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Subscribe to RSSUpdated at 6:18 p.m. ET: Attorney General Eric Holder told a civil rights group on Wednesday people were “rightly concerned” about the shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin, and if the Justice Department found evidence of a potential federal civil rights crime, officials would take “appropriate action.”
Holder made his remarks to a gathering of the National Action Network, founded by Rev. Al Sharpton, host of MSNBC PoliticsNation. Later in the day, a special prosecutor in Florida announced that George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watchman who shot Martin, would be charged with second-degree murder.
“I know that many of you are greatly -- and rightly -- concerned about the recent shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, a young man whose future has been lost to the ages,” Holder told the group’s annual convention.
Though an ongoing Justice Department investigation prevented Holder from speaking in detail about the case, he said several officials had traveled to Sanford, Fla. – where Martin was shot – to meet with the boy’s family, the community and local authorities.
“If we find evidence of a potential federal criminal civil rights crime, we will take appropriate action,” Holder said.
His comments came ahead of a 6 p.m. ET press conference by Angela Corey, the special prosecutor appointed by Florida Gov. Rick Scott to re-examine the case. Corey announced the second-degree murder charge and said Zimmerman was in custody in Florida.
On Tuesday, the attorneys for Zimmerman said they had lost touch with their client and were withdrawing from the case. Craig Sonner and Hal Uhrig said at a news conference outside the Seminole County Courthouse in Sanford that Zimmerman had contacted the special prosecutor against their advice.
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These attorney's are doing nothing more than exploiting a situation to get facetime on TV, and then more clients.
You're so right!! The whole Zimmerman Team seems to be a bunch of 'clown's'....Zimmerman's family is in denial, and knows damn well their son is mentally unstable. And these Attorney's who has gone on the national media and let the whole world know, that there is an mentally unstable guy walking around, armed and dangerous!!...go figure
Blackrose: is mentally unstable, you would too if it seemed the whole world turned against you too. If you were fearing for your life 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You too would become mentally unstable.
Plus the media continues milking all they can off this story with no new developments worth mentioning
I guess if you shot someone dead you'd feel unstable too. Sounds like guilty conscience to me.
That very well could be! But, if Zimmerman is saying he shot Martin in self defense, and he has a legal team that is backing him, why would he run and cut all communication with them?? Then to add insult to injury, his Attorney's go national, and say we 'quit'!!....It's (1) or (2) things wrong with this picture....They can't get Zimmerman to do as they ask/ or they where ask to do something that would place their career's on the line.
'
If you had been tried and convicted in the media, and had hordes of lynch mobs wanting your blood, would you be mentally stable?
i just don't understand why mr. zimmerman doesn't put a stop to this nonsense by cooperating fully with an investigation. websites? hannity? come on....
i understand his safety is an issue at this point, but if what he says happened happened then it was self defense and he could go home, right??
the parents only want what is fair and just for their son.
Balckrose,
So the attorney general will see if any civil rights have been violated in this case but he won't go and charge the Black Panther party for putting a bounty on George Zimmerman. I guess the look like Eric Holder if he was a member of the Black Panther party. Also how about the call to arms that the black panthers continue to spew. Eric Holder is a disgrace to the attorney general position.
No matter his plight, at least he is alive. The same can't be said for Martin.
“If we find evidence of a potential federal criminal civil rights crime, we will take appropriate action,” Holder said."
Well, there are about 12 million illegal aliens in the country, so it looks like you've got your work cut out for you. Better get busy.
It's sad to see how many people condemn Zimmerman before the authorities have even finished their investigation. I also include Holder in this category. If Holder had said we'll decide what to do after we get the facts, that's one thing, but to start talking about potentially making this a civil rights case is way out of line.
"...it's sad to see how many people condemn Zimmerman..."
Isn't that what happened with OJ?
As for Zimmerman's state of mind and his former Lawyers announcement....Zimmerman is probably working in panic mode at this point. His open channel to law enforcement and to contacting those involved in the investigation just scream that he is waiting for the system of law to work.
He doesn't seem to wish to participate in the "games" that have been played around this tragedy like those of the New Black Panther Party, Sharpton and his perpetual circus, the President and his remarks about Trayvon could be his son. Now Holder and his interest in perpetuating some sort of "hate agenda" even though none seems to exist. The family who does not seem to have whipped the country into a frenzy to find justice instead they wish to foster some vigilante justice of their own through mass rallies. Then there is their family attorney who is taking every opportunity to settle this situation in the court of public opinion, but only her side...casting all sort of BS about the former attorneys for Zimmerman. My guess is she must be a poor attorney if she has to get down in the dirt to do her job...or perhaps she knows that the evidences shows that Zimmerman was retreating from the chase and Trayvon attacked him. Perhaps, she knows what is in the sealed autopsy and would be glad for the State to refuse to proceed.
I'm wondering if the lawyers quit (or were fired) because Zimmerman didn't want to do lots of press conferences, in turn giving the lawyers free media exposure.
Dolittle- I have not seen any articles stating he's not cooperating with the police. Ignoring your self-appointed lawyers is not a crime.
Why is there not more talk about the adult vs. minor aspect of this case. These lawyers are complaining about the the media focussing on racial aspects? Well, they say that Treyvon Martin (a minor) attacked Mr. Zimmerman and for that reason, Mr. Zimmerman was allowed to shoot him. These guys are more concerned with protecting gun rights and the stand your ground law than true justice. Can a 17 year old get a permit to cary a gun? I suspect that a 17 year old can't. How are minors expected to protect themselves against the "punks and thugs" Zimmerman's former attorneys/ current protectors against the sticks and stones of an outraged public speak of?
Blackrose....
I think Zimmerman's legal team was self appointed. They stepped up, one at a time, to say they would support him. There was nothing paid or any contract signed. It looks like these two are also joining the crowd looking for publicity.
Holder is concerned that a civil rights violation may have been committed; the rest of us are concerned that a murder may have been committed. Holder has a racist chip on his shoulder the size of a redwood stump.
Blackrose:
Where does this Zimmerman is mentally unstable, and his family knows it...come from.
Never heard a word from any mental health professional who diagnosed or treated him, but suddenly everyone knows he is mentally unstable? How did we jump to that?
I think that the only way to resolve this matter is to take Zimmerman to trial. If the special prosecutor chooses not to file charges at this point, after deciding not to submit the case to the grand jury, people will be screaming cover-up and there will be riots. The only way for this to be resolved in an open and fair matter is to put Zimmerman on trial and let 12 people from the community hear all the evidence and decide if Zimmerman is guilty of a crime or not. Should the special prosecutor decide not to file charges, I would think that it would virtually guarantee that the feds step in and file federal civil rights charges against Zimmerman. I just do not see any way that this ends without Zimmerman standing trial.
The attorneys are exploiting the situation for facetime on TV? How is that any worse that the Martin family going on TV weighing in on the relationship between Zimmerman's attroneys and Zimmerman?
Mighty classy of holder to make comments about the case rather than something along the line "we are investigating the situation and will make a determination after we have collected all thee relevant information". Nothing like pandering to the racist rev. al!
Let's all wait and see what this new information is that the prosecutor is going to release within 72 hours and then lets all jump to wild conclusions!!! Isn't this fun???
Zimmerman is a sheet-wearing KKK Grand Wizard with an Uzi in his pocket!!!
Trayvon is an 8 ft tall drug peddling hoodlum!!!
WEEEEEEE!!!!!
Again, we all know Zimmerman may be innocent.
But the more and more people try to defend him without waiting for the court to figure it all out, shows more and more their own racism as well.
Don't blame Zimmerman's lawyers either. They took this case on and the guy has to want to be defended for them to be able to do their job. They are trying, and people want to know what happened. They are simply answering the questions.
“If we find evidence of a potential federal criminal civil rights crime, we will take appropriate action,” Holder said.
Is Attorney General Holder covering the Black Panther's bounty on Zimmerman's head and threats of voilence against whites, maybe Rosanne Barr and Spike Lee posting what they think is Zimmerman's address so that people can find him and take a shot at him? Maybe watching if any of the Sharpton protestors are doing anything against the locals (remember Crown Heights? Mr. Sharpton was a pretty good organizer then- even got a few people killed)?
My guess is no. No he isn't worried about irrational acts and threats related to the death. He's only worried about getting good press for the administration during election season. How can I say that- just look at the facts. Nothing to say about anything, then the President says Travon would be his son, then the Sharptons and Jacksons jump in for press, THEN the AG has something to say against Zimmerman. I don't believe that the DOJ was just watching a local matter. I think the DOJ was not seeing the results that they wanted, so they jumped in.
Great job, Mr. DOJ. Everyone knows which side of the fence you stand on since you WILL NOT bring charges against the members of the Black Panthers or the other "Martin activists".
The level of corruption in this administration is astounding.
It's amazing to me how much crap Eric Holder, The Black Panthers, Al "Racist" Sharpton and people like him are able to get away with the crap they do. The people on the left just turn a blind eye.
Poor Zimmerman, a democrat who is being ridiculed by the media. Never thought I'd see it.
The sheer stupidity of some of these comments is astonishing.
A child was killed. The killer was not indicted. But these right wing nutcases claim that anyone who wants a trial for a killer is a racist.
These right wingers should be ashamed of themselves instead of putting their lack of intelligence on display for all to see.
OJ was a black man who butchered a white woman and was found not guilty. Casey Anthony was white murdered her own daughter aided by a white family and was found not guilty. Zimmernan a Mexcian shot a Black man at night wearing a hoodie that was lookibng for a gang bang, not how you gonna convict this dude?? Oh, we did not see jesse jackson or the sharpton crying over the above two muders now did you? The State Prosecutor is looking for the next political feather to move on by not using a grand jury......
BlueStarRepublic, is that so? His actions means he's guilty? Whether he's innocent or guilty, the public has made up their minds, he's guilty. With all the negro leaders and the black panthers, hi sfate is already sealed. Just like in the OJ Simpson trial. A 5 year old kid could see that Simpson was guilty, but with all of the crazed negros waiting for th everdict and saying they would riot, what could the jury do, but say not guilty. The black panthers are saying they are on the warpath, Sharpton and Jackson are in a rage. Innocent or guilty doesn't matter in this case. Zimmerman is all done. My question is, why don't people get this outraged or concerned when a negro murders an umarmed white person, like in Lancaster, California 15 days ago, when a 24 year old negro shot and killed an unarmed 59 year old white store owner. Or are negro deaths more important than white deaths? What a joke this country is turning into. The white "do-gooders" add fuel to the fire for the negros all the time, and the negros just keep on feeding off of it. No one alive today is responsible for what took place 150 years ago. My family has been dirt poor for 200 years, so why do I have to be held accountable for what the negros say I should be accountable for? So from what I get from all of this outrage about this case is, it's okay for negros to murder unarmed whites, but not okay for whites to murder unarmed negros. Yea, that sounds right, what could I have been thinking about? My bad.
nickbo13
It's not OK for anyone to kill anyone, no matter what color their skin is. This whole debate has been twisted towards race and must stop. ALL killings should and must be investigated to determine the FACTS.
Here's this insane comment by
Typical right wing twisted logic. The actual truth is, so far the killer "got away with it", not the Justice Department nor the responsible adults like Rev Sharpton who say we need a trial.
If you read my other posts on this case, I have said that. Murder is wrong no matter what color, etc. But the only time people are outraged is when a white person kills a negro. Here in a suburb of Rochester, NY a couple of years ago, a negro shot and killed an unarmed 17 year old white kid on another person's property, because he ASSumbed the kid was stealing things from cars. So he became the cop, the judge, and the jury and went off of his property and murdered an unarmed white teen. And guess what, no one reported anything stolen. The case went to trial and the negro was found not guilty. Before the trial there wasn't any outrage, marches, or protests for the dead teen. All there was, was remarks how he was in trouble before and deserved to die. NO outrage, nothing. In Lancaster, California 15 days ago, a 24 year old negro shot and killed an umarmed 59 year old white store owner. No outrage, no marches, no protests. Only a little blip on the internet. This is total garbage the way people are acting aboiut this case.
Sharpton is a responsible adult? Is this supposed to be a joke? He is more racist than one million whites put together.
@ Jim -
Typical left wing twisted logic. Killer "got away with it"? How? There hasn't even been a trial. And if you call a racist person like Sharpton a responsible adult then I think you need your head examined.
Jo Ann,
Zim has "gotten away with it" so far. He wasn't even charged. Just interviewed and released. After he admitted that he shot and killed an unarmed 17 year old. Regardless of color, that's a travesty for which the Sanford police department is at fault.
If anyone had a right to "stand their ground" in this situation, it was the unarmed teenager who was being harassed by a neighborhood vigilante.
Gotta love guys like Jimbo, up is down, right is wrong and common sense is non-sensical. Oh the mess we are in because guys like him vote.
Mikey Mike jumping to conclusions again, how bout we all give it a rest til we actually know what happened, huh? And it sure would be nice if this administration would stop being so obvious with it's selective outrage. Many much younger and completely innocent children were murdered last month throughout the country. Why is this one so worthy of the executive branche's blatherings?
@ MikeyMike - what you described happens everyday. Nothing new here. Only you, like the media, make it seemed like he just wanted to kill somebody, anybody, he just needed to kill. Maybe Zimmerman got scared...got his gun and if went off during the struggle. He will probably face manslaughter charges. Just look at that Powell man whose wife, Susan Powell, went missing. There was so much evidence pointing to him and he was never arrested. He was untouched. After he killed his two little boys and himself the police FINALLY release information that they found Susan's blood in the house.
I didn't see Al Racist Sharpton coming to help Susan's family. Now two little boys are dead because the police never arrested the father. Like I said, sadly it happens everyday.
The difference there sounds like the guy was at least arrested and at least brought before a court. Had there not been any sort of outrage with the Zimmerman situation, life might have gone on like normal with not even a day in court.
It's not so much the murder that folks like me were upset about, it's the fact that he was not even arrested. There is zero doubt in my mind had Zimmerman been black and Trayvon white (or half white/half whatever other half Zimmerman was), he would definitely been arrested if he managed to survive the police getting there that is (cops tend to like to shoot black folks, even when the black folks are off duty cops themselves [see Chicago case]).
So stop making this about outrage about murder and suggesting that there is some kind of double standard. It was outrage about injustice. Not to mention tons and tons and tons of protests have been held over the years over murders (and crime in general - million mom march for example?) in various neighborhoods, so you can't even say folks don't care about that either. Even if Trayvon had not died but was simply beaten really badly, there would be outrage.
Obamaoneanddone
I totally agree. I can't wait until November to vote this racist regime out. It is ok for Black Panthers to stand outside voting places with night sticks in hand. It is ok for Black Panthers to put out a bounty on someone which is suborination of murder. There are millions of illegal aliens in our country, many convicted of crimes here and in thier home countries. Holder stays silent and does nothing about all of that. But give him a chance to be black against the world and here he is. In the last three years the race relations in this country and the safety of its citizens has been pushed back to the 50s. All because of the many that want to take from those who work to give to those who don't.
Holder is part of the Obama divide the people team , like he said when running last year he wants to bring the people of the USA together , BULL. Just like their fellow scum at NBC who from the start of this case tried to fabricate and tell lies about Zimmerman to spin their and the presidents agenda !!!!Democrats are so ugly in how they divide our country !!!!
Mr Holder, I'm more concerned about the bounty offered by the New Black Panthers that your office is ignoring. It would seem the the USAGs office is giving racial preference regarding federal hate crime laws. Would you please explain why there hasn't been any announcement of arrests being made for this widely publicised racist hate crime, or promises by your office to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Precisely.
Tod, how am I "jumping to conclusions"? Everything I stated is a known fact in this case.
Holder is destroying his own credibility and/or objectivity by having anything to do with Sharpton.
@Jim-3113262:
The arrogance and ignorance shown by the liberal left wing nut jobs on this blog is truly astounding. A person was killed, the law needed to be followed in order to affect an arrest, but you, with all of your wisdom and legal knowledge, have decided the law should not have been followed. You, being the great thinker that you are, have decided some people are above the law and others are beneath the law. Which side will you come down on should you ever be arrested? Wanna bet you'll be running to hide behind Mommy's skirt and doing everything within your power to make sure the law is followed?
Let us be clear! Eric Holder is one useless SOB.
Open letter to Mr. Holder;
Dear Sir;
In light of your recent waste of tax payer money to pursue federal civil rights charges against Mr. Zimmerman in a what should be a State case. Please do the same thing in the case of 13 year old Danial Coon, Kansas City,Mo. Who was followed home from school by two Black teens, doused with gasoline and set on fire while being told "You get what you deserve, White boy", March 5, 2012. In the event that the K.C.Mo. police actually arrest anyone, I demand you pursue these black civil rights violators with the same zeal and of course the same expense to the tax payer. Since you obviously feel the need to file publicity charges, make certain apply them equally.
Derek-381097
I'm sure you'd agree that applies to those who have convicted him without waiting for the court also correct?
Don't blame the lawyers? Are you serious? There are laws against as well as ethical obligations that prevent lawyers from "simply answering questions". You do understand that don't you? These lawyers shouldn't give a rats @ss about what "people want to know". They shouldn't say jack sht to the media without their clients permission which they obviously didn't have since they weren't even in contact with him.
Comment above deleted, Howdy Ho posting an email address allegedly belonging to 'Michelle Williams of the New Black Panther Party'. Don't encourage harassment.
You're suspended for a day for violating #5 of the Code of Honor -repeatedly.
Emanuel - Your double standard is that the whole world didn't hear a peep about the killing in Rochester. This case has things like hate crime and civil rights violation attached to it. Not to mention Rev. Al, JJ, Holder and the like making a big stink. You want double standard...there you go!
Ugh...let the daily rants from both sides continue!
Ruken....
I only wish people would give the AUTHORITIES the time to make a definitive decision.
All that these rants, from BOTH sides are doing is stirring the pot of hate.
I truly fear the outcome if they decide to NOT prosecute Zimmerman. But then I'll need to ask myself are they prosecuting because they truly believe he's guilty, or as a way to placate the people.
Yup.
But in the meantime I'm sick of the constant onslaught of posters posting "facts" like this media circus is some sort of trial. No matter what the media posts we don't know for a fact what happened. People just get swept away in crap like this.
You must be an old fart like me....
I tend to get "excited" but always temper my feelings and let the facts come out before I make unfounded rhetorical statements.
I have a feeling this is going to turn out badly. The media/Sharpton /Jackson have created a dangerous situation and all evidence might really support Zimmerman's account. The steam has been building and it is going to have to find a release which might not bode well.
They won't- people see what they want to see and want Zimmerman arrested even without having formal evidence presented as a cause to arrest him
You are right- the media has been reinforcing this story and we have groups coming forth using this to further their own hate-filled agendas hoping to gain some notoriety
Yep- get the riot gear ready and on standby- there just might not be enough there for them to make a good case as, so far, it sounds like it's one word against another.
I'm a fresh college grad.
Who knows? Maybe I'm just weird.
Yup. Many people have already tried and convicted Zimmerman in their own minds. Should the general public ever find out where he is, lynch mobs will be there in a snap waiting to get him.
As XD said, if he is cleared and not charged, there will be riots. The blood of the rioters and the innocents they hurt will be on Sharpton, Jackson, and all those that worked to instill prejudged anger in the masses.
Q22 - A feeling shared by many I'm sure. People are so strong in their emotions that the facts become secondary, and even those may be obscure. Add to it the medias pot stirring, and it is dificult to come away thinking this will have a peaceful closing. Everyone may end up with some of the blood on them.
This case is looking more and more like the Duke Lacrosse case before. The media and "civil rights" leaders present a narrative that turns out to be completely false. Meanwhile the accused go through hell before they are exonerated. I don't know what all the facts are but I am not gong to judge this case until all the facts come out.
The AG is only cow-toeing to Sharpton...one of Americans top ten racists. America with all of it's "rights" should be embarrassed by the lynch mob attitude taken by so many blacks. What happened to innocent until...or is that only for special interest groups? If the accused is guilty then he should be jailed for the rest of his life. If the law allows for overwelming force (hand vrs gun) then it is the law makers that need to be held accountable.
"...AG is only cow-toeing to Sharpton..."
Isn't that similar to what the GOP are doing? Cow-toeing to Rush, Hannity, Beck and the three Ks?
Danceroflife...the three K's belong to the Democrat party....why don't you stick to the subject instead of trying to make the issue worse than it already is.
Perhaps the "...three K's" should be back, then all the blacks might remember what it is like to cry for a lynching. They are not seeking justice but revenge for something they have NO facts about. And no, there is no comparison to the GOP and others mentioned, because the whites in this society NEVER really march, or condemn publicly. To do so would be called a racist or be thrown in jail.
The last time I know whites got together was a tea party gathering where there were no cry's to jail someone, no trash left behind, no rapes ad-infinitum. The same CANNOT be said for this group OR the occupy group. It needs time for HONEST facts to come out, not biased "facts" by holder and company!
What happens if rev al gets this elevated to another case he immersed himself into - Tawana Brawley? Will he and the Martin family insist on "justice" if the facts support a counter position?
Anyone else notice how the media has changed their approach....Zimmerman is now the son of a white father and a
hispanicno Peruvian mother because well we know that Peruvians aren't a very big voting block for the DNC. and so that is much more palatable for the President and Holder and Sharpton and New Black Panther Party to attach racism to Peruvians rather than blanket Hispanics. Odds are that not many in the DNC really know where Peru is....they could as easily equate it with Eastern Europe as they would with South America.The so called facts of this tragedy have been twisted around by the press, the attorneys, the police and the public. Had Zimmerman been charged right away this whole mess would have been avoided. Due process is much better at getting to the truth than public speculation.
I really hope this has taught the right wing Republican regime in Florida that passing dangerous laws written and promoted by lobbyists like ALEC and the NRA may be good for their campaign chests but are definitely bad for public safety.
@BigAl Las Vegas:
Too bad you, like so many others, make statements with no knowledge to back them up. Would you kindly explain how the SYG law is dangerous? I'll wager large sums that you don't have the first clue what the law says, so your reply should be quite amusing.
Xbonz -
In answer to your question - before enactment of SYG, self-defense claims under Floridian jurisprudence averaged 13 per month. After enactment, it nearly tripled to 36 per month. THAT'S why it's a dangerous law.
And for those that resorted to name-calling toward me in the above posts, I would remind you - this article is NOT about Reverend Sharpton, nor is it about Eric Holder. It is about a trial. A child was killed, the known killer wasn't immediately charged, but now there will be a trial.
Any of you right wing loonies got a video recording of Sharpton saying he hates all white people?
I didn't think so. So shut the hell up about racism before you reveal your own.
@Jim-3113262
"In answer to your question - before enactment of SYG, self-defense claims under Floridian jurisprudence averaged 13 per month. After enactment, it nearly tripled to 36 per month. THAT'S why it's a dangerous law."
Your figures are incorrect. Over a 5 YEAR period there were 130+/- claims of self defense in Florida, that's more like 2 per month. Also, in that time period, only 50 of those claims were allowed by the courts. So again, please show me the danger. Now let's look at the other side of that coin. If 'only'50 people were successful at defending themselves that means 50 people did not wind up dead, maimed, etc. Which would you prefer to read, victim killed by bad guy or bad guy killed by victim. I'll choose the latter. I don't want to wait for the police to show up to collect my remains. I want to go home and see my family. Guess you would rather be the victim, huh?
Holder approves of the New Black Panthers putting a bounty on an American citizen.
He is a piece of work.
The victims family never endorsed nor approved of the New Black panther party neither has the original members. Go figure
Anti-delusional meds aren't working?
But DOJ had no problem with the Black Panters intimidating voters at polling places eh?
Most people commenting here are right.
There's no new evidence and it's the same $hit regurgitated over and over. Aside from that I think the two statements made by zimmerman "They always get away" and “F-ucki-n C-o-o-n-s...” Sounds like a hate crime to me!
Enough is enough, now the feds should go do their job and pick him up before anymore fools send him money for his living expenses. Or for him to get out of dodge for that matter.
That's not evidence. CNN enhanced the tape and Zimmerman sounds more like he is saying "F-ing cold" (which would make sense since it WAS cold that night). PLEASE! Wait for all the evidence!
@ fnkheehaw AND Q22
Zimmerman didn't say "coons" or "cold," he said "punks." I don't know why people are even arguing about this, it's not that cryptic in the 911 tape.
There is no "ooo" sound in the tape, eliminating "coon" and there is no reason for him to say "cold," that doesn't make any sense at all (it's about as bad as George's one black friend, Mr. Oliver I think, saying "he said 'goons'".)
He said "f'ing punks," nothing too nefarious or damning. That being said, I still think he's guilty of manslaughter but would like this case to go to trial to prove it.
/palmface, "not this crap again"
:sigh:
Q22, when the shooting occurred, the temperature was roughly 62 degrees. That may be cold for Florida, but I live in Chicago, and that's comfortable here. I'm not sure what Zimmerman said, but "f.cking cold" is not high on the list.
@Drowning Grover: "F.cking punks" isn't up there on the list either.
for sure, it's hard to tell what he said definitively. But there is a "p" sound in the tape, and "punks" seems to pretty likely.
At least far more likely than "coons" , and definitely more likely than "cold" or "goons."
DrowingGrover...NBC released a "cleaned up" version of the 911 tape that implicated GZ. It was later proven to be manipulated and false. Last weekend, CNN had a "cleaned up" version of the 911 that was manipulated to sound more like "cold" than "coon", but you could tell the reporter wanted the guy to say it was "coon". The guy would not bite and blatantly said it was inconclusive what was said.
There is so much false information about this case floating around, people like heehaw who don't research sufficiently are tricked into believing a lie.
Jeff-803009, post 3.3
What is it with right wingers and their fascination with the "New Black Panther Party" ? Maybe all you parinoid righties should go and hide in your bunkers because your so terrified of a few loud mouth miscreants that DO NOT represent anyone but themselves. God, I wish you people would grow up.
Nothing to figure. The family didn't denounce the New Black Panther Party so they tacitly approve of it.
And Holder would railroad Zimmerman for political reasons. He's aware his boss is up for re-election.
Holder should be held accountable for his actions as well. But alas the only way to hold him accoutable is to vote out his boss in November. The president better do something fast..This is a powder keg waiting to exsplode. Because when you have any AG no matter there race, Become onsided on laws, only adds fuel to the fire and lost votes for his or her boss at election time.
Holder and The president should be saying to the nation please let our justice sysytem work. Holder yesterday also should have said. We are investigating The black panthers as well for there hate crimes. cough cough. Eric didnt they just plot to kidnap a federal agent who was acting like a white supremist? or mybe ya didnt get the memo or have the knowlege of it. just like ya didnt know we was sending guns to mexican drug lords
I'd like to know why this is taking so long for the various federal and state investigations to wrap up when it's been over a month since the shooting occurred.
My guess is that the evidence supports Zimmerman but there is tremendous pressure to find something to charge him with.
Good question!!...After his attorney's has lost contact with him...Why was/is there not a warrant for his arrest??
Blackrose...
Maybe because he's in contact with Florida Law Enforcement?
Don't forget, there is a "group" that has put a bounty on his head... Dead or Alive... and don't you believe there ARE people crazy enough to try and collect it?
Well, that would be all the more reason to arrest him....for his own safety! This is one weird case!! Before we can go to bed tonite...There will be another breaken story of foolishness!!....smh!
It would happen in two stages, first evidence supporting probable cause would allow arrest, but most likely that would not occur until evidence that supported at least some chance of conviction was found. The time to collect and process evidence can and often does take months or even years.
Keep in mind the prosecution gets ONE chance to try a suspect, and has 175 days from arrest to indite or dismiss.
Blackrose, That's an excellent suggestion. His life would never be in danger if he were housed in a prison full of....oh wait....strike that.
Seriously, you have to charge him with something. So far they haven't been able to do that. You can't just go around locking people up for their own protection.
I know there are those that make a living race-baiting. This poor kid died nearly two months ago. If there was one ounce of evidence supporting anything unlawful Zimmerman would have been thrown in jail then. Three counties around Sanford have been put on Level II civil preparedness alert, in anticipation of the AG's announcement. Zimmerman is going to walk.
Arrest him for his own safety?
There is a difference between protective custody and arrest (lawful detention).
If you were following this story you would know that the Sanford Police were negligent in their investigation , witness statements were not taken and crucial evidence was not gathered at the time. It was weeks before attention was drawn to this case by the "media ". Because of the pisspoor original investigation most of the evidence was not recorded . Sanford PD have a history of poor Police work so just because they did not charge Zimmerman does not mean anything as their credibility is severely lacking
Blackrose,
Police cannot arrest someone without a Warrent from a judge supported by probable cause.
It is standard procedure to handcuff and detain (not arrest) anyone who is party to a violent injury or killing and take them to the police station for questioning.........By law police can detain someone up to 72 hours without filing charges.
Zimmerman was probably not arrested at the time of the incident because there was not enough evidence to discount his statement, and prosecutors must be careful to level the right charges against someone because they cannot try them again for the same crime.
So please stop appointing yourself judge and jury and let law enforcement work this out, the KKK form of justice was banned a long time ago, suspicion is nolonger enough to convict someone.
Ellis: Apparently, suspicion is enough to follow, harass and approach someone in the street, then gun them down 'in self defense', even if you're not connected to law enforcement.
Zimmerman appointed himself judge, jury and executioner. But it would be 'racist' to want to find out what happened, right? All the kids parents want is a f**&*^ing investigation. That seems to be too much for you guys on this list.
Eric Holder is NOT trustworthy,nor is he honest. He's a gun runner, weapons his dept. released to the CARTEL were used to KILL agent Brian Terry.( C S I data) Holder refuses to admit his involvement in agent Terry's death. (FACT: his weapons were used ) Gun running is a five year per weapon felony, Why is he FREE ? ( above the law) When a drunk driver kills a person, they even go after the bartender who served drinks.Holder served these KILLERS weapons used to MURDER agent Brian Terry.
Holder doesn't seem concerned that his department is directly responsible for the death of a US Border Patrol agent.
Holder sucks.
Steven, are you a supporter of the NRA? If so, try to remember the slogan, "its not the gun that kills, its the person pulling the trigger!"
tex2c2...when you illegally provide the gun used to commit a crime, you're guilty....
I support the NRA, but I'm not a member..guess I'll join. What does the NRA have to do with this anyway, Tex? Since you brought it up, the NRA's main purpose is to protect 2nd Amendment rights, which the Supreme Court just upheld gives individual citizens the right to bear arms. So, if this is a problem to you, I guess you are an Obamaite that believes, as he does, that the Supreme court is bogus, as is the Constitution? Other things that the NRA supports is the responsible ownership of firearms and firearm safety. If you've ever been to an NRA sanctioned event, which I'm sure you haven't, you'd know this already. Go to one sometime and maybe you'd learn the truth instead of the same old demonizing rhetoric of the Brady Bunch.
He's also not worried about voter fraud...says it doesn't happen...what a piece of work!
Holder sure has exposed himself as a racist bigot over the years. He speaks of Trayvon as if mankind lost a great humaniatian. He may have been a benefit to society but there are no indications he was on the path to that goal.
Let's see, how can we tag Holder with the Nazi hatred of the Jews while we are at it? Creepy there navyvet!
You should be ashamed to use a name such as Navyvet 98 , the majority of our miltary serve to protect a country where unarmed kids are not just shot to death just because they look suspicious to some wannabee gun carrying POS.
So, let me get this straight: unarmed kid walking home from store gets gunned down in the street by another kid who carries a concealed weapon for no legitimate reason. Facts of the altercation unclear. Cops let the kid go. Local community is outraged that there has been no investigation. Holder, speaking to outraged community, says the dead kid's 'future has been lost to the ages'. Navyvet says this shows Holder is a racist bigot. Did I get that right?
First, saying the dead kid has no future is really just a statement of fact, if tactfully put for the dead kid's parents, who are standing there listening.
Second, what is not in dispute is that the dead kid was innocent of whatever the shooter 'suspected' him of - unless you think he was going to jimmy open a window with his skittles. You say that 'there is no indication that he was on a path' to being a benefit to society. Well, since Holder was right that he has no future, guess we'll never know what he would have been - but what in the hell does that matter? It's ok to gun down an innocent kid, if you think he wasn't going to one day benefit society? That what you think it means to live in America?
Your statement says a lot more about you than about Eric Holder.
Snakebone...it's not illegal to follow someone. My brother works for a neighborhood watch. He follows people he doesn't recognize through his neighborhood all the time because there have been some break-ins. That by no means gives someone the right to attack him. If Trayvon hadn't attacked Zimmerman, it's highly unlikely he would have gotten shot. Innocent? Punching someone to the ground and banging their head on the ground makes someone innocent? I believe that is called assault and battery.
So you ignore the known and head straight for the unknown. What is known is that TM was innocent of whatever GZ suspected him of - unless you think he was going to jimmy open a window with his skittles. What is known is that GZ called the cops, and then disobeyed their orders - your brother do that also? What is known is that had GZ done his 'job', and left it there, there would have been no confrontation.
What is not known is who attacked who, and why. You assume TM attacked GZ. Why? We got one witness saying there was a fight, didn't see how it started, didn't see how it ended. Why was GZ even out of his car? According to the stand your ground law, if TM feared for his life, then punching them and banging their head on the ground (if that even happened) would actually NOT be illegal (nor would shooting them, but TM - unfortunately for him - didn't have a gun). Did TM fear for his life? We don't know, because he's dead. But I do know some stranger following me around in his car when I'm walking in my neighborhood would scare me quite a bit, especially if he kept it up. And it defies reason to think that GZ couldn't have protected himself against TM by stepping on the gas - unless he was out of his car and approaching TM (???). Your brother do THAT? Putting myself in TMs situation, now I'm not only scared, but I'm thinking seriously about self-defense.
That's why stalking is illegal. The role of Neighborhood Watch is to report suspicious activity, not stalk people or try to play vigilante. Hope your brother has that figured out, or he's likely to find a bullet with his name on it one day.
hs321,
Zimmerman was specifically insructed by the 911 operator he was talking to, that he did not need to follow Trayvon, yet he continued to do so. I think we can safely assume that at some point he got confrontational with him, at which point Trayvon apparently punched him, perhaps tackled him and knocked him down resulting in a slight abrasion on the back of his head, and at that point Zimmerman apparently drew his gun and shot him dead. There may or may not have been a scuffle over control of the gun. Zimmerman claims there was. I personally doubt everything he says. We may never know the truth about that particular detail.
What is clear is that Zim was armed and Trayvon was not. Zim was the one following Trayvon, not the other way around. If anyone had the right to "stand their ground" it was Trayvon, not the aggressor, Zimmerman, who very likely may have committed "assault" in his initial confrontation with Trayvon. If you don't know the definition of assault, look it up. It does not necessarily involve physical contact. That's why assault and battery are two different things.
I went ahead and did it for you...
Since Zimmerman was the one who had the gun, there was a clear "threat of violence". If he had it drawn and was brandishing it that's an "immediate show of force". He claims he didn't draw his gun until later, but again, I don't believe him.
Alright, GZ is in custody, gonna face a trial. Time to let the system roll and see what the story is. I'm happy for TMs parents; Way to get the system to do what it is supposed to!
Well done, MM
He's concerned about the rioting that will occur when Mr. Zimmerman is cleared of wrongdoing.
Guaranteed there will be riots if he's not arrested. Rioting worse than the 60s.
A E
Too bad the racial hate mongers like you haven't died off by now, and I am including the white hate mongers also.
Racial hatred by people like Sharpton and yourself are what mostly holds the black race down, it is pretty hard to understand and feel empathy when someone threatens violence against you. You, and those like you are your own worst enemy.
It's not about clearing Zimmerman, it's about actually investigating what happened. It is rather shocking that it took this much just to get someone to say 'ok, we'll look into it'.
But then, Martin was wearing a hoodie...
Black racial hatred is what is holding the black race down? Huh. Looks like white suspicion and fear is gunning the black race down, in the streets of America, at least in this case.
Arpaio is quiet.
Why would he have anything to say about a crime thousands of miles from his jurisdiction.
The Reverend Sharpton has already passed public judgement on this case creating a much worse situation than allowing the justice system to work. How sad..............
you got it jack....they're for a cooling off period....the timeline of the incident will show that Trayvon was the aggresor and the eyewitneses that we'll soon hear from..will confirm this....i just hope the black community will accept this
No one knows all the evidence accept for the special prosecutor. She will give her statement sometime, soon. I hope whichever decision she has, both side respect her decision.
Hope won't get it done. All the ammo is gone at the Wal Mrts in Orlando.
Baloney. Zimmerman's (ex)lawyers admitted yesterday that Zimmerman is the only witness to what happened. No witness saw who initiated the confrontation.
trm...the witness said she saw two people fighting on the ground. She could not specifically identify either one, but said the one with the red shirt (GZ) was on the bottom. To my knowledge based on the volumes I've read, no one besides GZ and TM saw what happened before or after that.
Rightly concerned is one thing.
Demanding an arrest, demanding prosecution, and placing a bounty on the man is quite another thing.
Rush to judgement, media spin, demands for immediate prosecution are all over the top responses. Far to many people assumed he was guilty and demanded justice for something he has not even been accused of yet by the authorities.
So, yes concern is fine. Rush to judgement and demanding prosecution is not fine at all.
If they didn't find evidence for a crime by now with local,county,state, DOJ and the FBI searching for it..its because there is none.
Yep, otherwise he would have been arrested already- I think that in the end they won't have enough to charge him with anything except some minor misdemeanor using his handgun improperly or whatever. Then, get ready for the riots to hit the streets!
Or, the evidence has been submerged under a pile of paperwork and influence.
Oh, wait a minute, didn't it get reported that the head investigating cop wanted to make an arrest and was pulled back by his "superiors?" Maybe that is why an arrest has not been made! LOL
To all the media haters out there, this issue would have disappeared under the corrupt carpet of influence peddling Florida law if it had not been brought to national attention by the MEDIA! Get it?
tex2c2: you're saying that local community outrage over the lack of investigation by local cops regarding a shooting in the streets is a story worthy of media attention? Why, you must be a racist, trying to gin up violence against whitey! How can you not see that?
Yes, yes. I too wish everyone would give authorities time to investigate.
Like in the OJ Simpson case, for instance.
Oops. Perchance that was a bad example.
But it makes a point, doesn't it?
Hey Eric..... people are also very concerned with you selling guns to the cartels, ("Fast & Furious"). Does that qualify as a federal crime as well?
Remember, its not the gun that kills it is the trigger puller! LOL Why blame Holder when the cartels can buy anything they want in Phoenix, LA, or San Antonio with YOUR money? At least the guns sold by operation fast and furious had identification and could be traced! BTW, the guns that started the cartels were traded for drugs in Central America by the Bush/Reagan creeps. Are you blaming them?
How Erik Holder still has a job today is beyond belief... what a piece of work!
He's got a tan ...that's why !
Yeah, he didn't tell an innocent dead kid's parents that the dead kid was scum. How does he still have a job?
AG Holder stated that there was justification for concern. A young unarmed man was shot down after being stalked by an armed man who was not supposed to be armed and continued to follow Martin after he was advised not to pursue him. The young man is dead in the ground and the shooter is still walking around like nothing much happened. If that isn't cause for concern, I don't know what is.
The Attorney General **HAS NEVER** announced something like this if he were ACTUALLY GOING to FILE a CHARGE.
In FACT, NO FEDERAL COURT OFFICER WOULD **EVER** DISCUSS THIS if an ACTUAL CASE were pending.
Its BEEN OVER A MONTH NOW, and there simply IS NO CASE.
So, GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK HEAD--ZIMMERMAN WALKS.
Maybe the DOJ could partner once again with the Black Panthers.
Maybe the DOJ could repeat it's own statistics from 2009 concerning Single Victim, Single Offender murders: White victims of of blacks-454. Black victims of whites-209. And blacks make up just 13% of the total U.S. population. If this Zimmerman/Martin case is of such massive concern why haven't I heard about any of the 454 white deaths by blacks except on the local news and then it's never a matter of race.
All the Trayvon haters will be out posting with this story.
Translation of what Holder said: The DOJ will continue to overturn rocks to find evidence of any type against Zimmerman even if the local prosecuter does not charge him. God forbid a non-black guy defend himself against a black guy. It must have been racially motivated.
I am so over poor Mr Zimmerman. He is a vile little punk who is all man selling "wolf tickets"when he has a gun on his hip and a little punk seeking sympathy once it is taking away. This person went out and started a fight, tracking someone who was going about their own business when this troll came along and set into motion a series of events that ended TM's life. And I am suppose to feel sympathy for this person and the fact that he is taking heat from the media. zimmerman is alive, TM is dead and I'm sure his family would gladly have TM taking the heat but alive. The calousness of how other's regard this young person's life and his right to walk to the store blows my mind. Zimmerman is the quintessential bully who is all bravado with a gun and now he wants to be a little cry baby because he is taking some heat. Man uP Zimmerman..you can start by apologizing to this family for murdering thier loved one. I doubt if you set out to kill this kid but you nonetheless did and you have to bare the consequences of having done so. STOP WHINING and tell you dad he failed you.....he failed to teach you the meaning of taking responsibility for your actions....but it doesn't sound like he is one to do that himself.
You are so right, if Zimmerman would have followed 911s instructions he wouldnt have been in this situation. He started a fight, and murdered a unarmed kid. Skittles and a ice tea, damn!
@ hhwwdd.....You're wrong on one point......the police let the little coward walk out of the police station WITH his 9MM....HE IS STILL ARMED.....one would think that should have been kept for evidence.......the next question is?.....how many and what other firearms does Zimmy own?
Patrick, little coward??? You idiot! Who the hell are you to call anyone names. You have no idea what happened except for what the phony hate mongers spewed. You are the coward. If not, you would have the courage to want to know the truth. Keep the hate going you coward!
A teen that's being followed by a stranger, (stalked), confronts that stalker,and is shot. Damn glad I don't live there. What is a neighborhood watch "volunteer" doing carrying a gun? Zoimmerman is guilty of provoking a confrontation, that need not have happened if he'd followed the directions of the 911 operator. At the LEAST, he's guilty of manslaughter. I'm white, 70, and would NOT want to live in an area that finds that acceptable.
Maybe you should contact the prosecutor and let her know you witnessed the whole incident. A better idea...maybe you should just stop creating your own facts.
Unfortunately, it is a place where a nieghborhood watchman should be armed. I was born and raised in central FL and very familiar with Sanford. It can be a very rough place, especially at night. With the history of the burglaries in the community, and along with the high crime in the surrounding areas, I'm not surprised at all that anyone in his position would be armed. Like I said, It's a rough nieghborhood and it's a place where you need to be ready to defend youself. Did he get trigger happy? Perhaps, but that's for the authorities to decide- not us.
IT IS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH TRAINING THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE ARMED WHILE ON PATROL
Oh wait.....he was on his way to the local target and was packing the pistol for personal defense....yeah right
jpeg: Kitty was not creating facts, she was reciting them. There is no question that the GZ stalked TM, nor that he disobeyed the police in doing so. There is no question that he, in doing so, initiated the confrontation. There is also no question that TM was innocent of whatever GZ suspected him of. What is not known is how TM reacted to being harassed, and how the altercation actually went down.
It is also true that if you start a fight (not in self-defense), and then kill the person you provoked, you have at least committed manslaughter, unless you are in law enforcement. What is unclear is how Florida treats neighborhood watch volunteers (do they have a right to provoke?). We will soon know.
Oh, goody!!! The AG is going to jump right in and get to the bottom of this!
Question: Doesn't the death of Brian Terry by guns that you, yourself, permitted to cross the border into Mexico and into the hands of known drug cartels deserve your same zeal for justice? Huh, Mr. Holder?
Or, how about this one...why hasn't the DOJ ventured to South Carolina where two white officers were gunned down by blacks?
So...you're saying that two officers were gunned down in South Carolina, local officials caught the guys who did it, then let them go without more than a cursory investigation?
He may be emotionally beat-down, but at least he isn't dead.
Just take a few minutes folks and go to wagist.com...read the police reports...listen to the 911 calls....take a few minutes to study the timeline of the incident....these are the facts as they were taken the night of the event. If..after viewing this info...you still want to come on this blog and say it was racially motivated...then YOU are the prejudiced one !
Agree. Eric Holder has a credibility problem. The New Black Panthers need to stop the unhelpful and really potentially harmful rhetoric. I think Mr. Holder should spend his time on people who are making a threat and putting a bounty out on a person, that even if he is arrested and goes to trial, may be found not guilty by a jury of his peers. I still remember OJ Simpson and Casey Anthony. Let the Florida officials handle the case. Innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around. Tragic situation for both families. Poentially tragic for our nation. I heard the UN wants to get involved in this. Really?
Wagist.com has just as much of a bias as Fox and MSNBC. The Sanford, Florida city website has all the 911 calls and police reports with no spin.
The racial motivation came from the way the police department dismissed the death of a young black male who had been shot. They didnt even properly examine the crime. Everyone in this country should be up in arms over this case. It is time that these crimes are stopped in our country-black men have been being murdered without proper redress since before Reconstruction was shot down. Those of you who think that is ok- you are the problem.
I dare say most people don't think it is okay, whether the black man is shot by a another black person (90% of the time) or a white person. But two wrongs don't make a right. A person is innocent until proven guilty. I believe that was one of the problems with lynchings. I don't want to go back to pre-Reconstruction thinking. I understand the prosecutor is going to order an arrest. Hopefully, because the evidence demands it and not because she wants to avoid a race riot. We are better than this, hopefully.
I have not yet heard any official claim that this was racially motivated. Holder is talking about civil rights being violated, but that doesn't only apply to blacks or minorities. Anyone who is harassed and shot down in the street has had his civil rights violated, if the harassment and/or shooting was unwarranted.
GZ may be 'innocent until proven guilty', but a presumption of innocence (which BTW very few people here want to extend to TM) does not mean that the facts don't warrant a trial. I think they obviously do, and I would be very surprised if no arrest warrant is issued.
If GZ is smart, he's already in Argentina.
merrillshauna, there may be some stupid people here but not a one dumb enough to believe what you are saying. How come you are not getting rich as well? How about your buddy? Rich? Go back to where you came from please.