Dispatches suggestion that Zimmmerman not pursue is not legally binding. As a free citizen he is entitled to walk or run wherever the hell he feels like (if I’m walking down the sidewalk behind you can you turn around and assault me because you felt threatened?). Moreover, as part of the Neighborhood Watch it is certainly within his duties to watch the neighborhood.
Its not a question of whether the 911 call is legally binding. Neighborhood Watch tells its volunteers to report only, not approach or pursue (which is also not legally binding). The question is if you’re a 17 year old kid minding your own business walking down the street and a grown man is making (baseless) accusations and then chases after you, do you feel on edge and threatened? Again, Zimmerman initiated the entire episode by trying to act in some hero capacity. The man made all of these rash judgments based on the fact that the kid was black walking down the street, there was no crime witnessed.
“As a free citizen he is entitled to walk or run wherever the hell he feels like”
and so is Martin
“(if I’m walking down the sidewalk behind you can you turn around and assault me because you felt threatened?)”
if you follow me in a car, then get out and continue following me on foot then i think feeling threatened is entirely natural.
Correct.
My small town, tight knit neighborhood doesn't have an organized watch. Everyone watches, though. It is called "good citizenship".
Believe me... we know who "belongs" in our neighborhood, and it has nothing to do with race because we have white and black families living here. Anyone who does not belong here will be watched as they pass through. Anyone who does not belong here will be asked what their business is here if they loiter. If they have a problem with that, THEY need to dial 911.
Strange. We don't have any crime in my neighborhood.