Manslaughter was the better charge. They're going to have a tough time proving murder given the facts and the lack of forensics the night of the shooting.

Big Bad, I would have felt the same if it would have been white killing white. What was the reason for shooting an unarmed man? Race to me had nothing to do with it. And no proper investigation???

Absolutely!! There must be an end to conjecture and a thorough examination of every detail and scrap of evidence.

I do not have 'white guilt' either. But Zimmerman gives all appearance of being a loose cannon : domestic violence, fighting with cops, getting fired for being "too aggressive", and his obsession with playing cop. The totality needs to be examined and, please God, the truth be discovered.

I think manslaughter was probably the more accurate charge, too.

BigBad

You ask "would anyone have protested if it was a black man who shot a white"...

1. Why would there have been a protest? - He would have been arrested on the spot!

Nelson, more blacks are behind bars in absolute and relative terms so don't cry yourself a river that somehow crime committed by blacks are ignored.

This was a witch hunt from the get go. Now we are charging people with crimes based on political correctness and the cowardice of our elected officials.

People weren't protesting because he was killed, they were protesting because the cops let him go after a friendly chat and not so much as a slap on the wrist or a proper investigation. Is it really so hard to not lie about why people are mad over this?

Terry, you are so right. I'm so tired of this garbage.

@ Viper -- please learn proper English. There are black people who commit crimes and get away with it on a daily basis. One very public one comes to mind though -- OJ Simpson much????

As a former homicide prosecutor in Florida for many years I can say that this is once again going to be the case of a politically inspired prosecutor doing everything in her power to get a conviction to further her own political goals. Her comments about seeking the truth for both Martin and Zimmerman are merely lip service. As a prosecutor you are charged with NEVER filing an information on a case where you do not have sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. As a prosecutor, we were the gateway to ensure justice was being done. Our job was not to simply throw charges at a wall and see what stuck! Our job was not to capitulate to political, social, racial, and media pressure! Our job was not to charge people where there was not sufficient evidence to proved the charges and leave it up to the defense to make sure that justice prevailed! We were obligated to make sure that the right people were charged with the right crimes and that we prosecuted the right defendants for the right reasons with right evidence to support the conviction.

And to see Pam Bondi involved in this when of all people she should know better is simply astounding! Google the Stop Sign Case - where the prosecutor and the state attorney manufactured evidence, hid evidence, threatened witnesses and their families, and committed prosecutorial misconduct to get a conviction against three innocent kids because the prosecutor wanted a promotion and a judicial position and the state attorney wanted to support his "hanging" reputation and run for state office. After the dust settled the conviction was overturned by the appellate court in a scathing criticism of the prosecutor, the prosecutor lost her job and lost her bid for a judicial position, and the state attorney (Harry Lee Coe) committed suicide under a bridge. Pam Bondi was the spokesperson for the subsequent state attorney who finally acknowledged they could not retry the case against the three kids. Yet she still only made comments about how her heart went out to the families of the victims and did not say a word about the living hell the three innocent kids were put through for five years, all as sacrificial lambs to a prosecutor's ambition. Ding ding... round two.

@coleslaw1...

Both of your posts are the most logical, non bias (either side) of all the posts here...thank you.

Have to agree. Coleslaw1 is putting forth reasonable arguments with non bias and without name calling. Kudos!

The most important thing is that now the Trayvon Martin family will get there day in court. As a Mother I can not Begin to imagine the pain Martins Mother have had to endure since 02/26/2012 nor can I Begin to phantom the pain she live with each day and will continue to endure until the day she dies. I can only imagine and I tell you in my imagine I know I would have lost my mind by now. Speaking as a Mother of 3 Grown sons and I think I speak for all mother when I say, A mother should not have to bury her child. To us, no matter the age they will always be our babies. I say that to say this. I fell sorry for Zimmerman's Mother as well because, right or wrong she has to live with the fact that her son Took a child's life. I pray to never walk a day in her shoes either. With this all being said this has put the spot light on all the unlawful crimes that has not gotten the attention that was needed. Starting with the Stand Your Ground Law, The Stanford PD, and many other state and cities are under fire because of the miscarriage of justis they have been apart of. America especially black America is tired. This case resonate in so many of our hearts because we have seen our young men on countless occasions be railroaded in some way. Some are in jail and some did not live to tell the story. Some needed to go to jail because they were wrong. Every generation of black families have a story to be told from the day the 1st slave ship landed in America there have been countless unjustified act against the black race. The justis system needs a overhaul inside out. it is over due. I'm Just trying to understand when did it start being OK for the so called SELF APPOINTED CAPTAIN of the NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH to carry a 9mm???? To add more gas to the fire. When did it become the right thing to stalk a suspicious person in your neighborhood???, call 911, be instructed not to follow them, be told that help is on the way and the pursuit continues, Martins life was taken and the caller claims to be attacked from behind, claim to have a broken nose and cuts to the head but show up @ Standford PD without 1 drop of blood on him. Did Standford PD take him home and let him change cloths????? Inquiring minds want to know.???? And When did the need to defend yourself against a bag of skittles, can of ice tea and a cell phone become a competitive weapon against a 9mm???? Inquiring minds want to know????. If Standford PD would have arrested Zimmerman from day 1 instead of playing day care provider. America would have never had the opportunity to hear about this in the media. This is just my opinion and I STAND MY GROUND!!!!!! I pray Zimmerman get the max for the crime if God dem's it Just.

What really is on trial here is the Stand Your Ground Law which is so nebulous that any person's subjective 'feeling' that they are 'threatened' can kill another person. Police use this defense all the time to blow away a suspect many times and walk free of any charge or reprimand. There needs to be a legal definition of what a threat constitutes. Imminent physical harm? Possible physical harm? Suggestive physical harm? Emotional harm? Or exactly what determines 'harm'? If a person is being physically attacked by another they definitely have a right to immobilize their assailant.

@coleslaw1

Zimmerman was describing how Martin was acting suspicious, looking at houses, then staring at him while reaching into his waistband, and then took off running. Zimmerman got out of the car and started to follow Martin giving the 911 operator directions of where Martin was heading. ONLY THEN did the 911 operator ask him if he was following Martin and told him that they didn't need him to follow him, at which point Zimmerman STOPPED following Martin, headed back to his car, and discussed arrangements to meet the police at the front gate with the 911 operator.

I beg to differ...... I heard the 911 tapes and heard the wind as Zimmerman DID NOT STOP CHASING/FOLLOWING/OBSERVING TM UNTIL "AFTER" THE POLICE REQUESTED HE DO NOT DO SO..... NO indication that he headed back to his car either before or after the arrangements. I would even suggest the barely intelligible horn in the tape would indicate he is OUT OF HIS TRUCK, AND STILL FOLLOWING OR OBSERVING!! Kinda defeats "Stand your ground", factually.......Dude shoulda went back to his truck and sat down to wait for the cops.... Don't ya think?? Why call them if you are not gonna wait, unless there is something else........

I'm Just Sayin'......

All I can say is if he walks it is open season on all of us when you can kill someone you think is about to commit a crime and that my friends is dangerous. Now last night his brother stated he was not even on patrol that night he was on the way to the store. So he was not there in an official capacity.His diabolical actions since the thing happened seems to make one think he may be a littl off center!

Clowslaw and others like him or her are full of crap. The only evidence the police have is Zimmerman's word against...well no one because the other person is dead! The victim is black so the police decide that Zimmerman's account must be true. Sure, he may be injured but perhaps he was injured because Martin was defending himself. So, if a black teenager was "running away" as Coleslaw pointed out, and gets chased down by a citizen carrying a gun, he has no to defend himself and should be executed on the spot. However, if an armed white man chased down an unarmed black because he was in the his neighborhood "illegally?" the white man has the right to chase him down and detain him and possilbly threaten him with use of and evidently use deadly force. What was Martin's crime? Looking at houses? I look at houses all the time especially if the houses are nicer than my own, Doesn't mean that I am going to burgle them. In America, white people get to shoot anybody that looks at their houses? Well ona a different note, I hope this Stand your ground law applies to abused women.

Zimmerman wore his gun to go to the store that night...this was a perfectly logical and, for him, legal thing to do. Do a search of daily newspapers across the nation on any given day and you will see plenty of reason to arm yourself against thugs who think nothing about taking your car, money, jewelry, or life just because they "want" it. Zimmerman lives in the neighborhood and unlike a lot of people, is involved with his neighborhood and would like to see that it become a safe place for everyone to live. There had been 8 burgarlies, 9 thefts, and a shooting in the last 13 months in this neighborhood. The police had been dispatched 402 times during that period.
The residents were tired of it and trying to do the right thing. Zimmerman sees someone who he does not recognize walking through the neighborhood...this person is acting suspiciously in his opinion...As far as racial profiling...he calls 911 at 7:11 and after being asked, gives the clothing description as jeans and a hoody....According to Trayvon's girlfriend...who calls his at 7:12, she says Trayvon was walking and mention some man was watching him. She THEN says Trayvon pulled up his hoody...so his hoody apparently wasn't even UP when Zimmerman gave his description...for all we know he's merely describing the clothing. And it appears that some people on here have made up their minds and even claim to have listened or read the tapes and STILL spew out the same misinformation....perhaps these people didn't pay attention in their class on reading comprehension. I don't know if Zimmerman's story is true or false...A lot of it sounds logical to me and there is the possibility that he concocted parts or all of his story to protect himself. But a lot of information that the public has received sure points to a very good possibility that he's telling the truth. Hopefully the whole truth will come out in the trial...but I sure hope that he isn't faced with "peers" with the mindsets of so many of you...you already convicted him and you don't want "justice"...you merely want revenge. Shame on you.

I hope the stand your ground law applies to abused women. How many times has a woman been convicted of murder or manslaughter for killing her abuser when their was no threat of immediate danger. Did Florida have the abused woman in mind when it passed this law or did they just want to protect theirr "gated communities for hooded hoodlums?'

As far as I'm concerned, it was both of them. Trayvon had no business being out late since he's a minor and was suspended from school....so come on Trayvon's parents...take some responsibility. And the shooter shouldn't have been out playing cop. BUT I don't think it should have been turned into this stupid race fiasco. And seriously...I'm tired of hearing black people whine about inequality and how hard it is for them with their years of prosecution. Hello...I'm a woman...part of a minority. And Jewish people got it way worse. Every place they've ever gone theyve been persecuted and murdered. And theyre not whining about it.

As a community watch member myself, when we ask a *stranger* to the neighborhood, what they're doing, we expect to hear, just out for a walk, or visiting neighbors, etc etc. I do NOT expect some smart azz reply. Which from there, a discussion can only escalate.

Sounds to me, with what little facts we do know, if this dumb kid would of just come out and said "visiting my dad", things would have stayed calm.

How dare you OverPaidCivilServant? You have the gumption to disrespect the dead in a case like this? If it was your kid or a younger sibling, you wouldn't dare call them dumb! First off, he was not a stranger - his father lived there. When I was younger and I visited my father's neighborhood, the neighborhood watch people knew who I was, and how DUMB and worthless a group of people are they to not know what's BEEN going on in their own neighborhood? He must have been there before. Zimmerman didn't know that there were black ppl living in his neighborhood? to go and stupidly assume that some random black kid walking around with a hoodie on in the rain was a burglur - because he was black? I mean do you think black people do that kind of thing to white people? I live in a maj black suburbs. A long time ago, a girl got kidnapped by a white man - do you think we stopped every white person coming through our neighborhood because they were a minority and we weren't used to seeing them around? And who besides the police approaches someone they think is a criminal looking to talk? Nonsense - who really does that?

If Zimmerman didn't approach Trayvon in an intimidating and menacing way, Trayvon would have no reason to respond in an equally intimidating way. One rule of self defense when dealing with someone who is intimidating or threatening to harm you - you intimidate them right back - you can punch them in the face before they even touch you if you have good reason to believe that they will harm you. You just can't kill them. If it wasn't for that, imagine a woman being approached by a strange man at night - you think they should wait for the guy to state his case before they pepper spray him or beat him down and flee? I don't think so! Trayvon Martin must have really thought that Zimmerman, for whatever reason, was out to murder him, and was probably fighting for his life - it was probably all or nothing in his mind. Poor kid.

Echo, do you really believe what you just said. Have you looked at pictures of Zimmerman and Trayvon? Do you really think that Zimmerman could catch Trayvon in a foot race?

I'm just sayin'......

Sttester , who said there was a foot race? Maybe Trayvon just stopped and told Zimmerman it was none of his business why he was there, and Zimmerman took offense? No one knows the truth but Zimmerman, but we all know the reality, a young man is dead, was unarmed, and much smaller in body weight that the shooter. The 911 call is very clear and has been checked for voice recognition. It was Trayvon screaming for help, not Zimmerman. It doesn't matter what color either one was, it was a crime, and now two families have to struggle with that one senseless moment.

Richard, you totally missed the reason for my comment. I too am tired of all of the senseless comments especially things like Zimmerman chased Trayvon down and murdered him just because he was black and wearing a hoodie. That is what I was pointing out in my reply. No one knows what really happened and to be truthful, no one ever will. Two families as well as Zimmerman have to live with what happened. We need to step back and hope the justice system works. If it doesn't, we are all in trouble, especially sense the media has now took on the role as judge and jury.

@Amanda-4335692

As far as I'm concerned, it was both of them. Trayvon had no business being out late since he's a minor and was suspended from school....so come on Trayvon's parents...take some responsibility. And the shooter shouldn't have been out playing cop. BUT I don't think it should have been turned into this stupid race fiasco. And seriously...I'm tired of hearing black people whine about inequality and how hard it is for them with their years of prosecution. Hello...I'm a woman...part of a minority. And Jewish people got it way worse. Every place they've ever gone theyve been persecuted and murdered. And theyre not whining about it.

Trevon was not out late it was 7 pm.

Trevon was suspended for containing a baggy proved to have HAD weed in it. Who in their teens has not tried a cig or weed before??? that still has nothing to do with the fact that he was only going to the store to get a drink and snack.

"Your Tired of hearing (US) black people whine about inequality"

"Jewish people got it way worse"

No sweet heart Jewish people got a national appoligy for the holocast, a Jewish state in Isreal, and was awarded millions of dollars for the holocast. When the holocast lasted for about 4-5 years. (I think)

WE "whine" because

1) No one ever offered us an apoligy

2) We never got our 4 acres and a mule no monies were rewarded.

3) We are still treated as we were for the 300 years we were in slavery. for example. GZ wanted to see TM pass papers to be walking while black.

4) We do not know where we come from WITH OUT A PAST WE HAVE NO FUTURE.

5) When ever we get some one to speak for us they are murdered Dr. King ,Huey Newton

I would love to trade places with you for 1 month just one month. Your views will change. I promise then finally you would see how it feels to be black. It is hell! All we want is a chance to survive equally. But as soon as we complain we get o your a race baiter.

TELL THE TRUTH AND SHAME THE DEVIL WE ARE THE WORST TREATED PEOPLES IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND and you know it!

I am praying for Trevon and George because Only God knows what happen. May god have mercy on their soul.

TO GEORGE ZIMMERMAN I forgive you because you were only doing WHAT AMERICA TAUGHT YOU TO DO!

And please guys save your breath on spelling and puncuation because im not a prfessional writer. Just a black girl lost!

Thank you.

I'm not living in the past or am I on a high horse. I am simply telling you guys why we whine and complain thats all. I don't throw race into any thing I only talk on race when it comes up. I don't care if you insult me when ever we speak up on the EFFECTS SLAVERY HAD AND STILL HAS TODAY on us some of you people get mad why because the truth hurts! I spoke on race only after Amanda spoke on it. But as always BLACKS cannot defend our race because if we do than we are race baiters so typical smh what ever Rapco I still respect your opinion and comment no matter how mean it is. smiles to you! p.s. I only thought BLACKS were enslaved for 300 years what other races were enslaved? umm im serious I would love to know. mabey they were but was it for 300 years like us? I am willing to bet that they werent. So you would disagree that WE ARE THE WORST TREATED PEOPLES IN ALL OF MANKIND? you cant all you can do is say the usual "stop living in the past" when you are living there to stop thinking we all are guilty thieves liars murders welfare recievers etc... lol you are the pot calling the kettle black.

Manslaughter was the better charge. They're going to have a tough time proving murder given the facts and the lack of forensics the night of the shooting.

I think the special prosecutor knows a lot more about the facts than and forensics than you do.

trm2008

I think the special prosecutor knows a lot more about the facts than and forensics than you do.

The special prosecutor is doing what the minority and liberal community wants. She was appointed to "get" Zimmerman and that is what she intends to do. It is all about being politically correct and cowardice to stand up to race baiting by activists like Al Sharpton. This is another Tawana Brawley event. It is politically expedient and that dumb ass Zimmerman is the goat.

@Black Girl

"No sweet heart Jewish people got a national appoligy for the holocast, a Jewish state in Isreal, and was awarded millions of dollars for the holocast. When the holocast lasted for about 4-5 years. (I think)"

Ever hear of Liberia? You should look it up. It's a country founded for freed slaves.

@ Amanda-4335692

As far as I'm concerned, it was both of them. Trayvon had no business being out late since he's a minor and was suspended from school....so come on Trayvon's parents...take some responsibility

WHAT! OUT LATE? Are you serious? It was just after 7:00P.M. and all over by 7:30 I'm sorry that you feel that it is late. I would agree if it were 11 or 12 but not seven. Being suspended from school is has nothing to do with all this. And he went to the store.

Amanda thinks that 7pm is too late for a 17 year old to be out - Blame the victim. If he was inside by 6:59, he wouldn't have gotten himself killed.

Coleslaw1 seems to have all of the FACTS stated by the killer (Zimmerman) because we all know that people who kill people tell the absolute truth about what happen, right? Ask EVERY murderer in prison right now what really happened and they will tell you the TRUTH - "I'm innocent."

And some neighborhood watch guy claims that he has every right to approach someone in HIS neighborhood and ask him where he is going. And if the person "sasses" him then it's too bad, so sad. The victim just got himself killed.

You all make me sick!

I believe he should be charged with something because a child is dead. i dont think the charges fit. I dont think there was an intent to kill anyone. Just two scared people reacting in a bad way. Both parties had the right to defend themselves.

" @ Amanda..."Trayvon had no business being out late" please define "late", Amanda.

The LIBERAL media played a BIG part in this and should be ashamed of themselves when and if he is exonerated !!

I only thought BLACKS were enslaved for 300 years what other races were enslaved? umm im serious I would love to know. mabey they were but was it for 300 years like us? I am willing to bet that they werent. So you would disagree that WE ARE THE WORST TREATED PEOPLES IN ALL OF MANKIND? you cant all you can do is say the usual "stop living in the past" when you are living there to stop thinking we all are guilty thieves liars murders welfare recievers etc

Black Girl Lost..... yes, yes you are

Not only are you being narrow minded about slavery as a whole, but slavery regarding your own people. You dwell so much on the 300 years of slavery in this country that you fail to even consider the full history of African slavery..... and jewish slavery, and muslim slavery.... and yes even caucasian slavery!

Slavery was mostly born out of war, not convenience. One region or kingdom would take over another and turn the losing side into their slaves. It didn't matter what race or religion they were. If you were in their way, you became a slave. White people took on other white slaves, Jewish people had their own Jewish slaves. Some people even sold their own children into slavery. It's been that way since the dawn of man.

The ancient Sumerians has slaves, The Ancient Egyptians had slaves for at least 500 years (including Jews). Hell, Moses had to part the Red Sea just to get his people out of there. WHere was their apology then? And last I checked no one even so much as offered them 40 acres and a mule. They had to live in the frickin' desert for years after they freed themselves.

The slave trade in the Medieval Arab world lasted for more than 1,000 years!!!! Those slaves came from all over: Europe (hey look at that, WHITE slaves!), Asia, The Middle East, and yes, even Africa (so you can add that # to your 300 years). Ironically, the Moors even got involved in the slave trade back then. Which means, SHOCKER, that black dudes from places like Mali and Niger were raiding Western Europe and snatching up white slaves for themselves too!!!

Even Latin America had Indian tribes that made their own people into slaves. Some of those cultures lasted 100s of years too. And then the Conquistadors made those people slaves during the age of exploration.

So I will take your bet, and now you owe me money! Because no matter where you place your finger on a map of the world, you will find an area that either participated in the slave trade or had people that were captured and enslaved at one point in history. Every person you look at on the street had ancestors that were slaves at some point in history. SO please read a book before you start blasting folks about how they don't understand what your people are going through. Because you were right when you said you don't know.

It drives me absolutely nuts when someone tries to make others feel guilty about slavery, when they themselves don't know ANYTHING about it, or even the history of slavery as a whole. The truth is that the American slave trade was miniscule compared to the practice of slavery in the history of all mankind!

.... and on a side note, HOW DARE YOU COMPARE THE HOLOCAUST TO American SLAVERY!!! You know people died right? You are actually trying to downplay GENOCIDE! Do you know what that word means? It means people were literally exterminated for who they were, what they looked like and what religion they practiced. It in no way matter how long it lasted. I bet if you asked any one of them what they preferred, many of them would have chosen slavery over the gas chamber!!!!

When I walk, I look at others houses and admire them. That makes me look suspicious? You shouldn't have a house if you don't want it looked at! JUST SAYING. It doesn't matter how big Trayvone (spell?) is or how old he looked. He was a CHILD, hence the reason he called his girlfriend and not the police. Irrational thinking. He's also black, so he may have not had the most respect for police officers, for understandable reasons (ASSUMPTION). And if a big white dude was following me at night, I would've taken off too! Did it ever occur that maybe Trayvone was scared? And if you approached me, and I was scared enough, I would've bashed your head into the sidewalk as well. SOOOOOO WHATTTT!

If you are concerned about getting your ass kicked, then don't approach people that are suspicious. You leave them alone and let the authorities handle it. It doesn't give you a right to shoot someone that is unarmed, because you're getting stung, or beat-up shall we say (for the weak of words)!

Zimmerman was tripping. Period. And for all of those that say Liberal bias and group think blah blah, if I was black and shot Zimmerman, they would have AT LEAST arrested me to ask questions. Make sure my story holds up.

So now only conservatives have the right to justice? Or just white people? Which is it? Because it's looking like his Conservatism is what possessed him to shoot that kid and has him sitting in jail. Good Job

you cant just start beating on people because they approach you, like you are saying. nothing i or anyone else says to you gives you the legal right to start swinging. and here in florida if you start beating on someone you better make sure they arent carrying first or you are going to get shot. unarmed or not. dont bring a fist to a gun fight.

I'm just saying, if my community is suffering from criminal activity and someone I do not know is in my back yard, or my neighbors, I will follow them to see what they are doing! I will call the cops, but! If some kid turns on me when they are in my area and do not belong then they are in trouble. It will not matter what color their skin is. Through the years many people have knocked on my door at all times of the day for help in one form or another. I have never turned a person in need away! Through the years I have also had a few people mistake my neighbors or myself as an easy mark! Well so far they have been wrong. Maybe this gated community is the same way!

@Chuck

Liberal was for freed slaves I did not know that thank you! In africa after 300 years thou We would have been completely lost imagine being brought to america starting a family some of them get sold some of them dont then 300 years later ok you guys are free want to go back to africa? No way. Our language traditions all lost to slavery our history all lost to slavery. This is why so many of Us including me are lost IF WE DO NOT KNOW WHERE WE CAME FROM HOW DO WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING WITH OUT A PAST WE HAVE NO FUTURE. After we helped build and form america?? lol I respect your comment smiles to you.

@Lolly 1192

first i want to say If i was being narrow minded and not compasionate to the holocaust I am sorry.

I am a black girl lost ill admit that and knew nothing about all those countries having been enslaved like us!! I am woman enough to admit it when my information is not correct. IOU My foot in my mouth for 1 post. I will pay up on your response to this.

Ok where to begin o yes this

''Slavery was mostly born out of war, not convenience. One region or kingdom would take over another and turn the losing side into their slaves''

No war for us Our Ancestors sold us for money and Whites stole us to build this nation.

"White people took on other white slaves"

I belive the correct term was indingered servant they earned their freedom after a certain amount of time. No freedom for us if we were born a slave we died one until Lincoln but even that wasnt suppose to last right?

"HOW DARE YOU COMPARE THE HOLOCAUST TO American SLAVERY!!! You know people died right? You are actually trying to downplay GENOCIDE! Do you know what that word means? It means people were literally exterminated for who they were, what they looked like and what religion they practiced. It in no way matter how long it lasted. I bet if you asked any one of them what they preferred, many of them would have chosen slavery over the gas chamber!!!!"

Excuse while i beg to difer I would gladly and quickly any day go to a gas chamber rather than deal with slavery.w

at least Jews had a religion! Do you know People died. You guys were exterminated we were tourtoured do you know what that means? I respect your comment and smiles to you i would like to debate with you on your profile or mine there is so much more i can say as im sure you can.

Please dont profile not all of my race write like this, i know i have not used puncuation and spell checks after all it is a thread.

The media convicted casey Anthony before her trial and she walked, so please don't act as if the guy is subjected to unfair prosecution. If the evidence proves beyond a reasonable doubt that he was guilty of 2nd degree murder, he will get convicted. If he doesn't cop a plea to man slaughter before trial and they try him for 2nd degree murder and can not convince the jury, he walks never to be tried for this incident again.

In the words of Judge Roy Bean, he deserves a fair trial before he's hung.

ryoushi12

In the words of Judge Roy Bean, he deserves a fair trial before he's hung

Now that is a name I haven't heard for a long time. It was a good movie!

But this is not a movie,and I hope it never will be.

Lolly there was a Holocaust on the shores of America long before the Nazis. The American Holocaust killed, moved hundreds of thousands of people to POW camps and kept them there even to this day. The Jewish faith does not have a corner on a Holocaust.

Anyone know why the prosecuter went to the police station in the middle of the night.

Dee-5064168

It"s about time he was arrested and charged. If it was the other way around meaning Martin killing Zimmerman, Martin would've been arrested and charged the same night.

If it was reversed, first there would have been no mention of racism, 2nd we probably wouldn't have heard of it, and 3rd assuming that Martin would have been the one on neighborhood watch, and Zimmerman the "suspect", I think the outcome would have been the same (i.e. investigation and release)

bull crap...all bullcrap...every post here is pure speculation OR hate OR race related OR stupid! there i said it STUPID...not one person posting here actually knows what transpired that night, nor do they know how they would have responded in the given situation!

The only TRUTH here is that one young man is dead and the other person will have to live with his decision to use deadly force for the rest of his life no matter what the outcome of the trial. OH YEAH...the trial...ya know INNOCENT TILL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW WITH A JURY OF TWELVE OF YOUR PEERS.

this is not the first, nor will it be the last, trial conducted in the media to gain readership and rile up the citizens. WE have to stop the race baiting(all races) and use some common sense or we as a nation of immigrants are doomed.

I do know as a young person growing up there were plenty of fist fights. I do not recall any of them where I felt my life threatened, maybe the thought of being hurt, but never did I or any of my peers fear for our lives. How can a punch in the nose or getting your head knocked against the ground denote a sense of being killed? I guess as a society of people we have become sissies in one aspect but Samuel Colt has made us all brave and led us to believe we are John Wayne? If you cannot take a fist fight then do not engage. There is a biological mechanism built into all of us termed "Fight or Flight" which of course works to ensure we survive to fight another day. Hence the use of Samuel Colt and John Wayne as analogies for those who might be limited.

No, Zimmerman needs to be tried for killing an unarmed person. About all anyone was asking for was an arrest and charges--and then for justice to take its course. I am very surprised by the second-degree murder charge--they must have found something that is really telling. That the prosecutor wants the evidence withheld until it goes to court is very interesting.

Now that the man has been taken into custody, arrested, and charged--this whole thing is over as far as I am concerned. This case is very similar to many other cases and really isn't worth anyone's time other than those directly involved.

The Stand Your Ground law--now that is worth discussing. Zimmerman thought it would cover his actions, I am sure. If his actions aren't something lawmakers want covered--and the person who wrote the law says he didn't and doesn't--then that law needs some clarification or needs to be done away with. This protects not only those of us walking down a street and minding our own business, who happen to cross the path of a paranoid cop-wannabe, but the paranoid cop-wannabes who will know what lines they should not cross if they don't want to go to jail.

Second degree murder--that is a shock. I figured something like manslaughter--I hope this prosecutor is not over-reaching as far as the Casey Anthony prosecutor did. Or, I hope that Zimmerman just takes a plea deal if the case gets by the judge at the first level and goes to court. At that point, a plea deal would be in his best interest--get it over with and get it out of the public eye.

I'm glad for the charges--but beyond that, I think the rest of us just need to move along and let the prosecutor take over.

Now that Zimmerman is charged, he is entitled to a pre-trial evidentiary hearing on whether he is entitled to the immunity based on the law.
The burden at that hearing is on the defense to prove by “a preponderance of the evidence” (more likely than not) that Zimmerman was justified in using deadly force.
In Florida, an individual can use deadly force anywhere (with no duty to retreat) as long as he/she:
is not engaged in an unlawful activity;
is being attacked in a place he/she has a right to be; And
reasonably believes that his/her life and safety is in danger.
The judge decides whether Zimmerman’s actions were justified, and therefore entitles him to the “stand your ground” immunity.
If the judge finds the force was justifiable, then the charges are dismissed and Zimmerman is immune from further criminal prosecution and possibly, civil liability.
If the judge finds the force was not justifiable, then the charges against Zimmerman move forward.
If the judge rules Zimmerman is immune, the prosecution can appeal that decision to a higher court.

Stand Your Ground is badly flawed. It needs to be overhauled, or else stricken completely.

@anna: There is also the question of whether the restraining order against Zimmerman is still in effect. If so, he was carrying an illegal weapon that night. People with active restraining orders against them cannot legally carry weapons in FL.

beanathome actually you just hit the nail on the head. She pushes these outrageous charges because now he is looking at 25 to life. Want to BET a plea bargain of manslaughter comes out because this poor guy doesn't want to go to jail for 25 years because some kid was assaulting him? How in the world is this SECOND DEGREE MURDER?!?!?! There has to be some type of extremely damning info we do not have at this time. Maybe some surveillance video and it shows GZ was lying? (Which is odd that witnesses say something else)...

Anna1973 wont happen even if that's true. No judge will say "immunity" way to much media outcry. This guy is done. All it took was a nation saying he was guilty after all when all the FACTS show otherwise...

He will end up coping a plea and go to jail for 5 years because a nation didn't want "Justice" they wanted revenge...

Not likely to slide out from under civil liability. The standard for civil liability is "balance of probability' which is far removed from " beyond a reasonable doubt".

not in Florida...if the judge decides Stand Your Ground applies he will be immune from all criminal and civil liability

Had the races been reversed, there would be no protest because the black perp would have been arrested immediately and questions asked later.

Here's what I think happened and why Zimmerman will get off. Zimmerman chased Trayvon, words were exchanged, Trayvon would not cooperate with whatever Zimmerman wanted him to do. A fight ensued, perhaps when Zimmerman tried to detain Trayvon. Trayvon may have gotten the upper hand zt some point and Zimmerman pulled his gun and killed him. So, Zimmerman will claim self defense and stand your ground, even if it was just a wrestling match from which Trayvon intended to escape and meant no serious harm to Zimmerman. None of this will be terribly clear in the trial, and Zimmerman will not be found guilty. It fits manslaughter, but I think he will escape it. It's not right, if this is true, but it is most likely to happen.

I am finally glad to see that Zimmerman was arrested for taking the life of a very young man. There was no cause for the death of Trayvon. Let justice be served!

@Anna 1973-it doesn't matter if the judge decides that he's immune from criminal prosecution-he can still be sued in a civil court. Remember OJ? His former in-laws lawsuit was the reason he's now broke.

@Beanathome-of course the special prosecutor isn't going to disclose what evidence they have to the public. Even though there are certain things that have to be turned over to the defense during the "discovery" phase of trial preparation, attorney work product isn't one of them. That includes anything in her handwriting that may tip the defense off to the way she's going to use what evidence she has in order to convict. Despite what everyone thinks, we are NOT entitled to know what evidence they do or don't have against Zimmerman.

@Viper: I'm a white female and I agree with you that Zimmerman should be locked up for life. I think that the racial profiling by this "cop wanna-be" should get him convicted for a hate crime. In his 46 phone calls to 911 to report "suspicious activity", not one of his calls mentioned a "suspicious white man", but several of them mentioned "suspicious black men". People have made all kinds of assumptions that Trayvon was in a gang because he "wore a hoodie" and that he was "trying to hide his face". No-one has mentioned the fact that it was raining out that night. I'm truly sorry that there's so much racial profiling in this country. I believe that in some cases, young black men turn to gangs because that's what so many white people think of them anyway. If people are accused of things over and over, they begin to think that's all they're worth-it become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

First I would like to say that yes I agree charges should have been filed, and that a hearing should be held. Zimmerman can chose a trial with a Judge and not a jury. My reason for this is, I live in Texas and I see people, young guys walking down the street, looking at houses, and other businesses, and my first thought is not "they look suspicious". Walking down a street is legal in America! Here in Texas, if crime watch people see someone they think may be up to no good, they call the police and then watch from a distance til the police arrive. I think Zimmerman had issuses with young black guys, and he took it out on this young man. Now, I could be wrong, but that is the impression I get when listening to the 911 call. If a young man is walking down the street, looking at houses, could it have been he was just looking at houses, and Zimmerman following him scared this kid, remember Dahmer was white, and because Trayvon is scared of this man he runs cause he doesnt know why this man is following him? Why did Zimmerman follow him? Why did Zimmerman put himself in the postion that this boy and himself would have to defend themselves? This boy had gone to the store, bought tea and skittles, how much harm could he do with those items? Maybe 2nd degree murder is a bit much but I do believe Zimmerman committed a crime, that end a young man's life, and he should be held accountable.

I am curious where all of the white/black talk is coming from. Zimmerman is hispanic, not white. Calling him white or a white hispanic is like calling the President a black caucasion.

There are so many things we don't know about this case and the media and the public outcry is going to make a trial impossible. Zimmerman cannot get an impartial jury. I would not be suprised at a mistrial.

What we DO know is there was an altercation. There was an eye witness that saw Martin ontop of Zimmerman. The police have reported that evidence at the scene supports Zimmerman's and the eye wittness statements [broken nose, cuts on the head]. According to Florida's self defense laws, Martin's parents can't file a lawsuit if the shooting is justified {yes that is a cold thing to say, but his parents DID trademark Trayvons' name and everything associated with it}

I like how all the pics of Martin are all much younger and school pics, why dont they show his facebook pic of him at his current age dressed like a thug with his 2 middle fingers sticking up. It rascist all right but the opposite of what is being portrayed. - Sharpton and Jackson are the scum of the earth and they have done more to incite racism then anyone else. I think all the facts should be looked at but Zimmerman was convicted by the blacks before any facts were even known. This is what makes racism worse.

Boy if TX can do crime watch right, why can't the rednecks in FL. TX would have you on death row in a matter of minutes Doesn't matter whether your are black or white. GZ would have been in trouble there.

Dave it's you that make racism what it is or people like you. My question is what make you people think that you have a monopoly on racism? Give me a break. racism comes in every race, thanks to people like you. You passed it down.

The only redeeming statement in your post is that racist come in all colors.

So the hell what Dave? Why should they show those pictures - as some type of character evidence to show that he deserved what he got? A lot of teenagers do this kind of crap and it doesn't mean anything. Young girls nowadays are posting all kind of inappropriate pictures up on facebook - is that supposed to mean they're sluts? Martin had no intention whatsoever of committing any crimes and doesn't have any kind of record. HE'S NOT A DAMN THUG. He's dead, he was a teenager, and he was a victim - completely innocent. At worst, all anyone can say is that he didn't respond the way he ideally should have in that situation. He's blameless. Why the hell, after he's dead, should his reputation be run through the mud? There are recent pictures of him that are just as nice as the ones where he is 12.

Another thing - black people don't have that kind of power in this country. We don't decide what gets pushed in the media, so blame your own damn people for convicting him.

Good and Blessed Morning! I'm reading posts of those who continually leave comments implying that "Blacks" should get over IT (whatever "IT" is, I'm not sure)...yet you can't seem to let go of the past - OJ, the fact an African American President was elected, comparing other black on white crimes that aren't even comparable to the issue being discussed here. It's time for you to GET OVER IT!!! God himself is No respecter of persons, what makes you think that you are more privileged/entitled to more than the next person?!

People talk about how this young man was in a "gated" community where "he didn't belong"...seriously? Stop acting as if this was some highly affluent neighborhood, it wasn't! It was within walking distance to a 7-11 for goodness sakes..."gated" obviously didn't mean secure if they'd experienced several burglaries in recent months. Clearly none of the residents were that concerned with safety since George was the only neighborhood watch person, and "self appointed" nonetheless...if security was such an issue, why not petition HOA for PROFESSIONALLY, MONITORED personnel?!

Wishing you all a joyously blessed day in the Lord!

GET THIS all yous people out their- A POLICE DISPATCHER IS NOT A POLICE OFFICER ! YOU do not HAVE to do what they say !!! GET IT ???

@ Johnny N.

And that is exactly why Zimmerman is sitting his rear in jail. Too eager! And a NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GUY is NOT A POLICE OFFICER! YOU do NOT HAVE to do what they SAY! God gave me two legs for me to go wherever the hell I please. And his family lived very close from my understanding.

"he didn't belong"...

What we DO know is there was an altercation. There was an eye witness that saw Martin ontop of Zimmerman. The police have reported that evidence at the scene supports Zimmerman's and the eye wittness statements [broken nose, cuts on the head]. According to Florida's self defense laws, Martin's parents can't file a lawsuit if the shooting is justified {yes that is a cold thing to say, but his parents DID trademark Trayvons' name and everything associated with it}

Sooooo? Let me get this right... You can run up on me, scare me half to death, I kick your ass, and then you shooting me is ok? George caused this situation and accusing me of something, plus trying to tell me what I can and can't do would've made anyone in their RIGHT MIND defensive.

In a area of high crime , you can NEVER be too eager to protect your life AND property !!!

You are totally wrong to "wish him all the worst." I will wish Mr..Zimmerman All the best.

Now that Zimmerman is charged, he is entitled to a pre-trial evidentiary hearing on whether he is entitled to the immunity based on the law.
The burden at that hearing is on the defense to prove by “a preponderance of the evidence” (more likely than not) that Zimmerman was justified in using deadly force.
In Florida, an individual can use deadly force anywhere (with no duty to retreat) as long as he/she:
is not engaged in an unlawful activity;
is being attacked in a place he/she has a right to be; And
reasonably believes that his/her life and safety is in danger.
The judge decides whether Zimmerman’s actions were justified, and therefore entitles him to the “stand your ground” immunity.
If the judge finds the force was justifiable, then the charges are dismissed and Zimmerman is immune from further criminal prosecution and possibly, civil liability.
If the judge finds the force was not justifiable, then the charges against Zimmerman move forward.
If the judge rules Zimmerman is immune, the prosecution can appeal that decision to a higher court.

I agree 100% with Keah Trimble.

I don't...she is a trouble maker, just like Trayvon.

confedkid: I think Zimmerman was the trouble maker, he was out looking for trouble with his gun. Now it is his turn to suffer the consequences.

Confedkid-who was following who with a gun? Trayvon didn't do anything until this lunatic started following then got out of his vehicle and started chasing him. And you think Trayvon was the troublemaker? How would you feel if some psycho was following you in a car and then got out and started chasing you down for no reason? You'd probably run like the little wuss you are.

Trayvon should have followed the advice of his girlfreind and run away,but no,he wanted to throw a beating to someone that dissed him more likely,and got shot for his trouble'

This is total bull and only because of the black issue and riots and threats, white people do not have a chance. When was Zimmerman supposed to defend himself? When was he supposed to find out if Trayvon was armed, after he was beat to death?

From the news accounts I have seen to-date, there is no suggestion or evidence that Trayvon Martin violated any laws whatsoever or did anything more "suspicious" than being African-American and strolling theough an apartment complex while wearing a hoodie.

An apartment complex is a public place. As difficult as it is for some people apparently to grasp, an African-American kid wearing a hoodie has every right in the world to stroll through your apartment complex, in plain sight, and you have no 'right' whatsoever to 'do' anything about it.

Zimmerman's life does not appear to have been in danger at the time that he shot Martin. If the kid was running for his life, then he was not a threat to Zimmerman. No valid "self defsne" claim.

There was a variety of actions that Zimmerman could have taken. He could have LISTENED to the police and FOLLOWED THEIR INSTRUCTIONS when they told him "We DO NOT 'need' you to follow this individual." He could have called 9-1-1 and waited for an officer to arrive, it would have taken less than 10 minutes for an officer to be on the scene. He could have stayed within visual range of Martin but avoided personal contact with him. He had nonviolent choices available to him. He did not opt to take any of those nonviolent choices.

"Confed-kid" sounds like an appropriate handle for a white racist and hater of blacks and other minorities.

Willy, if Martin were "running for his life"when he was shot how do you explain the bullet in his chest?

the "apartment complex" is NOT a public place...it was a GATED COMMUNITY. It is illegal to enter a gated community if you don't live there..

Second degree murder is just a bargaining point which will end up most likely manslaughter which I believe he will be imprisoned for. Stand your ground law is misnamed should be license to kill law. All the shooter has to say is self defense and the cops can't arrest them until they can prove elsewise before they arrest anyone for killing another.

Would it be "pretty harsh" if it were your son? Not in my case...He was totally out of line.

A gated community is indeed a public place.

If you are an 'owner' of a townhouse or condo in a supposedly 'gated' community, then what you 'own' is the space between your walls -- nothing more than that. You DO NOT 'own' the parking lot, you DO NOT 'own' the hallways, you do not 'own' anything at all of what is referred to as 'common areas'. They're referred to as 'common' areas precisely because they are not owned by any one individual.

If you are a renter of a townhouse or condo in a supposedly 'gated' community, then what you 'own' is Nothing, Nothing, Nothing.

If it is supposedly "illegal" for someone to be there then the solution to that is to CALL THE COPS. You DO NOT have any 'right' to shoot someone who doesn't live in the complex.

If you have a problem with that fact then you probably shouldn't be allowed legally to own firearms since you clearly have mental health issues.

Paul, were you a witness to the shooting, and do you have evidence to prove that the bullet which killed Martin entered through his chest and exited via his back, rather than the other way around?

Bullet may have entered his chest, shooter was standing over him and shot him while he was on the ground. just as indefensible as a shot in the back!

Willy,

I am sorry to get in your and Pauls' discussion... but;

If Martin was on top of Zimmerman, punching him in the face and smashing his head on the sidewalk; Zimmerman would have only been able to shoot Trayvon in the front (chest). Not in the back. Besides, the police and the Martin family have released that Trayvon was shot in the chest.

JEGOSSETT --

The kid was not standing or bending over Zimmerman when he was shot. He was shot from some distance away. Therefore the kid was not an immediate threat to Zimmerman. He also was completely unarmed the entire time, while Zimmerman was armed with a deadly weapon -- one which he arguably should never even have been allowed to have, since he had previous history of violent confrontations with police and others.

Even if the kid had slugged Zimmerman (which, I myself might be inclined to do, if some creepy dude was following me), the kid did not pose any immediate danger at the time he was shot. You can't chase someone down and shoot them just because you lost a fight to them. That's called "second-degree murder". Hence, the charge against Zimmerman. The charge is well-founded and justified.

Willy-Wonka:

"You can't chase someone down and shoot them just because you lost a fight to them."

Chased him down???? Trayvon was shot from a distance? BALONEY! and BALONEY! Read the papers why don't you...because your crystal ball is malfunctioning.

the "apartment complex" is NOT a public place...it was a GATED COMMUNITY. It is illegal to enter a gated community if you don't live there.

People talk about how this young man was in a "gated" community where "he didn't belong"...seriously? Stop acting as if this was some highly affluent neighborhood, it wasn't! It was within walking distance to a 7-11 for goodness sakes..."gated" obviously didn't mean secure if they'd experienced several burglaries in recent months. Clearly none of the residents were that concerned with safety since George was the only neighborhood watch person, and "self appointed" nonetheless...if security was such an issue, why not petition HOA for PROFESSIONALLY, MONITORED personnel?!

Anyone defending this guy is FULL OF @!$%#! If it was your son or your younger brother, you KNOW this would never be enough. That's what gets me. There are cases where young people are really up to know good (ie JOHN WHITE - look it up!) and even then, people will make up every and any excuse they can to put the blame, burden, and shame on the ADULT.

I mean the kid went onto the man's property with a lynch mob yelling racial slurs demanding for his son and then when the guy wields his gun and tells him to get off of his property, the kid walks up to him and has the gumption to grab for his gun, at which point it goes off. The kid gets shot and the black man who killed him ends up in prison, 2nd degree manslaughter - willful negligence.

You see how easy that is? Why, when it's a black kid getting killed by a white/Hispanic man, is there so much confusion? Nobody cared about self defense or this stand your ground bs in that case! It was just "hey, he should have called the cops first - sucks for him." When it's the other way around, it's the same @!$%#! "Travvon Martin should have done A and B and C!" A kid mind you - what about what a grown man who was SUPPOSED to have authority as an older citizen, a neighborhood watch member and a gun owner should have done?

I have a problem with all of the news about the altercation.. I is said that Zimmerman was following Martin. That Zimmerman was carrying a gun, and that he followed Martin, that Martin got suspicious of Zimmerman following him. Now it is said that Zimmerman was attacked by Martin. That Zimmerman shot Martin because of fear, and the stand your ground act. If I am right with what I said, It seems that Zimmerman provoked the shooting. That Martin was justified in fighting Zimmerman. The same law allows Martin to stand his ground and attack a suspicious character following him. The fact that Zimmerman had a gun is what is wrong in this case. If Zimmerman was Justified in shooting Martin doesn`t it also say that Martin had the right to attack a person following him if he thought that person was after him to ddo harm him?? one Zimmerman had no right to follow Martin, he had no right to carry the gun, he provoked the whole matter and should be judged as the agressor. He had no right to shoot Martin, he should have identified himself first and asked what the young man was doing if he had the right to do so. That also depends on if Zimmerman was on duty. If he wasn`t on duty did he have the right to 1, carry the gun 2, to follow Martin?? Finally did he have a license to carry a concealed weapon by Florida law??

Aggie-345886 --

Read the papers and learn somehting yourself. Trayvon Martin was A RESIDENT IN the "gated community". He WAS NOT "trespassing". He had A RIGHT TO BE THERE.

As difficult as it apparently is for some extremely racist people to accept, African-Americans live in gated communities, too and have the right to be there without being harassed.

I suggest that you buy yourself a revolutionary new device known as a "calendar".It's 2012, not 1962, and the so-called "gated community" IS NOT "For Whites Only" even though you clearly wish it was. There also is no "Dress Code" in the "gated community" and African-American kids have a perfect right to wear hoodies and you still can't shoot them for it.

@ANNA1973 by virtue of the fact that Martin was a guest in his Father's

girlfriend's apartment in THAT gated community, for this purpose, he DID live there! Where did Zimmerman live?

Give it a break!!!!! You all have your comments on this matter, however let me ask you all, How many of you were there that evening too see first hand what really happened, including the Martins??? That's the biggest problem that we have. Everyone is jumping too conclusions before all is said and done!!!! And the other issue we have is that as parents we all think are kids can't do no wrong. Well guess what people, kids do unheard of acts that you don't find out about until its to late!!!!!!!! Just follow the news each and every night and you will see the proof on TV!!!!!!

@Fed-Papa was a rollin' stone, wherever he laid his hat was his home. I find it odd that the boy was shot 70 yards (210 feet) from the front door to the girlfriend's house and no one came out to check on what was going on with all the ambulances, sirens and police cars.

Willy-Wonka...You are replying to the WRONG person. I never mentioned anything about a "gated community" or anything about "trespassing", or about "hoodies", or anything even close. Or RACE.

How about you know who you're replying to before you go mouthing off and calling anyone racist.

Aggie-345886 --

Trayvonn was chased down and shot from a distance, by someone whose own life was not in danger at the time. Prove otherwisee or else kindly sit down and be quiet.

doesnt have to be proved otherwise, its the prosecution that has to prove something.

Actually it does have to be proven otherwise. The burden of proof here lies with Zimmerman as Zimmerman was clearly the aggressor and shot Martin who was unarmed in the community where he (Martin) was staying. The decision to exit his vehicle with a weapon and follow Martin removed him (Zimmerman) from the protection of "stand your ground" as no laws were being broken (other than those by Zimmerman who was carrying a concealed weapon after having been under a restraining order) and no threat to person or property can be cited. Had Zimmerman indeed sustained the type of injuries he claimed, he would have been admitted to the hospital (as in placed in an ambulance with an officer) and they would have been documented in detail with photos from multiple angles. However we know for a fact that those injuries were never life threatening and we also know from the audio that there is no way Zimmerman was having his head "beaten into the sidewalk" at the time he shot Martin. Further analysis of the audio has confirmed that the person screaming for help was not Zimmerman (which only leaves Martin) and leaves us with a solid murder charge. The prosecutor also has a detailed autopsy as well as all other forensic evidence in her possession. If she did not have the evidence to get a murder conviction she would have pressed ahead with manslaughter charges. You cannot defend Zimmerman if you look at the supporting evidence without a media bias.

Willy-Wonka...And one could challenge you with the same..."prove otherwise". Neither one of us can unequovically.

Chris: So far most of what we've heard has been slanted, edited, media bias.

RE: Chris: So far most of what we've heard has been slanted, edited, media bias.

Prove it.

To right-wing RePUGs, so-called "slanted, edited media bias" is code for "Those darn reporters, they won't just take our side and shut up! How dare they ask these impertinent pesky questions instead of ust blankly nodding and agreeing with us like the nice folks at FAUX News do!"

Willy-Wonka...Three words...NBC edited tape.

Willy-Wonka....Here's a couple more. White Hispanic. Babyface pictures of Trayvon at about 12 yrs. old.

RE: "Here's a couple more. White Hispanic. Babyface pictures of Trayvon at about 12 yrs. old."

Which was exactly how it should have been Trayvon Martin was a child, not an adult. He was an unarmed 17-year-old kid. His murderer was a grown adult who was supposed to have the common sense and adult maturity to know better than to go stomping around an apartment complex harassing people for no apparent reason.

Get this through your thick skull: I have every right to walk wherever the Hell I want and you have NO "right" to presume to "question" me. You are not a cop, you are not a security guard, you are Nobody. You have no "authority" over anybody at all. I don't have to answer your questions, and Trayvon Martin did not "just have to" answer any of George Zimmerman's questions, either.

WOW Willy-Wonka!...You seem to be tripping when you see things that are not even on the page, and "reply???" to my comments. Comments that I NEVER MADE. Your latest is quoted below:

"Get this through your thick skull: I have every right to walk wherever the Hell I want and you have NO "right" to presume to "question" me. You are not a cop, you are not a security guard, you are Nobody. You have no "authority" over anybody at all. I don't have to answer your questions, and Trayvon Martin did not "just have to" answer any of George Zimmerman's questions, either."

How about you show me WHERE in ANY ONE of my comments did I question your "every right to walk....blah, blah, blah.." While you're at it, show me where I said or implied that I am a cop, or a security guard. Show me too where I said I had any authority over you? Or that I "presumed to ask you any questions". Show me where I said Martin "just had to" answer any of Zimmerman's questions?

All of us "nobodies" INCLUDING YOU, don't know IF Zimmerman asked him ANYthing at all! Whatever you're smoking or snorting, it's distorting your comprehension and causing hallucinations.

I think you need your nap.

All of us "nobodies" INCLUDING YOU, don't know IF Zimmerman asked him ANYthing at all! Whatever you're smoking or snorting, it's distorting your comprehension and causing hallucinations.

The reason you apparently know nothing is because you are not bothering to pay attention to the facts of the case, which indicates in itself that you are shooting off your mouth without having a clue of what you are talking about.

Here is some information to help you learn something, so that perhaps you will have a clue what you are ranting about:

A probable cause affidavit filed in the second-degree murder case against George Zimmerman provides some insight into why Florida special prosecutor Angela Corey chose to charge Zimmerman in the fatal shooting of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

The four-page document prepared by prosecutors says that "Zimmerman confronted Martin." Zimmerman had told police that he shot Martin in self-defense, fearing for his life after Martin punched him in the nose, knocked him down and then banged his head on the sidewalk.

The affidavit alleges Martin was "profiled by George Zimmerman." It also states Martin was "unarmed and was not committing a crime."

The affidavit says Martin's mother identified screams heard in the background of a 911 call as her son's. There had been some question as to whether Martin or Zimmerman was the one calling for help.

And prosecutors interviewed a friend of Martin's who was talking to him by phone just before the shooting. The affidavit says Martin told the friend he was being followed and was scared.

Martin tried to run home, the affidavit says, but was followed by Zimmerman. "Zimmerman got out of his vehicle and followed Martin," the affidavit said.

It also notes that "Zimmerman disregarded the police dispatcher" who told him to stop pursuing, and he "continued to follow Martin, who was trying to return to his home."

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/12/affidavit-alleges-george-zimmerman-confronted-trayvon-martin/

Willy...I am not and have not ranted. I've left that to you and you don't disappoint. The affidavit "alleges"...so how about YOU wait to see if these or any allegations are proven one way or the other. An allegation is not a fact, it's an ALLEGATION, nothing more. Once again, you are putting words in my mouth. I never SAID I knew anything FACTUAL about any of this....unlike you, who insists that you do.

They may not need a jury if he opts for a bench trial.

Actually, I think what special prosecutor said was pretty balanced and fair. Go read the transcript. I am not presuming GZ is either guilty or innocaent, but he shjould be charged. Trials are for outing the evidence in excruciating detail. A trial is the way to determine the outcome here, though it's unlikely many will be satisfied at the end. That's the way it is for trials about serious matters - few are satisfied.

@Anna 1973-obviously you haven't been keeping up-his father's fiance' lived in that "gated complex" and he was there visiting. He had every right to be walking where he was, and per neighborhood watch policies, Zimmerman was not allowed to be carrying a handgun.

Aggie-345886, we pray for TM family because he didn't do anything to bring this grieve on his family. GZ is the one that caused his parents the grieve that they are going thru. I am just saying.

Zimmerman was not on watch duty when this occurred. He was on his way to the grocery store so enough already about him breaking rules and carrying a gun while on duty. He wasn't on duty.

@Sookie: So, because the Zimmerman's son made a huge mistake, then his parents do not deserve anyone's sympathy for THEIR suffering? That's cold...just cold. Trayvon didn't react responsibly either by jumping and punching Zimmerman, but I still feel bad for what his parents have had to endure. It works both ways.

@aggie-345886: I wonder if you are a parent, given the circumstances, and this had been your child would you be so willing to except that the man who shot your unarmed child would be free to go on with his life, no further questions asked?

Zimmerman was not on watch duty when this occurred. He was on his way to the grocery store so enough already about him breaking rules and carrying a gun while on duty. He wasn't on duty.

Then he shouldn't have disregarded the 911 dispatcher when told they didn't need him to follow him. A reasonably thinking person would've had done as advised. Shame on you and others that leave comments as if Trayvon was actually in the act of committing a crime against George and George was forced to defend himself.

@aggie-345886: Instead of concerning yourself with who Angela Corey has or hasn't prayed with...have you fallen on your knees before the Lord to offer YOUR prayers of healing for our nation, the families of both Trayvon and George?

@ethnicbutee: To your first post to me. #7.9-- Where did I say Zimmerman should go free? Where did I say there should be no questions asked? NOWHERE!

To your post #7.8...When you hear the UNEDITED tapes of the conversation between Zimmerman and the dispatcher, you will hear that he DID stop following Trayvon. He said "He ran. I don't know where he is". He then arranged to wait by a bank of mailboxes until the dispatcher sent out a patrol car. He was no longer following Martin...didn't even know where he was.

To your post #7.9...YES, I absolutely HAVE. And OFTEN.

WRONG #7.3 ... A handgun is not REQUIRED for neighborhood watch. Zim had a right and LICENSE to CCW. "They" can't disallow him to carry.

Actually the fact that Zimmerman had multiple prior charges and a restraining order would be more than enough to revoke a CCW license. Not to mention there was in fact no actual Neighborhood Watch program in his community nor had he ever taken the proper courses from any law enforcement organization to do so. He was nothing more than an armed idiot looking for trouble. Now he has to deal with the consequences.

Yea, you can follow someone. Happens every day. Cameras at stores and stop lights. Cops do it everyday too.

following someone is not against the law, even if a dispatcher advises you not to.

Following someone is not against the law however shooting them is. Following someone does make you the aggressor and nullifies the "stand your ground" defense. Martin had broken no laws and had every right to be there. Add that to the mountain of evidence that is stacked on top of Zimmerman and you have a solid murder charge and likely a murder conviction. There is no proof Zimmerman sustained any of the injuries that would justify use of deadly force and there are experts who can prove the audio is not Zimmerman screaming at the time of the shooting. There are also autopsy reports and many other pieces of damning information being withheld until the trial. The prosecutor knows what she is doing as did the original investigator who called for Zimmerman to be prosecuted initially. I look forward to the police chief, DA, and all other conspirators having their day in court shortly after Zimmerman.

Shushi, if you weren't a racist you would see that this is not about a Hispanic vs black, this is about a armed person killing a unarmed person. Race does not matter. The fact that they did not fully investigate this is the problem. Probably because the shooter's father was a local judge. But let's let the courts sort it out.

Funny you blame the left for dividing the country. It is the Fox news idiots who are hell bent on dividing this country. All my Fox news friends are for Zimmerman and the rest are not. I left the Republican party because of the hate and vitriol they espouse. I was sick of gay jokes, I was sick of black jokes I was sick of Jewish jokes I was sick of racist jokes I am sick of global warming deniers, I was sick of the unpaid wars we waged, I was sick of catering to the wealthy at the expense of the middle class, and I am sick and tired of the war against the environment. I am sick of listening to rich people complain about the taxes they pay when I pay more out of my income towards taxes than the rich. Can't they be grateful for the life they have? Taxes or not they are rich which is something I can only dream about.

@Verno: Race SHOULD not matter,but as demonstrated by the marches, Sharpton, Jackson, Black Panthers, et al. and the media, it was MADE the main issue.

Couldnt agree more. Including this very media outlet MSNBC.Home of the most leftist,biased,hatefull race baiting reporting in the history of news.With no integrity and is compleatly an unreliable source for the truth on any subject.

Don't you mean Trayvon's Dumb ass parents???

If Trayvon had not been suspended from school...in Miami..GROUNDED...where he lives and not 3 hours away in Sanford...he'd still be alive

anna - what is that supposed to mean? A kid gets in trouble at school and you think he deserves to be killed? Regardless of the outcome of this trial your view is despicable.

anna, so you ground a 17 year old for being suspended? And this was not a recent suspension. Get real.

Apparently some people are too clueless to realize that you actually don't have any "right" to gun down a kid for his having been suspended from school, nor do they realize that being suspended does not make someone a "bad" kid or "deserving" of being killed.

I never said being suspended was a reason to shoot someone...but it sure as hell is a reason to ground a kid. When I was suspended from school my parents grounded me and I never left the house

Anna how old are you? We all have done dumb stuff as kids. And what I am seeing here, some are still doing it. As I understand, TM was visiting his father at the time that he went to the store. That is why he was in this "Gated Community".

Of course you dont feel sorry,your a racist.

Unless Zimmerman somehow knew Trayvon and the circumstances behind why he was there (which would negate his suspicions in the first place), Trayvon's past is completely irrelevant.

I agree with you. The nastiness that has been said about the deceased and his family has been sickening.

no more sickening than the nastinees that has been said avout zimmerman and his family. innocent until proven guilty in this country. and right now zimmerman is still innocent.

Innocent until proven guilty is misleading. We know for a fact that Zimmerman shot Martin. Homicide is a crime and that leaves Zimmerman with the burden of proof for "self defense". A homicide can be murder/manslaughter or "justified homicide"... either way the burden of proof lies with Zimmerman who pulled the trigger. The forensic evidence here will be laid out in court and the jury will decide whether Zimmerman was "justified" or not (guilty has already been established by his own admission).

Zimmerman DID stand down. You need to listen to the entire 911 tape and not just the snippets you've been getting on NBS...I mean NBC.

doesnt mater if someone is unarmed or not, that has nothing to do with this. so quit focusing on that.the fact that he was unarmed, the fact that he was wearing a hoodie, the fact that he was black. all of this has nothing to do with the outcome of this situation. the only thing that matters is did zimmerman break the law by shooting trayvon. thats it. nothing else.

and just because someone is a dispatcher for the police doesnt mean they are a cop. and no where did they say "stand down". when zimmerman said he was following him, the dispatcher said "we dont want you to do that" still doesnt mean he broke any law by following him. the law is all that matters here. not feelings, not emotions. the law. if he broke the law then he should pay the price.

Thank God we have conceal carry laws. He has every right to carry a gun and needed to on that particular day when he was being assaulted by Treyvon. I have looked over the Florida laws on the matter and clearly the man was within his rights to protect himself. He can not be found guilty of manslaughter because he was not acting negligently. He can not be found guilty of 2nd Deg. Murder because he was not engaged in an "act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind regardlessof human life." He was watching someone else and it is not reasonably foreseeable that such behavior would result in the death of another. It squarely isn't depraved or negligent. But for Treyvon's assault he would be alive today. And, contrary to your assertion, nobody "deserves" to be assaulted by another under the law no matter what race you are. You lobby for support of Treyvon's right to assault another and, in the same breath, act as though Mr. Zimmerman had no right to defend himself. Your post is entirely self serving and one sided. Unfortunately, there might be bigots like you on the jury who will try to twist the facts to get to the outcome they want. Justice be damned.

no, you cant say he deserved to be hit. not legally. i could walk up to you and curse you out, call your momma all kinds of names and you still cannot lay a hand on me. nothing i say will allow you to hit me.

no, you cant say he deserved to be hit. not legally. i could walk up to you and curse you out, call your momma all kinds of names and you still cannot lay a hand on me. nothing i say will allow you to hit me.

Actually what you describe is assault which can legally be justified... Assault and battery can be justified in situations of self-defense or defense of a third party where the act was deemed reasonable. While the law varies by jurisdiction, contact is often defined as "harmful" if it objectively intends to injure, disfigure, impair, or cause pain. The act is deemed "offensive" if it would offend a reasonable person’s sense of personal dignity. While "imminence" is judged objectively and varies widely on the facts, it generally suggests there is little to no opportunity for intervening acts. Lastly, the state of "apprehension" should be differentiated from the general state of fear, as apprehension requires only that the person be aware of the imminence of the harmful or offensive act.

Now by all means... follow someone for no reason whatsoever without identifying yourself and see if a judge will prosecute them when they beat your ass. Furthermore in this situation Zimmerman was not a member of any recognized "Neighborhood Watch" program nor had he been trained to do so. His legitimacy to carry a firearm is at best highly suspicious given his restraining order and prior charges. A conviction is not necessary to revoke that CCW, in fact a restraining order would prohibit him from carrying at all. A grown ass man following a teenager without having ever witnessed any crime is damned sure enough to justify Martin hitting him. There is no justification for deadly force as we know for a fact there were no life threatening injuries sustained by Martin... who in fact was never even treated at a medical facility.

Correction ... There is no justification for deadly force as we know for a fact there were no life threatening injuries sustained by Zimmerman... who in fact was never even treated at a medical facility.

We heard you the first time, anna1973. And the second. And this time.

Re-posting the same tedious comment over and over does not make you more persuasive.

Mark423819.. has it right, which is why the judicial system is trying to appease the public. Manslaughter would be the only charge that should apply and would have a chance of sticking. Zimmerman could get off on the 2nd degree murder charge, and I think he should based on the statements of witnesses that said Treyvon was beating up on Zimmerman. What happens if Zimmerman is cleared, a race riot.. geez.. haven't there been enough of those.. I live in So Cal, and after the Rodney King incident, the area was devastated and the blacks suffered the most, since it was mostly their neigborhoods. Really what do you gain? Please I guess race issues will never go away. Why cant we just see things as they are and stop thinking because someone is black or white or brown they are up to no good. If they are criminals then they are criminals, no matter what color.. I know it is the idea world I am talking about and not one we live in, unfortunately.

Voluntary manslaughter would probably be a more accurate charge and conviction...Again politics in the justice system. And how convieniant and fitting that it be in Florida where a baby killer got away with murder (in this life) with a trial broadcast across the nation just a year ago.

You are right, juanna, there was much more evidence to find Casey A. guilty

Yes!! Yes! Yes! I totally agree that he needs to and should have been in prison. They need to get rid of that b.s. "stand your ground law" because that simply means, it's the murderers words over the victims and they could get away with it.

The afro americans say "its all against us Blacks" . Yet you go to the worse neighborhoods in the nation , and they are inhabited mostly by what , people who are sopposedly educated in this country yet thay havent derived the intelligence to climb out of the slums and better themselves to live a better more respectful lives. You see immagrants w lack of the american language come to this country save there money buy homes and progress without handouts from the government, yet this so called nation of kings cant climb out of the gutter .

I find it hard to believe that they are trying to prosecute this case only cause of political pressure, didnt we learn from the Brawley case that Shrapton is just a headline chaser ?! Dont we want the truth to come out , the afro american community is crying for justice , but even the afro-american officers are prejudisit against the black community !

What does it say to us that try to live a respectful life when we happen to come off a highway to get gas and find our cars bombarded by rocks and for nothing, just because we are driving through there part of town.

I coach wrestling, baseball, football, and I see parents enticing little boys to be tough and not to take crap, or to fight for there rights , but the same little boy has earring in there ears, where their clothes like gangster, they have to look tough and mean like some rap video. oh my boy looks good !! No your boy looks like a thug , and for what for you ?? not for him but you want him to stand out for the wrong reason .

I have many friends that are afro-american that raise there children respectful and others that are so close minded that it bewilders me that in this day and age they would even ewant there boys to act like this.

I say you want the respect that you deserve then seek it in the way you live your life , teach your boys to be men , to be good fathers, to live a respectful life, to honor their women , not there ho's. Why is it that you dont hear of the young white boy being killed , cause the young white boy isnt out there starting or creating problems in the community . Wake-up you raise lil gangster thugs , they are just going to end up dead !! raise them to respect , get eductaed , live life respectful, leave the HOOD for the immigrants , climb out and show your race to be a race of educated , there are many of you that have climbed out , the rest of you need to follow suit and make your race that of one that commands respect !!

Los529 DUMMY! Don't kid yourself thinking that white kids don't go out and start trouble either you racist SOB. I see it all the time around where I live. I would hate to find out that I had a non-black friend like you spewing out crap about black people on the internet - that's why I test my white friends. I have to make sure we're on the same page. I don't want them embarrassing me thinking they aren't bigots just because they have black friends. I test them and they pass, but you - you wouldn't pass. You don't hear about white boys getting killed because when they get killed, their murderers are arrested and convicted and there aren't any problems. Things go smoothly for white people in this country. Black people are not living the same life white people are, whether we're living in the hood or the suburbs.

And who told you we were a nation of kings? We're a nation of SLAVES! That's how black people assimilated into this culture, when we were brought here before this God forsaken country was even founded. We were here, a good 20% of the population as slaves, from the beginning. So please do not compare the African-American community to immigrants. In the beginning, there was black, white, and American Indian in this country and if you aren't in one of those categories, you're starting off with a clean slate - you aren't the "descendant of a slave" and you aren't the descendant of a founding father. You have your own culture and heritage to look to. So please worry about your own people, whoever they are.

Well stated Timm, thats why I keep them at arms length, never completely letting them in, because you never know what they are saying behind your back.

@Timm and Steve: so sorry you think of the US as being a nation of slaves.....and refer to it as "this God forsaken country"....#1 you need to read up on the facts that your own people in Africa sold the majority your people into slavery...and #2 we ALL have been victims at one time or the other: the christians, the jews, American Indians etc. i know slavery was horrible, but NONE of us alive today had a part in it, and in fact a lot of Americans gave their lives to free the slaves.

we are all AMERICANS, no matter what color we are. A black kid's life is just as valuable as a white, yellow, brown or whatever color. Even Bill Cosby lectures on how the blacks today should try to speak, dress, and conduct themselves like respectable people......so, a lot of people bring things on themselves! wearing their pants where their butts hang out, showing their underwear etc....what is that about anyway???? it is embarassing even to a lot of blacks!!!

Back to the topic: A 17 yr old kid has been killed! it doesn't matter what color he is. it should not be about race. The person responsible should have to be tried for the crime...period. A kid is a kid....and a life is precious no matter what color the skin is! Why can't we all be on the same side here???? This should not be another opportunity to cry Racism!!! Those that keep stirring that up are totally wrong.

@Steve 2785419: who are you referring to as "them"? Maybe you don't have to be white to be a racist??? A lot of white people are upset over Trevon's killing, or haven't you noticed? or do you care? Easier just to continue crying over the past and make everything about race! Black Panthers call for "blood"...well a lot of "white" and "black" blood was lost many years ago so please remember that!

One question for anyone to answer. If GZ is not guilty because of the stand your grounnd law, then TM also had the right to defend himself because of the same rule??? But the defense says only GZ had the right to fire a weapon against an UNARMED TEEN??? What would any of you do if followed while walking in a rainy night?? Pray that the other person doesn`t mean you harm?? Men that I know would turn and defend themselves.

Trayvon had the right under the same law if he was first attacked by zimmerman and was in fear for his life. the law says the right to meet force with force. following someone isnt force. unless zimmerman struck first there is no reason to beat on him. only two people know for sure what happened and one of them cant tell his side. so the authorities have no choice but to hear zimmermans side and base there decisions on that. unless they can find other evidence to prove zimmerman wrong.

no but here in Florida you can kill someone who is trying to harm you

Like OJ?

I am glad you have found him guilty without knowing all the evidence.

Trail by the lame stream media.

John, no one is finding him guilty. They just want a decent investigation. Not a whitewash job.

Zimmerman clearly chased the kid down as he was talking to 911 dispatch. How can he possibly claim that he was fearing for his life while carrying a gun and running after a kid that was clearly trying to get away from him?!!! A decent investigation was finally conducted no thanks to Sanford Police chief and arrest finally made. This is a terrible loss no matter what your race as an american.

Yeah John just like Zimmerman charged Travonn for walking while Black and decided to make himself police, judge, and executionor.

A great way to put it. Besides I think the "Stand Your Ground defense" will be a weak one since Zimmerman was told by the police they did not NEED him to follow Trayvon Martin and besides that, Trayvon was not armed, oh well, except for his deadly skittles and iced tea! In the end, if the trial is fair, I think justice will be served and it will change the face of that state. that has not been the case in many states in the South. Walking with Skittles and Iced Tea, after all, even in George's laws, was not a capital offense.

@Michael 528853...

It's T-R-A-Y-V-O-N, not Travonn or Travonne. If you can't get his name right, why should we think you can get the "facts" right?

Anna 1973 "no, but here in Florida, you can kill someone who is trying to harm you" REALLY?, then, perhaps that is why Martin was trying to kill Zimmerman? Martin, unfortunately, was simply out gunned! Let's not lose sight of who was the aggressor!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually the United States purchased the country or area now known as Nigeria as a place for any blacks who wanted to, to return to their own areas! Only a few wanted to, and they formed the nation now known as Nigeria! This was not meant as an insult but an opportunity!

Actually it was Liberia. In 1820 the American Colonization Society started sending volunteer freed American slaves to this part of Africa. Also slaves freed from captured slave ships were also resettled here. In 1847 the colonists established the Republic of Liberia. The capital was named Monrovia after American President James Monroe and the primary language was English. Nigeria was a British Protectorate and I am sure many freed slaves lived there as well. In any case the two countries have been torn by strife and corruption every since. In the last decade much reform has taken place in both countries that have American style governments. However they are still very 3rd world.

MSNBC is partly responsible for all the hate speech and racism with their reporting.They have manipulated the facts to suit their ideology and politics they are not going to stop now.

John and others why is it those who use lame stream media have a good idea what's going on while fox addicts generally are happy to vote in ways that leave them and others represented by shills for the rich and powerful. Studies show fox viewers have skewed ideas about the world and the country, and for god's sake black, white, yellow or red we are one race get a grip.

While I believe that Zimmerman is likely guilty of voluntary manslaughter, and deserves punished for those actions, I believe that there is less than zero chance that he receives a fair and impartial trial.

The judge in this case will be instructed to severely slant the case against Zimmerman, and the jury pool will be screened before being submitted to both sides to ensure a vastly pro Martin outcome. Any evidence which Zimmerman might have which might mitigate his actions, show reasonable doubt, or lead to any outcome besides conviction will be disallowed by the judge.

The fix is in here. To appease the masses, and media which from the beginning has slanted a story when they had no need to, Zimmerman must pay, regardless of his rights to a fair trial or investigation.

Again, I feel that Zimmerman ought be punished, but not by a mock trial that will ignore his rights. There will be no justice here, but only a reverse Jim Crow outcome.

Were Zimmerman a black armed watchman and Martin a white Emininem boy in a hoodie, Zimmerman would be lauded for taking out a white honky racist descendant of slave owners who was obviously seeking to harm a peaceful black complex. That would be Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson's spin then.

Facts to summarize: A neighbourhood watchman of mixed race (Latino/white) accosted a young black man who seemed suspicious to him. Zimmerman refused to desist when the dispatcher told him to, a scuffle ensued, and Zimmerman killed Martin using excessive force. Zimmerman's burden of punishment depends on how much of a valid threat that he can show Martin presented.

Instead, Zimmerman must be found guilty of Murder 2 to avoid riots and appease the mob mentality

Anna...

No sense in a Trial... You have it all figured out like a Tabloid Story... I, totally disagree with your

scenario... It will be hard to pick a Jury, if it comes to that, but fair minded people can suspend their

Beliefs and do fairness based on the Evidence... Been on a Jury...

Actually, a minding His own business, returning from the Store, Trayvon, has more a Right to a Stand

Your Ground Self Defense than Zimmerman...

I feel a bit sad for Zimmerman... He let His obvious Bias put him into a position of likely in panic,

pulling the Trigger and messed His life up badly... Took but a moment to pull the trigger and a Lifetime

to Live with what He did...

Having said all that, Trayvon has some very classy parents who simply wanted Justice... Good hearted

people and I, hope they have great support of Family and Friends... I've got a 24 year old son and it would

deeply wound me if it happened to Him... I, shake my head at times to think Trayvon will not get to live

his dreams... That saddens me far deeper then Zimmermans self inflicted wounding to his Life...

The same basic LAW is in 21 States... It needs modified to prevent tracking someone down and claiming

Self Defense...

If they get the jury from Pinellas county, he will walk for sure. They condone all murders of all kinds.

case in fact (Casey murderer Anthony)

I am very worried about the outcome of the trial, look at the Casey Anthony Case!!! Florida does not have a good reputation. I feel for Trayvon's parents, no one should be able to take a life because they suspect something, This should not be about race a life is a life. Whatever the outcome it should be that time needs to be served whatever it is, Zimmerman should not be set free to injure or kill someone else, he should serve time for making that vigilante judgement that he can take a life because he thought the person may have done something wrong, that was a job for the police to investigate. You reap what you sow.

you act like zimmerman just walked up to him and shot him because he just wanted to. his story is that trayvon was on top of him and beating on him. in a case like that he has the right to pull his weapon and defend himself. its that simple, doesnt matter how you feel about it. we dont convict on feelings. the only thing that matters in this case is whether or not zimmerman broke the law. if he did he will be prosecuted if he didnt he will not. people are making this more complicated than it is with all their assumptions about what happened. no one on here knows what happened.

The authors of the law have said that they don't believe "Stand Your Ground" applies in this case. They said they believe Zimmerman lost that defense when he didn't follow the advice of the 911 dispatcher and continued to follow Martin. If it does apply, the law is seriously flawed. Hell, anyone could start a fight and then claim stand your ground as a defense for shooting someone anywhere.

Rick you need to learn how to read the WHOLE story just like the people that Wrote the law if they say the same crap you do.

After he(George) was told by 911 Operator they did not need him to folow the person MSNBC cut it there just like NBC news, but then when your hear the rest where George says the suspect ran away and he was heading back to his SUV to meet the Police at the mailboxes then he got off the phone with 911. Then Trayvon came back an attacked George, then George shot him in self defense.

Not likely. " The black people " were peaceful and calm and acted with dignity, something you should learn. They successfully adopted a Non Violent approach to a situation and achieved their goal.

Do you think trolling will achieve your goal of division and inciting racial disharmony?

Sure the president did, so did the Black Panthers by putting a bounty on George's head that sounds calm and peaceful.

If you trolls would get all the facts not just the one MSNBC put out there to incite a RIOT. Just to get people from worrying about how bad Obummer has been doing as President.

Why else would a news agency put pictures(George in a Orange Jumpsuit and Trayvon in Grade School Photo's Why not change them around put George in a suit & tie and Trayvon in his Gangster outfit with his GOLD TEETH trying to be like a gangster, then a lot of people would of said WHAT?) and half stories out there like only playing part of the 911 tape that made it look like George kept following him after he was told they did not need them to follow the SUSPECT or that it made it sound like George offered that it was a BLACK MAN IN A HOODIE not that he ANSWERED a ? from the 911 Operator with it looks like a BLACK MAN IN A HOODIE.