or feel that way toward others.
To then hold them to account for perpetuating racism through this very attitude smacks of something akin to a psychological double-bind or a Catch-22.
You’ve left them with a situation in which they cannot chose a non-racist path. In my experience I’ve often encountered double binds in abusive situations or systems where one person is trying to assert illegitimate control over another.
Not that you would, I’m sure, try to do something like that. Just something that might have escaped your notice.
What Troubadour said. Thank you.
Hi Trubadour-
While the intention behind taking the approach of “I don’t see color” might be a well-intended one, it simply isn’t conducive to healing race relations because ultimately saying “I don’t see color” closes your eyes to the experiences of other races. It benefits the person who repeats that refrain because then they don’t have to feel a sense of responsibility for the actions of other white people who may be racist.
Listen, nobody in my family owned slaves-I’m a descendent from poor potato farmers and French peasants, but I still feel a sense of responsibility for how black people view white people. If they’re saying that they’re hurt and scared for their safety, I’m going to listen. I’m not going to put my fingers in my ears by saying “well *I* don’t see color” because it’s not about you or I, it’s about them and how they feel marginalized and mistreated.
Failure to see and acknowledge racial differences makes it difficult to recognize the unconscious biases everyone has and is ultimately a symptom of white privilege. Black people don’t have the luxury of saying “I don’t see color” because they’re reminded almost daily of the color of their skin.
We need to LISTEN and LEARN, not close ourselves off.
@TheOriginalKitten- Thank you!!! You’re amazing!
TOKitten,
You mention that it is important to listen and learn. Do you listen properly to what your friends are telling you about their honest assessment of themselves and race?
It seems that you may close yourself off to the possibility that they are trying to be honest with you. Doesn’t an honest assessment from a friend carry any weight?
Also, you seem to have expressed another double bind in this argument without resolving the last one–“Failure to see and acknowledge racial differences makes it difficult to recognize the unconscious biases everyone has…”
Assuming these unconcious biases puts everyone in the position of an irresolvable dilemma concerning race, a status disqualification double bind where every attempt to resolve the situation (or not resolve the situation) is categorized as racist. Psychologically and logically this situation is improper and, again, occurs frequently in abusive situations and oppressive systems.
Finally, everyone is responsible for their own individual actions and not those of fellow members of their race, or any other race for that matter. I don’t think people need denial to avoid that it’s just common sense.
@The Original Kitten-Did you know that you are the best thing ever? 😉 A thousand times yes. And thank you for explaining it as a white person, because unfortunately that is what it takes for other white people to listen.
Is it just me or does it bother you that Beyonce has a huge smile on her face?
What is there to smile about?
Even Trayvon’s family can’t smile in that picture! They look very uncomfortable. 🙁 Almost like they have to smile because they are taking pictures with celebrities who “support” them. So sad.
I’m tired of famewhores taking advantage of situations such as this case. Celebs only seem to voice their opinions after the verdict. Truth?
TRUE.
Agreed. Although Jamie Foxx has been pretty vocal about the case for a while. He wore a shirt with Trayvon and the victims of the Newton victims to the MTV movie awards and wore a shirt with Trayvon to another awards show (possibly the BET awards- not sure). There are most definitely opportunists though, but in all fairness I do believe Jay Z is pretty sincere.
Ok I am no fan of j or Bey, but I honestly think to say any black entertainer who is talking about this is being an opportunist is wrong. I think you have to remember that while this does get them press they also risk backlash from either people who don’t agree or those who think they are using the situation for press.
I think these people are doing this because it touches them someplace deep. Like the president said it could have been them or their children. This has shook me and pained me deeply and I never have to worry about someone killing me because of my race, and if they do my family doesn’t have to worry about that person not being prosecuted and convicted. This could have happened to dear friends of mine people I love so the idea that if it did they wouldn’t justice makes me physically ill.
Well said and excellent observation; beyonce is such a manufactured fake human being, I don’t think she knows how to respond to real events, esp. something like this, in any appropriate way. Her smiles are so detached from the reality, could she think this is a photo op – and why do these two narcissists need to “pose” with trayvon martin’s parents?
doesnt it make more sense to protest in FLA? it is their SYG law that made this possible
I just want to take this time to say all of my thoughts and prayers are with TM’s parents right now. I saw their interview with Al Sharpton and I cried like a baby.
However you spin it a youn man is dead. A teenager’s life was cut short before he was able to fully reach his potiental and the man that cut his life short is out free. Just a tragic siuation all around. And the upmost respect for Trayvon’s parents for the way they conducted themselves through this whole ordeal. I don’t think I could’ve been that gracious.
There are at least 22 states that have Stand Your Ground laws.
Oops sorry my reply was to Lisa asking about why protest outside of FLA.
yes, may states have some version of stand your ground but NY isnt one of them
There’s an interview clip of his father talking about how he can’t stop beating himself up over the fact that he wasn’t around to save his boy because when he was nine Trayvon saved his father’s life by dragging him out of a house fire. He had third-degree burns all up his legs and the pain and smoke made him black out, so Trayvon saved his father’s (and his own, by extension) life when he heard his father’s screams. They had been at the park together the whole day and his football team had played so they were knackered and both fell asleep when he was making dinner–so he was upstairs in his room. He can’t stop thinking about how his son saved him but he didn’t save his son and that’s the whole purpose of father’s existence so he still places blame on himself.
Why was Geraldo there?? Unfortunately, on facebook, I have had a lot of childhood/high school friends and extended family posting that Trayvon was a thug, that he was getting skittles and iced tea to mix with cough syrup to make “lean”, that Zimmerman was just trying to do his job as neighborhood watch, that Trayvon was much bigger and stronger than Zimmerman, that Trayvon shouldn’t be held up as a martyr because he would have probably been in jail by now if he were still alive, and constantly posting stories about young white people killed by black men asking where was Obama talking about them, where was the justice for them. And, to be fair, there are many people calling for vigilante justice on Zimmerman, calling the jurors dumb b!tches and morons and ALLEGEDLY attacking people in the name of Trayvon. To me, this signifies how far the divide is between the right and the left of the US. There can be no healthy debate, because people want to plug their ears and refuse to hear the other side. People are lobbing the words “liberal” and “conservative” like insults. The whole thing makes me feel sick. I’m glad Bey and Jay are bringing awareness and showing their support for Trayvon’s family, but they will just be called “liberal idiots” or opportunists by some.
All of you need to go back and read the transcripts of the trial and get a huge dose of reality. I am a white woman who grew up in DC and currently live in a predominantly black DC suburb. Do I lock my doors when I see young men looking like thugs? Damn right I do. As do my black neighbors. The point is, we lock our doors to ANYONE/ANY RACE who chooses to dress like a thug and look menacing. This isn’t racial profiling, it’s smart. But in honor of TM, why don’t all of you who wrote to defend him stop locking your doors and clutching your purses. Stop carrying pepper spray. How about Beyonce and Jay Z going out on the town without their armed bodyguards. Let’s stop neighborhood watches all together and not protect our property at all. When kids like TM assault their school bus driver (as he did) let’s not suspend them from school. They should be able to live in a world where they can do whatever they want and not suffer the consequences, right? Give me a break.
What does “looking menacing” entail exactly? Is having a pocket full of candy menacing?
Is dressing like a “thug” wearing baggy pants and a hoodie?
..because that’s how every male teenager I know dresses. Do you take your pepper spray out and “clutch your purse” every time you see a teen?
That must be exhausting.
I am a white female who lives alone in an urban environment, next to projects and I don’t carry a gun, knife or pepper spray. I also don’t live in a state of perpetual fear like you apparently do.
Very classy to cast further shade on a teenager who already died needlessly. Are you insinuating that he “deserved” to be shot for messing with his bus driver?
I don’t see where OP is suggesting that Trayvon ‘deserved’ to be shot. The reality is, Trayvon was a large, badly behaved, racist kid. He paid the ultimate price for his behavior. He dealt violently with people he had a problem with and it cost him his life. Behavior, meet Consequences.
Trayvon was a “bad” and “racist” kid?
How so exactly?
Again, your insinuation is that he somehow “deserved” what happened to him…smh…
If we are talking about people who had a history of violent behavior, that would be more apt for George Zimmerman, who had been charged with assaulting a woman and police officers.
The fact is, Trayvon was doing NOTHING illegal when he was assaulted. People try to justify such a breach of justice by trying to point to Trayvon’s past wrong doings, but it is a straw man.
Actions and consequences are what I was speaking of. If you want to read an insinuation that I think Trayvon deserved to die into it, that says more about your preconceptions than it says anything about what I wrote.
Action: Teenager walking through a neighborhood is approached by an armed man.
Consequence: Teenager dies.
I don’t think I’m reading into anything here-I truly can’t take your comment to mean anything other than you saying that he got what was coming to him. If that isn’t your intent then I apologize but you should understand that this incident is NOT one to be held up as a shining example of actions/consequences.
Umm, no Usedtobelulu, did you read what you just wrote? You literally just said he brought his death upon himself! What actions did he take that led to his death? He didn’t do anything but walk down the street and defend himself from a racist rent-a-cop chasing him in a car and on foot in the dark! With a gun! It is beyond offensive for you characterize Trayvon as a racist thug so that you can excuse this fool hunting him down and killing him for sport. For his rent-a-dumb fun. He is a CHILD. And he is DEAD.
What makes Trayvon a thug? Because he, like many other teenagers in America, have gotten suspended from school or smoked weed? ZIMMERMAN is the thug, complete with a criminal record and a gun. And Trayvon was a 160 lb teenager and Zimmerman is a 200 lb fully grown adult. He was not nearly as large, physically imposing or threatening as Zimmerman. Period. The only threatening thing about him to most Zimmerman defenders is the color of his skin, and being black while wearing a hoodie. And Zimmerman is the racist, constantly racially profiling young black men in the neighborhood until he finally saw his chance to kill one. But I guess that’s one less black thug off the face of the earth, right? He really did his community a service there, right? Try letting facts meet reality from now on, okay?
@Used to be Lulu- Do you value the lives of black children? What if this was your child? Would you want people do be calling him a thug when he didn’t even have a criminal record? Would you want grown men following your children around in the street? Would you be okay with finding out your 17 year old child was dead two days and that the police didn’t even bother to inform you? Are you okay with your kids walking down the street to get some candy and never coming back again?
@mia: TM was quite a bit taller than GZ. Did you watch the coverage of the trial? I did.
Yes, I saw coverage of the trial. Did you watch the coverage of the trial on Fox News? As I said, Trayvon Martin was a growing, not fully developed, teenager who was 160 lbs. George Zimmerman is a FULLY GROWN 200lb MAN. My point stands.
Btw, I love how you ignored my question about whether or not you value black children’s lives.
How does wearing a hoodie make you look like a thug. Remind me to stay away from you on a fall weekend because I run around in my hoodie all the time.
Question though since I’m a white woman would I or wouldn’t I look like a thug in my hoodie?
I have worn hoodies for about 20 years now! Have never been treated like a “thug” for it, though.
I was also pulled over 10 times for speeding before I got a ticket. I would be a fool to think that my appearance didn’t have something to do with that. Meanwhile my black peers must freeze and not reach for their registration when they get pulled over, lest the cops think they are reaching for a gun.
I see unarmed black men being killed by police at least once a week on the news (aka “an officer involved shooting”). I am just so tired of the double standards and the people saying they don’t exist.
Just wow
I didn’t know that it was only black kids who dressed like “thugs” and robbed people! Guess I’ll let my stepdad know that he didn’t see a group of white kids break into his car and steal stuff. Should also let the police know that those 4 white teens they arrested for breaking into people’s cars in their subdivision are not the right culprits *RME*
This argument is really reaching. People don’t lock their doors and carry pepper spray because of black kids. It’s because all people are jerks and feel entitled to other people’s property and body.
ugh.
If having some trouble at school and wearing hoodies warranted ones death then 90% of all the kids that I went to school with would be dead. And before you say they would have had it coming please consider that my school was maybe 2% black. Nearly at ALL boys at my school, black and white wore hoodies and baggy pants, the girls liked to wear jean jackets over their uniform. And I definately would not be here because I got suspended from school a couple of times for skipping.
Here we go, yet again the poor kid is put on trial for his own murder.
I can’t help but feel had this not been a national case and was just a local one, Beyonce and Jay-Z and Sharpton wouldn’t have been there at all. Especially Sharpton, who only gets involved if it can bring him attention.
Agreed
@Madriani’s Girl So you’re suggesting that the 2 biggest and most famous music super stars on the planet want more attention? That’s why they attended the rally,because they want to be photographed more? And you don’t understand why Al Sharpton,who is a civil rights leader,spoke up for a young man whose civil rights were violated when he was racially profiled?? Wow.I don’t want to resort to name calling and calling people idiots.But comments like yours are making it tough.
LOLOLOL! I just noticed Geraldo trying to get the camera’s attention – good luck with that when Beyonce and Jay-Z are around!
Jay Z and beyonce are famewhores to the max – they could quietly do things behind the scenes – Remember Jay Z was the greedhead that sold OWS t-shirts and kept the profits until he was called out;
Because celebs are always shilling product, fairly or unfairly, their sincerity will always be questioned;
A larger point, this demonstrates again that the American legal system is a poor system of inquiry; European systems that use judicial magistrates and avoid untrained civilian juries are probably better – less grandstanding and showmanship.
THe truth is unlike a scientific experiment that can be repeated endlessly, this was a unique event and no-one will ever know what truly happened, and there is no means to reconstruct the event to determine the “truth.” This is what you get, a result at the end of a murky process, nothing more.
I live in Seminole County, watched most of the trial. He was always going to get off or at the least manslaughter. There was never enough to charge him with second degree murder. The State practically put on a defense case. I have never seen anything like it. Central Florida let Casey Anthony off scott free with enough evidence for a lesser included offense at the least.
It’s not a matter of what is right morally. It’s what the jury has to base their
verdict on, the evidence they see and hear, reasonable doubt. The verdict didn’t surprise me. Zimmerman disgusted me back when he did an interview and said, no regrets, that it was God’s plan. Spare me, you idiot. But he has
and will be on his own prison for a long time.
Trayvon’s parents have handled themselves with grace and dignity throughout
this whole process.
Regarding the hoodie, seriously, a thug? Some of these comments amaze me. It was raining. Teens wear baggy pants here and hoodies. Stop the blame game. My neighbor was from Barbados and was a model in her day. Married to a white man. She feared for her teenage son when he was in high school. Black males ate profiled. She told me I would never understand how it feels as she has been profiled in stores all her life. She told me she dresses up on purpose.
Yeah THIS, all of it.
I’m REALLY tired of hearing the word “thug” used to describe Trayvon but not Zimmerman.
..also would these same people use the word “thug” to describe a young white man who had gotten himself into some trouble?
I know plenty of white dudes that got expelled, suspended or in trouble in HS and I don’t recall people using the word the word “thug” to describe them.
Regardless, a few scuffles in high school does not warrant a person’s death.
What I don’t get is why people even bring up that he was wearing a hoodie, or that he had skittles and tea to make sizzurp….that has nothing to do with why he was killed. Nothing. It doesn’t matter if he was on his way to make that stuff, that’s not why Zimmerman went after him. I don’t get why people are rushing to defame a dead 17 year old (only a year younger than I am), because he wasn’t the greatest kid.
This could have been my twin brother, who is six feet tall, dark, can look “menacing” or “like a thug”, but is the sweetest, biggest dork that I know. And that scares me. He’s already had freaking 12 year olds scream the n word at him already, when he’s riding his bike down the street, just for being on the street.
only in America does the dead black child go on trial
It is nauseating how people won’t stop vilifying the kid, even after death.
That’s RIGHT.
Jayna-Yes to everything you’ve said!
Florida needs new prosecutors and that’s all I am going to say there. But Al Sharpton is such a war mongering jerk that it’s hard to see past his past behavior. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself. He is not at all for promoting peace and change.
wrong
100% right. Sharpton doesnt do anything positive for the African American community. All he cares about is press for his ego.
it is truly horrible to make your life’s work to stand up against racism, hatred and ignorance, that’s your position?
nice
Yes, that’s my position. It was clearly stated. He is divisive and mean. He has no interest in bringing people together, like Roy Innis does. I’m a born and raised NYer and I’ve seen this guy in action.
Sharpton has incited riots all over New York City that have ended in the deaths of innocent people. He starts off with racist, incendiary remarks and then tells the mobs he incites to take action without being specific, but knowing they will be violent. He accused innocent men of attacking Tawana Brawley; he said Jews are diamond merchants who have blood on their hands when Gavin Cato was killed, resulting in a mob attacking a random Jewish guy; he went off on whites and Jews in Harlem during a rent dispute that ended in a store on fire with people IN THE STORE and shootings. He does NOT promote anything other than himself. He just puts himself out there due to his love for publicity. The many African-American leaders truly working for peace and justice, including for Trayvon? No one knows their names.
UsedtobeLula: so what was Zimmerman? Fiancee called in domestic abuse on him. He also got into an altercation with a police officer in his past. Hmmmm . . .
Didn’t one of his cousins also make allegations of sexual abuse?
She did.
Good for Jay and B.
as a half-Indian woman who is often confused for Hispanic and Arab, I have more to fear from an armed wannabe cop than a black kid, you know?
Hmm… ok. I’m fully Indian, often mistaked for anything under the sun, and do not agree at all.
I completely agree. I really don’t think it’s fair or wise to say that a half Indian woman has more racial profiling or harm to fear from wannabe cops than a young black male does. While I recognize that she has definitely faced racism, people still need to recognize their privilege. I’m a mixed race woman as well and would never assume that I have it worse than a young black guy does.
Thank you. I wrote a comment about this which wasn’t posted for some reason, but that sentence really grated on my nerves too.
Mia – that’s not what she meant. She meant that she would fear the wanna be cop more than she would fear a black kid. That’s how I interpreted it, anyway,
Orly- Idk, but I’m willing to admit that I may have misinterpreted what she meant.
She meant that she is more afraid of racist cops than she is of black teems. She is often mistaken for another race so she is identifying with Trayvon not saying she is in the same amount of danger as black males are.
On another note Beyonce’wig is horrible.
Her hair reminds me when I used to mistreat my dolls’ hair 🙂
@Anon
I agree race should not play a part but it did. The police made assumptions & did shoddy investigative work from the start. Why was Zimmerman never tested for drugs or alcohol impairment? Assumptions were made from the start that Zimmerman was in the right. The media (like it or not) keeps stating George Zimmerman identifies as Hispanic. They are hitting you over the head with his race saying he is a person of color also.
Additionally, the American median uses the Caucasian color as THE default color of America. Time after time, if the person being discussed is Caucasian it is not mentioned it is ASSUMED the person is white. If they are not they are specifically referenced by skin tone and race.
For me that is a crucial distinction. America is considered by DEFAULT to be a white country. Which I’m sure comes to a surprise to all the Native American people who have always been here.
Juror B37 needs to listen and learn. Seems like she couldn’t wait to be out to get her book deal and speak to the media. She said her piece with her verdict. She needs to sit down now because she just looks foolish. I’m not fine with the verdict but I understand they can only work with the material they are given and the prosecution did a crap job. As far as her comments about being able to identify with Zimmerman but not Martin? I’m not a lawyer but…wowwowwow…if she used that to come to her decision. Maybe she might consider how Zimmerman placed himself AND Martin in danger at the moment he ignored the advice from the dispatcher to not follow this person and allow the police to do their job. That ridiculous stand your ground law cannot disguise the fact that Zimmermans actions led to a death and he had a choice in that.
well said
If you initiated the event, then you don’t get the right to shoot a kid dead and walk away. That’s what the law should be. Period.
But the NRA leads Gov. Scott around by the d*** and the NRA wants you to buy their products with the happiness of knowing you will never ever go to jail no matter who ends up dead.
the Klan is alive and well in Florida
I do not give a crap if I offend people or get insulted when I say this because it is the absolute truth:not one white person defending Zimmerman would defend this man if he had shot down a white child under the same circumstances.Not one conservative would be calling him a hero for following an unarmed white 17 year old teenager down the street,then trying to hold him against his will until the police came,and then shooting him in the chest when he refused to let Zimmerman, WHO WASN’T A POLICEMAN BTW AND HAD NO LEGAL RIGHT TO DETAIN ANYONE, hold him for questions.I would’ve done the exact same thing Treyvon did if a man who wasn’t a cop told me to wait util he called the police because I looked suspitious.I don’t give a f— if you all don’t admit it to yourselves,but I know for a fact that the reason the people that are siding with Zimmerman don’t care about Treyvon Martin or his life is solely because he is black.All they see in ALL young black men is thugs that cause trouble.If this big fat Hispanic dude had shot some beautiful 17 year old white boy with blonde hair,blue eyes,named Chase or Parker or whatever,I honestly believe that he would be in jail.
That is why the black community is marching and protesting and are angry.Because this is not just about George Zimmerman anymore.This is about the conservatives and Republicans making this man out to be a hero for illegally profiling this young man and giving Zimmerman hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars in donations to reward him for shooting a young black man dead.We know that if Treyvon were white Zimmerman would not be treated like a hero for what he did.And he’d be in jail. Like I said I DO NOT CARE IF WHITE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT ZIMMERMAN ON THIS BLOG ADMIT IT OR NOT.The truth is the truth.Black people and our lives do not matter to conservatives.At all.
I have to agree with you. If the shoe was on the other foot, I don’t think Zimmerman would get all the support he’s getting from white folks. I don’t care what color a kid is, he/she should be able to go to the store and come back home without being gunned down.
@Mia and BlackMamba THANK YOU! Could you imagine a world where a big 200 pound armed black man followed a 17 year old white boy around for no reason,got into an altercation with the white boy,shot him dead, and then had conservatives like Fox News and Rush Limbaugh calling the black man a hero and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for his defense???Really.Does anyone think that could ever happen in a million years? Just try to picture it.
This should really be about gun control.And how we live in a country where any moron that can buy a gun shouldn’t have one.But the blatent disrespect that people on comments sections and blogs that support Zimmerman have shown to Treyvon Martin and his family have turned this into a race matter.From Day one Treyvon has been on trial in the media,not the man that killed him.
Where was Trayvon’s right to stand his ground when a creepy freak with a gun started chasing him?
I’m completely disgusted (but not entirely surprised) that this issue has been largely divided across political lines, period.
As humans, we should all care about race relations, regardless of what political party we belong to.
That being said, after the way Fox News and many conservatives made a martyr out of Paula Deen, I guess this should be expected.
Angela Watts- Yes girl! Are you walking around in my brain right now? Because you have said every freaking thing that I’ve been thinking. Especially this case being bigger then the injustices that perpetrated against Trayvon, that lead to his death and his character being put on trial by that coward Zimmerman’s defense. It’s about the injustices perpetrated against all black people in this country. And these protests aren’t going to stop until stand your ground is repealed in Florida and Zimmerman is brought to justice in some form. That punk ass coward better get ready for the Justice Department and the civil suit headed his way.
Absolutely false. I advocate people defend themselves when they are attacked. Period.
So then I guess you believe Trayvon did the right thing defending himself against 200 lb creep of a grown man stalking him in car and chasing after him in the dark with a gun.
And yet you’re for the grown man who stalked and harassed a teenager, but blame the teen for defending himself?
Nice priorities.
To Mia, no. I never advocate violence as a solution.
To Marty, I don’t understand what you think Zimmerman was supposed to do given the situation.
You do know you’re contradicting yourself, right? First you advocate for people defending themselves when they are attacked, talking about Zimmerman and his pack of lies, as usual. So when people point out that Trayvon was attacked and had a right to defend himself, you all of the sudden don’t advocate as violence as a solution. Supporting someone who chases people down with a gun at night, isn’t supporting violence as a solution? What’s keeping you from including Trayvon Martin in your blanket statement that people have the right to defend themselves when they are attacked? Things that make you go, hmmm?
@ usedtobelulu…how about stay in his car and wait for the cops since he stated to the 911 operator that the person he was “watching” was a minor OR approach TM and introduce himself as the neighborhood watch and let him know that a lot of robberies have occurred in the area and are being reported as young Black males and make the suggestion that he go home so he isn’t mistaken for those INDIVIDUALS who committed crimes in the area?
Used to be lulu- Based on the fact that you don’t even think Trayvon has basic human rights like the right to self preservation and the right to defend himself…Do you value the lives of black children?
Trayvon was not attacked. He was followed and confronted. The evidence showed that he was the one who initiated the physical contact.
Where was Trayvon’s right to stand his ground when a creepy freak with a gun started chasing him?
Trayvon tried to defend himself, for God’s sake. Zimmerman should have stayed in his freaking car. I listened to the 911 call and not only is it clear that Zimmerman was determined to initiate a confrontation but his voice sounds slurred, delayed and monotone. There is so much wrong here.
@ Angela
No no Superconservatives don’t care about anyone Middle class and below. Its not a race issue. Its a socioeconomic one.
and I’m a libertarian so I don’t care about anyone-fyi
Well Ms. Peacock, whether you’re being facetious or not, I completely agree with what you have to say about about conservatives and libertarians.
I’m a white atheist libertarian and I would still support Zimmerman even if the teen he shot was caucasian. Violence against another person is never ok and can get you killed.
Yup.
Ab-so-freaking-lute-ly.
the racists contort every single thing that happens in this country to an opportunity to display their abject hatred for our black POTUS.
They simply cannot tolerate a black man in the White House, and it taints every single thing they do and say. It is simply driving them insane with hatred and rage, and if they can use Trayvon as a proxy to hurt blacks and the president they will. What disgusting human beings.
You’re right.There is alot of anger with racists that we have a black President and I think alot of innocent black people are paying for it.And have been since 2008. I live in the South and since Obama was elected I can tell you that in the deep South alot of cops have been hassling and harassing more young black men than ever.Reports of brutality in this state alone have gone up 65 percent since 2008.
If FREAKONOMICS taught me anything it is that there is always another way to look at the data…
is it possible that REPORTS increased significantly because people finally felt comfortable enough to file such reports of brutality and harassmemt thanks-in part- to living in a country now led by a black man? It’s. Conceivable.
You mean, it’s ridiculous? Right?
Using Freakonics in a situation like this is absurd and insulting to everyone’s intelligence. And what are you trying to say? That black people feel more comfortable fabricating and making up cases of police brutality because we have a black president? Or that the amount of police brutality has not increased but that black people feel more comfortable reporting incidents of police brutality? America is not a racial utopia or more safe for black people because of Obama’s presidency. One, the number of white people who joined white supremacist groups in this country skyrocketed after Obama was elected. Two, Whites are more 354 more likely to found justified in killing a black person then a white person in a stand your ground state, of which Florida is one. Three, the justice system has always been racist against black people. I feel COMPLETELY comfortable in explaining an increase of reports of police brutality, as an ACTUAL numerical increase in police brutality. Period.
why contort yourself in to this nonsensical response unless your purpose is to put down black people and defend racists? this crap needs to stop.
@Buzz- Thank you! Tired of this asinine need to always portray blatant racism as something else.
Mia, in regards to your line of questioning, i meant option two.
Also the President is quite liberal and is a symbol for big government (which is what liberal used to exclusively mean) hence a larger crackdown and follow up on reports, thus making people of any race or gender feel like filing them is actually worthwhile. Similar increases in domestic violence reports occurred in 2009 and 2010 and was correlated to ECONOMIC conditions of the country (by an actual research firm) not by actual increases in cases. I am not saying racism or sexism or violence based on any demographic doesn’t exist, not saying that at all. But there are lots of mitigating factors in data like that so no one should just spout them out without context.
Mrs. Peacock- That would include giving the benefit of the doubt to the police, which they do not deserve. Not with their history of mistreating and profiling black people and not with the crap they pull on black people now. It’s common sense. Your opinion that there is not an actual increase of brutality is based statistics about domestic violence, specious speculation, and Freakonomics, which is insulting to everyone’s intelligence and sounds like your defending racists. So frankly, you need to prove it. I do not owe cops or the justice system the benefit of the doubt that they are not abusing their power to beat up and kill people with very little to no consequences at all. They do it all the time, and they target communities and people where they know they can get away with this behavior. There is a reason why police and black communities have historically had acrimonious and negative relationships. They literally murder young black men in cold blood all the time and get away with it, whether it’s reported or not.
I didn’t say it was my opinion. I said it was conceivable. Read all the words.
Louboutins to a rally? Really Bey?
For over 100 years, young African American men have been systematically targeted first by the KKK and then the “state’s rights justice system” when the KKK came under more federal scrutiny. This country has gone from extralegal lynchings to judicial lynchings and more black men have been executed for “rape” ( when they used to be lynched for “rape”) then any other racial group in this country. I’m a black woman, also subjected to anti-black racial discrimination and even I recognize that I don’t have to fear as many physical and violent reprisals because of anti black racism as black men do.
As a black woman I have experienced and I’m more likely worry about micro aggressions, racial discrimination, racial slurs, and being followed around while shopping while black. But being shot down in the street for being black in the wrong neighborhood? (What happened to Trayvon.) More likely to happen to black men. That’s why racial profiling makes me more frightened for the very LIVES my male relatives then myself. We already have to warn our sons about how to interact with the police so that they aren’t shot and killed, and do we now have to instruct them on how to interact with white strangers who think they have the right to follow them, confront them, and question their presence in a neighborhood or on a street that they don’t think they belong on? Do you know how much that sounds like the Jim Crow South to black people?
Really great (and sad) points.
I usually have no love for Bey and Jay-Z but good for them for taking a stand. I still cannot get over the fact that Zimmerman walked free on the basis of this insane law that doesn’t even seem applicable to a grown man chasing, and subsequently killing, an unarmed boy whose only “crime” was to defend himself against an unprovoked attack.
my friends and i have had discussion with the kids around here and frankly we told them that nobody from the neighborhood watch association has authority over them and we told them if they are approached by one they are to run and call 911 but either way get away because it’s not safe out here for some of us….they are not to assume the person does not have a gun just run..we put 911 on speed dial in their phones..they are too young to give weapons to…
You know it hasn’t changed it’s still dangerous to be a black man. Maybe a little safer now, but not so much. When president Obama was talking about car doors being locked as he walked down the street. I turned a beet red. I did that once and you wouldn’t believe how hurt these two boys walking down the street looked. I felt really ashamed and deserve too. These kids were carrying a f**king basketball just playing.
And the rest of his speech was amazing and eye opening. He’s right minorities are well aware of the statistics. They/We aren’t stupid. But it’s absolutely no excuse, no reason to justify racism or stereotyping. It leads to awful situations like this and then we obscure our own racism. .
I guess I’m in the minority where I don’t think Zimmerman was guilty. He isn’t caucasian so I don’t see why this was turned into a white vs black race debate. I see it as a wanna be cop seeing a kid walking around at night. It’s his duty as neighborhood watch to follow up on anything he deems suspicious.
People say TM felt threatened because he was being stalked. If I was a teen and some dude was following me I’d feel threatened as well. However I would have run away instead of attacking some unknown man. Getting out of the car and approaching TM wasn’t the best idea but it also doesn’t make him a murderer.
it is NOT his duty to go around killing people! are you nuts?????????????????????????
She didn’t say that Buzz.
Where is Trayvon’s right to stand his ground and not end up dead?
the LIFE of a black child means less than nothing to you
This is uncalled for.
@ Troubadour- Yea, it really is. Because that’s what it comes down to. How much do black lives mean to some commenters.
Mia, from what I’ve seen neither of you have any factual basis to make this incredibly ugly judgment about Kristine.
Actually, there’s plenty here to come to that conclusion, especially by stating that Trayvon “attacked” Zimmerman. Like he is culpable on some level for his own death. Trayvon had every right to DEFEND himself against a stranger accosting him in the dark, after chasing him in a car and on foot. He had every right to defend himself and every right to human self preservation. These are BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. He had every right to stand HIS ground to be on a public sidewalk. This is nothing less than murder. He KILLED this kid for no reason.
Mia,
In my opinion, jumping from the word “attack” to an intricate and implicitly based conclusion that “the LIFE of a black child means less than nothing to you” is a bridge entirely too far and too precarious to start throwing such large stones at Kristine.
Well, that’s YOUR opinion. Color me surprised. Well, this is my opinion, and buzz’s opinion based on the context of what Kristine said in reference this case and our life experiences with anti-black racism. I’m sure a lot of other black people feel the same. It’s NOT a bridge too far.
Trayvon DID run. Even Zimmerman admits this, though on Sean Hannity he said clarified that he was kind of running/”skipping”. (yep).
Secondly, as a neighborhood watchman, Zimmerman was told that he should not be armed when acting as a part of the neighborhood watch.
Ask yourself WHY 911 was called when no crime was committed. Ask yourself WHY TM was lumped into the same category as other INDIVIDUALS who had committed crime in the area (“THEY always get away”). Take into consideration that 40+ calls were about Black boys/men (never arrested for anything I believe, interpretation is up to you) and maybe then you will understand WHY people of ALL backgrounds are rallying around the country. With this case, FL has a set a precedent that an adult can approach a minor with loaded gun if they “think” the kid is up to something…not actually witnessing anything…if they THINK the kid is up to something. ALL parents should be outraged.
amen
It’s terrible that a life was lost but I’m sick and tired over this race crap. George was guilty for not following an order to remain in his car and to not follow. However the instant a person (white, black, hispanic, asian, whatever) begins to attack an officer they are typically met with force. The dude’s head was slammed against the pavement which in my opinion calls for more than just trying to push a person off.
There are plenty of people killed every single day in hate crimes and yet it doesn’t get the attention this case got. Why? My opinion was race. Attention was brought upon it and turned into a hate against black people which it should never have been. Plenty of other races are killed by police officers and yet it doesn’t receive attention of the stature this case received.
Like I said it’s a terrible tragedy that a boy was killed however I feel the cop wasn’t out of line by the time his head was smashed on the ground. I would have shot whoever had myself on the ground doing the same thing if I felt that was my only option. Was it his only one? I don’t know however he could have attempted to shove the kid away but in a means to protect my own life you best believe I’ll do whatever I have to.
See but he went after a kid in a hoodie with a gun. I mean if someone came after me with a gun, I would freak the f*ck out and defend myself however I could. Martin could have just run anywhere, but Zimmerman would have shot him regardless. Race did play a huge role because in this case it seemed completely unwarranted for Zimmerman to even follow the boy. And George Zimmerman is not a cop. He was just on Neighborhood Watch. He called 911 and the operator told him not to follow. He had no authority. His aggression was unwarranted. He approached the boy first. The prosecution failed to do their job and legally Zimmerman gets off. Within the eyes of the law he’s not guilty. But it does feel wrong morally. It is about race and things like this happen everyday, that’s the problem. The conversation would be extensively different if races were reversed.
You’re right, this happens all the time. That’s why it’s such a big deal. It needs to be fixed, before more lives are needlessly lost. They painted Martin as a villian and thug instead of a troubled boy. And Zimmerman has a record as well but he gets off murdering this boy.
Sorry, but as a minority, I so understand why people reacted the way they did. It’s disturbing and my race, my ethnicity feels like something that’s taken notice everyday. It’s so awkward. I’m just an ugly, harmless, coke bottle glasses wearing Indian girl. But people look at me suspiciously too. And it’s really not that bad for me. I love Stephen Colbert’s reaction to it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNJVhKE7gi8
All I’m saying is I’m glad the dialogue has opened and people are talking. That’s always a first step. At least Pres Obama’s speech made me feel bad for all the racist stuff I’ve done. Also listen to the 911 calls for this shooting case if you can find them. It’s absolutely frightening. A boy is screaming for help and then you hear gun shots and people calling in panicked. You can hear the fear in that poor boys voice, he was absolutely frightened.
Your comments are brave and thoughtful. Cheers.
George Zimmerman is not and was not a cop.
Your comment can’t even be taken seriously when you can’t even get your basic facts straight. Zimmerman is not a cop or ANY kind of authority figure. Just because Zimmerman is white does not mean he is a cop and he is an authority figure. Random white people are not the police and do NOT have the authority to question and accost black children on the street. Period. And no one cares how sick and tired you are of this “race crap” which got a young boy shot and killed. He deserves justice and black boys are being murdered over the “race crap” you have so flippantly dismissed. This is not going away. Deal with it.
George Zimmerman was NOT A COP.
Where was Trayvon’s right to have a jury of his peers decide if he was doing something wrong? Where was the due process Trayvon deserved before he was killed?
Zimmerman was a self-appointed judge, jury and executioner. We do not need armed vigilantes deciding who to kill randomly – provoking incidents and then killing people and saying it was the dead person’s fault.
Zimmerman PROVOKED then entire confrontation and then – CONVENIENTLY – the other person ended up DEAD and could not tell his side of the story. Only the killer got to tell his side.
All this coughing from words you’ve all put in my mouth. Ahem.
Never said once that Zimmerman was white, quit turning this into a white versus black debate because it’s not. He was hispanic, and even then it shouldn’t be a hispanic versus black debate! You people keep pulling race as a factor! If it had been any other person walking the street who looked ‘suspicious’ he would have probably have done the same thing since George obviously felt the need to bully the kid.
I did not know that he wasn’t a police officer so I’ll take that correction proudly.
As I said it’s a terrible thing when a life is lost and it’s even more terrible if it is a hate based crime. There are other cases in which there have been deliberate hate crime evidence and yet it never leave the ears of the local papers. After the verdict was passed a group of black men jumped a white man shouting ‘justice for trayvon’, that’s how you’re supposed to react?? What about the group of three black men that killed a white infant baby and they stated the family was a target based on race? That’s why it’s so easy to dismiss this as ‘race crap’. Cause those stories didn’t get the attention this has as they are that ‘race crap’.
And I never got fully into the story as I had other things to worry about such as getting my rent paid and making sure I had electricity. So while my comment may or may not be taken seriously, my concern is not there, just know we should all just look at this as a person killing another person because that’s what it boils down to at the end. Murders should happen but they do since the dawn of mankind, still doesn’t make it right. Adding other elements just continues to make one race hate another and continues to feed the monster until groups begin taking other races out in extremes. Zimmerman will have his karma served back to him for taking a life. Every person who has killed gets theirs in some way or form.
Such a horrible incident that could have easily been avoided. Everyone loses!
“I can’t read the comment threads on many sites because the comments upset me too much.”
Same here. A lot of people seem to think racism is dead and gone. It’s alive and well, and when you go on certain sites and see racism- I’m not talking about ignorant, unintentionally racist comment made by a dumb kid. I’m talking vile, blatant racism- it’s literally depressing. When you see just how bad things still are, you don’t know whether to get angry or just cry. And some bigots have been really heartless about this case.
Yesterday we were talking about this trial, and a friend of my mom said: “Things like this make me that if I let my son outside, he might not ever come back.”
I hear ya. I’ve been been staying away from comment threads on this topic for the most part as some of the comments have literally made me physically ill. But I’ve read this entire thread and I’m a little bit heartened that the majority of the commenters here do get it. Mia and my girl Original Kitten in particular have been so eloquent and on point that I have nothing more to add.
A kid armed with a bag of skittles is shot and killed by a white man. White man gets away with murder. Unfortunately, not much has changed in this country even though so much has changed.
If Trayvon was white, would George Zimmerman have stalked him with malicious intent?
TRAGIC, sad sad case.
You know what I think happened in the case. . . the same thing that happened a few days ago with Kayne West and the pap. Think about it. Black Guy is being followed, tells the guy to stop, guy doesn’t stop, Black guy turns around and “makes” him stop. . . they fight. . . if the Pap had had a gun and used it on Kayne, you’ve got Trayvon 2.0. More or less . . .
I just want to make one more point because I feel sick to my stomach with grief about this whole thing.
For everyone who supports George Zimmerman I have one question for you? WHY DIDN’T ZIMMERMAN TAKE THE STAND IN HIS OWN DEFENSE? Do you want to know why? Because his story changed many, many times from the night he killed Treyvon.The very night in the first police report, George Zimmerman admitted that he followed him because he looked “suspicious” and he fit the description of other break in suspects.He admitted that night in the police report that he tried to detain Treyvon and he wouldn’t let him go until the police got there.He admitted that night the fight started AFTER he tried to make Treyvon wait for the police when he called to report him.The witnesses that saw George on top of Treyvon said he was holding Treyvon down.The point is that George knew that on cross examination his version of events would not make sense or hold up.That is why he didn’t want the prosecution to be able to question him.His story kept changing the more evidence they found. And on the stand the holes in his story would’ve come out.And he would be seen as the lying murderer he is.
Such a horrible tragedy. Very sad for the parents and Treyvon.. No justice!
But as for Jay Z and Beyonce…. SIT YO A** DOWN——- THEY ARE SOOOOOOOO ANNOYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This whole situation is a disaster. Both a legal and social disaster.
But I’m telling you right now, when ignorant racist whites see black people getting angry and protesting over the verdict, a lot of them just see Angry Black People and roll their eyes.
And you know what happens when progressive citizens watch some backwards rich white man pontificate against reproductive freedom for the thousandth time? They see Angry White Men and roll their eyes.
My point is…anger is so pointless, no matter what direction it is coming from. It accomplishes literally nothing.
I don’t know…maybe as the new generation comes up, and the old ways of the socially-antiquated Republicans fade into obscurity, there will be a natural progressive movement towards equality.
I understand why the jury ruled as they did, and I accept it. But it still hurts to see. I don’t see this as about race (I don’t think Zimmerman profiled Trayvon because he was black). I believe this was about someone who got a gun and then thought he was Mr Big Badass, and went looking for trouble. And found it. And Trayvon paid the price.
When I was Trayvon’s age, I had a 30 year old boyfriend on parole living in a halfway house on 30th and Burt (I know the streets are meaningless to y’all, but when I tell people in my city this, they get pale). I worked the graveyard shift at IHOP, so I usually ended up getting off and heading out there around 4-6 am. And since his parole officer had forbidden him to see me, I would visit him by climbing the fire escape.
I realize these weren’t brilliant choices. But I was 17. I have no doubt that if a Zimmerman had been in the neighborhood, I would be dead. Were my poor decisions worthy of being shot? No. And Trayvon made fewer poor decisions than I did.