Rush to judgment in Trayvon Martin case

CNN ^ | William J. Bennett

[matt04]

At first glance, the death of Trayvon Martin seemed to be a straightforward example of ugly, racial conflict resulting in the killing of an innocent black teenager by a white man, George Zimmerman. But now, as evidence continues to come forward, the facts seem much more complicated and the "obvious truth" premature.

...

To make matters more complex, we found out that in the past several months, Martin was suspended from school three times, once for the possession of drug paraphernalia.

The Miami Herald reported that in the gated community in which Zimmerman patrolled, there were eight burglaries, nine thefts and one shooting in the past year. Neighbors of Zimmerman described him as being passionate about security and credit him with thwarting and cracking some crimes. It was also revealed that Zimmerman identified himself as a Hispanic and was a registered Democrat.

The facts are confounding and inconclusive. But the tendency in the first days by some, including Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and an angry chorus of followers, was to rush to judgment with little regard for fairness, due process, or respect for the terrible death of a young man.

A mob mentality seems to be in the ascendancy.

The New Black Panther Party offered a bounty for Zimmerman's capture.

Jackson said that Martin's death shows how "blacks are under attack" and "targeting, arresting, convicting blacks and ultimately killing us is big business." Apart from the obvious incendiary nature of such comments, what in heaven's name could Jackson mean?

[Steely Tom]

It’s a community with access controlled by gates... W T F do you call that????

Self preservation?

[blueunicorn6]

How far did the bullet travel? Where did the bullet strike the young man? How many rounds were fired? What position was the young man’s body in? I don’t care what Jesse Jackson feels....what are the facts?

[funfan]

Last night CNN had a special about the Trayvon case and Justice don't remember the exact title but it was a town hall type of event with Soledad Obreien who also hosted “Black in America”. Roland Martin from Cnn was on the panel and he said this was a movement and that was the important thing unike the “Jenna 6” which they hoped would be more of a movement than it was. Basically they are using this for “Social Justice” the whole show was a sham

[libstripper]

“Dollars to doughnuts the threat of lawsuits is what is causing some of the media to turn around.”

BINGO!!! Out of some strange masochistic urge I've continued to watch the utterly vile, despicable, and degraded Shep Smith, a Fox News “journalist,” continue to “report” on this story. It's obvious he bitterly hates it that somebody corked his pie hole. His body language, inflection, tone and selective “reporting,” along with letting others report exculpatory facts, show how bitterly he hates having been housebroken in his reporting of this case.

[Hulka]

I win. You are not honest.

[traderrob6]

Middle to lower middle class community for sure.

[skinkinthegrass]

"re: A random act of journalism from CNN.
Not exactly. The author is William J Bennett, a conservative."that!...Bill Bennett (S of ED) from the Reagan Administration; well that explains
"the random act of journalism"...it was a paid gig from an outside source.

[freedomrings69]

Initial reports said nothing about Zimmerman’s broken nose or bashed in head. It was just a white man followed and killed an angelic looking Black kid.

[catnipman]

“it seems to me that over the past few days CNN has grown a conscience and a brain and has decided to stop participating in this exercise in black racism.”

Either that or they’re starting to try to immunize themselves against the coming defamation of character lawsuits.

[mylife]

One of the things that bugs me is that Trayvon died on Feb 26.

Barack gave himself the power to control the entire country with martial law on Mar 16 via executive order, and now here we are on Mar 31 with this dog and pony show stirring up civil unrest and division.

It is clear to me that Obama is shaping the national consciousness to his own ends.

[Tax-chick]

I will be the first to say that the entire Zimmermann/Martin moment was a tragic incident ...

You can't be the first ... you can only be the bazillionth. Our best information now, as far as I can tell, is that it was a fight that turned out fatal for one young-adult participant. Must we go on as if it were a random meteorite falling on a preschool playground?

[Keith in Iowa]

OK, you win. The bigot contest. You instantly think “Gated community” is synonymous with mansions. I’ll give you the win there.

[Jeff Chandler]

Yeah, it doesn’t look as if Tres Bon was so very good after all, LOL!

[Carriage Hill]

They still can’t get it correct:

“The New Black Panther Party offered a bounty for Zimmerman’s capture.”

The New Black Panther Party offered a bounty for Zimmerman’s capture, DEAD OR ALIVE.

Fixed it.

[TauntedTiger]

Another random act of distraction from ComNN.

Meanwhile, the silence on Whispergate is deafening!!!

[sthguard]

It would not surprise me if CNN pressured BB into adding that disclaimer. Sort of like the “this was a tragedy” meme that even Fox News is using.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

I didn’t realize that this was Dr. Bennett... so much for CNN.

[Tax-chick]

"You're looking von today, darling ... tres von!"

[cynwoody]

Except for his typo, which I didn't notice until he pointed it out, Hulka's description is right on the money. Dinky townhouses densely packed with one-car garages. Recently constructed (some of Bing's oblique photography shows the complex under rapid construction).

Take a tour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVGeFAvzqyA (Uploaded Mar 28, 2010).

There is a front and a back entrance. The property is walled in. There is no gate at the front entrance (by the clubhouse), although the back entrance does have one.

You can see an annotated map here:

F is where the fatal fight occurred. D was where Martin was staying.

[HerrBlucher]

Has martial law ever been declared in a country where the citizens are armed to the teeth?

It will be interesting to see if Obama actually tries it, and even more interesting to see if the military actually attempts to enforce it, and even more interesting to see the response from the citizenry if they do attempt to enforce it.