What's the website address they're getting posted to?

I just wrote the Governor and the Visitor's Bureau and let them know that I shall never visit their state as long and this ignorant law is in existence. Sadly, the legislature probably had good intentions, but they did not count on the racist nut cases in their state. Now, look what happened. I have so loved visiting Alabama where one of my college friends live, but that is not in the plans for me now now will it be as long as this ignorant un-Godly law is in force. I cannot imagine what a hate filled person this guy is to shoot down an unarmed child who was JUST CROSSING his property. This guy needs a looooooooooooooooong time out in the clink for his hate murder.

Living in this sad time of politics without principle, where violence is used to maintain oppression, this sad killing of an innocent young black man is a wake up call for humanity in our nation. Do we here the cries? Do we understand why people are out in the streets, some chanting, some singing, why why occupy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49z3cheFN20

msgfromme

Wow ignorant people dont understand. If a black person kills some one who is not black and is not arrested for it by all means rally.

I am not sure why people get so defensive over others people's right to protest. No one is asking you to protest but at least stop making ignorant comments.

I have to admit some agreement. Investigation, absolutely... and if it turns out that Mr. Zimmerman did something wrong then ABSOLUTELY arrest and prosecute. I'm a little disturbed at how many people have already tried and convicted Zimmerman. We've seen stuff on TV and, yes, it looks fishy... but let justice take its course. We would all want - and are entitled to - the same thing if it was us. Some of this feels like a lynch mob and lynch mobs have been known to be wrong. Cool heads please. Push for justice, yes, but remember what justice is. I will refrain from judging until we see what is found.

The minute Zimmerman got out of his car to pursue Martin, against the directions of the police 911 dispatcher, he lot all right to claim self defense or apply the "stand your ground" law to this situation. What we have here is a racist vigilante with an itchy trigger finger who wanted to shoot someone. All doubts about this being racially motivated are removed by the numerous 911 calls Zimmerman had made previously reporting on suspicious blacks in his neighborhood, never calling in to report suspicious whites or hispanics. Zimmerman was clearly the aggressor here and there is no way he can claim self defense under the stand your ground law. Even if there were a confrontation, there is no way that Zimmerman can claim that he feared for his life when he is considerably taller and at least 40 pounds heavier than this kid. Zimmerman should be immediately arrested, charged with second degree murder with a hate crime enhancement, and bound over for trial. There is absolutely no justification for this piece of @!$%# hunting down and shooting this unarmed kid who was simply walking home from the 7-11.

msgfromme – if you haven’t notice or listen to anything other than your own voice…ppl are protesting and bring awareness to this cause so that it can go to trial! I can’t believe in a situation like this you have decided to look past what and why everyone is in arms about. And for the type of injustice as this, you should be asking yourself why there are not more “non black” people demanding justice.
Did you so quickly forget that it has already been a month since his death. If it wasn’t for the voices of the community and other americans, do you actually think anything would’ve been done this month, next month, next year???
I’m so thankful for ppl that push to release evidence and bring this case to national attention. I hope justice is served in this case and along with justice for the boy…I hope the police department goes under full investigation. There’s no telling how many cases this department is foolishly closed the books on.

DONE and DONE! We are Trayvon

msgfromme

Yes... and the next time a black person kills someone that is not black, lets all rally for justice also... Hold on, I have to work sometime, I would be at a rally half my life... Bad idea!

he was an UNARMED CHILD - that alone should be enough to protest and raise awareness. K - If George Z was a Black American too but we were in the same situation with the "stand your ground law," you bet people would still be protesting... Or if both parties were white.. The race crime (yes it is a race crime since he used derogatory terms on 911) just makes it that much worse... a CHILD is dead, please think before you say comments such as yours... thanks

I don't thnk nieghborhood watch should be chasing after suspicious persons or arm themselves with guns. They should "watch the nieghborhood" and if anything happens, call the police and be observant but do not chase after people, that is the job of the police.

Two things though. Zinnerman was hispanic. Two, the specific details of what happened right before the shots were fired are not known are not known. I think the stand your ground law is fine. I think people have the right to protect themselves. Unfortunatly with laws like this, you have things like this happen on occasion. it does not mean it is a bad law, it just means that not everyone is responsible enough to own a firearm. I am sure zinnerman knows he made a terrible mistake, but with guns, there is no fixing the mistake. I think more needs to be done to educate people on how to be a responsible gun owner rather than make this a giant racial issue.

msgfromme

Hakstarr... Not ignorant, just tired of the racist crap from the other side. The fact is, it is the police who decide who to arrest, and it is supposed to be based upon evidence. This case already has a second law enforcement looking into the facts and a grand jury... Just because he was 17 and black, does not mean that he was wrongfully shot under the law.

It is not up to the black community to decide who should be arrested or not, but by all means.... march on... or wait to see what the FBi finds? Your choice I suppose.

msgfromme,

You grossly contradict yourself.

You whine that you are tired of all this "racist crap." However, your "posts" spew hatred and racism.

At best, you are ignorant and naive. At worse, knowingly, you are defending a racist system that justifies the killing of an innocent African-American child. If gun owners in this country have the right to kill another person because the gun owner "thinks" that "that" person might be up to "something," for sure, this country's murder rate will become stratospheric!

You should be keenly aware that there are racists sympathizers among some cops.

Because of what he thought about Trayvon, Zimmerman did not have the right to explosively murder him. This killer has an empty soul. His inner "core" drips with venom. Zimmerman has pathologically categorized certain racial segments of our population as expendable.

On February 26, 2012, this arrogant "man," unilaterally decided that Trayvon Martin should die.

It is not up to the black community to decide who should be arrested or not

It is not up to self-styled vigilante's such as Zimmerman to decide who should live and who should die.

but by all means.... march on

The 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives Americans the right to - "march."

This case already has a second law enforcement looking into the facts and a grand jury

Hopefully, the U.S. Department of Justice will nail Zimmerman.

If the above justice for Trayvon should prevail, at least Zimmerman will not be packing more pistols and guns.

Before you all go ballistic read the latest FBI reports on murders. Over 10,000 black people were murdered. Of the 10,000 black people murdered 93% were killed by other black people.

14% of the white people are killed by blacks. Blacks make up 18% of the population. You do the math.

Now listen to what Jesse Jackson a black leader has to say!

"There is nothing more painful to me at this stage in my life than to walk down the street and hear footsteps and start thinking about robbery then look around and see somebody white and feel relieved."

Then you review how blacks vote, not by issues but by skin color. 96% of the blacks voted for Obama. 41% of the whites voted for Obama.

Is anyone getting the picture out there?

75% of the prisoners in jail are black. Yet blacks make up only 18% of the population.

http ://www.centerforhealthandjustice.org/FOJ%2011-10.pdf

If Jesse Jackson is afraid to walk in a black community, it makes sense for a Hispanic to be afraid of what a black might do in a gated community.

mhp-2568198 I am sick and tired of hearing he was "ONLY A CHILD"! My car was stripped, tires, air bags, anything they could get their hands on and by the time the police were called only two were caught 13 and 14 black children. Are black children more precocious that they learn at an earlier age how to steal and cause injury? The leader who drove the van could have been a child and the two who jacked the car up and stole the hub caps, wheels, cd, electronic gadgets and airbags left the car such a mess, it was a write off. Fortunately the van took off like a bat out of hell and left the two "CHILDREN" to hide in the bushes. They will get a slap on the wrists and sealed records. I no longer go to court and sit the whole day waiting for the case to be called. The last time, I complained that the "LITTLE KIDDIES" got off with community service, and complained, the judge threatened me with contempt of court!

You tell me why the blacks can't behave themselves like the Japanese and the Chinese! The Japanese had all their property and possessions taken during wwII. The Chinese were treated like animals for years before and after the building of the transcontinental railroad. Both races were put on the do not allow in the U.S. immigration black list. Yet today, they are models of U.S. society.

Why can't blacks emulate the Japanese and Chinese. They have shown through the Urban Prep Charter Academy they are intellectually equal?

The race crime (yes it is a race crime since he used derogatory terms on 911) just makes it that much worse... a CHILD is dead, please think before you say comments such as yours... thanks

That's the problem mhp. They don't think. They wouldn't be saying crap if it was someone close to them which is why I believe they only way ignorant people like MSG will understand is when one of those close to them gets murdered and they fight for justice of their loved one. That's when you administer a taste of their own medicine. Case in point I would react like this:

lets all rally for justice [for MSG's loved one] also... Hold on, I have to work sometime, I would be at a rally half my life... Bad idea!

I bet then work will be the last thing on their mind. But for work, when it comes to MSG, it would be the first thing on my mind because someone like them I really could care less for.

Until then, they'll remain stupid, ignorant and nothing but the waste on this planet.

WHY ISN'T our Community Organizer in Chief (POTUS) OBAMA speaking out about this???

I suppose he will jump on board when it becomes clear to him that this could get him Votes?!!

If I were in his place I would have ordered an INVESTIGATION of this within one day of it's occurrence and kept the PRESSURE on until ANSWERS AND JUSTICE were obtained.

I'm sure he will speak out as soon as he decides it it EXPEDITIOUS for him to do so. His LACK of IMMEDIATE RESPONSE while the nation and Trayvon's parents suffer SPEAKS VOLUMES.

Florida . . . you comment reflects much of what is wrong with the world.

Based on YOUR LOGIC: all black kids are bad because you say some stripped your car, all white people are prejudice because you and your comments likely are, this shooter is Hispanic, therefore, they are violent towards African Americans.

This (very) young man lost his LIFE, you lost your car. There is a BIG Difference. Don't let your prejudice and bigotry prevent you from seeing that.

It's unfortunate that MSNBC continues to make political hay by irresponsibly linking the SYG posture to an aggressive act which has no defensive status.

Yes... and the next time a black person kills someone that is not black, lets all rally for justice also... Hold on, I have to work sometime, I would be at a rally half my life... Bad idea!

What people like yourself continually fail to realize is that the outrage is not primarily over the racial aspect of this incident, but it's over the fact that the murderer IS STILL FREE and that this would have been UNDER THE RUG if it wasn't for the public outcry.

You get it yet?

Laura Ingrahm on her radio show harped on and on about the 'moral equivalency' of this and the case where 3 black kids set a 1white kid on fire... obviously a despicable act of hate. but what she kept outright ignoring was that those 3 black kids WERE ARRESTED IMMEDIATELY AND ARE CHARGED WITH THE ASSAULT.

See the difference yet? Do you? Try harder....



WHY ISN'T our Community Organizer in Chief (POTUS) OBAMA speaking out about this???

Why, so you can complain about him playing the race card? Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't with you people.

And for the type of injustice as this, you should be asking yourself why there are not more “non black” people demanding justice.

There are a lot of non-black people demanding justice for Trayvon. It just works better for the media if they continue to enforce the concept of racial divide.

Samantha Leigh Hamilton, an auto-dealership employee who has lived on Zimmerman's street for about a year, said that she once left her garage door up and Zimmerman noticed it while out walking his dog. He notified another neighbor, who let Hamilton know.

"The only impression I have of George Zimmerman is a good one," Hamilton said Wednesday.

Hamilton said another neighbor, a black woman, would regularly inform Zimmerman when she was out of town so that he could keep an eye on her place. Hamilton said that when she moved into the middle-class, racially mixed community of about 250 identical townhouses, the black neighbor told her, "Hey, if you need anything, you picked a really good area, since George is part of our neighborhood watch."

"George is a congenial, amiable, admirable person. He had a passion and a care for this neighborhood to ensure the safety of everybody here. And, furthermore, George is no Rambo." ~ Frank Taaffe, neighbor

Unfortunate this happened and tragic. However, I have a question. Where are all the protests for all the innocent persons gunned down in the inner cities that occur everyday? Just wondering.

Shuklack

What people like yourself continually fail to realize is that the outrage is not primarily over the racial aspect of this incident, but it's over the fact that the murderer IS STILL FREE...

Maybe he's still free because the police on the scene, the ones who took the report, saw the wounds on Zimmerman's face and head, saw evidence of a struggle or assault (grass stains on Zimmerman's back, depressions in the grass) and concluded that he was assaulted and acted in self defense.

Instead of jumping on the liberal media's bandwagon, reacting to selective reporting, perhaps you'll take the time to collect some facts, instead of reacting emotionally. Calling someone a "murder" just because someone was killed is in proper.

You get it yet?

.

This F-in story breaks my heart. My son does the very same thing all the time, goes to the local store for an ice tea and candy. On cool days he wears a hoodie. I can't help but think this could be any of our sons who got attacked by this criminal who felt he had open season to shoot a black kid. Prosecute this guy already.

Rick, you can take your argument on other cases elsewhere. People die every day for one reason or another. What's that got to do with this murder? You are detracting attention from this very serious case.

Wear a "Hoodie" as in "a Hood" as in slang for "thug or criminal"

There is a reason why people in business suits are not gunned down.

If you dress like a "Hood" so the video cameras cannot see your face then you will be more suspect than someone who dresses respectably.

Also, most people that drop to the ground and lie on their stomachs are generally not shot, tazed, or beaten by the police. I have done this and it works. You may be detained, you may sit in the squad car for a bit - but you will be alive tomorrow.

People who just shut up generally get a warning or searched and let go. People that mouth off cause their own trouble.

Why doesn't the community encourage their youth to dress more respectably? Why does popular music encourage the "thug life"? Look inward if you want to find out why Treyvon was shot. Chances are you contributed more than you think.

What's more important - winning the argument with a guy holding a gun or being alive?

Yes... and the next time a black person kills someone that is not black, lets all rally for justice also... Hold on, I have to work sometime, I would be at a rally half my life... Bad idea!

stupid post. The next time a black person kills someone that is not black, I bet the police will actually investigate and quite possibly throw the black person in jail. Shocking... I know...

"George is a congenial, amiable, admirable person. He had a passion and a care for this neighborhood to ensure the safety of everybody here. And, furthermore, George is no Rambo." ~ Frank Taaffe, neighbor

What's your point Freedman1? Just because he was a nice neighbor, does that make him incapable of manslaughter? I hear, from statements by people who knew Trayvon in passing that he was a nice guy too!

I can't believe your still on these boards after several days defending Zimmerman and claiming his actions were justified. Hell, the AUTHOR of the "stand your ground" law has an article over on FOX NEWS claiming that self-defense doesn't apply here (http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/03/21/trayvon-martins-alleged-attacker-not-covered-under-law-wrote/#content).

Let me repeat that. The AUTHOR of the damn bill that Zimmerman is hiding behind doesn't think it applies, and it was printed on Fox News, a 'news' site that has basically done their best to ignore this story as long as possible.

In addition, those defending Zimmerman seem to feel very strongly in the concept of self-defense and "stand your ground," yet they have steadfastly REFUSED to apply those same standards to Trayvon Martin. This is why I don't care who took a swing at whom first. Zimmerman pursued Martin, following him into dark backyards. If Martin felt threatened, as he clearly did, that's criminal harassment at best, assault at worst. So what if Martin took the first swing at Zimmerman, he felt threatened by the much larger shifty man following him on a dark rainy night. Does Martin not get the benefit of self-defense? Is he not allowed to "stand his ground" too?

The facts of this case are pretty damn clear, and if there is any justice in the world the truth will come out. If Zimmerman swung at Martin first (which they'll never be able to prove cause the Sanford PD did such a @!$%#ty job investigating this), this is Murder. If Martin swung at Zimmerman first (and honestly, this scenario IS more likely), this is manslaughter. Period. End of discussion.

Semaj

This law is exactly why the NRA sucks. No one stopped to think how their laws would be grossly abused like this?

This is also the more reason why we can't elect anymore Republicans to Congress, since they're STILL passing bull@!$%# laws to put people in danger.

In my opinion what a stupid comment. I take you are one of the people that vote strictly for the "D" no matter what the issue is. If the "D" follows the persons name you vote yes. Crazy!

So what if Zimmerman was a democrat and he only voted for the "D"? Or how about Trayvon and his parents, what if they were members of the NRA and were also republican. Have you ever thought about that?

Not all republicans are bad and not all democrats are good. Have you ever thought to read about the NRA and what it is they stand for and not from a news source and what they want you to believe, but from the NRA themselves?

I am a 47 year old 5 ft. tall 105 lb woman and a "single" mom. I am a member of the NRA and I am not a republican or a democrat I am an independent thinker and voter. I own guns, yes guns not a gun. I do not walk around packing heat, I never have and never will.

Wear a "Hoodie" as in "a Hood" as in slang for "thug or criminal"

wrong. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hood).

Origin of "hood":

Middle English, from Old English hōd; akin to Old High German huot head covering, huota guard
First Known Use: before 12th century

Origin of "hoodlum" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoodlum)

perhaps from German dialect (Swabia) hudelum disorderly
First Known Use: 1871

Besides, wearing a hooded sweatshirt on a dark rainy night (it was Feb. 26th mind you, even in florida it can get chilly in February) does not automatically make one a "hoodlum" and henceforth a "thug" or "criminal," and it certainly does not mean you're automatically committing a crime and are worthy of being gunned down.

If that's so, someone should alert our local universities, they sell all kinds of hooded sweatshirts at their university bookstore, we wouldn't want those violent students to get gunned down in between classes!

DrowningGrover, thanks. I considered his comment to dumb to even reply to. Thanks for having more patience than me.. :)

florida2319

Before you all go ballistic...

florida,

Your "stats" are errant and your perspective is grossly skewed.

The killing of Trayvon is a time for indignation.

Change.org has already collected over 500,000 signatures demanding justice for Trayvon.

You speak about crime.

You should know that unfortunately, annually, over 25,000 of our citizens fall victim to violence.

The crime statistics on violence affect, and reflect, the dynamics of peoples from all ethnicities and races.

If there is more "violence" in the African American community, it is due to the social fragmentation in the African-American community, longstandingly which has been caused and still is caused by racism. As a society, you should think about how we define violence. Wall Street and the other corporate conglomerates engaged in massive "economic violence." Yet, irrationally, there is debate about whether these entities even committed any "crimes."

14% of the white people are killed by blacks. Blacks make up 18% of the population.

How many blacks are killed by Caucasians?

Black make up 12% of the population, not 18%.

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html

Here is a statement by Jesse Jackson that you should carry around with you:

“Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up.”

Then you review how blacks vote, not by issues but by skin color. 96% of the blacks voted for Obama, 41% of the whites voted for Obama.

Statistics prove that many people vote along racial, ethnic, economic and religous lines.

The above fact is not news and voting patterns are seen in all communities.

Here is the data:

43% of Caucasians voted for Obama; With pride, 95% of African Americans voted for Obama.

The people that voted for President Obama did not commit a crime.

McCain, received 55% of the White vote

American citizens can vote for the candidate of their choice.

75% of the prisoners in jail are black. Yet blacks make up only 18% of the population.

Again, you are terribly incorrect.

African Americans make up 35-40% of the prison population. Blacks are 12% of the U.S. population.

The criminal justice statistics are unjust. Unfairly, people of color are targeted for incarceration.

You will find the prisons filled with African Americans, Latinos and poor Caucasians.

The Wall Street debacle confirms the lack of prosecution for persons considered elite.

it makes sense for a Hispanic to be afraid

It does not make sense for anyone to be afraid of a 17 year old child walking home from a candy store.

I apologize to DrowningGrover since in all his/her years on this earth they have never heard the term "Hood" used outside of the middle ages or 19th century Germany.

p.s. I would not even comment on this issue as your very pseudonym suggests violence against unarmed muppets.

17 is NOT a child - I joined the Navy at that age. But this shooting is so wrong for so many reasons....

I apologize to DrowningGrover since in all his/her years on this earth they have never heard the term "Hood" used outside of the middle ages or 19th century Germany.

I wasn't the one insinuating that anyone wearing a hoodie was a thug or criminal, you were, nor was I the one insinuating that it's ok to gun someone down because of the way they are dressed, again, you were.

p.s. I would not even comment on this issue as your very pseudonym suggests violence against unarmed muppets.

:sigh:

Oh look, violent people, someone gun them down!!

http://cache.heraldinteractive.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/belichick-hoodie.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1tSl-uIA4O4/SRchSo4IvEI/AAAAAAAAA3s/60NPbYFSIq0/s1600-h/s-CASUAL-large.jpg

http://iris.backcountry.com/image/view/30596/440/440

http://www.thepet-boutique.com/images/DogClothes/Sweaters/hoodiesweatshirt.jpg

Apparently, you were too tired to read the rest of my comments as they are there to prevent future tragedies.

Your comments however do not add anything to the discussion and do not solve anything.

If you are not solving the problem you are part of the problem.

Old_Squid

17 is NOT a child

Old_Squid,

Seventeen year olds are legal minors.

They are not adults.

Steve00stupid you're an idiot. "

Wear a "Hoodie" as in "a Hood" as in slang for "thug or criminal"

There is a reason why people in business suits are not gunned down.

If you dress like a "Hood" so the video cameras cannot see your face then you will be more

suspect than someone who dresses respectably." your words, not mine and not Grover.

A hoodie refers to the fact that a sweatshirt has a hood on it. I own 5, and wear them, sometimes with the hood up....OMG I am a gangster.. yay me. My sons own them too, even the Marine, and guess who gave him his... come on give it a guess... that would be our illustrious government, see they give them to soldiers to wear for PT if it is rainy or cold.. This kid was an A student, he was into sports, and he was 17. Go listen to all the 911 calls and all the neighbor's interviews, you may learn something. PS. this goes for you to Freedman.... try research.

Not one person has mentioned Zimmermans' injuries....uhm. You can't ignore the fact that he was attacked and witnesses saw this happen. You people just live in your own little world uh? All I can say is where were all you guys during the O.J. Simpson case?

Whats the big deal??

One less gangbanger punk on the streets. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

Zimmie should get a medal, and a huge cash bounty.

the officers had no reason to doubt his claim of self defense until the 9-11 tapes were considered which would not have been at the scene, hopefully they arrest him soon but recklessly arresting and trying him with little evidence to combat his story not only would have been unlawful but would have made it more likely that he would have been acquitted and then immune to prosecution, zimmerman is a murderer but dont drag the officers under the bus too for doing their job the right way.

Sanford PD...witness tampering...check

failure to follow up with witnesses who contradicted zimmerman...check

failure to follow up with cell phone records...check

Other police chiefs from around the country are saying that Sanford PD botched the investigation. Why are you defending them?

Jackofspade

The only problem there is that the witnesses kept saying they heard a boy calling for help. The officer kept correcting them saying no it was zimmerman. They had reason to believe that it was not in self defense but they chose to ignore it.

They had reason to believe that it was not in self defense but they chose to ignore it.

That and they didn't bother to follow up on anything. They didn't even give Zimmerman a drug and alcohol screening as is standard procedure for ALL homicides (justified or not).

Actually, witnesses say it was Zimmerman on the ground screaming for help as young Trayvon was pummeling him. When police arrived at the scene, Zimmerman was bleeding from the back of the head, had grass and blood stains on his back, and a bloody nose.

The initial investigation supports the contention that Zimmerman was attacked from behind as he was attempting to enter his vehicle to await arrival of police. A second investigation is underway.

It's seems to me that MSNBC and the rest of the media are trying to influence the news to support a liberal agenda the writers and editors have, that being Gun Control.

There's been little reporting on the facts in this case, but much speculation. The hyperbole of the story is characterized by the headline "Hundreds march in support of Trayvon Martin family" and an associated report of "Outrage across the US" are irresponsible. Making claims like Marting was "pursued and shot... because the teenager's hoodie made him look suspicious" is despicable and simply race baiting. If there's outrage across the US, it's because of the biased reporting of the main stream media, trying to whip up a frenzied to support their liberal policies. If you recall, most reports initially called Zimmerman white. Why let facts get in the way of a story that can advance an agenda?

Where in the story does it mention that Zimmerman was assaulted, a fact reportedly determined by the Standford Police, due to the wounds on Zimmerman's head and face"? I suppose that if the facts support Zimmerman, that Martin did assault him and Zimmerman shot Martin as a result, then MSNBC wouldn't be able to fan the flames of gun control.

Isn't it odd that MSNBC hasn't paid much attention to the dozens of people murdered in Chicago over the weekend. Seems like when blacks kill blacks, it's not a provocative story. It's more dangerous to live in Chicago than serve in Afghanistan now days but where's the reporting on that?

.

Sanford PD...witness tampering...check

failure to follow up with witnesses who contradicted zimmerman...check

failure to follow up with cell phone records...check

failure to administer a drug/alcohol test on the shooter... check

failure to alert the parents of the deceased in a timely manner... check

failure to perform a background search of the shooter... check

The list goes on and on.

Hell, Zimmerman's OWN 911 call DIRECTLY contradicts his stupid story about "getting out of his vehicle to check a street sign" as he admits to following Martin on foot, and the police can't even figure it out.

Sanford PD = Keystone Cops, the botched this investigation horribly. On the nightly news last night, the reporter was at the Retreat at Twin Lakes and showed crime scene investigators collecting evidence at the scene of the crime. I thought to myself, "good god, this crime happened on Feb. 26th, and they're JUST NOW collecting evidence at the damn scene?!?" They should have been there on monday Feb 27th performing this task, not 3 weeks later. Holy crap....

Isn't it odd that MSNBC hasn't paid much attention to the dozens of people murdered in Chicago over the weekend. Seems like when blacks kill blacks, it's not a provocative story.

nonsense. This story has garnered so much attention because the Sanford police had steadfastly refused to conduct any sort of reasonable investigation. THAT'S why this story is important and THAT'S why it's attracted lots of attention nationally. Police are likely investigating the crimes in Chicago, so they have NOTHING in common with this story.

It's more dangerous to live in Chicago than serve in Afghanistan now days but where's the reporting on that?

Total BS, I hate when people say crap like this. It's myopic and completely false. Does Chicago have a "green zone," and military check points one has to move through to go about their day to day business? Does Chicago have a curfew in effect after dark? Does Chicago have IED's going off on nearly every roadside when people move about, and terrorist blowing up car bombs in the marketplace? Hell no. Afghanistan is on lockdown, and ask the Afghani's how safe they feel!

To think that an American city is safer than Afghanistan is laughable and you should be ashamed of yourself for insinuating as much.

Did he not sound like he was slurring a little on the 911 call? To me I think he was. Sounding almost drowsy.

DrowningGrover:

Does Chicago have a "green zone," and military check points one has to move through to go about their day to day business?

Sorry, you must be mistaking Iraq (i.e., Green Zone) with Afghanistan. But then again, why should you be a inconvenianced with something like facts, when you can say whatever you think it true, and the feeble MSNBC/DNC sheep will believe it.

So far in 2012, 100 people have been murdered in Chicago compared to 41 deaths of members of the Armed Forces in Afghanistan (some of which were accidents, not combat related). 17 people were murdered in Chicago just this past weekend, but I don't recall hearing about a 1,000,000 Person Chicago Victim March anywhere in MSNBC or a Dept. of Justice probe by Eric Holder.

http://homicides.redeyechicago.com/

http://icasualties.org/oef/ByTheatre.aspx

DrowningGrover, You're entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts!

.

Sorry, you must be mistaking Iraq (i.e., Green Zone) with Afghanistan. But then again, why should you be a inconvenianced with something like facts, when you can say whatever you think it true, and the feeble MSNBC/DNC sheep will believe it.

Yes, I know the "green zone" is in Iraq, I was trying to make a larger point that Chicago is MOST CERTAINLY safer than Afghanistan (and it is).

Let's break it down.

Per the link you provided, Chicago homicides this year reached 100 on March 21st or so and that's alarming fast (according to the article). Let's say there is no other homicide until April 1sts, therefore we see 100 homicides in 3 months, or roughly 400 homicides per year.

Chicago population = 2.9 million in 2010 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Chicago). It's probably more now, but lets use the low-side estimate.

400 homicides per year / 2.9 million people = 0.14 homicides PER 1,000 people PER year.

-----------

Now let's do Afghanistan. First casualty (per your link) 11-25-2001, latest casualty 3-15-2012. We've been there roughly 10.33 years, but lets round DOWN and just say 10 years for arguments sake.

1825 casualties in 10 years = 182.5 per year. Troop levels are at a high right now of 98,000 troops, but lets round UP to 100,000 for easy math (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/7762893/US-troops-in-Afghanistan-surpass-number-in-Iraq.html)

Anywya, 182.5 casualties per year / 100,000 troops = 1.825 killed PER 1,000 troops PER year.

You are 13 times more likely to die in Afghanistan than Chicago per the information YOU provided. And lets not forget they were body armor, drive around in armored trucks, and carry assault rifles.

DrowningGrover, You're entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts!

Indeed

Actually the witnesses did not say Zimmerman was screaming for help. Go Watch The Interviews on Youtube.. it's not complicated.

In fact one witness states that the police kept trying to change her story.

Another says they believe that Zimmerman confronted the kid, the kid pushed him down and tried to leave, (this is when he supposedly hit the back of his head) and then Zimmerman got up and grabbed the kid again instigating the fight where he got his butt handed to him by a 17 year old who weighed approximately half of what Zimmerman weighed. Zimmerman got pissed and shot the kid.

ONCE AGAIN you can hear it from the witnesses, they speak straight out about it on youtube.

what is theory on Zimmerman's injuries....I mean the kid did nothing wrong right?

To: TFNJ - they slowed the tape down to make it clearer idiot.

I know you are in midst arguing with everyone and on a roll, but there was no need for the idiot remark. To make matters worse for you, I was speaking of the regular 911 call, not the one they slowed down to listen to the slur. Hmmmm

Had Zimmerman been a black man, this would not be getting as much attention.

"Had Zimmerman been a black man, this would not be getting as much attention"

Of course not, because he'd be in prison and charged with murder from day 1. This is national news because the Sanford PD provided cover-up to what it seems like a murder.

stopbeingdum interesting name.

"...lord help us if a black kid is "offended" or hurt"

He is dead. DEAD!

and yes, lord help us. There is no undoing that, you see. So if you are going to END someone's life

you better be damm sure they deserve it. Damm sure!

Trayvon did not deserve it. Period. From 911-clearly pursued against police issues by an armed man. Him unarmed, now dead.

that's enough for most people to be AT LEAST taken INTO THE STATION for questioning!!!

That even that did not happen sparked suspicion, which turns to outrage when we listen to the 911 tapes where we see the shooter JUDGE the teen as as guilty "these @!$%#s always get away" and "F-ing COON!"--I heard it with my own ears. IF you have not you have not equipped yourself fully for this conversation like many people here. There is more to this case than you obviously know.

stopbeingdumn

no you are absolutely wrong.

had zimmerman killed a white kid, noone would care because you people are racist hypocrites. You dont care if a white person suffers but lord help us if a black kid is "offended" or hurt.

had zimmerman killed a white kid, noone of these "black" people who are hypocrites by the way, would be out protesting.

An INNOCENT child has been murdered... get it?

I think the people who are focusing on "if Zimmerman had been black" and "if Treyvon had been white" are completely missing the point of why everyone is so angry and why this has had so much attention. The problem is, a teenager who was unarmed and not really suspicious in appearance was confronted and subsequently shot dead by an adult who was seemed to have a control issue. ( the fact that it was a "gated community" is irrelevant) Further, the issue is that the shooter was not arrested and remains at large even now although there are still grave concerns regarding the applicability of Zimmermans defense.

That even that did not happen sparked suspicion, which turns to outrage when we listen to the 911 tapes where we see the shooter JUDGE the teen as as guilty "these @!$%#s always get away" and "F-ing COON!"--I heard it with my own ears.

To be fair, i'm about 99.999% certain Zimmerman DID NOT say "F'ing coon" on the 911 tape. I've listened to it many times (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4LBIm-Crt0, at 0:09 seconds) and he pretty clearly says "punks" not "coons."

Not that it would really matter, he's still guilty of manslaughter (they'll never prove murder unfortunately).

Had Zimmerman been a black man, this would not be getting as much attention.

you're correct. Because the Sanford PD would likely have done a thorough investigation and throw him in jail awaiting trial. The outrage here is not because someone killed a black kid, the outrage is because someone killed a black kid, the evidence clearly points out he was aggressively pursuing said black kid, and the cops let him walk with a donut and a smile...

I tend to not really care about any issue where a Black Muslim Militant group puts a bounty on the head of the alleged shooter. This makes the black community look bad, especially when you call it a "Million Hoodie March". Could it get any more ridiculous?

Thugs run around in hoodies, doesn't matter color they are. There is no legitimate reason to have a hood up in the middle of Florida at the start of spring unless you are trying to hide your face. It doesn't matter what color the the kid was or the shooter, people are making this about race.

This story is getting a lot of undue press, probably to take our minds off the soldier in Afhganistan who killed all those people.

I grew about 30 years after segregation and have never understood all this whining that young black people do. It's not like Kanye West ever had to ride on the back of a bus. Now they try to make every issue about racism. It's no secret that black men dress like thugs because it looks cool. If I dressed like a Klansman in the middle of Harlem I guess I would expect to be treated unfairly as well. At some point the black community needs to take responsibility for the bad image the younger generation have given them. And before anybody says that he shouldn't be viewed as suspicious because he was a young black kid wearing a hoodie with his pants around his ass, what if you were on an airplane with a bunch of middle eastern looking men wearing turbans with long beards? Would you be worried? Of course you would because only an idiot or a liar would say they are not. I'm sure other black people are just as nervous as anybody else around young black men who dress a certain way. There is a difference between being racist and cautious, and if you can't see that you probably think I'm a white devil anyway.

Everybody thinks it, nobody says it. Wouldn't want to appear racist now would we?

Thugs run around in hoodies, doesn't matter color they are. There is no legitimate reason to have a hood up in the middle of Florida at the start of spring unless you are trying to hide your face. It doesn't matter what color the the kid was or the shooter, people are making this about race.

Um, it was Feb 26th at nighttime, and raining. Average nighttime low in Sanford, FL in February, 51 degrees (http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/32771). Definitely cold enough for a sweatshirt.

It's no secret that black men dress like thugs because it looks cool.

not just black thugs!! Check these violent offenders out!

http://cache.heraldinteractive.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/belichick-hoodie.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1tSl-uIA4O4/SRchSo4IvEI/AAAAAAAAA3s/60NPbYFSIq0/s1600-h/s-CASUAL-large.jpg

http://iris.backcountry.com/image/view/30596/440/440

http://www.thepet-boutique.com/images/DogClothes/Sweaters/hoodiesweatshirt.jpg

The Stand Your Ground law allows citizens to defend themselves if attacked. It does NOT allow a citizen to instigate a confrontation and then shoot someone "in self defense." Zimmerman instigated this. Martin was just walking home. Zimmerman was on neighborhood watch. He reported a "suspicious person." All he had to do was stay in his car and wait for the police. He chose to get out, chose to pursue Martin and confront him with a gun.

Look at it from Martin's perspective. He's walking home from the 7-11. A suspicious looking character starts tailing him, driving slowly along the street behind him. Martin starts walking faster. The guy gets out of the car and comes after him. He has a gun. What would you do?

The problem is that there are witnesses who saw Zimmerman being pummeled by young Trayvon, and screaming out for help. When police arrived, Zimmerman was bleeding from the back of the head, had blood and grass stains on his back, and a bloody nose.

The initial investigation supports the contention that Zimmerman was attacked from behind while he was attempting to enter his vehicle to await police.

I'm about to "stand my ground" and eliminate filth like Zimmerman from the general public. Can someone say "citizen imposed death penalty"?

Yes, and obviously Sanford FL police approved murder. They appear to be just as guilty.

The problem is that there are witnesses who saw Zimmerman being pummeled by young Trayvon, and screaming out for help.

no, there is one witness "John" who refused to give his last name (in a Fox News interview) who NOW (almost 4 weeks after the crime) says that Zimmerman was being pummeled yet neglected to mention this in his own 911 call at the time of the incident.

The initial investigation supports the contention that Zimmerman was attacked from behind while he was attempting to enter his vehicle to await police.

Also nonsense. If Zimmerman was attacked while attempting to enter his vehicle, then why was the body not near Zimmerman's vehicle but rather off the street in some backyards? Why, when witnesses called 911, did they report "two men wrestling on their backporch" (listen to the 911 calls).

If Zimmerman truly got out of his truck to check a streetsign and got jumped getting back in, why was the fight so far from his truck and the street? A blind man can see through that excuse.

Freedman that is what the officer said not the witness, she is on youtube with a news crew stating that the officer tried to get her to change her statement multiple times and then proceeded to write what he wanted. GO LOOK.

If the cops grab you and charged you with a murder you did not commit. Oh yeah the cops are right, why bother with a trial and just let them shoot you to death. This was an obvious murder, the outrage is that the cops had done nothing.

Would you let it go if Zimmerman killed your child? Your cavalier attitude is frightening. There are plenty of silly laws on the books but that doesn't mean we use them to kill an iced tea drinking, skittles eating child in his own neighborhood. I hope the community collapses your stupid comment.

Yes, if the police say it was just we should all just believe them. C'mon, were you born yesterday? Their actions are the reason the Department of Justice has waded in. The police are not the higher authority here any longer, so get with the program.

People like you are the reason why injustice runs rampant in America. You never ask questions. You believe everything your told. And never stand for anything, so you fall for everything.

It's cold blooded murder. With a police wannabe. Justice will be served. One way or the other.

Strap in folks. This is only the beginning.

Do you have the ability to think for yourself, or not? I'm sure Hitler and the Khmer Rough told the soldiers in their army that "killing your own kind for the advancement of a few is perfectly OK", but it still doesn't free your soul...Unless of course you are so mentally challenged you cannot differenciate right from wrong.

Hitler was an expert a inciting mob mentality. A lot of preachers are also. It does not take a lot of time in a revival tent meeting to have the entire crowd wailing and screaming. Politicians practice it the best they can. News media too want the increased revenue that comes with inciting hysteria.

According to the police, the evidence at the scene supports the contention that Zimmerman was attacked from behind as he was entering his vehicle to wait for police. Another investigation is underway. In America, there is a presumption of innocence accorded to you, and me, and George Zimmerman. Why not wait for the results of the second investigation before joining the stone casting crowd?

He had the hood on because, it was raining.

Robbie.. I read that and I get that... I was talking about the larger issue of hoodies because this has been labeled a hoodie march.

oh, if your cold or wanna look cool and put on your hoodie, you desrerve to be shot LG-267159 ? Why stop there? how about people talking on their cell phone, or wearing headphones? I mean who knows what they are up to. Regardless of anything, you shoot someone you plead your case to the courts NOT the responding officers while you are standing over the body of the UNARMED child you just shot. Neighborhood WATCH means just that.

The murder happened a month ago when the weather was different north and south. The hoodies are in solidarity. I own some hoodies because they are warm in the winter. But I'm white, and in my 50s. The only clothing that I find offensive is pants that fall down below the underwear, but that is not the same thing at all as clothing that keeps one warm on a chilly day.

i honestly have to say the first - 5 paragraphs were borderline racist but your last statment actually made sense.

KatGurl66

If the guy didn't break a law according to the authorities, then he didn't break the law. Period. The police said he acted in accordance with the laws that are on the books, so that's that. Let it go.

The use of the "stand your ground" law in this case is muck!

"Want to be cowboys and want to be cops" will hide behind this "law" for cover.

Without public pressure, reprehensibly the system may hand Zimmerman a sick excuse for his crime.

Yes, yes, yes, we have all heard that Zimmerman is Hispanic.

In cold blood and with evil intent, Zimmerman shot and murdered Trayvon.

Communities of color have enough problems with shootings by the police, that cannot be sensibly justified.

Cases such as this, will only make the flames of hatred in this country worse.

Zimmerman's gun should have been taken away from him.

He needs to be locked up in a jail.

I associate hoodies only with youth...I live in a young (post college) area though I myself am older.

So the more narrow association with gangs is news to me.

The hoodie thing might be due to the fact that in his public photo, he has a hoodie on... Just an EDUCATED guess...Do you always wear flip flops and shorts when the temp is above 80 degress, and if not, why not? Why would you wear long pants/jeans and why restrict your feet when the weather does not require it? Should every black be weary of every white because of what went on 50+ years ago? Then why are you stereotyping? Are you 80+ years old and have an old fashion mentality of things, or are you just not with the program?

Boy I moved here from Canada and we Canadians have a stereo type that white Americans are racist. The many comments I have read on here enforces that stereotype. I feel sickened by this story. What kind of law is that? I just don't understand why a culture would have such a law. It sounds like a law they would have in the Middle East. And for the police not to do a proper investigation is shameful. And by the way, I wear a hoody in the summer. I am a two time skin cancer survivor. Will someone SHOT me if I go to Florida?

And by the way, I wear a hoody in the summer. I am a two time skin cancer survivor. Will someone SHOT me if I go to Florida?

Well Devon it depends. If you're black wearing a hoodie and you're packing heat that is skittles and ice tea, then yup you would so I advise you better duck and dodge like the Matrix.

The kid wore a hoodie because it was February and raining outside. And the protestors chose a "Hoodie"rally to show solidarity because the kid was pictured in one, killed in one, because he was a black kid wearing one, and to draw attention to the problem that ignorant, stereotyping, insecure people are seeing hoodies as an excuse to suspect and murder someone. That's why they chose the hoodie for the rally. And why would you spend all this time saying hoodies invite suspicion, then say the case wasn't about a hoodie? Clearly the hoodie is a big part of this case because the killer (as well as you) use hoodies to identify your criminal suspects with, and both of you make a big deal out of wearing them; most fatally for this innocent kid.

The predominantly white university kids in my town wear hoodies as do AAARP whites because it's casual, cheap, & keeps one warm in air-conditioned places. Why a Hoodies March? Because it's a symbol that Zimmerman stereotyped & profiled.

Suspicion is one thing but to impulsively, aggressively & lethally act on it without basis is another kettle of fish. The law is called "Stand Your Ground"; not "Hunt down and Kill."

My neighborhood watch means exactly that - if something looks suspicious, keep a watchful eye; if someone is hauling a TV out of your neighbor's house, call the police. If someone breaks into my home, my survival instinct is to shoot first & ask questions later.

guess if hoodies weren't associate with street gangs, thieves, and thugs... I would not care.

Hoodies are a gang thing? Lol... you really need to get out more.

Hoodies are a gang thing? Then I guess pretty much every high school and college athlete must be a "gangsta," because they all wear hoodies on many occasions.

Linda, you rasist whatever, why in heck wouldn't they. It's just you that wouldn't, am I right?

You are the person inserting race into this issue. You seem to be upset because "all of the blacks get involved.. Why do seem more upset about all the blacks than a child's murder? What do you mean by "Would they do it for any kid or just this one? Do you mean would "the Blacks" get involved if it was a white kid shot by a black officer. Yes, "the blacks" would get involved.

Linda, "Blacks" and everyone else got involved because the police did NOTHING. Plus this type of shooting rarely happens in the non-minority community. Not being snarky, just explaining.

Answer: because it was the black teen that was targeted by the neighborhood watch, and the police that did nothing. As the NAACP leader said, all the talk about economic equality is not that important, because ignoring the danger that these youths are in is like ignoring an elephant in the room. The protest is not just about this one child, but about the danger that many children face. That is why blacks are protesting, but so are whites, in case you didn't know.

the fact you say 'blacks' is so crazy. this situation affects everyone. look within yourself and admit you have a problem with 'blacks'. GET OVER IT!!! people like you will cheer for 'black sports figures' and then talk crap about 'blacks' in your everyday life.

I'm not black and I am "involved" since the day I first read about this case, 2 weeks ago. Everyone should be involved. I'm actually disappointed that there are so many more black people in those marches, considering they're a minority in this country. Why aren't more white people involved, we might ask. Are you involved by the way?

This shouldn't be about race. It's about a kid who wasn't threatening but was killed unjustly. Why must all of the blacks get involved? Would they do it for any kid or just this one?

Okay time to take you to school........

Shouldn't be about race?!?

When a person has a HISTORY (history meaning, a significant act done in the past) of calling 9-1-1 40,50+ times in the past year and all the calls were about "suspicious BLACK PEPOLE"......

RACE BECOMES A FACTOR.

When a person takes the time to go door to door in their neighborhood alerting each to be on the lookout SPECIFICALLY of BLACK MALES ( because suspicious black males are more dangerous than white burglars or white rapists or white teenagers wearing white hoodies trying to hide crystal meth behind a manicured bush in the yard of your gated community)............

RACE BECOMES A FACTOR!

If a person is heard on a phone with the police, saying under his breath "FU**ING C**NS".....and just in case you need the definition.....

C**N":

noun

1.) Short for Raccoon.

2.) informal, OFFENSIVE, DEROGATORY term referring to an AFRICAN AMERICAN..............

RACE BECOMES A DAMN FACTOR!

Minorities come together because unlike the Laci Peterson, Dru Sjodin, and Chandra Levy's of the world, who's murderers were QUICKLY APPREHENDED and their families were given JUSTICE, murdered minorities NEVER got the same media attention or the same JUSTICE given to those women. If the media wouldn't help spread the word, then it was up to them to do it on their own. If you have a problem with it, too bad because you won't understand it and that's reality when it comes down to the attention of a missing/murdered minority.

I'm not black, and I'm involved Linda.

I am involved, also. My point is that the Sharptons make it into a black situation. If the man who shot him was black, Sharpton wouldn't have been there. He travels the country to keep people stirred up instead of trying to bring people together to help each other.

Without any fanaticism, our justice department needs to throw the book at him. The purpose? To send a message to anybody who just picks off people; heck, Zimmerman isn't any different than a sniper.

A century ago, the detective writer Agatha Christie also got involved solving real cases for the police. She said that murderers, if they get away with their crime, will always repeat it. Perhaps Zimmerman himself won't be so inclined, but the same kind of vigilantes certainly will. The only way to put an end to this kind of behavior is to firmly call it what it is: murder 1, premeditated. At least he deserves life without parole for those actions. This is not trying him in the media, but at least calling for charges to be made, and his lawyer can defend him from such charges.

This is about the only post on this entire page that actually makes real truthful sense. It's true. But...I have to add this, If Blacks in this country where honestly given a fair shake, than they, and other minorities, wouldn't have to resort to crime to make it through life...and the general public wouldn't have reason to fear them when they come walking down the street wearing "hoodies"

Want to fix the gang-banger problem? Hire a Minority youth!, Educate a minority youth! give equality to a minority youth.

And this is the true test of reasoning...If there are more whites than other minorities, then there should be more White crime than minority crime....Again, want to fix the problem in this country? than live by its code - ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL!!!! IF you don't like that sentiment, get out of this country or step aside, and allow everyone a fair shake!!!! a true fair shake.

Violence goes two ways. Black culture glorifies thugs and gangsters, that's true (not that Trayvon did any of that, as far as I know). White culture promotes fear of black since BEFORE THAT. Both sides are at fault for perpetuating the cycle of violence.

That said, nothing of that is really important here. Trayvon was murdered by an apparently racist and deluded self appointed thug. And the murderer was NOT CHARGED WITH ANY CRIME. That's all that matters in this case.

Jimmy

What a good post. I agree people complain about minorities at the same time they dont want to admit that minorities dont get a fair chance. In fact i read a study where they sent out resumes to different companies one resume had a white sounding name and one had a black sounding name. Everything else on the resume was the same except the names. Guess who got the most calls for an interview? thats right the resume with the white sounding name the person with the black sounding name never got a phone call for an interview. i think the percentage was around 85% of the resumes sent out.

I just don't understand the thread (Not just your post) about hoodies and dressing like the bad guys.

He was dressed like MOST KIDS HIS AGE.

the majority of kids black white or green wear tennis/running shoes, jeans, a tee shirt and if it's cool or raining like that night, very often a hoodie.

I associate hoodies with relative YOUTH, not criminality. It might be some association I somehow missed, but maybe some people aren't around teens much? You walk into any Freshman homeroom at least half the boys are dressed identically to this. As a former substitute teacher, I know this is true.

Black culture glorifies thugs and gangsters

I see as many, if not more, white kids posing as thugs and gangsters, and also Hispanic/Latino and Asian kids. It's not "black" culture. It's youth, being rebellious.

I don't know about you, but when I see someone looking/acting "thuglike," it makes me cautious, regardless of what color their skin is.

Just stop right there. That was a stupid response and nothing to do with what I suggested about the hoodie issue. People talking on cell phones are no threat. And I did not suggest people with hoodies should be shot. I addressed the perception created by the hoodie phenomenon. Your comment makes no sense...

LG- Don't know where your from, I lived in Wa state, Ga and now CO, all races wear hoodies, my husband and I wear them, I have them in many colors, I'm 55 years old. My neighbors and their kids, all the kids, walking to school wear them. Zimmerman brought it up on 911 call, it's a way to come together, and show support for the Martin family.

hummbird... I admit its an association with certain elements of society. Where I live, hoodies are not worn by everyone. I suppose its very different here... It's the association factor... I'll leave it at that.

I just don't understand the thread (Not just your post) about hoodies and dressing like the bad guys.

He was dressed like MOST KIDS HIS AGE.

the majority of kids black white or green wear tennis/running shoes, jeans, a tee shirt and if it's cool or raining like that night, very often a hoodie.

I associate hoodies with relative YOUTH, not criminality. It might be some association I somehow missed, but maybe some people aren't around teens much? You walk into any Freshman homeroom at least half the boys are dressed identically to this. As a former substitute teacher, I know this is true.

I have a teen, and he likes wearing a hoodie sometimes. I live in a middle class quiet neighborhood. Does the fact that my teen wears a hoodie make him a "hoodlum"? Its just as rediculous to believe that as Zimmerman believing Martin was a criminal because he was black and wearing a hoodie.

And I am very worried about the division in America that would cause such a miscarriage of justice.

High Noon at the OK corral. Except that the noonday demon (Psalm 91) isn't something that anybody should evoke, for any reason. The police are supposed to be the neighborhood watch, and they are supposed to arrest snipers that kill our teens. When everybody takes a siesta at noon, out come the guns. (Noon is symbolic for inattention in the middle of our lives.)

Huh! I just want people to put away (destroy) their weapons that kill each other, be it a gun, knife, bible, koran, torah, blog, bomb, plane, bat, rope, hate, racism, bigotry, intolerance, drugs, politics and so on and so on yada yada yada.

yeah Rev,

God made hoodies so dudes can know how rape victims feel.

Police did not tell the guy to not pursue....a 911 dispatcher did...they have no legal authority as a cop.

when you call 911 you are calling "the police" or "the fire dept". They are the face, the liason, the spokespeople FOR the police TO a citizen who is calling to a report an emergency

legal authority or not

he called the police because he felt he saw a suspicious person. Yes, he dialed 911 reached dispatcher. Said person said he should not pursue.

I think it matters.

the police would have said the same thing... if they were competant

Anna1973

Police did not tell the guy to not pursue....a 911 dispatcher did...they have no legal authority as a cop

and Zimmerman had no legal authority as a cop!!!!

since you know so much .why did mr. z follow the kid? people can dress as they please. are there laws about how one should dress ? i'm senior live in an upscale town l wear hoodies,sneakers and jeans. so what?

thats the point John. If your child was walking in a predominantly all black neighborhood and was shot by a citizen from that neighborhood for looking "suspicious & out of place", that citizen would be arrested without hesitation...this TYPE of shooting rarely if ever happens to a non-minority child and if it does...whoa nelly, everybody in that area that looks like the bad guy is going to jail...

John- The point is the person that shot your son, would have been arrested immediately, but if he wasn't and there was a police cover-up, people would be marching too! This happened what 3-4 weeks ago, what would you be saying if that was your child? This is an outrage, he was walking down the street, and was targeted, followed cornered and shot!

You are assuming that he would have been arrested, but the basic fact is that if the cops will even go into the neighborhoods, the shooter would be long gone.

However, my comment was about the public outcry, and if you can point out an outcry by whites against an African American wanting to see him lynched, I will drop it. (Other than OJ)

As others pointed out: the outcry and the reason this is national news, is because the police knew who the killer was since minute one, and they decided after a very suspicious "investigation" not to charge him with any crime.

dariopy

I think you misunderstand my point. I in no way am trying to justify what this man may have done. But no, you don't see the same kind of outcry if the situation is reversed.

Last year, MSNBC had two stories running at the same time. A black man on death row for killing a cop, and a white man being put to death for being an accessory in the murder of a black man. Both were executed, but on MSNBC, the story about the black man had over 75 pages crying out that somehow he was innocent, and at the same time the white man had 5 for being an "accessory" wanting him dead. I am simply saying political correctness has gone awry when there isn't even a perception of equal rights.

John I feel angry at the cluelessness in your post, I am sorry to say

I too am White.

You DO have a problem, I agree.

You think it's with 'reverse racism". It may be ALSO. But in this example, it is entirely or additonally a problem, as far as I can tell, of Only being able to see data that supports your prior point of view, and the inability to be open minded.

OR, you just don't get it. I just find that so hard to believe because WHY THEY ARE MARCHING by the thousands is NOT YOUR REASON and that you cannot see ANOTHER reason besides "reverse racism" is SO ASTOUNDING that it's hard for me to fathom.

Then I think, maybe you haven't followed the details of this story as closely as some of us. I breathe, and try to open my mind.

I find in my instances of accusations by Whites of 'reverse racism", it comes before they try to understand (try it on for size, even hypothetically) or try to figure out how it COULD be racist.

SImply, in this case the protests Are Not Because I Black Boy (as opposed to a White) was shot. They are protesting the DIFFERENT TREATMENT of the SHOOTER of a BLACK BOY than they imagine a Shooter of a WHITE BOY would get.

They are protesting that the shooter was Not even brought into the station, given a formal interview and blood alcohol test. Do you know that even a POLICE OFFICER who shoots someone in the line of duty (even if shot at himself, even if 10witnesses say it was legit self defense) must submit self for a INTERVIEW and must SUrrender his weapon while the case is examined?! This shooter, NOT a police officer, went home with the gun that killed a boy, was not held to any standard at all. Then the 911 tapes were released and the shooter says things like "these @!$%#s always get away with it" and "f-ing coons"...right to the police dispatcher. This is while the only thing he's seen the kid do is WALK by...didn't even talk to him. Clearly had preconceived guilt in mind

I hope that your PROBLEM is that you have not heard the 911 tapes. Listen with an open mind. ANd you'll see why people are protesting.

If the same circumstances came up with any kid, there would be protests. Black people are protesting because there is a deep history in that locale of biased application of the law, including recently in that very police force.

Laurali

Was that fun? I am not clueless, in fact I am mostly American Indian so I know a little about racism.

I do know some about the case, but not enough to convict Zimmerman as some on here have done. We do live in America, right? I simply don't believe that there would even remotely be the same kind of outcry if the crime happened to a white boy.

You've done an excellent job of making your point and explaining the reason for the protests. I am glad to see people of all races and backgrounds coming together regarding this matter. The issue is the lack of value placed on African-American life, so much so, that the police did not think that the death of a Black child mattered enough to investigate. There is a history of murder and coverup in this country that needs to come to an end. I pray that this is the beginning of the end.

Tree... I give you consideration to your point. Maybe so... and no... hoodies are not worn by nearly every kid from elementary school through graduate school. I will grant you that in some parts of my larger regional area in the northeast, yes, hoodies are worn more in the urban areas.

At my large public university, hoodies are not predominantly worn. In fact, not often worn to class or on campus. People with hoodies easily stand out. Yes, hoodies may be worn on a party night out in the city... that is a different story.

So I don't buy it that nearly everyone wears hoodies. I make no apologies for the negative perception that we may have for people who wear hoodies... Its out there and a result of the association with certain elements of society.

I still wear hoodies and I have a master's degree from a prestigious university. Does this mean I have to throw them away because some idiot murderer might think I look suspicious. I agree it is a generational difference for LG. He's probably scared to leave his house when a hoodie is present. He is reminiscing about the good ole days, the 1950's when black people didn't exist, didn't live in his neighborhood and could not walk in a white neighborhood.

Footballgirl... do you look like a thug, their, bank robber, have something to hide? NO... its not a generational difference! You don't know me and I don't know you. Its a perception that is out there and treated very differently I suspect depending on you community and culture. As I said in another statement... I am realizing its more about association.

And no I am not a child of the 50's 60's 70's... and master's degrees are not impressive these days. They are commonplace. And my prestigious university education will probably trump your if you want to play that card.

And I wear hoodies on cold days: I'm white and in my 50s. I don't know what generation LG comes from, but I grew up in an upper-class town, and everybody wore hoodies on cold days. There was a dress code for school (until the last year of high school; it was overturned by my state's Supreme Court because girls' knees would turn purple in the winter, and they would be suspended if they wore pants under their skirts). Clothing was not less expensive, but people were able to spend more on clothing because jobs paid better for most items such as mortgage, food, medical bills, etc., so people were able to dress up more often. But I could never figure out what the association was between hoodies and black teens, because in my town the blacks were the best dressed in town. It was the white kids that wore hoodies.

Elizabeth, I live in an upscale suburban community surrounding a major city with 20+ major public & private universities and colleges in our region in New England. I get the concern over hoodies. Of course a lot of people wear hoodies. Like I said in other posts.. I believe its about association and probably relevant to surroundings and situations.

The hoodie thing is overplayed... This should be about a young child murdered by an over zealous neighborhood watch resident with a trigger happy finger and more...

I believe some people fear (rightfully or not) a certain style worn by others just as I believe some people fear (rightfully or not) certain uniforms and badges worn by others. It's a trained response that is developed through individual experiences as we live life. In either case, there are good and bad on each side.

A thurough investigation by the Feds should take place and let the chips fall where they may.

One is certainly a minority if they live in New England and do not own a hoodie (or several). I grew up in an upscale suburban community in New England, and attended a major public university in New England. We all had them. Where I live now they are a necessity. The wearing of a hoodie should not be alarming to anyone. Even in Florida on a cool rainy February night. If someone is "up to no good" they are probably NOT going to be walking around in plain sight.

These folks who protested wore hoodies in solidarity, because Zimmerman used "he's wearing a hoodie" as his reason for being suspicious of the boy.

LG:

you live in an "upscale suburban community" surrounding a major city with 20+ major public & private universities and colleges in our region in New England

I live in a ethnically diverse but 'hip" major New England city with 20+ major public and private universities and colleges. Perhaps the same city you refer to.

Everyone where's hoodies here for very casual clothing (ie after work, working out) and they DO NOT HAVE AN ASSSOCIATION with gang members. I substitute taught in a nearby upscale suburban community (perhaps closer in to the city than yours?) and more than half of all the male students wore the exact same outfit as Trayvon...running shoes, jeans, tee shirt, hoodie. (hooded sweatshirt) when it was not hot out.

My guess is it's best to admit that clothing styles and what is popular differ slightly in different parts of the country, perhaps in

I thought Trayvon was from the city...Miami..and was visiting the Orlando area to stay with his Dad. He was a good student. Isn't it likely that the kids where he was from dressed that way normally and it did not have any associations....just like in the high school where I taught and in my neighborhood? It's possible the dress code was a bit different where he was visiting (or not). It's wrong to blame Trayvon for 'dressing like a gangbanger" when there is clear evidence that many if not most kids at least in certain areas dress like that and it's normal and not so associated.

I wore hoodies...called hooded sweatshirts...when I was a kid in the 70's. So I've not had that association myself and haven't seen it where I live.

I wonder where you picked up that association yourself since you live in your "upscale suburb". I guess in that "upscale suburb" even teenagers in hoodies are trying to be "gangsta". Hope you'll open your mind that that is just not the case necessarily everywhere...it does not distinguish you in any way when most of the other kids dress the same. And I likely live in same general area you do. Just different communities.

I meant to say that I live in a ethnically diverse and "hip" neighborhood of that city.

You have a heart. They don't. I doubt that very much disturbs them.

CNN ran an article a few months ago showing that Florida especially provides no anti-viral medicine to people with HIV, and the disease is spreading there, and people are getting full AIDS because of the heartless decisions. No, these people would sleep through a hurricane, as long as only their neighbors' houses were blown away.

Like a 3rd world country gone wrong.

I agree; the Christians at least ought to be slightly nervous about the Last Judgment if they allow people to kill children. St. Matthew 18:6, "But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea." Some people only think that children are alive before they are born.

A child has been killed; 911 tapes showed that he was killed in cold blood, and you want the police to determine justice on the spot? At the very least, the family deserves justice; at the very least Zimmerman should be tried. It has EVERYTHING to do with due process in America.

The "million" counts people who have signed petitions, and protested around the country. What do you have against children who buy candy and iced tea?

My guess about you is that you're a racist.

The mother is right. I hope that you think about this carefully: if you don't see the problem, you are part of the problem.

Ive been saying this for a long time. We need to refer to all Americans as American period. Not Asian-American, African-American, etc. It perpetuates racism.

The mother is speaking the harsh truth and I agree. it's unfortunate that it still resonates in 2012. And don’t be fooled. It’s not just race, it’s politics, economic classism, gender, and religion as well. We can put an end to it by educating ourselves and others. and stop perpetuating the views of those that do not accept others.

You're either stupid, a liar, or both.

I'm sorry to the family of Trayvon, but he obviously turned to confront Zimmerman. We should expect this in this culture of gang violence and fear. If kids are dressing like they are gangsters (and most do), then they should be treated with caution. Zimmerman may have gone way too far (I'll leave that to the AUTHORITIES to decide) or may have thought he was facing a violent gang member. The truth is the truth - there is no racism to it! A LOT of people have tried to make it a racist event when it was a cultural one.