George Zimmerman Found Not Guilty

[Semper Catholic]

Zimmerman was part of a neighborhood watch program, and there had been a series of burglaries in the neighborhood he was patrolling.  Martin was walking on the lawns or such of properties, rather than the sidewalk.  Such behavior was thus suspicious to Zimmerman, so he chose to observe him.  (You can argue whether the suspicion was sufficiently warranted, or whether it was prudent to follow him, but in the circumstances, his behavior was not totally without cause.)

 

If Zimmerman had seen a Hispanic or white teen acting in the same way in these circumstances, would he have acted differently?  We'll probably never know the answer, but we have no evidence to presume otherwise, much less that this incident was motivated by racial hatred on Zimmerman's part.

 

I won't deny that Zimmerman's actions may have been stupid (after all, the guy did vote for Obama), but there's no evidence that he acted maliciously or illegally.

 

There is simply no actual evidence that Zimmerman was a racist of any sort, beyond the usual dishonest and asinine race-baiting of Revs Sharpton, Jackson, & co.

 

 

But I guess in the "open-minded" world of "tolerant" p.c. liberalism, people are to be presumed racist until proven innocent.

 

 

 

I'm glad this jury apparently reached its decision based on the facts and the law, rather than emotion and racial politics.

 

That said, this entire incident was tragic and unfortunate, but the race-baiting and calls for vengeance are bogus and will do no good.

 

 

The jury didn't find Zimmerman not guilty because he was innocent, they found him not guilty because of lack of evidence. Just like in the OJ case it's very likely Zimmerman is a murderer, but that 1% of doubt allows them the be acquitted. I'm not saying this is bad just saying that  Zimmerman is far far from innocent.

 

The fact that you're already throwing out buzzwards like "open minded, p.c. liberalism" makes me think you listen to Rush a lot.

[4588686]

Right, he tried picking a fight and was getting his you know what beat so he pulled his ace up his sleeve (or is it waistband?)

 

 

Can any of us really say that we don't assume that any black kids walking in are neighborhood are criminals???

 

 

 

:D

 

 

 

[Semper Catholic]

Nothing ends boredom like scaring the heck out of citizens for comic effect.

 

 

Right, if anything it shows just how corrupt the Police are, that somehow walking around at any given time now makes you a suspect. "Real" Big City cops have bigger issues, but the only way Barney Fife can get any action is if he infringes on civil liberties.

[Socrates]

What specifically did he do or say to start the fight?

[4588686]

What specifically did he do or say to start the fight?

 

 

I really don't know what part of 'grown man chasing after a kid' you don't understand.  

Edited July 14, 2013 by Hasan

[Socrates]

The jury didn't find Zimmerman not guilty because he was innocent, they found him not guilty because of lack of evidence. Just like in the OJ case it's very likely Zimmerman is a murderer, but that 1% of doubt allows them the be acquitted. I'm not saying this is bad just saying that  Zimmerman is far far from innocent.

 

The fact that you're already throwing out buzzwards like "open minded, p.c. liberalism" makes me think you listen to Rush a lot.

 

Yet you and others on here are accusing him of racism and other things based on no evidence.  Glad you're not serving on a jury.

 

(And Rush is okay, but Mark Levin is the Man.)

 

 

 

Can any of us really say that we don't assume that any black kids walking in are neighborhood are criminals???

 

If there had been reports of recent burglaries in my neighborhood, I'd likely be suspicious of any young guys walking on mine and my neighbor's front yards, regardless of their race.

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet flag!   (Not sure how it relates to the Zimmerman case, though.)

Edited July 14, 2013 by Socrates

[Socrates]

I really don't know what part of 'grown man chasing after a kid' you don't understand.  

 

Following and watching isn't the same as "chasing after."  I can see how Martin was suspicious of Zimmerman, just as he was suspicious of Martin, but there's no evidence Zimmerman actually deliberately threatened or provoked Martin into a fight.

 

Stupidity and poor judgment does not equate to racism and hate.

[4588686]

I think Zimmerman would be guilty of manslaughter even if Trayvon was white.  I don't think Trayvon's race played a role in his decision to use lethal force.  I don't think he's a murderer.  But he did create a situation that led to a minor dying and he should be held responsible for that.

 

What pisses me off about this is so many people here saying that he was justified in being suspicious.  I'm sick of the fact that my cousin is going to soon be a teenage black kid in a country full of people with that attitude.  At least the racists I grew up around were honest and didn't cloak their suspicions in euphemisms and elaborate justifications.  They just flat out told you that they didn't go to certain parts of town because it's 'full of niggers.'  

 

 

The more things change the more they stay the same:

[4588686]

'nice black people' isn't what I typed.  I guess the filter changed it.  Just as well.  

[CatherineM]

Perhaps Florida has changed in the last 7 years since I've been gone, but walking in the rain is normal because it rains a lot.

[KnightofChrist]

Unlike Hasan, I have been followed more than once by the police while out walking at night and I'm pretty pale white. One time was much like the experience Lilla described; another I got the third degree for being out alone at midnight. The cop didn't believe I was walking to my car from my office until I showed him that I had keys to open the car and open my work building and office.


"A cop". However, there were no cops involved in this shooting, except after the fact.

I have as well nearly every time I've been out at night walking in a neighborhood that has security or a community watch or higher crime. I was asked why I was there and a few times the person or persons would come up in person and ask. Some of them where rude but I could respect why some of them found my walking around at night in a neighborhood that I didn't live in and was rarely or never saw there before.

I understand Zimmerman wasn't a cop but he was community watch, and they're suppose to look out for suspicious behavior. I can see the possibility that Zimmerman could have had reasonable suspicion.

But more importantly I am nota racist simply because I believe walking around at night in the rain could be legitimately suspicious. Hasan's statements that imply otherwise are grossly childish, weak and unfounded. Edited July 14, 2013 by KnightofChrist

[add]

Those who live by the sword die by the sword

[Semper Catholic]

Those who live by the sword die by the sword

Lol yeah a teenager who liked to smoke weed and was a B student. Totally living by the sword.

[Semper Catholic]

I have as well nearly every time I've been out at night walking in a neighborhood that has security or a community watch or higher crime. I was asked why I was there and a few times the person or persons would come up in person and ask. Some of them where rude but I could respect why some of them found my walking around at night in a neighborhood that I didn't live in and was rarely or never saw there before.

I understand Zimmerman wasn't a cop but he was community watch, and they're suppose to look out for suspicious behavior. I can see the possibility that Zimmerman could have had reasonable suspicion.

But more importantly I am nota racist simply because I believe walking around at night in the rain could be legitimately suspicious. Hasan's statements that imply otherwise are grossly childish, weak and unfounded.

Just because being harrassed by cops at night is "normal" doesn't mean it's right.

[Seven77]

Zimmerman saw a black kid walking around and viewed him with suspicion. If the kid were white, would Zimmerman have viewed him with suspicion? I'm not sure but I have a feeling that he wouldn't have. That is what it is. Here is where I get really upset though--- Zimmerman called the police and told them that he saw someone suspicious-- making a point of mentioning race-- and the police told him not to pursue him. But this idiot gets out of his car and starts following the kid---this is why Trayvon died, pure and simple.

 

 Now, how did it actually go down? We can only make conjectures. Here's what I think--- after Zimmerman asked, "what are you doing here?" Martin must have send something snappy and Zimmerman couldn't handle it--- he snapped and physically went after Martin. Perhaps Zimmerman didn't have the willful intent to actually shoot Martin. Still, Zimmerman shouldn't have got out of his car. He is guilty of something.

 

I really and truly appreciate Trayvon's parents' reactions and sentiments. God is still over all. Prayers.

Edited July 14, 2013 by Seven77