Grand jury meeting in civil-rights case involving George Zimmerman

Orlando Sentinel ^ | October 30, 2014 | Rene Stutzman

[AAABEST]

A federal grand jury will meet in downtown Orlando Wednesday to hear testimony about whether Trayvon Martin's civil rights were violated when Neighborhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman shot him in the chest, according to court paperwork..

A U.S. Department of Justice attorney from Washington, D.C., Mark Blumberg, has issued at least one subpoena for Wednesday in the case.

Blumberg would not comment on the grand jury session, but the federal panel is to meet at 9 a.m. at the federal courts building on Central Avenue in downtown Orlando to hear evidence in the case.

It's not clear how many witnesses have been ordered to appear, but at least one, Frank Taaffe, Zimmerman's former neighbor and longtime defender, has been.

Following Zimmerman's acquittal on a murder charge, Taaffe has reversed his position and now says that he believes Zimmerman was motivated by race the night he followed then shot Trayvon in 2012.

[DoughtyOne]

Yes, I agree. Very...

[sport]

You can bet the farm that they are and will. I have always maintained that Zimmerman should take off for parts unknown and far away. It looks like he stayed and played around this town too long.

[Clintonfatigued]

I don’t like George Zimmerman, but this is just race-baiting politics.

[sport]

I would not bet my life on it.

[Mears]

“Arguably, Martin’s transit of the common area of the neighborhood was patronizing a public place and Zimmerman interfered with it because of Martin’s race.”

—

If it was a gated community how can where he was walking be considered a public place?

Makes no sense.

.

[DoughtyOne]

For one thing, your suggestions are reasoned.

Second, keep your mug out of the media. Let people forget about you.

I realize his notoriety has contributed to his high profile infractions, but man I would be sure not to be doing anything that might possibly get me in trouble again.

The guy could have gone up the river big-time, and he still hasn’t learned much. What a shame.

Stay below the radar. If you have to, spend several years in your living room.

[Sasparilla]

Maybe if TM hadn’t pounded GZ, he would be getting high somewhere with a skittles and watermelon ice tea drug concoction.

[Theodore R.]

Without Everett McKinley Dirksen, “R”-IL, there would have been no Civil Rights Act of 1968.

[AAABEST]

willingly injures, intimidates or interferes with another person, or attempts to do so, by force because of the other person’s race, color, religion or national origin” in regard to six types of federally protected activities, which include attending school, patronizing a public place...

Not that we care about the laws are written any longer, but until he was attacked by Martin there was no force on Zimmerman's part.

It wasn't a public place.

As per the recorded 911 call, Zimmerman didn't know Martin's race until he was attacked.

[G Larry]

Any juror finding against Zimmerman needs to have their head banged into the sidewalk.

Then ask them whether they believe it is legal for them to stop the assailant.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Now you know how Third World people behave when they are allowed political power. (And Holder is a member of the Third World.) American’s are so stupid in buying into the egalitarian model as no other group does. White America formed, governed and then in 2007 abdicated their exclusive right to govern. Now white America must face the consequences of a subordinate position such consequences being assault on their person, insult, discrimination in education and employment, confiscation of their property through taxes, fees and fines in order that Third World votes may be purchased, legal harassment such as this action against Zimmerman. Hopefully these instances will multiply enough that America will wake up.

I would suggest going back and read how the Spartans governed the Helots- a once independent people whom the Spartan people conquered and governed.

[Iron Munro]

This is double jeopardy.

Just a dishonest way for the federal government to sneak and crawl around the US Constitution.

[Rockingham]

As a guest of a resident, Martin would be considered to have a legal right to transit the common area.

[sport]

"....but man I would be sure not to be doing anything that might possibly get me in trouble again."

Me either. If it had been me, I would have left a smoke trail I would have left Florida so fast. If I had just taken a dose of Epsom Salts, I would have waited until I crossed the Florida line to go. I believe that his mother is of Peruvians Citizenship. I would have went to her and said, "Mama, I don't care how you do it, but I want you to get me to Peru now."

[DoughtyOne]

Sounds good to me.

When in trouble, I’m not sure it is a good idea to flee outside the nation though. You’ll simply have to face coming back, and it will start over.

Best to let it die down with you around so there won’t be a big ‘incident’ at some point, like coming back across the border and the media blowing that out of proportion when you do.

[Mears]

“As a guest of a resident, Martin would be considered to have a legal right to transit the common area.”

—

I’m well aware of that but The Civil Rights Act applies to public places.

This is not a public place.

.

[ought-six]

I wonder if Chastain’s and Newsom’s civil rights were violated? Or the civil rights of the elderly Straits in Tulsa? No? Holder’s DOJ sees no civil rights violations there.

[Rockingham]

The prosecutor's argument will be that the possibility that Martin was Black led Zimmerman to pursue him, and that Martin, fearing Zimmerman's intentions, attacked first. Having a gun, Zimmerman knew that if he provoked such a hostile reaction from Martin, he could bring any incident to a fatal conclusion for Martin.

Personally, I think that is a crock, but federal courts and judges tend to be friendly to the prosecution.

[fieldmarshaldj]

[Verginius Rufus]

Rick Santorum pronounced Zimmerman guilty. Isn't that enough?

Zimmerman saw Martin casing an apartment and was told by the police dispatcher to keep an eye on him. Because he did so, Martin attacked and tried to kill him.

All Zimmerman has to do to show that he was not motivated by Martin's race is to prove that he would have behaved the same way if Martin had been white.