The problem has been the focus on irrelevant arguments – some of which are actually unsupported by the evidence.
1. ‘GZ racially profiled TM’ There is no evidence of this.
2. ‘GZ disobeyed an order by the police’ * The civilian dispatcher, Sean Noffke, testified that he did not give GZ an order and, in fact, he, like his fellow dispatchers, are trained not make comments that sound like commands. * Noffke also testified under cross that, as a result of his asking GZ which way TM was going, GZ could have reasonably interpreted this as being asked to follow Martin. * It is also not a crime in Florida to disregard a comment made by a civilian dispatcher.
3. ‘GZ got out of his car’ Not a crime on public property and not negligent either.
4. ‘GZ followed TM’ Again, anyone can follow anyone on a public street unless the followee has obtained a restraining order against the follower and even there, the RS only places time, place, and manner restrictions on the person enjoined.
5. ‘GZ wasn’t really injured’ * Under Florida’s self-defense laws, one doesn’t have to be injured AT ALL to use deadly force * No one is required to refrain from defending himself while another is engaged in or attempting to commit a felony.
6. ‘TM is dead through no fault of his own’ * If you believe that TM assaulted GZ, then he IS dead as a result of his own actions.
7. ‘GZ could have left’ * Under Florida law, there is not a duty to withdraw rather than use deadly force * TM was straddling GZ so how the latter was supposed to leave the scene is unanswered.
8. ‘GZ was armed and TM wasn’t’ * One’s fists can be considered weapons and can result in severe bodily harm or death. * GZ was legally carrying a weapon * There is no requirement under the law that the same weapon be used by the assailant * A homeowner can kill an intruder whether or not he has been threatened * Those that attack cannot feign surprise if they are met with superior firepower.
9. ‘Stand Your Ground!’ * SYG is NOT at issue in this trial. * The defense is a classic self-defense case.
10. ‘Black men NEVER get to use SYG!’ * Wrong http://tinyurl.com/nboht35
11. ‘GZ is a man and TM was a boy!’ * As if ‘boys’ don’t commit murder, rape, and assault everyday in this country.
TRAYVON MARTIN: - Hey, are you following me?
GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: - Ummm, yes.
TRAYVON MARTIN: - May I ask why?
GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: - Well, uh, we've had a number off robberies in this neighborhood lately, and I don't recognize you...
TRAYVON MARTIN: - Oh, well, I'm Travon Martin, I'm spending the summer at my uncle's in unit 12. I expect you'll see a lot of me this summer.
GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: - OK, thanks, good to know. I'm George Zimmerman, by the way.
They shake hands.
TRAYVON MARTIN: - No, thank you for keeping an eye out for your neighbors!
Why has no one brought up the flaw here? How was Zimmerman supposed to know if Trayvon was armed or not? And would Trayvon have attacked Zimmerman if he thought Zimmerman was armed?
To your first point that GZ racially profiled TM. It wouldn’t matter even if he had done so. Laws against racial profiling only apply to governmental agencies. There is no law against private individuals profiling racially or otherwise. It is done all the time including by Jesse Jackson who once famously said, “There is nothing more painful to me at this stage in my life than to walk down the street and hear footsteps... then turn around and see somebody white and feel relieved.”
I like that post. I like it a lot. Good rollup if facts.
No that anyone will read them, but hey...
BKMK
yes Z was offered up as a sacrifice to appease the mob.