Saturday, July 13, 2013

Zimmerman Not Guilty

After more than 15 hours of deliberating, the six-woman jury in the trial of George Zimmerman has found the neighborhood watchman not guilty. Zimmerman was accused of profiling, pursuing, and fatally shooting Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teen, in February 2012. Zimmerman, 29, could have faced life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder. The jury also had the option to consider the lesser charge of manslaughter, which could have meant up to 30 years in prison.


204 comments:

  1. I think Zimmerman harassed Martin. By law it all comes down to who threw the first punch.

    I read this earlier today:

    Zimmerman's guilt or innocence depends on the specific details of the fight, not the circumstances that led up to it. Yet de la Rionda urged the jury to look beyond the fight and focus on Zimmerman's assumptions about Martin's criminal propensities, which led the neighborhood watch organizer to follow the teenager and call the police to report a suspicious person. If Zimmerman had not followed Martin, de la Rionda said, Martin would still be alive. That much is true, but it does not make Zimmerman guilty of manslaughter, let alone second-degree murder. As de la Rionda conceded, everything Zimmerman did up to the moment of his violent encounter with Martin was perfectly legal. It may not have been prudent or fair, but it was legal. If Martin responded to Zimmerman's legal but unnerving actions by assaulting him, then it is not true that he is dead through no fault of his own. Even if Zimmerman was a nosy, overeager wannabe cop, as de la Rionda portrayed him, Martin's initiation of violence would not be justified. And if the fight proceeded as Zimmerman claims, his use of force was justified

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  2. President Obama must be in mourning. He said his son would have looked like Trayvon Martin. I fee his pain..

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  3. Thank goodness he was found innocent!

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  4. Thank goodness he was found innocent!

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  5. Thank god. I've never seen a trial where less evidence was presented in trying to convict someone of murder. I don't understand why it got so much press either. The media was really gunning for a conviction. So pathetic. Meanwhile how much black on white crime goes on and is never reported? Why? Is it just expected and old news at this point. Not shocking enough. And black on black crime is even worse, and nothing is said about that when kids are dying in the streets of places like chicago, DC and Detroit (democratic run of course cities-all of them. newflash-your shitty policies aren't working).

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    1. Katie...are you me? :-o

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    2. Katie...are you me? :-o

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    3. The cops didn't even want to charge him in the first place. The media tried and convicted him before presentation of and regardless of the facts. Good for him, I hope he can build a new life.

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    4. Jacq, I hope he builds a new life in your neighborhood.

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  6. I don't think Martin was the innocent his family tried to make him out to be. I'm also pretty sure Zimmerman is an idiot. Neighborhood Watch-men shouldn't be patrolling with weapons, the cops should. Of course that takes tax money. Nobody likes that.

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  7. OUTRAGEOUS!! An unarmed 17 year old kid walks home from the store and is shot dead and no one is responsible? This is justice in the US. We can elect a black president but we can't grant justice when a black person is murdered. I am ashamed.

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  8. The prosecution didnt prove its case. However if Zimmerman had listened to the dispatchers and followed directions maybe Martin would be alive

    And let's not even get into Detroit. Living near here is an adventure in itself.

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  9. Chris, perhaps you should take a look at what was actually revealed during the trial before you make idiotic and nonsensical statements that are false. It's called "evidence" (try dictionary.com for definition-you probably aren't aware what it is) and there was none. Among other things, Trayvon Martin;s girlfriend was an illiterate fool who had to admit she had someone else write a note and a witness SAW traycon on top of zimmerman hitting him MMA style. Facts are your friend. Try it, even if it may be taxing for your itty bitty brain.

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    1. Evidence convicts innocent people all the time & sometimes can overturn a conviction if the person is lucky. Innocent people have been sent to their death and spent decades on death row based on "evidence". The facts are an adult pursued a 17 year old kid, the KID defended himself & ended up dead. People do sick things to kids & kids should always have the right to protect themselves in this country, NOT PUSSIES like George Zimmerman.

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  10. ditto katie.

    this is a huge play by the media on emotions and self-victimizing attitudes.

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    1. out of Curiosity T.E. Do you think Zimmerman was acting in self-defense? Should he have gotten manslaughter?

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  11. ITA @ chris sutton

    Even if Trayvon threw the 1st punch, he reasoned things like a 17year old. Zimmerman is 29. Neighborhood Watch people are going over-board if they carry a gun. Zimmerman was told to stop following Trayvon and let the police handle it. If he had Trayvon would still be alive.

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  12. Did you lose your 888/Wendy password Katie?

    Do you have sites/articles to back up what you say? (Note, I'm not disputing it, I just would like to be more informed. Newsmax doesn't count.)

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  13. BTW Katie, I'm surprised that you can see to type behind that white hood.

    Color (ha!) me impressed with your lack of typos.

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  14. I've found it baffling how huge this case was.

    Obama saying that Martin looks like his would-be son is so out of line. So irresponsible, Mr. President. Seriously.

    It doesn't seem like the prosecution proved its case at all. The fact that the girlfriend was the star witness and she could barely put a sentence together while rolling her eyes and mumbling and staring off into space is truly a disgrace to the victim. I was embarrassed to be watching that tomfoolery.

    Is anyone else shocked that the jury was only six people and they were all women?

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    1. Yes, I thought the jury arrangement was strange. Normally six people are for a grand jury. But, strange, indeed.

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  15. Wow, some serious hate going on here. Katie, you're kind of a B.

    A kid is dead; Zimmerman is a dead man walking, and idiotic laws which allow for anyone to own and use a gun if they feel threatened remain.

    There is going to be some rioting tonight.

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  16. Nobody won in this whole shitty thing.
    Nobody.

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  17. I agree with chris sutton.

    Katie, you are a fucking moron. Spouting nonsense about black on black crime, black on white crime to back up your itty bitty nonsense post.

    They saw the kid punching Zimmerman, but in my opinion, the first punch wasn't established definitively. However, to ignore that Zimmerman provoked this entire incident is shameful. A teenager is dead because he purchased candy from a store, and a goon of a neighborhood watchman harassed him, and shot him.

    What led up to the death should have been taken into account - legal actions or not. Zimmerman's actions were completely out of line.

    It reminds me of a 20/20 story with John" Quiñones in one of his "what would you do" stories. It showed teenagers engaging in acts of vandalism and passerby chatting with the teens, and doing nothing, let alone reporting it to the cops. However, the four young black male actors SLEEPING in a car in a parking lot while waiting their turn for filming had several people call in reports about suspicious behavior with these guys. One woman even said something to the effect, "why are they here, they don't belong here".

    I think this fucked-up mentality explains a lot. Zimmerman felt a black teenager didn't belong. Period. And his harassment led to the death of this 17 year old kid with his whole life ahead of him. It sickens me.

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    1. I am disgusted, and I would feel the same if it was anybody's kid. But let's be clear, it is a racial issue. Only a person of color is guilty of walking down the street. But I am glad that people's hoods are starting to come off. "Don't skin and grin in my face, let me know where I stand with you".

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    2. I am disgusted, and I would feel the same if it was anybody's kid. But let's be clear, it is a racial issue. Only a person of color is guilty of walking down the street. But I am glad that people's hoods are starting to come off. "Don't skin and grin in my face, let me know where I stand with you".

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  18. Yeah Ruby.. totally sux.

    Katie, you need an attitude adjustment. Here's hoping Mr. Zimmerman spots you walking home from the store and decides to do something about it.

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  19. My heart is sick over this. That boy should still be alive & that f*tard should have followed what the police told him to do. He is ultimately responsible for that young man's death regardless of whether the boy was an "angel" or not.

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  20. Some background about Zimmerman the jury didn't hear about but should have because it outlines a pattern of behavior which, when taken together with what happened the night Treyvon was killed, strongly indicates that George isn't playing with a full deck imo..

    In July 2005 George was arrested and charged with resisting arrest and battery of an officer.

    He agreed to take part in a pre-trial diversion program that included anger management classes and the charges were dropped.

    The following month his girlfriend at the time, Veronica Zuazo, filed a civil motion for a restraining order on the grounds of domestic violence. Among her claims were that Zimmerman had trailed her round her neighborhood..

    Between August 2004 and February 2012 he called the police at least 46 times.

    ---

    I haven't called the police once since 2004, and I bet the majority of you haven't either.

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    1. I'm outraged by the outcome of the trial, just like most people. But there are evidence rules in our justice system and none of the information you mentioned could be brought into evidence. The prosecution should have put independent evidence better than that numbnut girl they had.

      You can't bring up a defendant's past unless they open the door for it. Smart defense lawyers don't open the door. The prosecution had a weak case which sucks. The dude followed the kid when he could have just stayed in!!! People who support Zimmerman and don't acknowledge this simple fact baffle me!! Call the cops like he did, then wait!!! You're not in immediate danger!!

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  21. It's not even about black or white. Set that to the fucking side. It's about the simple fact that an unarmed teenager was followed by a man who was also carrying a weapon. We have no idea what he said to him before this even happened or if he might have showed him the gun. Fight or flight people. It's sad that we live in a culture where a majority of people only fight for something when it hits close to home. It's okay because it's not one of your children or family members. Everyone is so damn trigger happy, feeding on some residual anger from our pasts. I was a teenager once. Getting high, doing illegal things, not following the rules...but like most people we were given the chance to make those mistakes and grow from them. But some fucking guy, with a chip on his shoulder and a little bit of power took that away from a 17 year old KID. If you think for one second that this guy didn't get hit with something because there was not enough evidence you are very jaded and mistaken. This is the fall of Rome. We are the self serving, always looking over our shoulder, no such thing as neighbors U.S. of A. There is sympathy and there is empathy and the difference between them is what separates us.

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    1. To a tee what I have been thinking.

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  22. Fox News will be furious if they don't get any riots to cover. They hate it when their race narrative is undermined.

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  23. Trayvon acted in self defense, not the mentally unstable police force reject who stalked and confronted him. I hope Trayvon's family can find some peace now that this farce of a trial is over. I had hoped George Zimmerman would be punished for his crime but I realize this is Florida, the place where Casey Anthony got away with murder.

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  24. Oh and Fuck you Katie CUNTingham. I hope that you are never in a position where one of your family members looks suspicious and some loony with a gun tails them until they snap and get shot. I also hope that you are not a caretaker for other living things.

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    1. +1 It's always nice to see people who understand the struggle.

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  25. Most of the comments are food for thought, but, Brittany, you rock!

    T. E. Cuz, I've lost all respect for you. You and Katie go bond over your white hoods and let the adults talk, okay?

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  26. Troll city: population Tj sands and Katie Cunningham.



    I personally would love to hear the reasoning of the Jury. Why not even consider manslaughter?

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  27. @Katie Cunningham, speaking of idiotic and nonsensical comments which are false, the homicide rate in D.C. is at a 50-year low.

    And statistics show it's more dangerous to live in a red state than a blue one in regards to death by shooting:
    http://www.wvgazette.com/Opinion/Editorials/201301080133

    And by traffic fatalities:
    http://dangerousminds.net/comments/red_states_vs_blue_states_guess_who_wins_in_number_of_per_capita_auto_fatal


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  28. We all know katie and her ilk would be singing a much different tune if Trayvon were white and GZ was black.

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  29. Trayvon Martin was guilty...of walking black.

    My heart weeps. RIP Trayvon. I hope your family finds some measure of peace.

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  30. @ Katie.

    Meanwhile how much black on white crime goes on and is never reported?

    Not much is reported because there isn't much black on white crime. That's a myth that crackers.........I mean whites like to perpetuate. You might want to get your facts straight.

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  31. "Only in America can a dead black boy go on trial for his own murder."

    - Syreeta McFadden

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  32. I shouldn't be sharing this, but if it means something to anyone than I guess it serves a purpose.
    When I was six years old, my father a Vietnam vet, who had a history of mental illness and no criminal record, came home after work in a rage. Not uncommon for him, but this time it was different. He argued with my mom about anything he could think of and then left briefly. He came back inside with what I now know was a shotgun, and he held my mother and I at gunpoint for over three hours. Crying, screaming, telling us he was going to kill us and himself. And then so suddenly and calmly he got up, turned to leave, and said "I don't know why you were so scared, it's broken anyways". It took so many years for me to even look at a picture of a gun, without freaking out. But about 4 years ago I started going to the shooting range, and I realized the difference between sport/protection and someone having a gun with ill intentions. Until you understand the fear,
    The begging for your life, sick to your stomach, not knowing what will happen kind of fear. You have no place to trivialize a shooting. The wrong people get ahold of weapons and the innocent ones have to pay for it. I'm sorry if this shit is depressing, but I keep imagining the way I felt that night and I just imagine that kid feeling the same way.

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    1. Im so sorry you had to go through this but I am glad that you and your mum were ok. I really hope your dad got the help he needed.
      X

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  34. Vancouver police are now having a press conference saying Cory Monteith died today at the Fairmont Hotel there. No cause of death yet.

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  35. was just about to post about monteith. :(

    @pink, i have no idea. i wasn't there. 1. i was commenting on the case becoming a political/emotional whirlpool of opinion and people just spitting out whatever came into their heads 2. i was under the impression that the jury could only rule on the charges presented at the time, i.e. murder. it confused me that the judge said they could rule on manslaughter, bc i didn't think that was the charge the prosecution presented.

    i didn't follow the case closely because i know its a distraction. i am more interested in the legislation supposedly being passed that will regulate (moreso than is currently being done) all media, making true independent news and journalism seemingly obsolete in tv; the poisoning of our food supply; the health of our nation and the vicious cycle between bad, processed food and medication; other legal battles that will set precedence over individuals questioning the govt, etc......

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    1. Thanks T.E! Yeah the media loves soundbites they could create stories from and derail investigations. I'm more confused about the jury not finding him guilty of at least manslaughter, I mean the guy killed someone.

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  36. First, I thought the Zimmerman verdict was a shame but can understand why they couldn't get beyond a reasonable doubt with what the prosecution presented. I held out hope they'd go for manslaughter which seemed appropriate. It just feels wrong that GZ walks, you know? Maybe a civil rights suit will be brought.

    Second, also came in to post about Corey Monteith OD'ing, holy cow. Confirmed by Hollywood Reporter. What a waste, so young.

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  37. Where is all of your outrage for the absolutewarzone that is Chicago, where black teenagers are dying by the dozens? No one seems to care about the innocents murdered there. Could it be because it is black on black crime? I worry about a country focused on one crime when dozens occur daily in a city like Chicago.

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    1. Night is right. Just check out the Chicago Tribune. On anyday, there is at least one teen murdered and many more shot. Gangs are fighting over turf on the South and West sides. Mostly, it's just gangbangers shooting other gangbangers, but every now and then an innocent bystander get killed.

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    2. http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/2378073
      http://rt.com/usa/chicago-murder-year-city-038/
      http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/07/05/5-dead-27-wounded-in-holiday-weekend-shootings/

      Sorry, don't know how to make hyperlinks on phone but I could keep giving you sources if you'd like...

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    3. I have been driven crazy by this random murder of teenagers for YEARS. I remember one case in nyc where a young mon and her baby were shot in error. It was 630 at night!!!!! I was like wrf?? You cant sit outside in the PLAYGROUND without taking a bullet??!! I also watch alot of furst 48 shiws and scared straight. Over and over its 2 teens, sometimes friends!- who react to percieved insult by shooting. Now ,18 yr old dead, and 19 yr old going to jail for life. The WASTE is shocking!! How do we know one of these kids doesnt have cure for cancer? Or the way to figure out space travel? Or just the ability to be a good neighbor raising a family?
      As a society, we have to figure out why guns seem to be go to for conflict resolution. Why someone would rather kill than be disrespected, why there these children think they have no future but death or jail.
      Alright, im off my soapbox but this really does drive me nuts.

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  38. @nightowl, isn't it funny how no one bats an eye at all the deaths that are preventable that occur daily, and then they pick one to use to manipulate the public....

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  39. Why all the hate for Katie??? People obviously hate the truth.
    It's a shame Martin is dead, yes. But he certainly was not just a kid on the street buying Skittles.
    Should Zimmerman have gone as far as he did with it? Probably not, and he will live with it the rest of his life.

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    1. Actually, that's exactly what he was...a kid on the street with Skittles.

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  40. Exactly, Nightowl...nobody can criticize or look into Chicago...Obama and his administration's wonderland.

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    1. Oh shut the fuck up, MissDrea. People criticize Chicago all the time, just look upward a couple comments. I'm sure you hate Obama blah blah blah, but give it a rest. And if you pay attention, Obama has commented on and criticized Chicago gang violence multiple times, but seeing as you probably get all your news from CDAN and Twitter you wouldn't know that.

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  41. "Where is all of your outrage for the absolutewarzone that is Chicago, where black teenagers are dying by the dozens? "

    How do you know people aren't outraged? Because they're not constantly posting about it on a celebrity gossip site??

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  42. @MissDrea......if he wasn't buying skittles the night he was murdered, what exactly was Trayvon Martin doing? Enlightened us.

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  43. Totally OT but Cory Monteith was found dead in Canada. SO SAD!!!

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  45. This whole thing is mess.

    As a Brit who loves America it's like watching your cousin become a crack addict. Someone you love destroying themselves over and over.

    - Neighbourhood Watch with guns?!

    - People so scared in thier homes they have to form armed vigilante groups (which is what Neighbourhood Watch becomes when you arm them).

    - Media show trials where the President comments before the case?

    - A whole case become split down racial lines - again. You're obsessed with race! We got over our obsession with class years ago. What is wrong with America? Would you even know about his case if it was in Detroit and two black men were involved?

    - Nobody talking about gun control.

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    1. "We" so did not get over the great class divide in this country. If anything it is getting worse and a new class is being created.

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  46. Keetz, I was referring to the media portrayal of Martin: a boy who was just buying Skittles. However, clearly ignoring his drug use, rap sheet, and persona he exuded on twitter and Facebook.

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  47. Don't worry. They will get Zim all crunked up, tell him where the dude hocking his memorabilia is staying and eventually get him convicted on something.

    I hope for the next big TV trial they go back to hot crazy chicks.

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  48. @fletch......look....I appreciate your concern but please get your facts straight. First, this case did not break down along racial lines. There are many whites as disgusted by tonite's verdict as blacks. The true breakdown is between ideologies.....the left vs the right.

    Secondly, there is considerable discussion about gun control. However, it gets drowned out by the gun crazy conservatives repeating our Constitution's second amendment like its some kind of mantra.

    These are tough times in these disunited states and we might be forced to go our separate ways soon.

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  49. @MissDrea.......the nite Martin was murdered he was not doing drugs nor posting on Facebook. He was simply walking back from a store to his home. And for the record, he did not have a rap sheet as you put it.

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  50. Whoa. I just read that Cory Monteith from "Glee" was found dead in his hotel room in Vancouver.

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  51. Here, not sure how to hotlink it:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/14/cory-monteith-dead_n_3593360.html

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  52. Missdrea, clearly you are ignoring GZ's rap sheet and mental instability. Please see Phoenix's comment above. His issues are much more germane to the situation.

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  53. @Brittany, I'm sorry. That is awful. My dad also pulled a gun on my mom and me, during the midst of their divorce. I think he would have shot her and probably me, except the gun wasn't loaded (my mother thought ahead and got rid of his bullets). Thankfully the cops took his gun away later because he bought it illegally. Stupid stupid father.

    I do not agree with this verdict and I hope there will not be any riots.








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  54. @ ms. drea I don't care what Trayvon portrayed himself as! You sound ridiculous. None of those things give that murderer the right to kill him. Walking home from the store is not a crime. But walking home while Black apparently is. To not be completely disgusted, horrified and saddened by the fact that a 16 year old is dead because someone racially profiled him is remarkable. I can't imagine the fear that young man had before he was murdered. Once zimmerman got out of his car, Trayvon had every right to protect himself from stranger that was stalking him.

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  55. What if trayvon was white and zimmerman black ... Does anyone honestly think the verdict would have been the same?

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    1. Well, except what t about OJ verdict? That was scary black man killing white woman, and he was aquitted. You never know whats going to happen with a jury. Sometimes justice works, sometimes it misses by a mile, but its all we have.
      Personally, i think if zim doesnt get out of his car, and trayvon doesnt double back, this doesnt happen. But is there a law that covers murder when you follow someone and get in a fight and kill someone? Zimmerman. Never. Should. Have. Gotten. Out. Of. His. Car.

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  56. @portlandgirl love, you already know the answer...

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  57. As a white dude, I'm ashamed at the racism and lack of emotional intelligence from some of the regulars on here. Facts don't mean shit if yours or others perception of them is distorted. Any of you ever see the movie Rashamon? This is a complete Rashoman situation, and anyone arguing for this killer to get off is racist and in denial. As there is no level of denial as racists who claim they aren't racist.

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  58. There's nowhere else really to post this, but a story just broke about Cory Monteith being found dead. Maybe he was the actor in a recent blind who was in very bad health?

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  59. Odds are he was the actor in that one obscure blind about an actor doing drugs. You remember the one?

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  60. The person who said "there's a reason for stereotypes" came out to play. Katie is awfully concerned with "black on black" murders while bitching about a case that isn't even "white on black" murder. Someone's getting a monthly Tea Party delivery.

    Make sure you read the REASON he wasn't found guilty. It isn't because he wasn't guilty, it's the basis of the charges the jury was given to decide on.

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  61. I specifically meant one where the actor was allegedly right on death's door, but point taken.

    Some of them have to actually be real. Probably.

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    1. @goodnight no I don't think so...it was probably a drug overdose ... :(

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  62. Fletch in Dubai - You think the UK "got over its class obsession years ago?" Seriously?

    What about the English Defense League marching in the thousands through London last month calling for an end to immigration? To the city wide riots in 2011 sparked by white cops shooting a black guy? The Bradford riots? The Oldham riots?

    That's just in the last ten years.

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    1. The english invented racism, starting in india.

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  63. Brittany, so sorry you and your mother had to go through that. So sorry your dad came back so broken from a war/serving his country that he did that to people he should have loved and protected. I hope you all eventually got help.

    I have read of situations that have made me think I understood certain fears, until I have BEEN in situations that made me realize that words on paper, no matter how moving, hadn't scraped the tip of the iceberg of that terror, and nothing like what you and your mother endured. Thank you for telling your story, and I hope you have found some way to have its memory give you strength.

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  64. I blame the verdict on Florida and their ridiculous laws. The same state that put George W in office in 2000. Shame!

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  66. Thank you @kassie and @wuwt and kassie I'm sorry that you had to be in that same situation as well.

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  67. Trayvon would be alive today if Zimmerman had not decided to take justice into his own hands, and allow the police to handle the matter as he was requested to do twice. I think it is a travesty of justice. It sets a sad precedent - wanna kill someone? Chase them, scare the shit out of them, they will throw a punch trying to protect their self, you shoot and it's ok. I'd get physical too if someone went after me like Zimmerman did, because I'd think it was some nutter gone crazy.

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    1. I agree completely Caroline, it's a situation that would have never presented itself had he followed orders. It's called neighborhood watch for a reason. See something suspicious, report it. It's not follow, confront, and then shoot to kill.

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  68. Rest in peace both Trayvon and Cory Monteith. Both to young to go regardless of the circumstances.

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  69. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57433184/fla-mom-gets-20-years-for-firing-warning-shots/

    Florida mom sentenced to 20 years for fire warning shots inside her own home at her abusive husband. She feared for her life, claims she acted in self defense.

    She did not use the Stand Your Ground Law at her original trial; she did request a new trial, with SYGL as her defense, but was denied.

    As a Floridian, I can say that there are plenty of things wrong with our state and its laws. And like other posters, I would like to know why the jury didn't at least consider the manslaughter charge.

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  70. Should add, the FL mom was sentenced based on our 10-20-Life rule (pull a gun: 10 years, shoot a gun: 20 years, injure/kill someone: life). It's been around for a couple decades, at least. SYGL was put in place in 2005. It's Florida's way of saying, "Hey, we weren't really serious about that 10-20-Life thing, guys. Go ahead, shoot at whatever you want, wherever you want, whenever you want."

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  71. As an Aussie I am obviously outside looking in, but I too was shocked that manslaughter wasn't handed down. It is Neighbourhood WATCH, not Neighbourhood Go Vigilante & Shoot An Unarmed Person Just Walking Home. I believe Zimmerman is guilty & a travesty has occurred.

    As far as guns, my husband & I are in America on holiday at the moment & have been road tripping through Long Island & New Jersey. We commented on how lovely the houses are & how no-one had fencing & we figured that knowing people had guns probably meant that fences weren't as necessary as they are at home. We really like the law that says you can't park on the side of the road, it means that you have to find somewhere public to pull into or know a person in the neighbourhood to stop. Bit of a pain in that we couldn't take photos of the pretty houses, but maintains privacy. In our neighbourhood back home it is impractical as we are inner city living with no off-street parking, but our laws go too far the other way, a car can legally park on a street for up to two weeks. Great for stalking & dumping stolen vehicles.

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  72. RIP Trayvon Martin & Cory Monteith

    @Goodnight, I'm guessing it was an overdose. Cory has been pretty upfront in interviews admitting to having serious substance abuse issues since his early teens, and he recently completed a stint in rehab for it.

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  73. @Cornbread, I'm in Florida too and totally agree. What's wrong with this state? First Casey Anthony and now George Zimmerman. It seems that slippery, borderline personality types are beyond the scope of the average Floridian to decode.

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  74. @Ruby: absolutely agree

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  77. Obama should have kept his freakin mouth shut. He and Michelle are both racist. Happy with the not guilty verdict. Martin punched Zimmerman plus the Prosecution made a lousy case.

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    1. @ Carol

      out of curiosity, why are you happy with the not guilty verdict? is more to stick it to Obama?

      I seriously would love to know because to me it seems like an open and shut case; a guy followed a child, then approached said child, started an altercation which he lost to the child, and then he shot the child. Did I miss anything?

      You pick a fight with someone and lose, so you shoot them in self-defense?

      But to other people it's a open and shut case with Zimmerman being not guilty. I guess I would like to understand the reasoning on the other side. Thanks.

      Delete

  78. I don't see the point in piling on the violence to remedy the outcome of an unjust and violent situation. That's just stupid. Violence literally destroyed one person and made wretched the destiny of another, with or without a conviction. It's enough. Let it go.

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  79. @Jacq, the cops didn't charge him in the first place because Sanford is a typical southern small town. It's also explains why Zimmerman was acquitted.

    A 6 person jury isn't strange for Florida. 12 jurors if it's a death penalty case; 6 if it's not.

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  80. What a crock! He was obviously guilty when he shot and killed Martin. He was also told NOT to follow him which he did anyway. The whole thing could have been avoided. It was obviously racially motivated. If Martin had been white I'm sure the verdict would have been different and now a young teen is dead, and for what? There is no justice!

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  81. @pheonix -- you hit the nail on the head. The George Zimmermans and Casey Anthonys of the world ARE too slippery for "normal" Floridians to understand. It is very sad that Zimmerman got away with his racial profiling of Martin. I would never live in Florida-- too scary of a place for me. IMO This verdict opens the floodgates for anyone in that state to walk around with a gun, shoot and kill someone, and claim self defence. My only consolation is that George Zimmerman will be watching his back for the rest of his life.

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  82. I just can't believe how outrageously inefficient your American justice system has become. You award one or antoher idiot millions of dollars in damages from a restaurant chain because they didn't warn him/her that the coffe was hot and he/she got scalded through their own fault. But you let people like Zimmerman or (even better) Casey Anthony and OJ Simpson walk.

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  83. America the free, where you can kill anyone you want and totally get away with it.

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  84. @brittney - you put into words what the ragey cloud in the head thing at the top of my body could not.
    I'm an Aussie so can't really understand why people would want guns in their home or their neighbours home, but surely there is a serious imbalance when people can accept heartily a neighbourhood vigilante shooting a teenager he didnt like the look of. A TEENAGER.
    I bet George made (and continues to make) some bad judgement calls as a teenager, going to the shop one night for lollies isn't one he'd name, but he was able to make them. Travyon should not be judged for Facebook posts. No person should be judged on who they were a s a teenager.
    But Zimmerman is an adult male. He had sense enough to call the police when he saw something he thought suspicious. He also chose, as an adult, to ignore the advice from the professionals he had phoned. An adult who also chose to own and carry a loaded weapon.
    That adult should take responsibility.
    You bastards saying "but he punched him".. Well you're bastards. Seriously think about how wrong a world is when you can kill someone on that basis. I weep at the number of our old boys at the pub who would be dead a thousand times. You're bloody bastards.

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  85. Zimmerman wasn't even on watch duty the night he shot T; he was driving to the supermarket. Why the hell was this asshole going shopping with a gun??

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  86. PS: ONLY in the US: put a half-white half-Hispanic person on trial for killing a black kid and give him a 5:1 white:black jury. This game was rigged from the beginning.
    Oh, and I'm sure in the particular ethnic composition of Florida's population the fact that the defendant is of Hispanic heritage and has a Jewish surname had nothing to do with the verdict :P

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  87. Cannot believe you went there, Mag (Jewish surname). Never mind Zimmerman is NOT Jewish, now who's profiling? Stick to the facts of the case.

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  88. White Canadian woman here - I agree with everyone who said Zimmerman created the situation. I would be freaked out being followed in the rain by some guy. He has a history of violence, a "rap sheet", and a gun!

    If the gun wasn't there, if he didn't ignore the police and stop following the kid, if he wasn't being threatening and aggressive. Sorry this is a case of "walking while black." And yes, if the this had been black on white - the guy would have been charged asap. Not 55 days later.

    Just because he wasn't found guilty doesn't mean he was innocent. Shameful. He will get his. I can't imagine he will be able to freely walk the streets without harassment...just like Trayvon.

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    1. @ Fish, excellent point. There will be a civil trial, so there's still a chance Zimmerman will pay for Martin's death.

      Delete
  89. @fish: Sure he will be able to walk the streets safely, he has a concealed carry permit.

    @Spiffypaws: Plenty of people in states that have liberal carry laws put their gun on their hip right before they put their wallet in their pocket and leave the house.

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  90. I honestly don't care about this trial, the black guy, or the hispanic/white guy.

    With the reputation the black guy had, I'm pretty sure he would have ended up in jail sooner or later. So, whether or not you hate zimmerman, he saved Florida taxpayer money. And I am pretty sure Zimmerman will land himself in jail if he keeps trying to play batman.

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    1. I honestly don't care about this the black guy

      with the reputation he would have ended up in jail. So, Zimmerman saved Florida taxpayer money.

      FTFY

      Delete
  91. I see many people here commenting that aren't addressing the facts that were actually put into evidence and what the jury could only consider. Some commentators are basing their arguments on information that is not correct and was not part of the evidence presented. If someone reading this would like to get legal analysis from attorneys that actuall watched the case and read the transcript, I would suggest they read Jeralyn Merrit at TalkLeft and Andrew Branca at LegalInsurrection. They both provided excellent coverage and information about this case.

    People on both sides of this matter are trying to make their arguments based on incorrect information. That makes both sides seem ignorant.

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    1. This is why I haven't expressed an opinion, one way or the other, because I know I don't know what the actual facts in the case are. I know I've seen a lot of stuff tossed around by both sides, but I haven't seen the evidence or read any of the testimony. I'm simply not informed enough to have an opinion on the verdict.

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  92. My nephew looked just like trayvon when he was 17

    i am sick trigger happy SOB

    This country is still receiving a big fat F when it comes to gun control

    I hope z gets thrown down fat lil bastard

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  93. Zimmerman shot this kid. Shouldn't that be all the evidence needed?

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  94. The explosion of black-hating rightwingers has been the ugliest part of this trial. That, and the murder of an innocent kid by a schmuck. I'm surprised Romney didn't tap Zimmerman for VP -- it would have drawn millions of conservatives to support the ticket.

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  95. @Count-you hot stud- I live in Fl so I know all about the liberal carry laws, but they don't make us safer.

    I wouldn't date a guy that needed to strap on a gun to go to Publix.

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  96. I might have cared more about this case had either party been remotely sympathetic. Here's hoping neither ever contributes/contributed to the gene pool. That is all.

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  97. @Barton Fink: Heavy is the head that wears the crown you wear, you smug fuck.

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  98. Smug Fuck is a great name for a band.

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  99. @Spiffy: You sure know how to make a guy blush away from an argument.

    I feel the same way about carrying guns as I do abortion, it wouldn't be my choice, but I won't step on someone else's right to do it.

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  100. Anonymous8:08 AM

    What many people seem to be forgetting, though some mentioned it and it bears repeating: the prosecution presented an absolutely shit case, end of story. That's the reason GZ wasn't arrested initially, there was no proof of his story being true or false and you need proof.
    Also, while he was, in my opinion absolutely wrong for using deadly force, it would have been far more prudent for him to carry mace or a stun gun, from the reports Martin also acted in a manner that helped in escalating the situation.
    Had Martin decided to stop walking, go into a lighted area (a street light will do) remove the hood (it's human nature to see someone covering their face as untrustworthy) and simply ask "sir, is there something I can help you with?" Instead he cuts through back yards, displays animosity toward GZ and at some point confronted him in the dark.

    Again, no one is blameless, the situation escalated in a way it never should have but that was due to both parties' actions. However te prosecution had no case.
    Also current news stations suck so hard on their reporting. By god they are going to make a riot happen whether you all want to riot or not!!!

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    1. Finally,a smart comment. This 'troll' agrees 100%. Zimmerman was the adult tho, but they both made tragic mistakes that resulted in the death of martin, a life cut too short.

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    2. @ Empress - THIS.

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  101. Reading through these comments while nursing a mild hangover (wine on top of Jameson - not the brightest of plans), some thoughts...

    @Mag - you should check out the documentary Hot Coffee before proclaiming the plaintiff an idiot.

    @Count - I can always "count" on you to make me laugh

    @Spiffy - I wouldn't date that guy either

    @Lazyday - +1 on the band name


    I always thought George Zimmerman was older than 29. It's sad Trayvon Martin (and Corey Monteith, and my brother, along with countless others) won't live to see that age.

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  102. wow. the low quality of the comments never ceases to amaze me. all of a sudden everyone is a legal expert because they've watched an episode of CSI, they have access to the internet and they can type. internet comment boards - the great equalizer.

    racism has infected this case from the beginning. zimmerman is a gun toting yahoo who was told not to follow trayvon by the 911 operator. he followed him anyway, emboldened by the fact that he knew he had a gun.

    had he not followed trayvon, he would still be alive.

    there was a fight, zimmerman was a coward and shot trayvon. end of story.

    should he have been found guilty of murder? yes. or at least manslaughter.

    but, we are talking about florida, which isn't exactly the land of intellectuals. so, zimmerman doesn't even get arrested initially, because, in essence, its not a crime for a white guy to kill a black guy.

    had the races been reversed, there would have been a conviction for 2nd degree murder.

    maybe zimmerman can join casey anthony in an island somewhere. two murderers who got away with it.









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  103. @Surfer – I’m not sure you understand what profiling is, but from your post it seems like you may not. I’m not saying he should be found guilty because of his surname, for christ’s sake. I’m saying his surname helped him get acquitted. Because it makes him seem like he “belongs”, while his victim clearly “did not belong” in that place.
    BTW, I know perfectly well that Zimmerman is not Jewish, but his surname is. Just Google this and see how many people wonder if he is or not. What I’m saying is: in a healthy society with a fair legal system it WOULDN’T MEAN A THING what ethnicity he is. Nothing whatsoever. But in the US it clearly does, especially in areas which some ethnic groups tend to inhabit. Even if people’s perception of that ethnicity is wrong and only based on the name

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  104. Anonymous8:37 AM

    @ V: it seemed he was older because of how he was portrayed, as a mean spirited, crotchety old man who had lived long enough to develop a grudge. This compared to how you will not find the media showing a single photo of Martin above the age of about 13 or so, before puberty really hit and he looked like an adult as well. It's marketing got to get people angry so the media has something to report on. The fact is, these men were much closer in age than they will have you think but that doesn't fit the "mean old man shot a *child with SKITTLES!!!* (the candy is always always always mentioned to make him seem more sympathetic).

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    1. @Empress - I don't know if it was a media thing...he just looked older to me. Yes, he and Trayvon were much closer in age, however it does not negate the fact he was only 16 when he died. Anyway, I'm not trying to take sides, I find it sad (for the Martin family, and for Zimmerman who has to live the rest of his life knowing he killed someone) that's all.

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    2. Anonymous8:51 AM

      @V, I understand. If that came off as hostile, then I apologize. Really I AM feeling very hostile toward the news media for their handling of this whole situation.

      Delete
    3. @Empress, no worries. I don't watch a lot of news. So I can't comment one way or another on the media. To counter my gossip/Discovery ID-loving ways, I tend to stick with the Economist as my news source.

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    4. Anonymous9:07 AM

      It was interesting (and frustrating if I'm being honest) that every story I read said "the unarmed black teenager was returning home with a bag of skittles" or something to that effect. Always mention that he's black, always mention skittles by name. Never "with a drink" "with a can of tea" "with a snack" because obviously the drink thing will make you think of alcohol, and the others don't sound as whimsical, like something a small child would have. Something to ponder in how they are working hard for page clicks and fury to be able to pull this story out as long as possible (and I'm obviously helping and feeling shame over it). I believe in sales they refer to this as "framing"

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    5. @Empress - did he have alcohol on him? Did he actually buy Skittles?

      I know the media will spin things to sell a story, this has gone on forever. It seems to me this has happened on both sides of the case, not surprising considering the subtext.

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    6. Anonymous9:21 AM

      @v he did not have alcohol, I believe it was az iced tea. I was just saying that had the sentence been worded "he was returning from the convenience store with a drink" it would lead people to potentially make that assumption. As far as I know what he did buy was skittles and iced tea. I just think it's interesting that it's usually just skittles mentioned, and mentioned by name.

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    7. @Empress - gotcha. Skittles - a popular one-worded candy. Very easy to stick in the mind

      Delete
  105. @V: It is my pleasure.

    Can we all get back to vapid nonsense, like if Lindsay earns the big bucks by bringing a +1 for some ass2ass?

    Poor Ali.

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    1. Lol! I think she brings Paris...Ali is too bony.

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  106. Mag said...

    @Surfer – I’m not sure you understand what profiling is, but from your post it seems like you may not. I’m not saying he should be found guilty because of his surname, for christ’s sake. I’m saying his surname helped him get acquitted. Because it makes him seem like he “belongs”, while his victim clearly “did not belong” in that place.

    Mag - I know exactly what profiling is, and I know exactly what you were inferring. And you couldn't be more wrong - his surname had nothing to with his being acquitted, and to suggest otherwise, is way off base.

    I believe he was found not guilty because the DA overcharged.

    We all have our opinions, and I'm not interested in debating the merits of the case.

    For what it's worth, a lot of German surnames sound Jewish, though the people with those names are not. I just knew someone would throw in a Jewish stereotype.

    Tell me Mag - have you ever honestly heard someone say "oh, it was because he was Episcopalian or Catholic or Protestant?" Of course not. Please think before you make a comment like that. That's what I was speaking to.

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  107. I was kinda afraid to read the comments here. But I did because I was curious, thank God some of my fellow CDAN readers have common sense :) Zimmerman stalked, and provoked the 17 year old. He created the situation in order to use his gun. He took a class on the self defense laws, he worked the system from the inside :( If nothing else I can rest with peace that he will burn in hell. It could easily have been my own child who is mixed.

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  108. @V: HA! That is true. Ali's ass is probably only good to iron a shirt on.

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  109. How many of the people who responded to this thread actually post here on a regular basis?

    If you came over here just to post on this thread, please go away.

    I have no doubt in my mind where the of majority of guilt lies, but IMO there were holes in the prosecution's case that created reasonable doubt based on the evidence.

    Did anybody learn anything from this whole mess? Some idiot who supposedly just wanted to 'protect the neighborhood' shot and killed his NEIGHBOR'S unarmed son. He's no hero, that's for sure.

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  110. What annabella said.

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  111. What I want to know is, how the heck is. Zimmerman only 29? ... thought he was my dad's age when I first saw him. Not mine.

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  112. focusing on the fight is a red herring to me. he never should have gotten out of his car and followed this kid, who was doing nothing wrong. there was no crime in progress, the police were en route, and his duty was done. if he hadn't been armed he never WOULD have gotten out of his car.
    so the lawyers can tell the jury to put that aside, but for me, that's the case. i knew this would be the result though---or a hung jury.

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  113. I think anyone who frequents this board knows that I have a fair amount of confidence in my opinions, so being called named by a noun marker is hardly a problem. Sheez.

    Also, I'm glad to see so many reasonable CDANners, always. We tend to disagree about things, but this is a good crowd generally.

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  114. Dianne, some who have commented don't do it often. When they do, it typically involves saying something incredibly stupid, bordering on racist, ala Katie Cunningham.

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  115. For those of you who are commenting on Trayvon Martin's 'reputation', non-existent rap sheet, FB posts, alleged drug usage, saying he'd end up in jail at some point - you are using Zimmerman's mindset as he got out of that car with the gun in hand. You are trivializing Trayvon's young life - devaluing it because likely you assume all young black boys are up to something no good and should pay for it.
    Wise up - I challenge you to find 5 young white 17 year old boys in your neighborhood and most will have had a joint at some point, silly FB posts and maybe a minor scrape with the law. I bet you won't judge them so harshly - as you shouldn't - just don't condemn the next black boy you see before he bats an eye, either.

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  116. @Surfer - And how exactly do you equal religios denominations with ethinc origins??? Jewish by origin and jewish (without a capital letter) by religion are two separate things, thoutg obviously many people are both.
    There is NO "Jewish stereotype" in my argument. If there's any stereotype at all, it's the one that people are more likely to look favourably upon someone they find to be "their kind".
    OJ had a predominantly black jury. Now, tell me it's a "black stereotype" if I think this did make a difference in his favour.

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  117. To me, the Mother of two teen boys. It seems an adult, killed a child. Provoked Trayvon, until he fought, because he was scared, and than shot him dead. I dont understand why the same "stand your ground" didnt apply to Tray. He was in fear, he fought , and was shot and killed. I feel if it had been a black man who shot a white boy, under the same circumstances. The black man would be in prison, awaiting the electric chair. Florida is one of the most racist places, I lived there for 15 yrs, and know what I say is true. I had a bf in a rock band and we traveled all over the South. Never were there any blacks, working in any capacity, except for janitorial, at any of the venues. I usually waitressed to pick up extra cash, when they played, and no blacks as customers or servers. If a young black woman would ask about work, the answer was always, we arent hiring. If a white young woman would come in, she would be given an application. Granted, this was 20 yrs. ago, but it is so ingrained there I dont believe it will ever change.

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  118. @ nancer, the fight was all the jury was supposed to consider from a legal basis.

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  119. @Count - haha! She would make a good sawhorse too.

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  120. Leave it to Florida to set another child killer free. Yes, Trayvon was still a child. I'm heartsick for his parents. RIP Trayvon and Caylee too.

    ps. I don't mean to pick on all Floridians but seriously why do horrible things keep happening there? Can we please finally talk about gun sense????? Please!!!

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  121. Zimmerman story changed 5 times on the night of the murder and 3 times since then. If his head was bashed into the concrete, wouldn't you needed an ambulance? Zimmerman is a coward. A loser who didn't have what it took to be a cop. A child was hunted and killed due to RACIAL PROFILING. You sympathizers can't listen to the tape of him talking to the police as he was following Trayvon and say that is not the case. George Zimmerman may not be in jail, but he will never again be free. He'll be living in fear, branded a murderer for life. Casey Anthony, minus the Borderline Personality delusion.

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  122. Zimmerman is not innocent and should have paid for taking a life...that said I wouldn't trade places with him...where is he going to hide ? His life is ruined.
    And that is the only justice we'll see in this case.

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  123. "Always mention that he's black, always mention skittles by name. Never "with a drink" "with a can of tea" "with a snack" because obviously the drink thing will make you think of alcohol, and the others don't sound as whimsical, like something a small child would have."

    Actually it was reported enough that the Arizona Ice Tea company felt compelled to make a statement about Trayvon. I agree the Skittles are referred to more often but from day one I've heard he had a drink too.

    The primary problem with this case (other than being in Florida) was that it was relatively weak and the level of intent that must be proven for second-degree murder was way too high for the evidence. The prosecution thought they could aim for second degree and get manslaughter and they failed.

    GZ was the self-appointed block captain of a neighborhood watch group that was not even registered with local law enforcement. He was also the self-appointed parking enforcer for the complex and would follow his neighbors around to see where they parked, driving off if they approached to confront him. I guess he felt more confident approaching a kid.

    This situation is why many people are in favor of some sort of gun control. Not so you can't hunt, or target-shoot, or protect yourself from home invasion. It's so fanatics like this don't lose control and shoot people.

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    1. Anonymous10:10 AM

      @scallywag: maybe it's because certain news sites are going to run articles with a certain tilt or by a certain author. Maybe it's because those things bug me so I notice them more, but that was my observation. What news site do you read? It may be better than mine and I should switch.

      Delete
  124. "The english invented racism, starting in india."

    Oh, auntliddy, 'twas long before then. People have hated each other due to race, tribe, religion throughout history. Of course the Brits and every other nation have sustained it through time.

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    1. True, very true. But i think english institutionalized it, made it somewhat socially acceptable. Look how they viewed the irish. The irish worked, made enough to relax, eat some so called pheasant food and have few drinks. Whole country was happy, but english regarded them as huge problem. When famine came, english saw chance to pound into their heads how wrong they had been. Even tho people starving, poorly clothed, in the winter, they wld only begrudingly give them lousy bowl of soup if they cld prove they worked that day. You're sick, have no shoes, 3 kids to feed- tuff, no food. .Youre lazy and now u pay. And the work they made them do? Moving rocks on some road, in ice and snow- a project never used or needed.

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  125. only God can judge.

    @annabella, there are way more than 2 murderers that got off their case. on the other hand, there are innocent people in jail.

    still really confused about the manslaughter charge. it wasn't brought up by the prosecution, it was brought up by the judge, right?

    wonder how many people died last night.... wonder how many if them will receive justice. sometimes, i wake up in the morning, feeling some weird intuition like something horrible happened near me. people die everyday. this should be a lesson to start treating others with love and compassion while they still walk the earth.

    lastly.... you bet i'd have a gun next to me or under the bed when i sleep. i know way too many friends that have had break-ins. good neighborhoods, bad ones.

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  126. jessie said...
    I was kinda afraid to read the comments here. But I did because I was curious, thank God some of my fellow CDAN readers have common sense :) Zimmerman stalked, and provoked the 17 year old.


    Laugh out loud funny.

    I take it you missed the entire trial?

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  127. Scallywag said...

    GZ was the self-appointed block captain of a neighborhood watch group that was not even registered with local law enforcement.


    This type of stupid ignorance is what is wrong with America today. You couldn't know less about this case if you tried.

    I take it you, too, missed the trial?

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  128. A child was hunted and killed due to RACIAL PROFILING.

    HA HA HA HA HA HA
    HA HA HA HA HA HA

    HA HA HA HA HA HA

    HA HA HA HA HA HA


    My goodness, is that stupid.

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  129. f00bby said...

    You bastards saying "but he punched him".. Well you're bastards. Seriously think about how wrong a world is when you can kill someone on that basis.


    Except nobody is suggesting, nor did it happen here, that you can kill someone for merely being punched.

    All the comments here suggesting Zimmerman committed a crime are hysterically stupid.

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    1. He killed an unarmed 17 year old boy, brain trust. Sometimes cowardice is a crime; were that stupidity would be, the likes of you would have your Internet privileges revoked for inability to carry a logical conversation with giggling like a troll on happy gas.

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  130. The verdict says Zimmerman was not guilty, not that he is innocent. There's a difference. As the trial played out, it was clear to me that there was not enough evidence to convict on Manslaughter, and definitely not enough for Murder 2. The prosecution did not have enough evidence to erase all reasonable doubt. It was a weak case to begin with. That being said, I think the civil suit which is being filed now will find Zimmerman guilty, as the burden of proof will be on him to prove his innocence rather than on the prosecution to prove his guilt.

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  131. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  132. The media- CNN especially, but they are not alone- has been trying to slant the coverage since day one. We can self-identify gender, and we can identify with a particular race with less than 1/8 of that ancestry, but George Zimmerman, who is half Peruvian and half Caucasian, is always referred to as a "self-identified Hispanic". Why is this?

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  133. Many tried, and continue to try, to use this story to fan racial insecurities and divide us against each other. To all the people who fall for this even and despite the clear facts of the case, you are contemptible. You are sheep being led about by wolves. George Zimmerman was once like you. Then the wolves turned on him. Maybe someday it will be your turn to explain your imperfect self defense under duress to a politicized police state, a pandering press, and a prejudiced public. Good luck with that. You'll need it.

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    1. @Amartel, George Zimmerman was never like me, or even anyone I know. We don't "patrol" neighborhoods that we don't live in, armed with loaded weapons and looking for thugs to take down, ignore police instructions to stay away from the situation, and engage people we don't know just because we find them suspicious before shooting them at close range because we got ourselves in too deep.

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  134. Ridiculous verdict (no manslaughter?). The gun humpers are dancing a jig though. A "good guy with a gun" got to shoot a black thug (thug because he was black and had a hoodie on). Fits right in with their fantasy world -- the one in which they have to carry a gun with them everywhere they go because they're going to save the day John Wayne-style someday.

    This country's obsession with guns is creepy as hell.

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  135. A politicized press, a pubic punditry and a pugnacious professional parodic parade? Good lord, shrill Cassandra, thou quiverest with rage that doth make thy words weird.

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  136. Zimmerman supporters must have been elated when OJ Simpson and Casey Anthony were found not guilty. Give me a fucking break.

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  137. Race mongering, show trials, biased media that publishes doctored evidence ... No big deal in Finky's World!

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  138. Hey gun grabbers, don't let the racemongers bogart this issue! Come on down and get in on the action. Pick the carcass clean. Who else can we get in on the exploitation?

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  139. Race mongering, show trials, biased media that publishes doctored evidence

    Yeah, that's not it.

    Go ahead and ignore the fact that Zimmerman profiled, stalked and murdered an innocent teen.

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    Replies
    1. No racial bias found by the DOJ. Very disappointing to the race hustler narrative you've got going there. Too bad, so sad.

      Delete
  140. Anonymous4:40 PM

    I love this insult : brain trust. also liking Barton's : politicized press, public punditry, and pugnacious professional parodic parade! Genius! say that five times fast.

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  141. Anonymous4:43 PM

    from what I've heard, the case was weak, which is why local law enforcement didn't arrest Zimmerman, only after the media picked it up and started crowing about it did anything happen. Zimmerman was too zealous, Trayvon shouldnt have gone back and confronted him, is it wrong, should it have happened differently.

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  142. This video, long as it may be, pretty much sums it up: http://xrepublic.tv/node/4398
    But I'm sure it doesn't match up with people's agendas.

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  143. Ashlea said...

    Katie...are you me? :-o


    Why would you want to be Katie Cunningham? She's a racist moron.

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  144. Mango, what did Katie say that was racist??????

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  145. I WANT TO BE A TROLL GIGGLING ON HAPPY GAS

    Where do I get my sign in sheet?

    Some of you people need to relax.

    MissDrea: scroll up.(Unless of course the happy gas has affected you.) Read from the top. Katie had quite the show.

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  146. Easiest way to get the happy gas is going to a kitchen wares store an getting a reusable whipped cream bottle and a couple boxes of chargers.

    Hippie Crack is fun when used in moderation.

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  147. Everyone has the right to their opinion of course, but it is decided now. Respect the decision of the jury. People are so quick to label everything as racial. It was not proven. LIstening to the media coverage is not the way to judge innocence or guilt.

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  148. Nothing Katie said was racist. Sorry. But again, it doesn't fit the agenda of the media, Obama administration, or most of you people here.

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    1. If by "you people" you mean those of us who have compassion for an innocent murder victim and his loved ones...well, I guess you have us pegged. GZ racially profiled a teenager. Can you imagine what was going thru Trayvon's mind while he was being followed by that whack job? It certainly wouldn't be the first time a grown man stalked a teenage boy *Jeffrey Dahmer* Trayvon was defending himself. GZ was the aggressor. It's that simple. GZ murdered Trayvon and he should be in prison.
      How would you feel if it were your son instead of Trayvon? You would deservedly demand justice and we would stand with you.

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  149. MissDrea83- most significant part of the video you linked is how the speaker keeps saying "This doesn't mean anything. " true that. It's bs.

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  150. Betsy, she also keeps using the word agenda... seems like it's from talking points aka someone else's agenda.

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  151. I think the biggest thing that this case is showing me personally that the biggest problem in America is not racism, but ignorance. Seeing ignorant comments and commentor's true colors have definitely been eye opening.

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