Posted on 03/19/2012 5:45:25 PM PDT by redreno
The Congressional Black Caucus wants the Justice Department to investigate the shooting death of a 17-year-old, unarmed black Florida high school student as a potential hate crime.
“This case compromises the integrity of our legal system and sets a horrific precedent of vigilante justice,” Congressional Black Caucus Chair Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) said in a statement. “Members of the Congressional Black Caucus stand together in the name of justice for Trayvon. As a nation we cannot, should not, and will not ignore, Trayvon’s brutal murder and the inconceivable fact that his killer remains free. Contrary to the flippant way this case has been handled, his life had meaning and purpose. Trayvon had a family, friends and a future all taken away because of the color of his skin
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
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No genius, not if zimmerman initiated the contact --- you can't start a fight then claim self-defense when you're getting your ass kicked and then murder the guy you accosted.
He is described by his teachers as s cheerful kid with an A or B average in school. He has no police record and no record of trouble at school and was unarmed when he was shot to death carrying nothing more threatening than a can of ice tea and a bag of skittles.
He sounds like a reasonably good kid to me. The guy who shot him sounds like a trigger happy jerk to me but I’m not the cops or the DA on this case so I’ll reserve judgement.
Again, given the fact that you describe him as a B+, cheerful student with no history of trouble, why do you qualify your judgement of Martin with the word, “reasonably’. It is diminishing.
I think this is, ultimately, a story about a trigger happy cop wannabe and a reasonably good kid who got within range. I don’t think it’s a hate crime so much as a jerk crime.
Because I don’t know all the facts yet and probably never will. Do you? I think most people can be fairly described as reasonably good. It’s the whole, bell-curve, average thing. If that’s diminishing in your eyes, well so be it. This ain’t Lake Woebegone where all the kids are above average.
My position is that Zimmerman was wrong and Martin was a victim, and I hope for a more in-depth investigation. But, right now, I just want to comment on your situation specifically:
You shouldn’t be stopped and questioned without reason, and your handling of the situation was perfect. Many people of all backgrounds are pulled over and questioned by police when they aren’t doing anything wrong. I’m a white female, and when I was younger, I was pulled over and questioned once just because I looked out of place in a neighborhood. Another time because my car and I fit a description. Yet another time, I was questioned for standing at a corner waiting for a trolley. (And, no, I wasn’t dressed like a streetwalker.) I have a relative who claimed he was constantly pulled over because he had a permit to carry. Where I grew up, teens were constantly pulled over and questioned just for being young and driving around. Or fitting a description. So, it has happened to all of us for different reasons. It’s worrisome because someone could make a wrong move when he (or she) is “under suspicion”... That’s why your handling of the situation was a good move.
But, this story about Martin and Zimmerman is very different. Zimmerman wasn’t even a police officer. It sounds like Martin was just as suspicious of Zimmerman. I’ve been wondering: What if Martin had called 911, too? What might we have heard? Martin might’ve thought the guy chasing him looked like a criminal. And, sure enough, the latest news is that Martin was on the phone with a girl who is claiming he was running from Zimmerman because he was afraid. I don’t know how true that story is, but we’ll find out more soon enough. It’s a very sad story, no matter how it happened.
The best part is that the CBC and Sharpton are getting involved, it’s Florida so it will be a show and I bet Zimmy skates on the charge. That means summertime entertainment for us here in the Appalachian hills.
It’s gonna be a LONG HOT SUMMER for you city folkds and we are glad to get to watch it.
adopted?
“B+, cheerful student with no history of trouble”
He was suspended from school when this happened, supposedly for a week. That will always hurt the GPA
Why would he need a new birth certificate?
Getting pulled over 4 times without PC, once after filing a complaint, I'd have retained counsel.
What difference would it make? The punk can't be convicted of a hate crime now that he's dead.
Was that supposed to be funny?
That is the question, isn't it? Of course, mere words alone are not legal justification to use physical force against someone. The question is, who initiated the physical conflict?
Another thing that has come out is that Trayvon Martin was about 70-100 feet from his father's residence where the altarcation happened.
From the pictures and reports, he appears to be a fairly athletic 17 year old, and George Zimmerman does not appear to be in great shape.
One could ask, if Trayvon was afraid, why didn't he just run to his father's house?
Remember George Zimmerman had as much right to be in that public space as Trayvon Martin did.
How about an investigation into why a parent would think Trayvon was a suitable name for a child.
Poor kid was marked from birth.
They don't really like white people like that, either.
Like they say, don't let the bastards get you down.
Mr. Zimmerman’s OWN actions show that he was out looking for a fight. HE approached the young man. He came to the “fight” prepared to fight, while the youth shows no indication of being armed or prepared for any sort of mischief.
I don't think the idea of having juvinile gangsters attacking Hispanic citizens in their own neighborhoods is a bit funny.
Kindly note the difference between ironic and funny.
What about the fact that a witness saw Zimmerman on the ground and Martin above him beating him? Or that the police report said that Zimmerman’s back was dirty like he was lying on the ground?
What about the fact that Zimmerman was actually returning to his vehicle when Martin approached him and sucker punched him, then got on top of him and was slamming his head in the ground.
Take a look at post #74.
Hmmm... are they investigating the idea that Zimmerman might have been the VICTIM of a “hate crime”?
Of course, it’s “culturally insensitive” of me to denigrate the right of a young black man to administer a beatdown if he gets “dissed”.
take a look at this.....
What do you mean? We should wait and let the courts find out what happened. Yes, it’s certainly possible that Zimmerman was wrong, maybe he even had heinous intentions, but it’s also possible that Martin attacked him and George defended himself. Whether it was a proportional response, is up to the court to decide.
Trayvon Martin was likely a street boxer who had an attitude.
Did Trayvon Martin Referee School Fights?
http://www.wagist.com/2012/dan-linehan/did-trayvon-martin-referee-school-fights
Hi wtc. I have been listening to the 911 tape from Zimmerman with my headphones on and want to know if anyone else can hear what I think I hear. Zimmerman:
Could you have them call me and I’ll tell them where I’m at?
911 dispatcher:
OK, that’s no problem.
Zimmerman:
My number … you’ve got it?
911 dispatcher:
Yeah, I’ve got it. 435-2400? (TIME 7:13:31:19)
Zimmerman:
Yeah, you got it. (Here Zimmerman’s voice is more quiet as a whisper)
911 dispatcher:
OK, no problem. I’ll let them know to call you when they’re in the area.
Zimmerman:
Thanks.
END ________________ Now listen very close for a background voice as the dispatcher says *in the area*. I hear what sounds like in another voice say the phrase ‘He’s watching’. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BI03-MRKnI&feature=relmfu Martin could have been talking to his girl at this point. Perhaps while looking at Zimmerman’s truck thinking Z was still sitting in it? Could Zimmerman really have been observing that close and listening without Martin knowing? There aren’t many places for cover down that path. And I still think Z had him cut off at the pass.
IMO...we will never know what really happened.
>>It may be a hate crime, but it’s more likely nothing but a blowhard itching for a fight who had a gun. George Zimmerman is clearly not an innocent victim who resorted to self defense.<<
And your evidence is???
>>An apparently innocent young man is dead at the hand of a self-appointed community vigilante,in public, and the killer was not even detained/arrested for an investigation!<<
You should avail yourself of some facts before you post.
I just scrolled up. You’re gonna have your hands full here. This thread is whack job heavy :)
"zimmerman approached the kid "
There is no proof to support your fabrication.
Based on the known facts - the kid was carrying candy and iced tea and had every right to be where he was — zimmerman was told by the 911 op to back off — zimmerman approached the kid -— zimmerman shot the kid -— this should be a slam dunk — murder.>>
Get a clue:
1)It's not illegal to follow someone
2)There is no publicly available evidence that George approached Trayvon. Both George's call to the cops and Trayvon’s girlfriend state that as George was following Trayvon, Trayvon ran off. Now if you think that George could have caught up with Trayvon, I've got a bridge to sell you.
3)Yes, a struggle ensued, but who swung first is unknown. I believe Trayvon swung at George after accosting George.
4)There is no evidence available that George “accosted” Trayvon. From Trayvon’s girlfriend's TV statements, Trayvon first spoke to George.
5)Zimmerman did not call 911 and was not told to “back off”. He called the non-emergency number and was told “you don't need to do that” (follow Trayvon). The operator had no authority to order George to do anything.
6)Again, there is no evidence that George approached Trayvon rather than the other way around.
>>You’re gonna have your hands full here. This thread is whack job heavy :)<<
Better call in some reinforcements. :-)
You forgot PhatHead.
Pretty hard to approach someone when you don’t know where they are :)
Your comment speaks volumes about the difficulty in picking jurors who do not have their minds made up already. I envision a hung jury. Some white jurors may well vote to convict, but most certainly all black jurors will vote to convict. It is going to be a racist circus trial. Jurors addresses will be leaked and we may well see the Black Panthers show up at peoples houses to threaten them. Holder will have no problem with that.
CBC?
First response: Why is the Center for Disease Control getting involved?
Second response: Why don't those Canadians just mind their own business?
Third response: There are Blacks in Congress?
And TigersEye. And stephenjohnbanker.
Ooooo...it’s the Communist Black Caucus...time to shake in my boots.
Well, looky there, another attempt to prejudice the jury pool and undermine the rule of law by old-time racist Emanuel Cleaver. Who’da thunk it?
A “white(racist) hispanic” saw a black criminal(all blacks are criminals to Zimm, even the ones he tutors on weekends), so he pulled his gun, and shot the 12 year old Boy Scout in cold blood!! Zimmerman must get the chair!! Or better yet, skip the trial, and turn him over to the Black Panthers!!
Pay Per View !!!!!!!!!!
Dats de ticket!!!!
Woohoo! The reinforcements have arrived!
Geez! too many boob tube educated whack jobs for me. Facts are going to be of no use here.
Then stay for the entertainment value!
Some posters have made it a FR career to be on the wrong side of issues.
46 calls over 8 years = 5.75 calls per year. Wow! /s
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