We are one sick country and today is more than enough proof of that. The U.S. has a mental disease. We won civil rights and now they are taken away. All that work for nothing it appears. If we are excellent it is as violent, obnoxious, egotistical and self destructive by our actions, laws and politics nationally and internationally. The picture of Trevon dead says it all. And his hoodie is down. I am the Director of Policy for the Congress of Racial Equality of California. The founding King Family of L.A. has over 114 years of continuous civil rights. No one owns us. I am priviledged to be with CORE-CA. We fight every day because of civil and human rights abuses. We even have a UN NGO status. We do not take it as a joke this is as serious as it gets when your life is taken for no real reason and people think that is acceptable. It is not acceptable in any civilized society which we are not any more.
I agree that as a society we do seem to be going backwards on some issues. But in this particular instance, I believe the jury had no choice and was not racist. Regardless of what our instincts might say, this case, and our nation, is governed by law, and not our “instincts”. Reasonable doubt protects EVERYONE, even when the circumstances are suspicious. Very sad situation occurred, but no one knows for sure what happened. Reasonable doubt.
I don’t. Any more than we KNOW what really happened that night.
This is the last time I will get drawn into this argument. But here it goes. Trayvon was innocent of any wrongdoing. Nobody suggests otherwise. He was stalked by George Zimmerman. Nobody suggests otherwise. In fact, Zimmerman was told by the police not to follow Trayvon. Those are facts we know that are not disputed by anyone. Whatever happened during the confrontation, Zimmerman by his presence, precipitated it because he believed that a Black teenager in a hoodie was up to no good. That really happened that night. Nobody suggests otherwise. The verdict of this jury means that the presence of a Black teenager is reason enough to stalk, confront and kill. I know this.
This young man’s senseless murder is bad enough but the hard part for me is the attitude of so many I know who believe with no reason that this was a just decision. I am old enough to have lived through full out segregation and discrimination in the south to the present day racism that is still far too common. Anyone who denies it has their eyes closed.
How do you KNOW what Zimmermann believed? Even if you are right, still leaves reasonable doubt as to what followed. Nation of law. Sometimes doesn’t satisfy our instincts.
How can anyone expect anything different to occur in a country (USA) that condones the killing/murder of anyone 12yrs or older, of middle eastern heritage in a country (anywhere in the middle east) we don’t agree with and calling that person/kid a terrorist. Don’t be outraged when a 17yr. old black kid gets killed here and shut your mouth when a 12yr. old is killed in Pakistan or Yemen. Historically speaking we didn’t really give a rats ass when we killed Native American kids either. We never regressed, we have always been this way—we just don’t hide it as well as we used to. This is why Manning is on trial he showed the video, because if we don’t have a video of it, it never happened. Pissed, as you can tell.
We know what Zimmerman believed based on what he told the 911 operator. Martin was a “punk” (or perhaps a “coon”), he was one of “these a–holes” who “always get away with it”. The mere presence of a black kid in a hoodie led Zimmerman to believe that Martin didn’t belong in his gated community. And, in fact, I’ve heard several white people say the same thing. Just on Saturday I was with a group of “decent, church-going” people and one older gent said, to nods around the circle, “I just don’t understand what he (Martin) was doing in that gated community to begin with.” The idea that a black kid could actually belong in a gated community just doesn’t compute for a lot of white people.
1) Zimmerman’s father is a retired Florida judge.
2) Martin and his parents are black and unconnected.
3) “Stand Your Ground” laws were created for this.
4) Zimmerman used a gun – an American God ordained weapon of choice.
End of story.
Name one Illinois retired judge’s kid who was convicted of anything serious. Illinois and Chicago don’t have a monopoly on clout.
I live in Florida know lots of fearful people who are happy to know they can open fire anywhere at any time with no fear the courts. Dozens of Floridians, including gang members, have used the Stand Your Ground law successfully in court since its passage. Most include a black or brown victim. These were not given the national coverage and extensive court prep that Zimmerman received. Google it; you will be amazed.
Didn’t the “stand your ground” come from ALEC? I mistakenly thought vigilantism was against the law. Complacency about the selective application of laws is appalling !
“Stand your ground” was created just to justify this type of random killing. And now concealed carry nearly nationwide. More Terrorism for innocent people. Don’t think it is racially motivated? What would happen if the reverse started to occur? Would law enforcement allow that? Would the killer be able to walk away and not even be charged for 44 days? So now the precedent/practice is …
If your walking down the street and someone decides you “look suspicious” OR NOT, they can approach you even after being told by law enforcement to stand down, they can block your path, stand that ground and kill you in cold blood, claim self defense and get away with it.
The Z case is not the first and won’t be the last. There are many, many unpublicized shootings and murders just like this, covered over incidents, fabricated circumstances.
Racial or not, an innocent unarmed human being was gunned down just for walking down the street. Killed, murdered and there is no consequence, no justice.
Fred Klonsky 
We are one sick country and today is more than enough proof of that. The U.S. has a mental disease. We won civil rights and now they are taken away. All that work for nothing it appears. If we are excellent it is as violent, obnoxious, egotistical and self destructive by our actions, laws and politics nationally and internationally. The picture of Trevon dead says it all. And his hoodie is down. I am the Director of Policy for the Congress of Racial Equality of California. The founding King Family of L.A. has over 114 years of continuous civil rights. No one owns us. I am priviledged to be with CORE-CA. We fight every day because of civil and human rights abuses. We even have a UN NGO status. We do not take it as a joke this is as serious as it gets when your life is taken for no real reason and people think that is acceptable. It is not acceptable in any civilized society which we are not any more.
Another sad day in America. Liberty and justice for all, except young black teenagers.
This is a very sad day for us all and especially our children. We are regressing as a society and it frightens me.
Beware—what’s next?!
I agree that as a society we do seem to be going backwards on some issues. But in this particular instance, I believe the jury had no choice and was not racist. Regardless of what our instincts might say, this case, and our nation, is governed by law, and not our “instincts”. Reasonable doubt protects EVERYONE, even when the circumstances are suspicious. Very sad situation occurred, but no one knows for sure what happened. Reasonable doubt.
How do you know what guided the jury in their decision?
I don’t. Any more than we KNOW what really happened that night.
This is the last time I will get drawn into this argument. But here it goes. Trayvon was innocent of any wrongdoing. Nobody suggests otherwise. He was stalked by George Zimmerman. Nobody suggests otherwise. In fact, Zimmerman was told by the police not to follow Trayvon. Those are facts we know that are not disputed by anyone. Whatever happened during the confrontation, Zimmerman by his presence, precipitated it because he believed that a Black teenager in a hoodie was up to no good. That really happened that night. Nobody suggests otherwise. The verdict of this jury means that the presence of a Black teenager is reason enough to stalk, confront and kill. I know this.
This young man’s senseless murder is bad enough but the hard part for me is the attitude of so many I know who believe with no reason that this was a just decision. I am old enough to have lived through full out segregation and discrimination in the south to the present day racism that is still far too common. Anyone who denies it has their eyes closed.
How do you KNOW what Zimmermann believed? Even if you are right, still leaves reasonable doubt as to what followed. Nation of law. Sometimes doesn’t satisfy our instincts.
Sharon,
With all due respect, I am done with this discussion.
How can anyone expect anything different to occur in a country (USA) that condones the killing/murder of anyone 12yrs or older, of middle eastern heritage in a country (anywhere in the middle east) we don’t agree with and calling that person/kid a terrorist. Don’t be outraged when a 17yr. old black kid gets killed here and shut your mouth when a 12yr. old is killed in Pakistan or Yemen. Historically speaking we didn’t really give a rats ass when we killed Native American kids either. We never regressed, we have always been this way—we just don’t hide it as well as we used to. This is why Manning is on trial he showed the video, because if we don’t have a video of it, it never happened. Pissed, as you can tell.
We know what Zimmerman believed based on what he told the 911 operator. Martin was a “punk” (or perhaps a “coon”), he was one of “these a–holes” who “always get away with it”. The mere presence of a black kid in a hoodie led Zimmerman to believe that Martin didn’t belong in his gated community. And, in fact, I’ve heard several white people say the same thing. Just on Saturday I was with a group of “decent, church-going” people and one older gent said, to nods around the circle, “I just don’t understand what he (Martin) was doing in that gated community to begin with.” The idea that a black kid could actually belong in a gated community just doesn’t compute for a lot of white people.
Agree.
1) Zimmerman’s father is a retired Florida judge.
2) Martin and his parents are black and unconnected.
3) “Stand Your Ground” laws were created for this.
4) Zimmerman used a gun – an American God ordained weapon of choice.
End of story.
Name one Illinois retired judge’s kid who was convicted of anything serious. Illinois and Chicago don’t have a monopoly on clout.
I live in Florida know lots of fearful people who are happy to know they can open fire anywhere at any time with no fear the courts. Dozens of Floridians, including gang members, have used the Stand Your Ground law successfully in court since its passage. Most include a black or brown victim. These were not given the national coverage and extensive court prep that Zimmerman received. Google it; you will be amazed.
Didn’t the “stand your ground” come from ALEC? I mistakenly thought vigilantism was against the law. Complacency about the selective application of laws is appalling !
“Stand your ground” was created just to justify this type of random killing. And now concealed carry nearly nationwide. More Terrorism for innocent people. Don’t think it is racially motivated? What would happen if the reverse started to occur? Would law enforcement allow that? Would the killer be able to walk away and not even be charged for 44 days? So now the precedent/practice is …
If your walking down the street and someone decides you “look suspicious” OR NOT, they can approach you even after being told by law enforcement to stand down, they can block your path, stand that ground and kill you in cold blood, claim self defense and get away with it.
The Z case is not the first and won’t be the last. There are many, many unpublicized shootings and murders just like this, covered over incidents, fabricated circumstances.
Racial or not, an innocent unarmed human being was gunned down just for walking down the street. Killed, murdered and there is no consequence, no justice.
A dog would have had a better chance!