from what I could tell, the association was not with him but the principle of self defense and the right to carry and to fight back against bullies.
The two became conflated in the eyes of the media and the entire case became a classic example of the left trying to take advantage of someone’s misfortune to further their own agenda.
Ironically, Zimmermann was a part of the left that did this to him.
Voting Form Shows George Zimmerman Is A Registered Democrat, Confounding Message Pushed By Left
Zimmerman Brother: George Supported Obama, Wanted to End 'Club of White Men'