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George Zimmerman, Trayvon Martin case: Neighbors describe watch leader blamed for teen's death
wptv ^ | 3/23/2012

Posted on 03/23/2012 4:58:09 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper

Current and former neighbors call George Zimmerman caring, passionate and polite, a regular guy they enjoyed being around...

"The portrayal of George Zimmerman in the media, as well as the series of events that led to the tragic shooting, are false and extremely misleading," his father, a retired magistrate judge, wrote in a letter published in the Orlando Sentinel. "Unfortunately, some individuals and organizations have used this tragedy to further their own causes and agendas."

"George is a Spanish-speaking minority with many black family members and friends," Robert Zimmerman wrote. "He would be the last to discriminate for any reason whatsoever."

(Excerpt) Read more at wptv.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: obamaagenda; race; trayvonmartin
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To: Dudoight

You said “he was told not to follow him”

So. “You don’t need to do that” is the same thing?

Can’t we just agree that he was not “told not to follow him”?

Cause that was not the case.

I mean, for instance, if I was say, washing my car and my wife said you don’t need to do that. That would be the same as she “told me not to do that”?


121 posted on 03/23/2012 8:17:42 AM PDT by saleman (!!!!)
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To: arrdon
It’s news to me that a neighborhood watch person has any authority to ‘detain’ anybody.

I doubt a neighborhood watch person has any authority under the law at all aside from what any other citizen has. I'm not sure what your point is though as it relates to my response to another poster.

WHY this bozo thought it was proper to do anything other than calling in the cops for cop work I can’t fathom. It’s called neighborhood WATCH, not neighborhood SHOOT.

George Zimmerman wasn't actually on watch that night. He was out on an errand, when he happened tosee Trayvon Martin, and thought it suspicious. If you haven't listened to the 911 tapes, then do so, because I'm guessing that you haven't. Zimmerman doesn't sound unreasonable, angry or racist. Just concerned, and since there had been criminal activity in the area enough to justify this concern by the residents there, Zimmerman's initial actions are not unreasonable. He thought it odd that someone would be in the rain "walking around and looking about." That might catch my eye too if I were in similar circumstances.

The sad part about this is that tensions in this country are so high that ordinary people like Zimmerman thought it best to be cautious rather than just offer the kid a ride and get him out of the rain. Unfortunately, people who don't want to know the facts about this case because they have other agendas will only make the current situation magnitudes worse.

122 posted on 03/23/2012 8:19:54 AM PDT by csense
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To: onedoug
"He’s a “white hispanic” by the media (whatever they are). That makes it okay to pile it on.

Funny isn't it, that the media chooses to portray this guy as both white and hispanic, but using his white race first in their description of him. Yet when it comes to Obama, they only portray him as being black. If they stayed true to form, he should be called white/black.

123 posted on 03/23/2012 8:23:06 AM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: saleman

Or, for instance, you get up to get another beer and the wife says “you don’t need to do that.”


124 posted on 03/23/2012 8:24:46 AM PDT by SoothingDave
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To: SoothingDave

“Hence, the neighborhood watch.
Note, the word is “watch,” not “accost.””

If I have read previous postings here on FR correctly (including one that summarized the police report of what [they believe] happened), the “accosting” was done by -Martin-, who jumped on Zimmerman as he (Zimmerman) was walking back to his truck. Martin then pushed Zimmerman to the ground and was beating him. It was AFTER these events that Zimmerman managed to get to his gun, and fired.

Who be accostin’ who?


125 posted on 03/23/2012 8:26:14 AM PDT by Road Glide
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To: SoothingDave

She wouldn’t do that. She would get up and get it for me!

I got a keeper.


126 posted on 03/23/2012 8:28:26 AM PDT by saleman (!!!!)
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To: Dudoight

“Zimmerman was told not to follow Martin”

Wrong.

When Zimmerman called 911 to report what was transpiring, the 911 people did not “tell him” (i.e., order him) to stop following Martin. They -suggested- that he didn’t need to do that.

Zimmerman was not “told” nor was he “ordered” by anyone in an official capacity to back off.

As the saying goes, you have a right to your own opinion.
You DO NOT have a right to your own facts.


127 posted on 03/23/2012 8:29:27 AM PDT by Road Glide
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To: SoothingDave
Don't be so disingenuous as to not believe that some here equate black with "hood." And not the type you wear on your head.

I understand that this story evokes passionate opinions and rhetoric, but there's no reason to impugn people. You asked a question and I attempted to provide a possible answer.

That said, of course I realize some people equate "hood" with black. I have no idea why that would be.
It's a mystery.

128 posted on 03/23/2012 8:30:56 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: Dudoight
"Zimmerman was told not to follow Martin."

Wrong. He was told by the call taker: “you don’t need to do that.” According to a statement by the City Manager of Sanford: "The call taker’s suggestion is not a lawful order that Mr. Zimmerman would be required to follow." He goes on to say: "Zimmerman’s statement was that he had lost sight of Trayvon and was returning to his truck to meet the police officer when he says he was attacked by Trayvon."

City Manager Statement

129 posted on 03/23/2012 8:32:28 AM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: mass55th
Yet when it comes to Obama, they only portray him as being black. If they stayed true to form, he should be called white/black.

So, if Ubama joined Fight Club...
Nevermind.. My brain is exploding.

130 posted on 03/23/2012 8:34:04 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: rarestia

The last I heard, the official FBI hate crime statistics lists “Hispanic on Black” crime as “White on Black.”


131 posted on 03/23/2012 8:34:21 AM PDT by Cyber Liberty (The only flaw is that America doesn't recognize Cyber's omniscience. -- sergeantdave)
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To: Lancey Howard

I just use Occam’s razor instead of trying to figure out why people are not what they appear.

Your disingenuousness has been noted.


132 posted on 03/23/2012 8:38:52 AM PDT by SoothingDave
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To: saleman

Good for you! Remember, men marry women hoping they don’t change and vice versa.


133 posted on 03/23/2012 8:41:19 AM PDT by SoothingDave
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To: Lancey Howard
"Nevermind.. My brain is exploding. "

Welcome to the club.

134 posted on 03/23/2012 8:41:19 AM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: lastchance
From the photos at least Zimmerman looks to outweigh Martin.

True but the media is using photos of Martin when he was younger. Martin was a football player and probably stronger.

Wouldn’t most people figure the reasonable thing to do was to let the cops handle this person? Wouldn’t most people if they thought a person under the influence of drugs might have a weapon figure the reasonable thing to do was to stay away from that person?

Yes and yes, but perhaps Zimmerman was just trying to keep an eye on where he was going. It's possible that Martin escalated the situation and became the aggressor.

135 posted on 03/23/2012 9:01:40 AM PDT by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
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To: bert
More urban blacks were murdered with guns in the same time frame as both wars in Iran and Afghanistan.

And almost ALL of those murders were by FELLOW BLACK MEN.

Where's the MSM, liberal elites, and black vigilante mobs for those killings? Those murders don't benefit the liberal elite... and the MSM is veeeeery quiet... They know what to push and what to be quiet about. (Link at bottom)

This might be racist - but I'm starting to feel that blacks are the easiest group to play for fools. Liberal elites had a former KKK member running the Senate and blacks never caught on ...

We should make a list of all the times they've been played.

Flash to the black community - the problem with young black men being murdered is YOUNG BLACK MEN ARE KILLERS. And the press covers for their own political reasons:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBFOmUXR080

136 posted on 03/23/2012 9:02:46 AM PDT by GOPJ (Democrat-Media Complex - buried stories and distorted facts... freeper 'andrew' Breitbart)
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To: SoothingDave
...of course I realize some people equate "hood" with black.

"I just use Occam’s razor"

Ahh.. I see.

137 posted on 03/23/2012 9:09:12 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: csense
Unfortunately, people who don't want to know the facts about this case because they have other agendas will only make the current situation magnitudes worse.

_____________________________________

On both sides.

138 posted on 03/23/2012 9:18:41 AM PDT by wtc911 (Amigo - you've been had.)
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To: Moonman62
It's possible that Martin escalated the situation and became the aggressor.

______________________________________

What we know is that an un-armed Martin tried to get away from the stranger who was stalking him by car and on foot. Zimmerman says so himself on the tape. That is action to avoid confrontation.

We also know from the tape that an armed Zimmerman followed and pursued Martin. That is an aggressive action.

This desire to turn the actions around baffles me.....not really.

139 posted on 03/23/2012 9:23:49 AM PDT by wtc911 (Amigo - you've been had.)
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To: GOPJ
According to DOJ crime statistics, blacks are 12% of the population, but commit 50% of the murders.
140 posted on 03/23/2012 9:39:25 AM PDT by Joe the Pimpernel (Islam is a religion of peace, and Moslems reserve the right to slaughter anyone who says otherwise.)
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