Obama urges calm after racially-charged murder trial

This stinks, simple as that.

And at the same time, a woman in Florida was sentenced to 20 years for firing warning shots at her allegedly abusive husband who had previously had a restraining order placed against him.

Normally, once you willingly engage and confront a unknown suspect (against the explicit advice of police services / 911), the self-defense argument typically goes out the window.

And normally the President of the United States should not involve himself in local crimes and stir up racial animosity. He should leave that up to the usual suspects - Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Obama - as he is apt to do - involved himself in a local criminal matter when he assumed a black person was getting screwed by the criminal justice system. As usual, he was wrong. All of the evidence suggests that Martin was the aggressor and Zimmerman was following the advice of the 911 dispatcher and returning to his vehicle when he was attacked by the "creepy looking cracker".

It's kind of too late for Obama to appeal for calm after signaling to blacks that an injustice was done to a 17 year old who, if he had a son, would look like Martin. Obama should learn to restrain himself and not so easily assign blame before the evidence comes out. He is still trying to be a community organizer instead of President of all of the people.

Apologies regarding my previous post. It seems that case was a year ago, however the defence was the same. Interesting interpretation of the law which questions the term 'justice'.

We wouldn't even be reading about this if they couldn't throw in the race angle. Its just another person dead like so many others that happen everyday all over.

Despite all the pissing and moaning about this the fact is that the truth around the death is irrelevant. The burden of proof is on the state and they could not prove anything. Hence not guilty.

Simply put, like it or not, the prosecution failed to make their case, just as in the famous OJ Simpson case. But the tables are turned, and this time the victim is young black man, not two whites who were viciously butchered.

And normally the President of the United States should not involve himself in local crimes and stir up racial animosity.

Does President Obama, counseling Americans to practice calm and accept the verdict, "stir up" your racial animosity against him?

It's kind of too late for Obama to appeal for calm after signaling to blacks that an injustice was done to a 17 year old...

Really? Too late? Obama made his comments on Trayvon in March of 2012, well over a year ago. Is that what you saw as a "signal to blacks?" Are you saying it's "too late" because you'd actually love to see people rioting, so that you could blame that on the President too, while having them fulfill your low, racist expectations of them?

All of the evidence suggests that Martin was the aggressor ...

The only clear evidence of aggression is from the person who packed a firearm and left his vehicle -- in violation of the rules as a Neighborhood Watch -- in pursuit of a "suspect" who did absolutely nothing wrong besides being a young black man whom Zimmerman did not recognize. There is zero evidence -- outside of Zimmerman's word -- that Martin was the aggressor.

In fact, the clearest evidence we have that Martin was not the aggressor is the fact that Martin remained on the phone talking to the young woman. If someone is planning an aggressive attack, it is extremely unlikely that they are going to want their attention diverted by a telephone call -- especially if they are trying to be stealthy. They are going to say something to the effect of: "I got to take of something -- call you later." The cell phone records indicate the call still in progress at the time the altercation started. So, when you say "all of the evidence," you are simply speaking from a part of yourself that can't accept a truth that doesn't fit your racist stereotypes of people.

He is still trying to be a community organizer instead of President of all of the people.

I think it's OK if President Obama fails to represent the most hate-filled and ignorant Americans.

@yabits:

Does President Obama, counseling Americans to practice calm and accept the verdict, "stir up" your racial animosity against him?

No. It's just ironic that he would do so since it is well known that he sided with the prosecution in this case. His statements and his use of the Justice Department to organize rallies against Zimmerman shows that he doesn't feel that he needs to ensure equal justice when he so frequently thinks the worst of people of different races.

Are you saying it's "too late" because you'd actually love to see people rioting, so that you could blame that on the President too, while having them fulfill your low, racist expectations of them?

No, I hate seeing people who have had their passions ginned up by race-baiters vent their frustration on the innocent people and business owners in their own communities. I take no joy in other peoples misery - not even those I disagree with politically. As for me personally, I am very much against racial discrimination. That is why I am so very much against affirmative action laws in the US. There is absolutely no excuse for the government to treat people differently based on their race. None. Period.

The only clear evidence of aggression is from the person who packed a firearm and left his vehicle

Legally owning a firearm does not provide clear evidence of aggression. Though you might have a point if he got his weapon by stealing or in some other illegal manner. He has a right to carry his firearm as that right is protected by the second amendment. Just because he works for the community watch doesn't mean his rights are not still in effect. If you don't like it, put on your community organizer shoes and get the second amendment repealed. Otherwise, you don't have a point is way off the mark.

I think it's OK if President Obama fails to represent the most hate-filled and ignorant Americans.

I just don't see any reason to believe that Zimmerman is some kind of closet racist. He was just trying to protect his community from crime. It is a shame that too many young black men are involved in crime but the situation is what it is. I see Zimmerman's motivation as being interested in protecting his community from crime. He isn't a member of the KKK nor has anyone been able to make the case that he has harbored racial animosity towards blacks. In fact, the opposite is true. He apparently dated a black woman. Hardly something a racist would do.

I don't know why you have it out for Zimmerman so badly - you are allowing your emotions get to you.

Mr Obama, you should offer advise in your own backyard - Chicago! Oh, black on black, it's okay huh? Sharpton and Jackson are two of the biggest racists in public view. These guys need to shut up!

How about all the terroristic threats tweeted in the aftermath? This is the racism and these terroristic threats can be taken seriously and charges applied.

I do find it interesting that the Stand Your Ground law so far only applies to light skinned people in Florida. Imagine the reverse and you could not imagine Martin winning a case in reverse. This is also a state that works hard to make sure that legal black voters cannot vote, hindering them in any way possible. I am suspicious of how this case went from the beginning. At the same time the criminal side of the case is over.

Though it should not matter , I am white and my family until my generation has been Southern since 1645, some of them slave owners. Like many a Southern family we have our black branch as well. That was an aspect of slave owning rarely mentioned, slave owners often had more black descendants than white descendants

It is not over, we have idiots shooting up a car with teens inside because of their music being loud. This sociopath Zimmerman likely thinks he can stalk more teens.

I hope the Federal Government steps in and charges Zimmerman.

No. It's just ironic that he would do so since it is well known that he sided with the prosecution in this case. His statements and his use of the Justice Department to organize rallies against Zimmerman shows that he doesn't feel that he needs to ensure equal justice when he so frequently thinks the worst of people of different races.

I think it's worthwhile putting that statement out there as an example of just how psychotically deranged some of the president's critics are. The Justice Department has never organized a rally against Zimmerman. NEVER. President Obama "frequently" thinks the worst of people of different races? Absurd!

No, I hate seeing people who have had their passions ginned up by race-baiters vent their frustration on the innocent people and business owners in their own communities.

A person who lies to the point of it being pathological is hardly "innocent." A person without a fine-honed sense of race-hatred in himself would not be so taken in by the so-called "race-baiting" of others.

I hope the Federal Government steps in and charges Zimmerman.

The Justice Department is studying the case now.

Mr Obama, you should offer advise in your own backyard - Chicago! Oh, black on black, it's okay huh?

Mr Obama is half white.

Saw the statement by Trayvon Martin's lawyer yesterday on the news and he did not impress me as being very eloquent or savy. The Martin family should have hired a big shot Jewish lawyer from Miami and Zimmerman would be in prison now.

Wolfpack: He was just trying to protect his community from crime.

Look, he wasn't convicted. I completely understand the fact that even if you think someone is guilty or innocent it's still up to the prosecution to present their case. I thought OJ was guilty but the prosecution didn't do a good job so I have to support the fact that he went free.

But seriously. Don't approach this case as if there's nothing wrong with a guy approaching a stranger on the street at night with a gun looking for answers from a person who doesn't owe him any. It's a stupid approach to preventing crime and if you were Martin and had a gun you sure as hell wouldn't have just sat there.

and maybe some day when they learned, Cherokee nation will return? They took away our ways of life , the tomahawk, and the bowie knife, brought their guns to our land and now they make a final stand. I find American government and the court systems at default...l , and others believe they should all be arrested and tried for treason against the United States of America. Murder with drone in the first degree. Failure to protect the American people. and taking bribes and in the name of gift's from lobbyist and conspiracy to overthrow the American people. and the amendments lost in translation. People should be feared by our government... until that...we have nothing......but guns....poor America...

A lot of misinformation flowing around here. First, the controversial "stand your ground" law has nothing to do with this case. This was a simple issue of self defense, as it would be in any other state. Second, it was not disputed in the trial that, at one time, Trayvon was on top of Zimmerman and whaling away. So, his defense rested on his state of mind AT THAT TIME. Did he fear great harm or death at that time? If so, then he was justified in shooting.

What happened up to that point was, from a legal standpoint, basically irrelevant. Probably nobody will exactly know what happened in those vital 2-3 minutes up to the fight.

"Gunned down?" Hardly. An impartial ballistics forensic expert testified that Travon Martin was on top of George Zimmerman, compressing the weapon into Zimmerman's chest.

This seems pretty open and shut to me. If anyone is standing on top of me, attacking me, and I'm afraid for my life and I have a firearm to draw... I'm drawing it and putting rounds downrange into center mass.

I was sad to hear the not guilty verdict. But I think it was hard for the prosecution to "prove beyond reasonable doubt" that Zimmerman shot him on purpose.

Martin was probably walking home, minding his own business, when Zimmerman spotted him and assumed he was a bad guy - just cuz he was black and wearing a hoodie. If Martin did attack Zimmerman, it was probably because he felt threatened by him - being followed. <- This probably was hard to prove since there were no witnesses. Z was wrong in following M but if M threw the first punch, Z could always say it was self-defense...which is apparently what happened and why he was found not guilty.

If Z didn't have a gun, he probably would've never pursued his interest in M. And M wouldn't have died.

The jury has spoken according to the facts that were presented to them, and not just raw emotion.It was a tragedy, and it should not be made into a travesty, according to a defense attorney. Obama jumped on the wagon as most politician do. He did same regarding an African America professor at Harvard that ended up with a consolation beer party at WH. If Zimmerman is a black man, this case would not get media attention and stretching into civil right issue. The law of cause and effect tells us that many lessons to be learned from this tragedy, and it can be a productive tool for better society at large. This tragedy happens all the times, and parents should take more responsibility in civil society. There are many "ifs" of what not to do and "ifs" to do in this one to prevent a sad reality.

As others have noted, were Zimmerman black or mulatto there would be zero news coverage.

Every killing is tragic, regardless of the races involved.

Does anyone remember the rioting and protests when OJ was acquitted? Hypocrisy.

I think we'd all rather have a Zimmerman in our neighborhood looking after us, than a Martin lurking in the shadows with marajuana in his bloodstream. It was self defense pure and simple.

I think we'd all rather have a Zimmerman in our neighborhood looking after us....

I'll hazard a guess that you're not a young black man....

I think the media saw the case, with the obviously black name of "Trayvon" as the victim and the very white-Germanic name of "George Zimmerman" as the shooter and made assumptions based on that. Once it was proven that, to the contrary, Zimmerman was actually hispanic with roots in Peru, it was too late to change the story from the simple "black/white" issue that the media had decided was important. Hence the use of the ridiculous term "white Hispanic", hence using years old photos of Trayvon instead of recent ones. I find it impossible to believe that the only photo of a teenager that the mass media could find was one from 5 years ago, when he was 12 years old.

If George Zimmerman's name had instead been "Jorge Zumaya", this would not have been a national story. Nobody would think of using the term "white Hispanic" to describe "Jorge Zumaya", whose mother is Peruvian. This was a manufactured story from day one.

Second, it was not disputed in the trial that, at one time, Trayvon was on top of Zimmerman and whaling away. So, his defense rested on his state of mind AT THAT TIME. Did he fear great harm or death at that time? If so, then he was justified in shooting.

Got it. So if I approach you at night with a gun, as long as you end up on top of me, I can kill you.

That is the case in the States. Especially if there is evidence that I was the initial aggressor and threw the first punch.

The best advice for anyone in a society with wide gun ownership is to WALK AWAY. Don't confront anyone over such petty matters.

Seems some are begging for a race war to distract from the many scandals the US government is facing.

Quote: “Obviously, we are ecstatic with the results. George Zimmerman was never guilty of anything except protecting himself in self-defense,” said his lead attorney Mark O’Mara after the verdict. Defense attorney Don West was even more blunt, calling the prosecution of Zimmerman “disgraceful.” End quote.

I find these comments themselves disgusting. "Obviously, ecstatic, never guilty"... yuck. Why can't they just be quiet and respectful instead of exulting in public like football players or something? Do they not know they are pouring fuel on a difficult situation? :nuts: :sigh:

wolfpack: And normally the President of the United States should not involve himself in local crimes and stir up racial animosity.

President Obama is not the first president to speak out about specific crimes and will not be the last. President G.W. Bush ran a campaign ad featuring a specific criminal, that being Willie Horton. President G.H. Bush famously mocked executed criminal Karla Fay Tucker during an interview with conservative reporter Tucker Carlson. I'm sure I could come up with other examples from presidents on both sides of the political aisle but I just thought I'd fill in the side you seem to be missing.

He should leave that up to the usual suspects - Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

And while we're at it, perhaps we could ad Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter and Glenn Beck to the list. You know, just for some balance.

To practice what I preach, while President Obama did speak specifically to the issue of crime in Chicago on the ABC Bud Biliken Parade, I completely agree that he needs to deal with that issue much more seriously.

"And while we're at it, perhaps we could ad Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter and Glenn Beck to the list. You know, just for some balance."

Don't get your hopes up for any kind of balance from the radicals. Especially not over an event as emotional as this.

"I have equal contempt for both left and right radicals." - Aleksandr Lebed

ambrosia

President Obama is not the first president to speak out about specific crimes and will not be the last.

No, but he did inject himself into the very racial narrative that the MSM was brewing around this case by saying what he said, particularly the comment, "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon."

So where were his concerned comments and the MSM's outrage and non-stop coverage for this despicable case back in March where two black teens shot a white mother and shot dead her 13 month-old toddler (in a stroller to boot) at point blank range during a failed robbery in broad daylight? Yeah, we all heard those crickets loud and clear. He obviously can't be expected to comment on every incident of local crime but he did wade into the Zimmerman case waist deep and only because of the perceived racial issue. That's BS when it was purely contrived by the media and those promoters of racism like Jackson and Sharpton.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/22/us/georgia-baby-killed

USNinJapan2: No, but he did inject himself into the very racial narrative that the MSM was brewing around this case by saying what he said, particularly the comment, "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon."

I never denied that he did that so I'm not sure what your point is in regard to my comments.

That's BS when it was purely contrived by the media and those promoters of racism like Jackson and Sharpton.

I've read your comments before. You're far from being a stupid person so let's dispense with the ridiculous here and admit that the two men you mentioned are hardly the only promoters of racism in the country. The ones who I mentioned in my previous post could run head-to-head with the Al Sharptons and Jessie Jacksons of the world any day. I'm not huge fans of either but nor do I have much respect for the likes of Limbaugh, Coulter or Beck, all of whom get far more airplay than the the former.

I'm old enough to remember when you could disagree with someone's politics while still respecting the person. I do not disrespect people who have different political leanings from me because at the end of the day, I know that most of us have some conservative and some liberal views and a whole lot of moderate ones. What I don't respect are purveyors of hatred, be they white, black, Latino, liberal, conservative or moderate. Sadly, I seem to be in a minority there as the quality of discourse in the country has devolved to such a level that it amounts to no more than childish name calling and glee at the failure and humiliation of others. Both major parties are to blame and to refuse to recognize that is simply willful blindness.

As for President Obama addressing the issue you mentioned, you can't have it both ways. You either disagree with him for having waded into the Zimmerman case to begin with and think he should stay out of that kind of topic or you think he should be free to talk about specific crimes. Like him or not, he's in a bit of a hot spot. If he talks about a crime where a black person was a victim, whites perceive him as being racist for not talking about white victims. If he talks about crimes where a white person was a victim, blacks perceive him as not caring about blacks. He gets labeled as our first "black president" while also being attacked for not being "black enough".

And for the record, this isn't the first specific criminal case he has waded into. He spoke quite eloquently and sincerely after the Newtown massacre and I, for one, have no real idea what the colors of those victims were.

I don't know why you have it out for Zimmerman

He's a gutless coward. He's losing an old-fashioned fist fight to an unarmed 17-year-old kid -- a fight he, in all likelihood, provoked himself -- and then decided to win it by taking out his pistol and killing the kid.

No, but he did inject himself into the very racial narrative that the MSM was brewing around this case by saying what he said, particularly the comment, "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon."

Yes, white America hates being reminded that a son of Barack Obama's could look like Trayvon Martin.

So where were his concerned comments and the MSM's outrage and non-stop coverage for this despicable case back in March where two black teens shot a white mother and shot dead her 13 month-old toddler...

Are you serious? In that case, the police did their jobs and quickly arrested the suspects. Should the MSM be outraged that the two weren't both immediately lynched? And where does "non-stop coverage" and outrage take us in a story like that? So that a crazy mother can drown her two kids in lake, blame it on a "black man" and have everyone believe her? So that an evil man in Boston can drive into a low-income area, shoot and kill his pregnant wife and blame it on a "black man" and have cops tear the city down looking for him?

I do happen to think that some outrage is warranted when an armed man stalks and then shoots an unarmed kid and the police let him walk away scot-free -- completely buying his story that it was self-defense.

The best advice for anyone in a society with wide gun ownership is to WALK AWAY. Don't confront anyone over such petty matters.

And get shot in the back? Or just let the next Wichita slayer know where you live?

Although you offer general advice, it seems to me its completely in hindsight. Applying hindsight to this case seems to be very popular, as if Martin was supposed to know the overweight creepy gun in a buzz cut stalking him in the dark and rain was the self-appointed Watchman captain rather than say, the local KKK Wizard.

And why would anyone assume he was a Watchman when he was violating Watchman protocol by tailing him and getting in and out of his vehicle? For all Martin knew he was about to be the next Emmett Till. Stalking and harassing people is most certainly not a petty matter, which is why the Neighborhood Watch laid out protocols against it and why the 911 dispatcher told him he did not need to do it.

And in all seriousness, if a black man did this to a white and hispanic mixed man, I have serious doubts the black man would have walked.

Ambrosia and USN,

"And for the record, this isn't the first specific criminal case he has waded into."

Both this case or the Newtown massacre are understandably events that require commentary from the president.

I think a better example (if I may USN) of Obama getting involved when perhaps he shouldn't have was that case at the beginning of O's presidency of the well known professor who's name escapes me that was racially profiled by local police, and the situation got out of hand and boiled over on all sides about racism, when if we're honest the issue was really good old fashioned pigheadedness.....

Sorry, but no president has any place officially commenting on legal cases. Separation of powers.

A jury actually got it right in spite of the pressure from Obama, the professional race baiters in the black community, the MSM (especially NBC for airing the doctored 9-11 call) and every left wing extremist radical democrat and liberal in the United States trying to pressure a verdict of guilty for what was obviously the justified shooting of a 17-year-old thug who was trying to kill Zimmerman.

RR

CanoeCanoeJul. 15, 2013 - 07:57PM JST

Sorry, but no president has any place officially commenting on legal cases. Separation of powers.

In despite, yes he is THE President of U.S.A. Please review the contents of the US. Constitution. Thanks.

A jury actually got it ... in spite of the pressure from ... and every left wing extremist radical democrat and liberal in the United States trying to pressure a verdict of guilty

A very revealing comment. The jury was sequestered and didn't have access to any media discussion of the case. So how was this "pressure" applied? How did this pressure manifest itself? Was it imaginary pressure? Like the kind when you go to sleep, Romeo, and Obama appears in your dreams and you end up wetting yourself?

Perhaps this imaginary pressure is related to the imaginary crimes that Trayvon Martin was in the process of committing when Zimmerman profiled him as "being up to no good." A very revealing comment indeed.

WolfpackJul. 15, 2013 - 08:40AM JST

Normally, once you willingly engage and confront a unknown suspect (against the explicit advice of police services / 911), the self-defense argument typically goes out the window.

And normally the President of the United States should not involve himself in local crimes and stir up racial animosity

Please review the Civil Rights Movement history in US in the past since 1960. Many US Presidents were heavily involved. Hope you were not sleeping in US History classes.

CanoeCanoe: Sorry, but no president has any place officially commenting on legal cases. Separation of powers.

That's not true. There is something called Unlawful Command Influence but it only applies to military trials. Therefore, Nixon commenting on the Charles Manson case or Clinton commenting on the Wen Le Ho case or Reagan commenting on "welfare queens" in reference to cases of supposed welfare fraud or George W. Bush commenting on the Scooter Libby case or Obama commenting on the Zimmerman case, were all perfectly within their rights as President of the United States to do so. That you did or didn't like the comments, agreed or disagreed with them or found them to be imprudent or prudent is beside the point.

Another reason for me to never set foot in America.

I don't understand how the police can allow members of the public to patrol the streets at night armed with guns. It's asking for trouble. Here in the UK neighbourhood watch members only report crimes or suspicious activity... they don't go in like Batman or the Punisher. As for self defence, we're only allowed to use reasonable force... certainly not lethal force.

MarkGJul. 15, 2013 - 10:06AM JST

Mr Obama, you should offer advise in your own backyard - Chicago! Oh, black on black, it's okay huh? Sharpton and Jackson are two of the biggest racists in public view. These guys need to shut up!

Well, this is racially profiling and very hateful remarks. I am not Black, but I tell you that you are very condescending and disrespectful to others. You have a very angry hateful heart. I pray for you. May God Bless you and Peace Be with You, MarkG. .

Thunderbird2: In theory that's supposed to be how neighborhood watch groups in the States work as well and in general, that is how they work. You'll recall that the 911 operator suggested that Zimmerman not follow Martin. The operators aren't supposed to give direct commands.

Mr Obama is half white.

but majority of people perceive him as all black.

@maglev

Well, that's the fault of "people". Idiots.

maglev101Jul. 15, 2013 - 10:56PM JST

Mr Obama is half white.

but majority of people perceive him as all black.

Does it bother you, maglev? The truth of matter is that we all share a same color of blood "Red".

Unfortunately the prosecution did not prove that this was a racially motivated/ unprovoked attack. Did Zimmerman initiate the confrontation? Yes. but this was not illegal, and then Trayvon Martin attacked Zimmerman, bashed his head into the ground and broke his nose. According to Florida law, Zimmerman was within his rights to protect himself with the handgun. From the very first weeks of this case, the media has distorted this case into something it is not by making it a symbol of racial profiling, racial injustice, and the haves over the have-nots. Remember, the only pictures of Trayvon Martin we saw for the first few months after this case was first reported was of him as a child and a junior high school student? This was all manipulation. Remember the repeated mention of "skittles"? Later it was learned that Trayvon Martin was a well built, 6ft 17 year old, with pot in his bloodstream. There has always been lots of anger and frustration within the black communities of America ..Unfortunately this is the wrong battle for them and they should champion other examples of racial injustice. There are certainly better, more suitable ones out there. It is very easy for people to jump on the band wagon and support this cause. If you support the case for Trayvon Martin you are "evolved" but if you defend Zimmerman you are somehow narrow minded and cold hearted. I even feel weird writing this because, generally speaking, I am very left wing.... If these people who are running around screaming about legal injustice, where were the demonstrations when OJ was found innocent of butchering two white people? No this anger and demand for retribution is a visceral response by a community that feels both despondent and repeatedly let down by the justice system. Again, this is not the case they should champion.

Obama urged people to step back and accept the trial verdict.

Gee, how about issuing a public apology to GZ for your biased behavior toward him and lifetime protection against those calling him a "gutless coward" and seek "Justice for Zimmerman"?

This is yet another major defeat for Obama who "acted stupidly" at the outset. Well, done, ladies of the jury, for proving politics and racism does not trump testimony and facts.

RR

Unfortunately the prosecution did not prove that this was a racially motivated/ unprovoked attack.

The prosecution had to prove that Zimmerman went after Martin with malice aforethought, and did not kill Martin out of self-defense. With no witnesses besides Zimmerman, it would be very tough to prove.

Trayvon Martin attacked Zimmerman, bashed his head into the ground and broke his nose

We have only Zimmerman's word on this. Zimmerman would not take the stand to have this testimony cross-examined. Based on the fact that Zimmerman called the police to report a black person "up to no good" -- without any evidence whatsoever that Martin was involved in anything illegal -- and characterized Martin as a "suspect" and one of those "who always get away," Zimmerman is clearly making things up out of is imagination. I do not trust Zimmerman's recounting of the fight.

Later it was learned that Trayvon Martin was a well built, 6ft 17 year old

The actual stats on Martin was that he was between 5' 11 and 6 ft, and weighed 158 pounds. 158 pounds on a nearly six-foot tall frame is far closer to "slim" than to "well-built." We didn't learn anything about Trayvon's tendency towards violent behavior, because there was none of that in his past. Later, we did learn that violent aggression had certainly been a part of George Zimmerman's past.

with pot in his bloodstream

You describe yourself as "very left wing." You don't seem to know that two of the most common reactions to pot are increased relaxation (euphoria/mellowness) and reduced motor skills. Hardly the stuff that would lead to effective, aggressive behavior. Especially in a person with no history of a tendency towards violent behavior -- unlike George Zimmerman.

If these people who are running around screaming about legal injustice, where were the demonstrations when OJ was found innocent of butchering two white people?

The state of California had to present its case and its evidence beyond any reasonable doubt. The defense team skillfully caused a great amount of reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors. Note that the families who were victimized in the case did not just leave it be, as you are foolishly advising with the Martin case, but went forward to successfully prosecute a civil case. That is what needs to happen here too.

Will the real Trayvon Marting please stand up...

http://patdollard.com/2013/06/trayvon-martins-involvement-in-local-burglaries-covered-up-by-media-school-police/

I was watching this on CNN. There is very little evidence on what really happened. I have no side on the issue but I already knew Zimmerman would walk.

Lawyers were reaching for straws with very situational arguments.

On top of this, the news is trying to connect this issue with the King case that resulted in irrational riots in Los Angeles.

RomeoRIIJul. 15, 2013 - 11:32PM JST

Obama urged people to step back and accept the trial verdict.

Gee, how about issuing a public apology to GZ for your biased behavior toward him and lifetime protection against those calling him a "gutless coward" and seek "Justice for Zimmerman"?

This is yet another major defeat for Obama who "acted stupidly" at the outset. Well, done, ladies of the jury, for proving politics and racism does not trump testimony and facts.

RR

It goes up to the Federal Court.

Will the real Trayvon Marting please stand up..

Where is there any indication of Trayvon's violent behavior towards others? His tendency to get into fights, if any?

Graffiti? Did that warrant the death penalty?

Or was it a tall, skinny kid's ability to humiliate George Zimmerman with fists alone -- causing only the kinds of superficial cuts and bruises common to fistfights -- that earned Zimmerman his "Kill a Person and Get Off Free" card?

Was Zimmerman aware of the graffiti and handing of stolen merchandise in Martin's past when he told the police that Martin was "up to no good?" What criminal activity was Martin involved in that Zimmerman directly observed? Is "walking while black and wearing a hoodie" a crime?

Of course, the real George Zimmerman was a person with multiple aggressive/violent confrontations in his past. He demonstrated aggression when, with no evidence whatsoever, he strapped on a gun and pursued Martin so that Martin would not "get away." (On what authority?)

Yabits Okay, I understand you feel strongly and passionately about this case and you make your points...I stand by my points though... One thing I would like to mention...How could our conclusion that I do not have left wing leanings be based on my (supposed) ignorance of the effects of pot? That's just ridiculous. And for FYI, yes marijuana does mellow some people out; however, "paranoia is one of the most unpleasant 'side effects' of it." This is a quote from Time magazine. Signed, a regular pot smoker (In Canada)

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/04/06/why-pot-smokers-are-paranoid/#ixzz2Z83Wwjpn

When Zimmerman was told Not to pursue this fella he should have listened and that is where I find it hard to believe he wasn't convicted of Anything at all.

Okay, I understand you feel strongly and passionately about this case ..

I feel strongly about presenting details accurately. You brought up the fact that there was "pot in his bloodstream." Zimmerman reported that Martin was "up to no good," or "on drugs."

At the time of death, the autopsy report found trace levels of THC in Martin's blood. 1.5 nanograms of THC and 7.3 nanograms of THC-COOH,a metabolite of THC that can stay in the system for weeks after pot has been smoked. Typical levels of THC in the bloodstream within an hour of smoking pot range from 100 to 200 nanograms per milliter.

The levels of THC found in Martin's blood were trace levels, and could not be claimed to have any affect on Martin's behavior that night.

So my question is: Why would you think that these trace levels would have any significance? You make a "pot in the bloodstream" remark and then come back with an article about paranoia. First of all, based on those trace amounts, Zimmerman's recounting of Martin's "being on drugs" only reflects on Zimmerman's own paranoid and innacurate assessment. The analysis of Trayvon's blood proves this.

Secondly, based upon Zimmerman's prejudicial malice towards the unknown figure walking through the neighborhood, Martin would have been astute to have his cautions raised -- and he was. All the more evidence that Martin was aware and sober.

yabits, you should provide links or people are going to take shots at you.....

It's patently obvious that if Zimmerman had followed the instructions the 911 dispatcher gave him none of this would have happened. But Zimmerman chose to confront. Apparently Martin (and I guess we'll never know who started it) decided to take it to physical assault. However that worked out Zimmerman was armed and here we are. But the jury has said not guilty.

Obama, in spite of his past blunders, has called for calm. Can't argue with that. (BTW, Obama himself claims to be African American, not half white or whatever. So the justice department's involvement is probably of more than passing interest to the president and Mr. Holder.)

The prosecution blew it. BTW, the state chooses the prosecutor, not the family. The family's lawyer was a buffoon but he wasn't the one conducting the case.

The media has turned this into a circus. Controversy sells newspapers. "You provide the pictures, I'll provide the war," as Hearst once said. But, as you might expect, nothing about this case is so clear cut. But then the media had to twist this to give it their own spin. Well, you can't believe everything you read.

Zimmerman has been shown to be a cop wannabe. Martin has been shown to be a person in possesion of stolen property and with a tool for breaking and entering, although not on the night he was shot. Neither gets out of this looking good. But Zimmerman is alive, if living in hiding with no job and the guilt of the whole thing staying on his head, is living. I wouldn't be surprised if Zimmerman ends up with some serious problems for the rest of his life.

Oh, the lawyers being happy about the outcome? They're lawyers, for pity's sake. Why didn't the shark eat the lawyer? Professional courtesy.... Hate to say it but this is just free publicity for the lawyers and another notch on the bedpost. Although I bet the prosecutor would rather find a new career. But yeah, the lawyers are happy because they won. The rest is just statistics....

It goes up to the Federal Court.

Won't happen.

Since you're not an American, you aren't expected to know the feds in this country

I DO understand a due process in criminal case more than you do as this is what I used to do. By the way, you name ROMEO suggest you are Mexicano, not American, hope you go back to your turf and suck it up..

The feds were looking into it but might have given up when they thought they would get a murder conviction at the local level - probably because they didn't have a great case to make on their own, perhaps. Now that the verdict is not guilty there's nothing to stop them trying again.

globalwatcher....I thank for your blessing. Heavens knows, I need them. Why I can't look at myself in the mirror. Look at the facts! Was this trial truly justified? Is the outcome surprising? The media crucified Zimmerman with partial facts and lies over a year ago. And the general public bought it. And that is misuse of their power. It's wrong, very wrong! I am not justifying Zimmerman's actions but it happened. But think about it, his intent was good but the outcome was horrible. He DID have injuries justifying his defense for his life.

As for Sharpton, he is stirring the racial pot with NOTHING good to come from it other than his paycheck!

MarkGJul. 16, 2013 - 07:47AM JST

Thanks for your feedback, GMack.

We live in a nation of law, so we need to respect the court of law. Sometime, it seems that the justice not served for the victims. We are in full of anger and frustration, hopefully US Attorney General will be able to take this case for the Civil Rights violation case in the future. May God grant us a courage, strength and wisdom to move on for ultimate justice.

Chief prosecutor Corey and I share the same view on this, and you may find it very interesting.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/prosecutors-weigh-in-on-george-zimmerman-verdict/-/1637132/20987802/-/8y7xhn/-/index.html

With all the inequality in America and social/legal injustice (whites against blacks) it 's perplexing to me that the black community chooses such cases as Rodney King, OJ Simpson, and now Trayvon Martinto to champion. These were cases that had no basis in racism but were distorted and manipulated to create emotional reactions rather than logical ones. Should Zimmerman have followed Trayvon Martin? In my opinion...No. But to say that the reason he this all (including murder) went down because of race is an insult to the real situations and issues facing black communities.

Thunderbird2: In theory that's supposed to be how neighborhood watch groups in the States work as well and in general, that is how they work. You'll recall that the 911 operator suggested that Zimmerman not follow Martin. The operators aren't supposed to give direct commands.

Ambrosia, Z did not receive direct commands. The 911 operator simply said: you don't need to do that. To which Z replied OK but kept doing it.

I think its also very important to realize that the self-appointed Watchman Z was not on watch duty that night. Seems a lot of people act like he was where it suits them, then act like he wasn't when it suits him. He just plain wasn't. Despite that, he was a complete fool and should have known better. And the law should know better than to let such a fool create such a situation, launch himself into it, kill a man and walk away scot free.

And the law should know better than to let such a fool create such a situation, launch himself into it, kill a man and walk away scot free.

Scott Johnson, I want to applaud your efforts to focus on the law involved.

I agree, the law should not make it so easy for cowardly people to act as judge, jury and executioner -- the vigilante -- the person who is not a police officer but who fancies himself one. I personally believe that, if we look to how these types of laws came to be on the books, we'll find bigotry and cowardice masquerading as measures which purport to "enhance personal security."

All-women jury chosen for George Zimmerman's trial

globalwatcherJun. 21, 2013 - 10:19AM JST

Speechless!! Outcome will be easy verdict not guilty.

This trial WAS OVER when all women (5 white, 1 black) were chosen as I predicted.

Would that be a sexist and racist comment globalwatcher? What's wrong with all women jury? Why is it racially broken down by you?

This trial WAS OVER when all women (5 white, 1 black) were chosen as I predicted.

I think you are wrong. You simply don't see that the application of Florida law would have led to this outcome, or to a hung jury, regardless if men or women were on it.

As strongly as I personally believe that Trayvon Martin was unjustly deprived of his life by a paranoid coward and liar, if I were on the jury and received the instructions that the jury did, the law wouldn't leave me much of an option but to vote for acquittal.

This case was extremely educational. One message it sends is that the law and justice system is helpless to protect the life of a 17-year-old kid in the event that someone he perceives as a predator comes stalking after him. But this is what second-amendment lovers argue: That people should be able to carry a weapon to protect themselves.

So here is what Florida law, viewed through this trial, is advocating as a lesson to everyone going forward: Trayvon should have been carrying a handgun that night. As soon as he realized that Zimmerman was stalking him to his home, knowing his rights under Florida law, Martin would have to ask himself if he felt afraid. If he did, the law gives him the permission to draw his weapon and use deadly force against the person causing him to fear for his safety. If Zimmerman was killed, the gun that he carried -- thanks to second amendment protections -- would provide much of the evidence that Martin was justified in fearing for his very life. (The fact that Zimmerman left his vehicle with a weapon to pursue Martin -- which violated the rules for Neighborhood Watches -- would have provided additional, ironclad evidence that Zimmerman was up to no good.)

The Zimmerman standard will be used by many more Floridians, as the case has done nothing but to ratchet up tensions -- and quite justifiably so. (The law and justice system can't protect a kid walking home who tries to defend himself after being stalked!) A black male walking through Zimmerman's neighborhood, and who knows how many other neighborhoods -- is now quite adequately justified in fearing for his safety. The lesson to homeowners is that if you are inviting a guest or family member to your home, and their "appearance" might arouse the suspicions of the local crime-stoppers, you should first make arrangements to present the guest or family member to the neighborhood watches so that they can become familiar with the person, decreasing the odds that they will be treated as a "suspect."

This, reader, is how life in the United States is continuing to devolve towards the kind of anarchy often exemplified in so-called "third world" countries -- aided and abetted by our own legal system.

Zimmerman was indeed justly acquitted, whether one agrees with the outcome or not. And I do think Obama is overstepping or was in the early days of the case since it has no bearing on his office.

Last evening, I watched one brief Q & A on one channel (CBS Sony?) Whoopy Goldberg and one more black somebody woman were questioned., "Aren't you scared if a black go near you? " Whoppy yelled " :What? I am black. " and it changed to different theme.

MarkGJul. 16, 2013 - 07:00PM JST

Would that be a sexist and racist comment globalwatcher? What's wrong with all women jury? Why is it racially broken down by you?

yabitsJul. 16, 2013 - 07:52PM JST

This trial WAS OVER when all women (5 white, 1 black) were chosen as I predicted.

I think you are wrong

Actually, the jury selection process is a science, and the most important element prior to setting up trial map (strategy) for both sides. There are legal jury consultants who are advising and doing this for living.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_jury_selection

Actually, the jury selection process is a science, and the most important element prior to setting up trial map (strategy) for both sides.

Now that Juror B37 has revealed some of what went on during deliberations, I would like to ask your opinion on the following:

It has been correctly pointed out by several that Florida's stand-your-ground laws were not part of the defense's argument, nor were the details of those laws brought up during the trial. But Juror B37 made it a point to assert that Stand-Your-Ground was indeed brought up in their deliberations and weighed in their verdict.

Do you believe that for a jury to introduce legal points on their own that were not part of the tria,l and use their own conceptions of that law to guide their decision, should cast any questions as to their fairness and impartiality? (Would their introducing Stand-Your-Ground in the final deliberations be more likely to favor Zimmerman, or Martin?)

yabitsJul. 17, 2013 - 07:56AM JST

Very good question, yabit. I cannot answer to your question. See what the US Attorney General will do.

article:

President Barack Obama appealed to Americans for restraint Sunday, after

after his administration sent "community organizers" down to Florida to organize protests and pressure the local government into arresting George Zimmerman.

yabits:

The jury was sequestered and didn't have access to any media discussion of the case. So how was this "pressure" applied? How did this pressure manifest itself?

Through the judge. Did you not see the part where the judge addressed GZ directly, badgering him about whether or not he would testify, instead of asking his attorneys?

Thunderbird2:

Another reason for me to never set foot in America.

I don't understand how the police can allow members of the public to patrol the streets at night armed with guns. It's asking for trouble. Here in the UK neighbourhood watch members only report crimes or suspicious activity... they don't go in like Batman or the Punisher. As for self defence, we're only allowed to use reasonable force... certainly not lethal force.

Another reason for me to never set foot in the UK. What are your violent crime rates again?

RomeoRII:

This is yet another major defeat for Obama who "acted stupidly" at the outset. Well, done, ladies of the jury, for proving politics and racism does not trump testimony and facts.

Yes, Obama inserted himself into a local legal case and, once again, put his foot in his mouth. And here we thought that was Biden's job. So.... no beer summit this time?

toshiko:

Last evening, I watched one brief Q & A on one channel (CBS Sony?) Whoopy Goldberg and one more black somebody woman were questioned., "Aren't you scared if a black go near you? " Whoppy yelled " :What? I am black. " and it changed to different theme.

Jesse Jackson once admitted that he felt more threatened if he saw a black man walking behind him than a white man.