An Argument Against Zimmerman As A Racist
If it's true that he distributed this flyer, it would seem he actively fights racism, and has a history of getting off his ass to advocate for justice. About the letter (text at the link), according to a Zimmerman family member:
Zimmerman Letter to Sanford Churches
In late 2010 / early 2011, Sanford, Fla. resident George Zimmerman distributed this photocopied flyer on bright, fluorescent-colored paper, his family members told The Daily Caller. The flyer was intended to draw the public's attention to the plight of Sherman Ware, who was depicted on video being assaulted by the son of a Sanford police officer. Black community activists -- and Zimmerman -- complained bitterly that the police mishandled the investigation. Zimmerman reportedly distributed the flyer on Sundays in the parking lots of African-American churches, and handed them out personally at the conclusion of church services.
More at The Daily Caller, by Matthew Boyle:
"Do you know the individual that stepped up when no one else in the black community would?" the Zimmerman family member asked in the letter to the NAACP's Clayton."Do you know who spent tireless hours putting fliers on the cars of persons parked in the churches of the black community? Do you know who waited for the church‐goers to get out of church so that he could hand them fliers in an attempt to organize the black community against this horrible miscarriage of justice? Do you know who helped organize the City Hall meeting on January 8th, 2011 at Sanford City Hall??"
"That person was GEORGE ZIMMERMAN," the letter insisted. "Ironic isn't it?"
Every Sunday, according to his family, Zimmerman would stroll through Sanford's black neighborhoods handing out the fliers demanding justice for Sherman Ware, and calling for the police to hold their own officials accountable. Zimmerman would also place the fliers on people's cars outside churches.
"I challenge you to stand together and to have our voices heard, and to hold accountable all of those officers, and officials whom let this atrocious attack pass unpunished until the media revealed it," one of the fliers reads in part. "This animal could have attacked anyone of us, our children or loved ones in his alcohol fueled rage."
The officers whom Zimmerman targeted for accountability in the Sherman Ware incident were all cleared by the Seminole County Sheriff's investigation, despite Zimmerman's repeated accusations that police gave kid-glove treatment to a white officer's son who beat a defenseless, homeless black man.
But 14 months later, at least two of the same officers investigated the shooting death of Trayvon Martin -- and cleared Zimmerman -- even though his voice was the loudest calling for their punishment in the Ware case.
...On March 19, NewsOne argued that the Sherman Ware incident illustrates a pattern of mistreatment of black victims by the Sanford Police Department.
"They [Sanford police] have a history of NOT arresting offenders who assault black men," the article's author declared.
I think his problem is less one of racism and more one of having a hero complex. He seems to want to be a hero... fighting for justice! Fighting for the safety of the neighborhood! It is his hubris.
NicoleK at April 15, 2012 3:07 AM
Why indict him for second degree murder?
Florida law defines second degree murder as
The unlawful killing of a human being, when perpetrated by any act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind regardless of human life, although without any premeditated design to effect the death of any particular individual.
How does the evidence and accounts of what happened that night clearly demonstrate this?
I would offer that the special prosecutor levied a charge she knows will not result in a guilty verdict, but it will hopefully 'quiet the crowd' with a 'we tried' excuse when all this is over.
DrCos at April 15, 2012 4:39 AM
DrCos -- Agreed.
Of course there is no racial politics involved in any of this. That is why the major media is not making a big deal about Daniel Adkins and Al Sharpton is not in Phoenix demanding the shooter's arrest.
Jim P. at April 15, 2012 6:10 AM
NicoleK, in some areas, that's just called being a good citizen.
We live in a world where "wannabe hero" or "wannabe cop" is considered a worse insult than "wannabe thug". Which Martin certainly was. (Suspended for drugs, refereeing schoolyard fight clubs, heavily tattooed at 17, with a twitter handle of NO_LIMIT_N***A.) But Zimmerman (married, home owning, going to school, volunteering, and yes, crusading for honest police) can't get the benefit of the doubt. In the face of a crime wave, he should have just stayed in his house and closed his blinds and given up the streets to corruption and thuggery. Otherwise he's guilty of "hubris" for thinking he could make his world a better place.
I read this blog because our hostess is a bit of a crusader herself, taking on the TSA and other injustices. We need more people like her, and like George Zimmerman.
Jason at April 15, 2012 7:41 AM
Second degree sounds about right then
The unlawful killing of a human being,
Check
when perpetrated by any act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind regardless of human life,
Stalking someone illegaly, while armed, after being told by cops to back off
although without any premeditated design to effect the death of any particular individual
Doesnt sound like he went out planning to kill someone
lujlp at April 15, 2012 8:59 AM
"It is his hubris." Yes. Who would want truth, justice and the American way?
After all, we all know it is the government's job to protect us sheep. Government does such a good job of it.
Sheepdogs? We don't need no stinkin sheepdogs.
Dave B at April 15, 2012 9:25 AM
"They [Sanford police] have a history of NOT arresting offenders who assault black men," the article's author declared."
About 9 out of 10 of those offenders are black. I suggest that the article's author has no idea, and would object to the Sanford police locking those black men up.
Radwaste at April 15, 2012 9:53 AM
...um, the dude killed an innocent kid who was walking around the neighborhood. I'd call that the result of hubris, yet. He let his desire for glory blind him.
NicoleK at April 15, 2012 10:21 AM
@Jason:
> We live in a world where "wannabe hero" or "wannabe cop" is considered a worse insult than "wannabe thug".
There is a worse insult than "wannabe cop".
And that is "cop".
TJIC at April 15, 2012 10:23 AM
"the dude killed an innocent kid"
Oh, ok. I did not know that.
"He let his desire for glory blind him."
You know him well, do you?
Doncha just hate an Auddie Murphy complex?
Dave B at April 15, 2012 10:31 AM
NicoleK;
". . . innocent kid who was walking around the neighborhood."
innocent?
just walking around his neighborhood?
I'm not sure anyone really knows if that is an accurate description. Maybe it is or maybe it isn't.
Here is part of the problem, we do not know what was really going through Zimmerman's mind. Nor do we know what was going through Martin's mind. Only those two could really tell us; except the one is now dead.
Both could have been a little too gungho; OR one or the other could have been completely at fault.
One thing that I am sure of is that *I* wasn't there, so *I* just do not know. The other thing that I am sure of is that the court of public opinion is so often wrong and likely could be in this case.
Charles at April 15, 2012 11:09 AM
Look, the guy fucked up. Either he fucked up because he is a gungho idiot, or it was because he is a psycho rapist. I'm betting on the former.
Where do you guys live that being a wannabe thug is cool, anyhow?
NicoleK at April 15, 2012 11:32 AM
> And that is "cop".
Right, TJ. And we should probably take our own lives, because nothing will ever be better about this... You certainly haven't suggested anything.
So Whaddya say? Hemlock? Revolvers? Blades? Poison?
Let us know...
Crid at April 15, 2012 11:43 AM
Either he fucked up because he is a gungho idiot, or it was because he is a psycho rapist.
Why must he be one of those two things? I know that you're at least a little more liberal than most of the commenters here, and I can only guess that you think he must be either an idiot or a rapist because you've bought into the liberal bias that all men are either idiots or rapists.
There is nothing, other than his being male, to suggest that he might be a rapist.
As for being an idiot, maybe. I'm not privy to all the facts of the case. But there doesn't seem to be any accounts that claim he must be an idiot.
Jazzhands at April 15, 2012 12:21 PM
"being a wannabe thug is cool"
That is an apt description of Martin not Zimmerman. You must not read the papers.
Zimmerman fucked up by putting himself in a position where he felt it necessary to use his sidearm. He will pay for it the rest of his life because he does not seem to be the type of person that wanted to be a killer. He will hopefully learn how to avoid that position in the future.
As for Martin, the wannabe nigga thug won't get a chance to learn from his mistake. Sucks to get in a confrontation with a gun carrying white mexican. When you think someone is following you get your ass home, do not confront the person following you.
P.S. Who said a wannabe thug is cool other than you?
P.P.S Please don't tell me you think Audie Murphy was a wannabe thug.
Dave B at April 15, 2012 1:41 PM
To add to further discussion.
Why is it that no one who knows or is acquainted with George Zimmerman come forward to say any of the negative stuff about him?
Wouldn't one think that if he was a "overzealous" neighborhood watch and has a history of being too gungho that a neighbor would come forward to say "yea, we always he that guy was trouble." Why hasn't someone come forward and say "yea, we always thought he was a racist." Why has no one come forward to say anything like this? Why are all of George Zimmerman's accusers folks who were neither there or don't even know George Zimmerman?
Just rhetorical questions . . .
Charles at April 15, 2012 1:51 PM
I still cant figure out where they were, half the reports I've seen put them in Martins neighborhood, and the other half have him cutting thru a gated upscale comunity (one of those that you can only exit thru the entrance) he shouldnt have been able to access
lujlp at April 15, 2012 2:21 PM
Had a gung-ho idiot started following me, insinuating that I was a criminal, and attempting to even tap me on the shoulder, while I was on an innocent walk around the neighborhood, I would have ran. And I doubt I would have stopped until I made it home.
It would have taken an attacker tackling me down to the ground, and sitting on me, to be able to shoot me in the chest. As soon as I would be able to stand back up, I'd have taken off running again, not turning into an aggressor.
Had Martin been held down and shot in the chest, I doubt that Zimmerman would have taken the time to turn him over, nor do I think he'd have been able to get up and then fall down again, as he was reportedly found face down in the grass. Had he still been attempting to get away from a crazed idiot, instead of attacking someone, I think, he would have been shot in the back.
The media would like us to believe that Zimmerman is complete racist out hunting humans, and Martin was just an innocent kid taking a walk. I think it was a bit more complicated then that and both of those people made bad decisions on that day.
Cat at April 15, 2012 2:24 PM
A lot of the info for that night was lost when Martin died. Unlike the mass media, I want to get all the facts before condemning either of them.
NakkiNyan at April 15, 2012 3:20 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/04/15/an_argument_aga_2.html#comment-3142696">comment from NakkiNyanI'm neither excusing nor condemning Zimmerman -- just waiting to hear the facts. There may not be enough available to us to tell us what happened one way or another. What's surprising is that there are no video cameras, apparently, in the neighborhood. Maybe that's because it's a gated community. If I had three extra shekels, I'd get one. Last night, there was some crazy stuff going on on my block -- a guy screaming and kicking and vandalizing cars. Another neighbor and I called the cops, but there was an armed holdup at a drugstore and they were all there (understandably). Luckily, my car was parked far from the guy (because I couldn't find parking when I got home -- first time I've ever been thankful for that) and I emailed all my neighbors to tell them to try to sneak out and move any cars parked near him (but to be careful -- better car damage than injury to anyone).
Yes, I'm the neighborhood watch person where I live -- The Block Bitch, I call myself -- but I don't chase people with firearms. My greatest weapon is the feel-bad nasty note on a car, like for the woman who works at a business near my house, parks on our street, and cavalierly hits our cars while doing it. My neighbor, P, who is a photographer, took pictures of her car bumper on P.'s and we put those on her car windshield to show that she was the car abuser of our neighborhood. She doesn't seem to park around here much now, imagine that!
Amy Alkon at April 15, 2012 4:09 PM
Trayvon Martin was six feet tall and weighed 160 pounds. He was black. He had a gold tooth. He was in the gated sub-community -- The Retreat at Twin Lakes.
If I see a six foot tall person, from a distance, I think adult.
He was unknown to Zimmerman. I see nothing wrong with a member of the neighbor hood watch wanting to identify a stranger in a "restricted" area.
There are so many "What if..." possibilities in this whole scenario, but calling either Martin or Zimmerman wholly innocent or wholly guilty in this scenario without having calm rational facts laid out is totally unproductive.
Jim P. at April 15, 2012 4:20 PM
There are so many comments on this thread that merit parsing it would take hours to address them all, but Lujlp laid out the accusations in the case of "The Hive v. George Zimmerman" so well I'll just take his -
Lujlp says -
The unlawful killing of a human being,
Check
Umm, Lujlp. Whether or not the killing was unlawful or not is kinda what the whole debate is about. Its an answer settled by a thingy called a "trial," in which both sides present their cases and....oh nevermind.
when perpetrated by any act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind regardless of human life,
Stalking someone illegaly, while armed, after being told by cops to back off
He was not "told by the cops to back off." A police dispatcher (not a cop, a police dispatcher - one is pronounced "cop," the other is pronounced "police dispatcher" - thats because they are two different things) told Zimmerman they didn't need him to follow Martin. Whether or not he continued to follow Martin after that is again, one of those questions to be settled by that trial thingy, but in any event, it was not a lawful order given by a police officer he would have been bound by law to obey in any event. It was a "police dispatcher," not a "cop." Dispatchers do not have that authority. Regardless, we do not know what happened next. Maybe Zimmerman returned to his car and was jumped by Martin. Maybe Martin confronted him.Maybe he was just foolish. Maybe Zimmerman decided that he knew better than the dispatcher what was required in this situation and decided to stay with him until the police arrived (rather than retiring, so the police could roll through the neighborhood a half hour later, report "negative contact, 10-8" and go back to bird dogging pussy at Whataburger). But, if he did continue to follow him, that is not a crime. It is not "stalking" unless there was a protective order against him.
It bears repeating - following someone is not a crime unless they have a protective order against you. George Zimmerman was, according to what we know (not what we would like to believe we know, NicoleK) putting into practice what police departments have for decades been preaching - community involvement and looking out for your neighbor. They even have a name for the program that stresses the essential nature of citizen involvement - they call it "community policing." Observe and Report is a big part of that.
"While armed," Lujlp? Wasn't that you not too long ago protesting that government officials have been known to charge people with defending themselves (presumably doing so "while armed")? Is carrying a gun and taking responsibility for your own personal protection a crime in your syllabus now? I don't recall it has been in the past. Perhaps I read you wrong.
Finally, and this is addressed to anyone and everyone - historical examples of crimes that have occurred before this tragic situation,(completely setting aside those that have occured since - I know, I know, they were in the name of "justice" - examples far to numerous to mention and too gruesome and tiresome to recount leave no doubt of this: If Trayvon Martin had murdered George Zimmerman on the street that night, we would never have heard either one of their names. In fact, had Trayvon Martin broken into a home, raped a woman in front of her husband and murdered them both after stealing all of their cash and valuables, we would never have heard their names. So if Bob and Nancy Strait aren't important enough to make national news, I won't be lying awake tonight staining my cheeks with tears for Trayvon Martin, however this occurred.
49 people shot in one weekend on Chicago's South side. In one weekend. One a 9 month old shot as a result of a fight over seats at a baby shower. Who kills a nine month old over a fight? Who fights over seats at a baby shower? Anybody know any of their names? Oh. But they weren't shot by a white guy - excuse me. "white hispanic" - so its just business as usual, and don't any of you trogs dare to suggest black crime is a problem or that any reasonable person would have reason to fear black people.
After - what is it now, 30 years? - of tiresome historical rewriting of Kitty Genovese' unfortunate death, we see how people regard those who DO choose to get involved at risk of their own life, limb and reputation. Note To Self on that score.
The WolfMan at April 15, 2012 6:14 PM
Re reading my post, I may have left the impression both Bob and Nacy Strait were murdered. He still clings to life. God Bless Him. Sorry there are no marches planned for you, Buddy. I guess that whole "D-Day" thing has just gotten tired.
The WolfMan at April 15, 2012 6:47 PM
All of the things about this story have made me feel really betrayed by the media.
As late as a week after the incident, the "facts" that I had gathered from casually watching the news were that:
a) a white guy, who failed out of a police academy and constantly hounded the police with frivolous calls while on an armed crusade to be a pain-in-the-ass, nosey neighbor, gunned down a child who was visiting his father over spring break.
b) The "Stand your ground" gun laws made this happen and it doesn't matter where you are in Florida, you can shoot a mother fucker before giving one reasonable inch. You don't have any duty to retreat at all.
c) This Zimmerman fellow said some racist shit as he stalked the young man.
I was really outraged by these "facts" as any reasonable person would be. Turns out, none of these things were true. It's a lot like the Duke stripper rape story. At this point, we have only to wait and see how the facts play out in court as we should have done in the first place. Fucking media.
One fact they got right was that the whole thing is a horrible tragedy. That kid may have been a little bit wayward, but so was I at his age. From his picture, he looks like he had a good soul. Something about his face just looks familiar and good.
Having said all of that, I get annoyed with people who feel the need to walk around with a fucking gun all the time. I think that may be the take-away from all of this. Had this guy not been packing, one or the other might just have had an ass kicking, but probably wouldn't, and that would have been that.
I'm in no way advocating any sort of further gun control laws and I agree that the Second Amendment is an important thing. However, I just don't understand why people are so scared of everything that they feel the need. I also don't understand why people drive around in giant trucks without a business need for them. I suspect the two may be related.
whistleDick at April 15, 2012 10:20 PM
"we have only to wait and see how the facts play out in court as we should have done in the first place."
I caught myself saying the above thing. That's right. That was the whole problem. The idea that this was originally dismissed out of hand was what caused all of the wild speculation. It took a shedload of protesters to even get to the point where there was the possibility of a proper investigation.
whistleDick at April 15, 2012 10:30 PM
I still cant figure out where they were, half the reports I've seen put them in Martins neighborhood, and the other half have him cutting thru a gated upscale comunity (one of those that you can only exit thru the entrance) he shouldnt have been able to access
My understanding is that BOTH are correct. Trayvon Martin's father's girlfriend lived in the gated community. It was in her apartment that Trayvon was watching the basketball game, and he frequently spent time there. As such, it's not surprising he'd have access.
The actual shooting took place within that gated community, a couple buildings down from where Trayvon was staying.
sofar at April 16, 2012 8:36 AM
Don't assume that the area was full of million-dollar homes merely from the "gated community" appellation. There are a lot of apartment and condo complexes in Florida which have some form of controlled access, but aren't necessarily high-dollar areas. "Gated community" may imply guards, but it's more likely to simply be a motorized vehicle gate that is activated by an access card. There's usually an unsecured pedestrian gate next to the vehicle gate.
I've been around the Orlando area, and most of Sanford is not a particularly high-dollar area.
Cousin Dave at April 16, 2012 6:18 PM
I don't currently have a concealed carry license (CCL), but plan on getting one in the near future -- when I can fit the time in to meet all the requirements for my state.
But I'd like you to substitute driver's license (DL) for CCL everywhere in your comment and see how it sounds.
I will agree that the presence of a gun made a difference, but to put the blame on the weapon or profile CCL holders on the fact that they carry is not a rational argument to me.
If the requirement to be a CCL holder was that they also drive large vehicles, then you are missing some datum points. I know women that are 4'9" and weigh less than 100 lbs to guys that are 6'6" and 250 solid muscle that carry.
They also drive everything from a Prius to an RV.
What does your average pizza delivery guy look like? Several of them have been fired over the past couple years by the company after defending themselves with their legally licensed CCL.
The point being that you are making the classic "my penis is bigger because I have a gun" argument.
The gun isn't the argument. Would you have a different view if Martin had been killed by a concealed knife? Then that means that Martin was in arms reach? Would that be more acceptable?
I'm not trying to demonize -- I just ask that you have a reasoned argument before you post something like:
Jim P. at April 16, 2012 9:09 PM
Wolfman, I understand how trials work, but I wasnt talking about the trial but the charges. From a veiw point of the charges they have enough to FILE 2nd degree.
If they can prove it in court is anybodys guess.
lujlp at April 17, 2012 11:58 AM
Leave a comment