George Zimmerman not guilty

[Dan Filetti]

Here's the other thing on this case.  Zimmerman (Z) is 5'8" tall and at the time of the shooting.  Martin (M) on the other hand, was  taller and more muscular. Knowing nothing more than this, how could any reasonable person believe that Z would have/ could have been the first to throw a punch?  -What would have been his motivation?  According to Z it was M that threw the first punch, and the circumstances seem to support it.  Here's the thing: the cops saw this too.  Assuming that M threw the first punch, then the case never should have gone to trial.   It was a simple case of self defense -tragic for the Martin family as it is.  THAT is why the cops did not arrest him.  THAT is why the cops said in court that the believed Z's statements.  THAT is why Z was not convicted.   I see no evidence of racism here. 

30,000 people descended on that small community in FL and demanded "Justice for Trevon"  -hell even president Obama commented on it -it is my belief that THESE events, and the national attention it drew, pressured the DA to file charges, and the Cops to arrest him.  This is simply not how justice is supposed to work -seems to me.   

The outrage that Z was not convicted is difficult to swallow when you consider that thousands of kids die every year (many of whom are black) from similar encounters.  The difference?  the shooter was not "white".   There is no such outrage when a black person, who killed another black person (the most common cause of death among black youth) does not go to jail for the crime.       

Dan

[rktmanfj]

http://www.ijreview.com/2013/07/65465-the-trayvon-martin-picture-the-mainstream-media-dont-want-you-to-see/

http://thekansascitian.blogspot.com/2012/05/more-than-bag-of-skittles-trayvon.html?spref=fb

[Travis398]

 

[pdxfj]

No one on this planet has the right to do you any kind of harm.  You have every right to defend yourself by any means possible.

When I was 15 I had a very painful awakening to how things really are.  I feel this contributes to the discussion because I have experienced a "similar" situation.

There were a group of black kids at my school that were trouble makers.  They found out I worked at the local Burger King and decided to make a habit of coming in to pick on me and try to get me into trouble.

On one occasion they came in, caused some trouble and just before they left, they lit the trash can in the women's restroom on fire.  It was quite obvious they did it as they walked out the door making loud comments on smelling smoke, laughing and such.  They came in again a few days later and my manager threw them out.  They tried playing the race card and so forth.  While being escorted out they made idle threats to me, which I mostly ignored.

Now keep in mind, up until I was about 25 I weighed no more than 130 pounds while still being 6 feet tall.

On my walk home, they were waiting for me at another fast food restaurant.  All four of them came out and started hassling me.  I just kept walking since I knew there was no way to fight all of them.  Finally one of them punched me in the ear from behind.  As I staggered around, more punches.  Was difficult to fight back since I was being pummeled from every direction. I do remember taking a few swings, but don't remember if I actually hit any of them.  Finally not able to stand up anymore I fell to the ground and they proceeded to kick and stomp me.  At some point I used that "evil" "N" word.  Guess I hoped for a slight pause in the beating to try and get away.. but the beating continued.

After spitting and dumping their beverages on me, they ran off laughing.  I managed to get up and make my way to a business that was open to call my father.  He came and got me, and before going to the hospital we called the police.  Portland Police arrived and since I knew who and where they were, I had to go and ID them before they could be arrested.

Got to the apartment they were at, police said they were under arrest.  One of them said "Well Officer, he called us "N-ers".  The cop then apologized for disturbing them and wished them a pleasant evening.  The cop grabbed my arm and hauled me back to her cruiser.  She told me that she should arrest me for what I said.  I tried explaining I was having the living shit beat out of me, but it didn't matter.  Even one of the other residents (white gal) of the complex called me a piece of shit for using a racist term.

Two Portland cops told me.. "You're white, they are black.  You have no rights.  They can beat you, mug you, stab you and/or even KILL you and all they have to say is, you called them a racist word and they will get off 100% free".

So there I stand, bleeding, bruised and generally not doing very well and I have two cops bitching me out.  When they took me home and bitched out my parents, I thought my dad was going to kill them.  Even my mother was so pissed she could hardly talk.

Needless to say all my viewpoints changed that evening.

It's obvious that evidence of Zimmerman's condition after the shooting has either been lost or withheld.  The only reason it went to trial is because of the media frenzy.  I saw this whole thing as another example of the race card being played and did not pay much attention to it.  I was a little surprised he was found not guilty.  Guess there is some small hope for the justice system and trial by a jury of your peers.

My two cents from personal experience..

[craigo]

For all who listen to just the news. Stop and do some of your own independent research on this. What the media fed us was a whole lot of propaganda from the start of this.

Here is a great piece from the movie "Hero" which depicts just how this whole story got so blown out of proportion. This was not a race crime. This was a guy who is tired of getting ripped off and decided to do something other than complain and play victim.

Looking for the truth - Buscando la verdad

CraigO

[RichBaker]

People spend way TOO much time watching network news... The Lamestream media, Jesse Jackoff, and Al Not-So-Sharpton created the whole controversy, with help from the Illegal Pres and his cronies. Zimmerman never should have gone to trial to begin with!

There was NO justice, just a damned Kangaroo court.....

Zim will own NBC by the time the dust settles, and because he was defending himself, the family will NOT be able to bring a civil suit, based on FL law.

[JCainFJ]

The take-home  message for many Americans is that someone can fallow you, provoke you into a fight while consealing a deadly weapon, and then shoot you dead. It is important to remember that this can happen to you. I hate to see our "stand your ground" laws turn into" sucker someone into a fight, and then kill them" laws. Both Zimmerman and Martin will have to stand before their maker and account for their actions. I would not like to be either when that time comes.

[HARTLESS]

 
  With the exception of occasional netflix, the history channel, and the discovery channel, I have been happy to live without watching much TV for the last 1.5 years so I have not been "up to date" on this subject and no offense, but not very interested in following it. This sort of thing happens constantly through out the world whether it is racism or not. Though I have read this whole thread and think it is interesting seeing different views on the topic.
  I am a firm believer in standing up for yourself and self defense but there is definitely a line that needs to be be crossed before using lethal force to subdue someone, and  my line is when my life or more importantly another innocent life is in danger of death or serious physical harm (dismemberment and such) and that's when lethal force should be used (no I have not killed anyone). Whether or not Zimmerman crossed the line I don't know, and nor do I think anyone but Zimmerman himself (and God) will know. But this is a perfect example of how to stay out of trouble on both ends. Do not do what either Zimmerman or Martin did. It is better to avoid  confrontation 99% of the time and this is proof. Yes Zimmerman was probably tired of stuff being stolen or whatever and maybe Martin was tired of being follow by white Nazis, but the bottom line is that on both ends it didn't turn out well, obviously worse for Martin.
 

[rktmanfj]

The take-home  message for many Americans is that someone can fallow you, provoke you into a fight while consealing a deadly weapon, and then shoot you dead. It is important to remember that this can happen to you. I hate to see our "stand your ground" laws turn into" sucker someone into a fight, and then kill them" laws. Both Zimmerman and Martin will have to stand before their maker and account for their actions. I would not like to be either when that time comes.

Jon, love ya buddy, but you really need to read at least some of the trial transcripts.

It's obvious that you've only watched the MSM's version of what happened down there.

There's a lot to this that they deliberately did not present.

[Vsekvsek]

I guess what I learned from all this is....
If a black dude decides to kick the chit out of you or kill you let him. Heaven help you if you fight back.

[JPaganel]

The take-home  message for many Americans is that someone can fallow you, provoke you into a fight while consealing a deadly weapon, and then shoot you dead.

Perhaps I'm not American enough. My takeaway is more like "don't follow people at night, they get upset" and "don't break people's noses, you might get shot".

What is "provoking into  a fight"? Unless someone grabs or hits you, you always have the option to walk away. 

It is important to remember that this can happen to you.

I am neither in the habit of following people at night, nor in the habit of punching people in the face. I'd say the likelihood of such a situation is pretty low for me.

[JCainFJ]

Jon, love ya buddy, but you really need to read at least some of the trial transcripts.

I have.

It's obvious that you've only watched the MSM's version of what happened down there.

And it is obvious that some people only watch Ted Nugent for their news.



There's a lot to this that they deliberately did not present.

Yes, you are correct, both sides have spun this.

This whole thing is very sad, Martin is dead and Zimmerman may never be safe. I think that's a loose, loose, and the only people getting anything from this are the lawyers.

[HARTLESS]

This whole thing is very sad, Martin is dead and Zimmerman may never be safe. I think that's a loose, loose, and the only people getting anything from this are the lawyers.

Amen.

[Klavdy]

.

[rktmanfj]

And it is obvious that some people only watch Ted Nugent for their news.

You know, I've tried my damnedest to be respectful to everyone in this thread.  I'm not going to take that bait.