[ForAmerica]

The only thing I have to say is that Zimmerman should not have followed him after the dispatcher told him not to. Zimmerman should not have assumed that he was a suspect just because he was black. I know this from experience, we are guilty until proven innocent.

I can relate because of being followed in stores as a late teen and young adult! I now have to deal with the police in my own suburban neighborhood driving a BMW and being pulled over six times in eight weeks!

[BfloGuy]

The only thing I have to say is that Zimmerman should not have followed him after the dispatcher told him not to.

We don't know that he did. Some reports state that, after the 911 call, Zimmerman turned around to go back to his vehicle. It was at that point that Martin followed him and attacked him.

[BfloGuy]

One more thing, let’s not forget that a 911 dispatcher’s suggestion is not an order. They don’t have that authority nor should they.

[hummingbird]

“The only thing I have to say is that Zimmerman should not have followed him after the dispatcher told him not to. Zimmerman should not have assumed that he was a suspect just because he was black. I know this from experience, we are guilty until proven innocent.

I can relate because of being followed in stores as a late teen and young adult! I now have to deal with the police in my own suburban neighborhood driving a BMW and being pulled over six times in eight weeks!”

I am so sorry to hear of your experiences, ForAmerica.

America is better that this.

[PapaBear3625]

The only thing I have to say is that Zimmerman should not have followed him after the dispatcher told him not to. Zimmerman should not have assumed that he was a suspect just because he was black. I know this from experience, we are guilty until proven innocent.

1) At no point did the dispatcher tell him not to. She told him "we don't need for you to do that", which is not an order, or even a suggestion.

2) police reports of criminal activity at the community show a pattern of young black men being involved in burglary and home invasion in the complex, with the neighborhood watch being credited with the apprehension of four of the criminals. If a rash of break-ins had been committed by bands of Scandinavian immigrants, then Zimmerman would have been looking for white blonde-haired guys, but that wasn't the profile.

[hoosiermama]

...a written statement that Martin knocked him down with a punch to the nose, repeatedly slammed his head on the ground and tried to take his gun...

Martin's girlfriend had said in a recording obtained exclusively by ABC News that she heard Martin ask Zimmerman "why are your following me, and then the man asked, what are you doing around here." She then heard a scuffle break out and the line went dead.

Phone records obtained by ABC News show that the girl, who is 16 and asked to remain anonymous, called Martin at 7:12 p.m., five minutes before police arrived, and remained on the phone with Martin until moments before he was shot.

More eye witness comment at:
http://gma.yahoo.com/trayvon-martin-shooter-told-cops-teenager-went-gun-030349812--abc-news.html

[Jordo]

“told him not to”??

John Lott (above) quotes the police operator as saying “we don’t need you to do that”. If accurate, that hardly rises to the level of a request, let alone a lawful order.