[lawdave]

Federal charges for the same events. Mostly black jury. Zimmerman gets convicted.

While I wouldn't put it past them to try , in order to bring a federal civil rights action, the bad actor must be acting under color of state law. Zimmerman was a private citizen. An Example: In the Ridney King case, the cops were acquitted in the state court but since they were state actors they could be sued for deprivation of civil rights.

[AppyPappy]

—since they were state actors they could be sued for deprivation of civil rights. —

Probably need to keep that one in mind(cough, cough)

[don-o]

in order to bring a federal civil rights action, the bad actor must be acting under color of state law.

But, that does not preculde a civil suit at the state level, does it?

[Kansas58]

Slightly different case, but abortionist George Tiller as well as many other “Doctors” tried to used the KKK Act to stop protests at abortion clinics. I was not really a member of OR, but was friends with many who were, and was asked to observe and record protests for political reasons. Judge Kelly had me brought in under a Civil Contempt of Court charge for “violation” of his order.
(Look to my profile, sorry I had trouble formatting it. Also look to LINK at bottom of my profile, for a letter that I wrote to Kelly.)
Kelly found me in Contempt.
I appealed that ruling.
In the mean time, SCOTUS ruled that the KKK act was NOT available to the abortion providers, in part because CIVILIANS are NOT government employees, and that our actions were not, “Under color of law”. Civilians can not deprive you of Civil Rights, the Constitution restrains GOVERNMENT not individuals.

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Federal charges for the same events. Mostly black jury. Zimmerman gets convicted.

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While I wouldn't put it past them to try , in order to bring a federal civil rights action, the bad actor must be acting under color of state law. Zimmerman was a private citizen. An Example: In the Rodney King case, the cops were acquitted in the state court but since they were state actors they could be sued for deprivation of civil rights.