This blog post deals with some thoughts I've had regarding the Zimmerman trial. Not exactly how I was going to address it, but my Dad was wanting feedback on a Facebook post, which was too long to post there, so I'm putting it here.
For one thing, you are minimizing what African Americans experience as racial profiling. "It happens to almost everyone" is not in fact truth. I am stunned that you would attempt to minimize the racism that African Americans, and Hispanics, frankly, face. But especially African Americans. It just boggles my mind.
What Trayvon was thinking doesn't matter. Whether he had pictures of marijuana or a gun or underage girls (duh,
he was underage) on his phone, doesn't matter.Whether or not he had a reputation as a fighter, doesn't matter. Just like in a rape case how many people the victim has or hasn't slept with, doesn't matter. (Well, it's not supposed to!) It's trying to paint Trayvon as a criminal to justify Zimmerman's actions. Zimmerman had no way of knowing any of these things when he fixated on, followed, and ultimately killed Trayvon Martin.
Zimmerman
started the confrontation by following Trayvon. Doesn't matter if Trayvon threw the first punch. Zimmerman made a conscious decision to get out of his vehicle and follow Trayvon because of his suspicions. He also chose to take his gun with him.
His attitude can be seen based on his own statements in the 911 call. (I've listened to it - multiple versions - and read full transcripts). He thinks Trayvon is suspicious because he's walking in the rain, looking around; says he's on drugs or something.
Trayvon has noticed Zimmerman watching him in the car. When asked, Zimmerman says he thinks the "suspect" is in his late teens. He also says "These assholes, they always get away", then "Shit, he's running" (This is
after he is told police are on the way, and while he's still in the car).
Then he gets out of the car. You can kinda hear the door-open chime, as well as the sound of wind, etc, from walking. He also says something that sounds like "Fucking coons" or "punks" (depends on your ears & version). I heard "coons" the first time I ever heard the full 911 call. Which is why I sought out other audio versions and transcripts. I finally found one that someone had "analyzed" using different "euqalizers" - not sure who or how legit, and it sounded more like "punks". But it's your choice. Even going with "punks" it shows a state of mind not favorable to Zimmerman.
He's then asked if he's following, says yes, and is told "We don't need you to do that" to which Zimmerman replies "OK" and
KEEPS FOLLOWING, eventually losing Trayvon. The dispatcher asks him to meet the police at a certain spot, to which he at first agrees, then says to have them call him when they get there so he can tell them where he's at. Does this indicate he has given up the "hunt"? Not to me. Tells me he is still going to look around for someone he's already decided is guilty. Someone he has already identified as a teen.
So. You're being stared at by some guy in a car while walking home one night. You stare right back to let him know you see him. Then you leave. Fast. He gets out of his car and chases you. Eventually you hide. He doesn't give up looking for you. You're a teenage boy, add in the fact that you're African American and the person following you is white (probably all you can really tell in the dark), and when he comes near you think you're discovered so you jump out on the defense and hit him. That's what I think happenend. He was scared, and fighting for HIS life. What does he know about this guy? Is the guy trying to beat him? Rob him? Rape him? All he knows is this white guy has been chasing him through the night.
I can't address the prosecutorial misconduct. It's iffy either way, since wasn't it the defense's expert that found the "secret" texts? (But I did just read an article on how easy it is for our phones to be hacked. Not saying his was. But ultimately, the judge ruled those were inadmissable.)
I looked up Florida's definitions of 2nd Degree Murder and Manslaughter, and they both seemed provable and proven to me.
But I wasn't on the jury.
What frustrates me is a) white america disconting the racial aspects [because they are always there, I don't care what people say. Deep down, it's there.] and b) no personal responsibility on the part of Zimmerman, who
chose to get out of his car armed and chase down a teenager in the dark, even knowing police were on the way.
His reckless actions, especially as an adult (and someone with a minimum of training/education in law enforcement - ie, the class he took) who should have known better, caused the death of Trayvon Martin.
