As bad as it sounds, a high bail, he doesnt seem to pose a flight risk, it will take a while for his murder trial to get under way, and he isnt a menace to society. That being said, the smarter thing would be for him to stay in jail and get ad seg (thats what they called it in the prisons in Texas), he would propably be safer.

Evidence, who needs stinkin' evidence, he's alread been convicted by the media!

A high bail. The dude turned himself in already once.

Saw the new picture of the back of his head on the news this morning-- a pretty significant gash. Not coming down on either side in the case, but that's just one more piece of evidence in his favor.

He should get bail, I don't see him as a flight risk.

Amazing how now all of a sudden he's thinking of the actual consequences of using a weapon where he was ill-prepared to think of any consequences after the fact, regardless of this "Stand your ground Law"

Most wanna-be anxious heroes on Police Department waiting lists who carry guns...all they seem do is look for trouble, then expect to hide behind certain laws that'll protect them and scoff at other laws that should put them away. Now he wants special permission to leave the area if he's released on BOND? Why not throw him a ticker-tape parade, afterwards...There's got to be a law somewhere that says he deserves it.

Only a matter of time until this will be collapsed by those on the Zimmerman bandwagon!

How do ya know that zimmerman won't run, skip-out, or whatever!!!!

Because he had a couple months do to that already and he didn't?

Ken Johnson-306874...Did you see the photo of his bloody head...By the way, here's the Statute :

"

The new law codified in Florida Statutes 776.013(3)(2006) states:

A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity, and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.

This new law expands upon Florida's preexisting castle doctrine and permits one to stand their ground anywhere. Florida Statutes 776.032(1) then holds in pertinent part:

A person who uses force as permitted in s. 776.012, s. 776.013, or s776.031 is justified in using such force and is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force..."

http://www.hessingerlaw.com/Articles/Self-Defense-and-Floridas-Stand-Your-Ground-Law.aspx

I would say having your head bashed into the sidewalk might make one think they are in danger of "death or great bodily harm"....

Let's remember he walked into jail VOLUNTARILY and should be given bail. The question will be all the groups who want justice for the killing of Trevon by killing this guy will be the dance.

This is a mob mentality prosecution for political gain by FL lawmakers. They will never convict him, hell you could not even pin down Casey Anthony........

tough call by the judge, if released on bail, he is a Target by the panthers, hard to hide since the bail bond company, will require a electronic monitor on him, plus the parents are going to have a hard time coming up with the 10%, bail will be set at around 250 thousand, 25 thousand is a lot of money, the parents are not wealthy people.

Bail!

Bail. If he skips bail, they'll send the Dog after him and there will just be more of a ratings frenzy for the media.

What's the deal with the parents refusing to talk to him? Because there wasn't a public apology first? Why do you need a dog and pony show for the cameras? I'd take it as being more sincere if the guy wanted to talk to me in private. I think the parents dun goofed when the mom said that she thought it was an accident that resulted from a situation getting out of control and then later back-pedaled to retract her statement. That combined with refusing to listen to what may be an apology seems like posturing to set themselves up in a favorable light legally regardless of what they believe deep down inside (meaning: her initial statement that they think it was just a situation that got out of control is her true feeling before her lawyer probably advised her to retract it because it would hurt their case.)

Bail - absolutely...

Looks like the consensus us for bail. I agree. Zimmerman doesn't look to be a flight risk and it saves the taxpayers money not to have to house him till the trial, although as someone pointed out, he may not be very safe out there on his own.

Reasonable bail, and make sure he doesn't have access to any guns.

Looks like the consensus us for bail. I agree. Zimmerman doesn't look to be a flight risk and it saves the taxpayers money not to have to house him till the trial, although as someone pointed out, he may not be very safe out there on his own.

Interesting point, unless the taxpayers have to foot the bill for protective custody someplace else!

Personally, I think the SYG law would not be in effect since he got out of the car, against what the dispatcher said, and followed the kid .. but that's without knowing everything.

Having said that, he is certainly entitled to a trial where ALL of the facts will be heard (not just those that have been released to the media). As to bail, that should go on the charges against him and any criminal record -- just as with anyone else.

They let real murders out with hardly any bail, or no bail, all the time. Why shouldn't they this time? They didn't have to engage in a manhunt to capture him, he went in voluntarily. If he wanted to run, he had ample opportunity. It doesn't seem that he's a danger to society.

The new photos being released, which were taken immediatly after the shooting, combined with the eyewitness accounts pretty much leave no doubt that it was self defense:

Warning Graphic Photo: Possible New Evidence Shows George Zimmerman's Bloodied
Head

"A new photograph obtained exclusively by ABC News showing the bloodied back of
George Zimmerman's head, which was taken three minutes after he shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, gives possible credence to his claim that Martin had bashed his head against the concrete as he fought for his
life....

The exclusive image shows blood trickling down the back of George Zimmerman's
head from two small cuts. It also shows a possible contusion forming on the
crown of his head. The original police report that night notes that the back of
Zimmerman's head was wet, and that he was bleeding from the nose and head."

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/20/11304742-zimmermans-wife-defends-him-not-a-violent-person?lite

The whole fiasco has been nothing but media sensationalism because race-based conflict gets attention; pathetic.

Carly, based on a CBS News release

-of the Cell Phone Picture of Zimmermans head,

-the time being 19 after the hour - within minutes of the killing,

-being Zimmerman hung up with 911 at 17 after the hour

-sloppy indightment by the new prosecutor including two unsubstantiated assertions.

-Zimmerman probably did not have opportunity to comply with the police recommendation to not follow. Martin probably confronted him before he hung up with 911.

No marks on Martin other than the gunshot, and Martin with a bloody nose and gashes on his head. This is not a "stand your ground case', it is a self-defense case.

What you have is two people doing something stupid. Zimmerman following, and Martin apparently getting violent.

The law does not necessarily protect us from our stupidity.

He might get bail, though I don't see him fleeing - hiding yes, but I think he'll see his days in court. If not technically, Zimmerman deserves some form of punishment - which, of course, should be based on the actual facts. I just hope the prosecutor isn't over-reaching. In regards to the comment the about Casey Anthony trial: I just hope this turns out to be a much more clear-cut case for the jurors.

When all is said and done, this case is going to end up just like the Duke Lacrosse case. Another rush to judgement by the public and media before all the facts are in and the trial is over. And like the Lacrosse case, there will be no appologies for rushing to judgement and hanging people.

Saw the new picture of the back of his head on the news this morning-- a pretty significant gash. Not coming down on either side in the case, but that's just one more piece of evidence in his favor.

Unless that picture was taken at the hospital or the police station, right after the incident, it doesn't count. There is no date, time, cause or location which self documents an injury. You can "pee" in the cup today - hand it in tomorrow... but unless the specimen was secure - it doesn't count.

Sandford PD, did no one any favors by their failure to collect meaningful evidence...at the time and scene of the crime. Unless: by omission the intentionally blured the incriminating evidence by that failure.

In the case of assault, rape, automobile collisions you are strongly urged to have all injuries documented by an impartial 3rd party as evidence on any future injuries you may claim.

George was sequestered for several weeks where no one was able to physically view his supposed injuries, he was not taken to a hospital, clinic - at his request. I am not wiling to rely on anything he claims (neither should any court) without outside, independent substantiation.

Based on he cosequenes - it is obvious that any claims made by george, at his late date are dubious at best - self serving or contrived if necessary... aimed to excusing his willful killing of Trayvon.

His ex-ambulance chasing lawyers weren't of much help anyway publically disclosing too much info throwing him under the bus as they were fired. O'Mara has been of more help to Zimmerman than the two shysters have since the beginning.

Conveniently, Zimmerman can control the narrative about who initiated the conflict, since the other party is dead and it seems the police didn't take all the evidence they should have at the time. I'm prepared to let the system work, although it apparently didn't the night of the crime. I do not want to convict Zimmerman ahead of time, but likewise, let's not exonerate him ahead of time. There are too many armchair detectives on both sides of this debate, with their detective work being driven more by ideology than by forensics.

@nwnative

The 911 people told him basically to mind his own business and let the cops take a look at Trayvon. They said not to follow him. If that isn't convincing that he was out hunting with bad intentions, I don't know what it.

Unless of course he actually believed there was a crime about to be commited. But, you're right, the rhetoric and speculation does sound so much better so lets all just stick with that. <end sarcasm>

"When all is said and done, this case is going to end up just like the Duke Lacrosse case. Another rush to judgement by the public and media before all the facts are in and the trial is over. And like the Lacrosse case, there will be no appologies for rushing to judgement and hanging people."

Not only that, clb, but those doing the judging won't even realize they were doing it. It was always someone else who jumped to conclusions, never them. We never see the bias in ourselves; we only see those who don't agree with us as wrong.

I've been watching the bond hearing and frankly, they better have a better prosecutor try the case if they want any chance of winning. This guy isn't very sharp.

If it had been Trayvon Martin who was in the habit of profiling white guys and finally shot someone's white child, we all know he would have been arrested immediately, imprisoned, no bail, and no celebrated lawyer stepping up to volunteer his services gratis.

They just set bail at 150K. How does anybody know if Zimmerman was still following after the dispatcher told him he didnt need to do that, Zimmerman could have been on his way back to his car when Martin jumped him.

AG99, I think they will know they were wrong, they'll just ignore it like they always do and go on to the next person they want to hang.

Renee you come to a lot of conclusions on what happened without any proof! Also i ask again how does what he got at the store have anything to do with what happened?

it was just announced bail set at 150k; i do not yet know what other conditions the judge has set; it does appear from people at the bail hearing that the judge is not impressed with the states case.

Hey Mike in Delray,

Nice selective editing of the law. Now, to complete the picture the law also says:

(1) A person is presumed to have
held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily harm to
himself or herself or another when using defensive force that is intended or
likely to cause death or great bodily harm to another if:
(a) The person against whom the
defensive force was used was in the process of unlawfully and forcefully
entering, or had unlawfully and forcibly entered, a dwelling, residence, or
occupied vehicle, or if that person had removed or was attempting to remove
another against that person’s will from the dwelling, residence, or occupied
vehicle; and

(b) The person who uses defensive
force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry or
unlawful and forcible act was occurring or had occurred.

I guess that depends on who was standing their ground now, wouldn't it? Remember, Mr. Martin was the one just walking back home with some candy when Zimmerman started to follow him.

Or are people with guns the only ones allowed to stand their ground?

Zimmerman carrying a gun was not illegal. Following someone isn't illegal, approaching someone isn't illegal (if indeed he did approached Martin I have heard different accounts). Profiling someone walking in your neighborhood although morally wrong isn't illegal (Again if that is even true which it may not be). Beating a guys head against the ground is illegal, and that is the only evidence of the the fight other then a gun shot. Meaning Martin didn't have cuts, bruises, or a open head wound. The screaming has not been concluded to be that of Martin and is still undecided, experts have made public their OPINIONS but these are not facts, and again I have heard experts say different things.

Innocent people don't run.

I have seen more blood than that during a Pro wrestling "show'... then see the same thing the next evening in the re-match.

Zimmerman was treated at the scene by paramedics, then cuffed and driven in a police cruiser to the Sanford police station. He was questioned for hours and later released. In police surveillance video obtained last month by ABC News, Zimmerman's wounds are not apparent, and there were no bandages on his head.

Zimmerman was not admitted to a hospital or given stitches the night of the incident.

The person who took the photograph of a bloodied Zimmerman, asking not to be identified, told ABC News exclusively that they did not see the scuffle that night, but did hear it. The person recalled seeing Martin's prostrate body on the wet grass and said the gunpowder burns on Martin's gray hoodie were clearly visible.

He didn't ask for, nor recieve medical evaluation that night. If the police or the Paramedic's had any indication of serious injuries... they are obligated to take him in for evaluation or sign a wavier.

So far, no waiver has been produced. Why not?

I think this is clearly a case of self defense. The more you look at trayvon and his background the worse he looks. We are starting to get the real story now and it's alot different than what the "media" has been saying.

If some guy was following me on a dark, rainy night, I would fight like hell for my life.

And that's why this kid is dead he started a fight instead of just talking.

@JoeyJoeJoJunior

Are you seriously asking why the parents don't want to talk to him? Listen, I'm sure you've never gone through something like this, but I have. And when someone you love has been shot by someone else, you just don't want to talk to that person. Even if you think it was a mistake and that they sincerely are sorry. That apology does mean something, but much later after the pain is less fresh. This soon, facing the person who killed a loved one (regardless of intent) is just impossibly painful. And, you don't know what their lawyers have told them to do. (We were told not to have any interactions by ours.) Maybe instead of thinking Trayvon's parents are part of some conspiracy, try to remember that they're son was just killed.

Mike 277:

Wow. Someone is following me, with a gun, and all of a sudden I'm at fault for trying to stay alive. That's the difference between justice for black people and for whites. If Trayvon had been stalking Zimmerman and had been carrying a guy and Zimmerman tried to fight him off, I bet your response would be very different.

Ken what you wrote here disturbs me:

Now put on Treyvon's pants for 2 hours and tell me that what you think he went through the last 20 minutes of his life was worth getting shot over because some civilian cop-wanna be had no authorization to pull him over, most likely harrass him, illegally question him...then thinks that this Zimmerman didn't deserve an alleged A S S - B E A T I N G!!! Consequences that Zimmerman NEVER thought of and it's this type of example that he shouldn't be hiding behind. He will be made an example

That sounds a lot like you are saying that Zimmerman deserved to be beaten because he was a member of neighborhood watch and followed Trayvon but that Trayvon didn't deserve to be shot for beating Zimmerman. Please tell me you are not saying that because if that is what you are saying then your words fuel the very environment that causes African Americans to be feared and as you put it harassed. Seriously, have you ever thought about the impression you just created? If Zimmerman was an innocent kid shot because people feared him due to his color then do not people like you also bear some responsibility for the event because you certainly play your part in creating a racist environment.

Is that Zimmerman in the pic? I thought he is white.

I guess how crime is handled really does depend on where you live. It apparently also depends on how the authorities view crime where you live. Here in Oklahoma even law enforcement can be and have been charged and arrested when they commit a crime. Mr. Zimmerman would have been arrested on site had this crime happened in Oklahoma even though we have Castle law here too (Make My Day law). We take the use of excessive and/or deadly force seriously here.

Three examples are below with the first one happening just yesterday. The following two do not involve excessive or deadly force they are examples to show we don't protect law enforcement, or anyone else when a crime has been committed.

http://newsok.com/del-city-police-captain-charged-with-manslaughter-in-18-year-olds-death/article/3667769

http://newsok.com/former-oklahoma-highway-patrol-trooper-charged-with-rape-told-officials-he-had-sex-several-times-on-duty/article/3642858

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-police-sergeant-charged-in-sexual-abuse-case/article/3561144

Interesting how more information is coming out about the fight, now we have evidence that there were indeed injuries on Zimmerman, but don't let that get in the way of crucifying him in the media. The race baiters have moved on to greener pastures. BTW: Al Sharpton owes millions of dollars from his failed campaign. Trayvon has been a godsend for ol' Sharpton, his faithful mooks have started sending him money and his pitiful show is finally getting some ratings. Wonder what the little guy is going to do once the trial starts? Will he be out there demanding 'justice' for Trayvon again? Tawana Bradley anyone?

What is really disturbing is how many hours lapsed before his father decided to look for him. His girlfriend also seemed a bit less-than-concerned. Why was Trayvon's body in the morgue for three days?

Many times there is a 10% option so if that is applicable in this case, Zimmerman need only post 15,000. Interestingly, I still see many posts from those that still concoct various scenarios about the events of that night, all designed to satisfy their feelings of guilt for Zimmerman. One would think that by now, they could keep their fantasies to themselves and let justice take its course.

After all, if Zimmerman is acquitted, what will they do then?

@Glenn Lloyd

Absolutely. If you wanted to apologize, I would at least let you say your piece. It might be over the phone and not in person, I might not say a word to you, and I might not even believe or accept what you say but I would at least hear it out. Especially if it was private and not done in front of the media.

I would not be the least bit surprised if the request was denied simply because the lawyer was afraid that the mom would ramble a little too much when the media got to her afterwards and interviewed her about what was said.

Where does this A**hole judge come in saying Zimmerman can't down a beer? There was no alcohol involved.

LogicRequired - Wow, I'm in a brutal fight where I knock someone to the ground and am banging their head on pavement yet I have no marks on me but a gunshot wound? Something about that doesn't seem quite right.

Mike 680333 - Strange that from the photos of Zimmerman I thought he'd be morbidly obese by now, not the average built man who appeared in court.

JM-1992894...(#1.55).... I see I got you to do a little research...and that's good....I didn't post the entire self-defence statutes of Florida...just the Portion that states a person does NOT have A DUTY TO RETREAT and may Stand his or her Ground....And the portion you cited had to do within a Dwelling, Residence, Vehicle...none of which are relevant........

Prosecutors ran rip-shot over Defendants because of Duty to Retreat...

Any Prosecutor worth his salt could place doubt in the Jury just by claiming the former victim, now defendant, didn't do everything they could to "run away"....

"I did not know if he was armed or not."

Unless you see a weapon, George, you never know if ANYONE is armed. You just going to go around shooting everyone just in case?! Society is not safe with paranoid gun-wielders like you running lose.

Beoweolf- They said on the news this morning that that picture was taken with an iPhone and pictures taken with iPhones are time and date stamped.

Multiple felon offenders are released everyday with bail in this country. Take his passport if he has one and he won't be leaving the country. I doubt he has the resources to leave. He did turn himself in on his own

Hi JM,

Thank you so much for posting the Castle Doctrine law, rather than the expanded Stand your Ground law. You can't imagine how much help you've been by posting for all of us to read that which is entirely irrelevant to this particular case.

Ditto that, Allison. Zimmerman's past is most likely well-hidden, or even legally quashed considering his connections.

Mike @ 1.13 said "A person who uses force as permitted in s. 776.012, s. 776.013, or s776.031 is justified in using such force and is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force..."

Apparently, a person CAN be denied due process, and is not immune from being sentenced to death, by someone who had no authority under color of law or right to pursue.

My opinion is that Zimmerman got scared by this boy's height once Zimmerman was close enough to tell he was taller. I still don't see the justifiable reason why Zimmerman brought his gun along with him to follow this boy. It does seem that Zimmerman was in violation of the laws even before he confronted Trayvon Martin.

It could have been an unfortunate accident, gun produced in fright without intention to shoot, nervous and scared trigger finger - but, even if it was, it seems pretty obvious that the confrontation (and thus the shooting) would never had happened if Zimmerman himself would have been acting within the law in the first place.

Martin didn't know who Zimmerman was - there was no uniform to lead Martin to believe Zimmerman may be some sort of neighborhood security guard. Zimmerman caused the unlawful confrontation to occur, and was in pursuit of Martin, armed with a loaded gun. Zimmerman called the police a few times, and was still in his truck the first couple of times he did so. It doesn't seem like he was calling out to Martin, like, "hey, I'm the neighborhood watch, why are you here?" - Nothing, only Zimmerman whispering on the phone to police right before shooting Martin. Those phone calls, and the phone call Martin was on with his girlfriend, should give some concrete evidence on what went on in those last few moments.

As far as Zimmerman's head wounds, those could've been made by falling while running after Martin (Zimmerman was running, you can hear him puffing on the phone, and he was NOT running away from Martin or he wouldn't have said he was tired of them getting away), the gashes don't look like punches or bashes on the ground, to me. Plus, it had been revealed that there was no signs of a fight on Martin, no bloodied fists, etc.

I can imagine Martin trying to run from Zimmerman, and getting tired of that while on the phone, I can see Martin turning around and Zimmerman, gun drawn and surprised by the boy's height, walking backwards while pointing that gun nervously at Martin, falling on the grass and hitting the edge of a sidewalk, possibly setting off the gun. Who knows. But still, it would not have happened if Zimmerman would have waited for police instead of unjustifiably getting out of his truck with a loaded pistol.

The kid deserved a chance to be heard, a chance to explain himself, a chance to live and become a man. Martin may have been suspended from school - but he was still in school - most gangbagers/drug dealers are NOT in school at that age - so I find it hard to believe that the kid was a bad kid. I also want to believe that Zimmerman is a good man, and if that is true, he will take responsibility for the tragedy he alone caused, whether it was intentional or not.

This fight was no different than any fight that ended badly in a murder. It could have been white on white, or black on black, or other nationalities. We never hear of Asians who kill other races. There are plenty.

It is the Media, Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, the Farrakhan's who are using Zimmerman as the Poster Boy for Racism; the old kind of Racism of many, many years ago. All of them should retire, always promoting and inciting more trouble. They all see money off this case, and promotion of themselves again--it is for their own self interest---Scumbags.

I doubt Trayvon Martin's parents (may Trayvon rest in peace) would know how to proceed, and make this a racial issue, with Racial Marches, etc., publicity, interviews on Media circuits (circus)---most people, including blacks worry about their children being killed, not the race of the person. There are hate crimes, but Zimmerman is willing to stand on trial and explain what happened.

Most killers do not take the stand during a trial. They have much to hide. Attorneys advise them not to incriminate themselves.

Where is the Justice---not saying that Zimmerman killed him because he was black, but the 911 distorted tapes of the real conversation, blocking out major words, and thoughts, may get him off the charge.

When I first heard of the Trayvon Martin killing I was totally on the side of justice for Trayvon. Now that more facts have leaked out, and seeing how this senario has been skewed by the likes of Jackson and Sharpton, along with the sensationalist media. I now think Zimmerman should be freed and he should not have to fight this in a trial. The special prosecutor was appointed and sent in to "get" Zimmerman and that is what she will try to do no matter what the facts happen to be. Makes me sick that this is what our legal system has come to. Our political leaders are gutless to be led around by a bunch or race baiters like has happened.

I don't know about you but if I was being followed by someone and I was 70 yards from my residence I wouldn't confront the person because I wouldn't know if he was armed or what his intentions were. To confront would only escalate the situation

I'm sorry for your loss???? That's no apology!!!! More like ... I'm sorry I took your son's life!!!!!!!

Pick and choose the words ... that's what it will be all about ... sorry but not admitting ........

I might shoot a kid before this progressed any further than this:

First, let me state that I am a liberal. That being said, I believe firmly that this man is NOT guilty of 2nd degree murder. For a FACT, he is innocent until he is PROVEN guilty by a jury of his peers! I am tired of the race-baiting by Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton concerning this particular case. They do the black race no particular good in raving that Zimmerman is a killer; in fact they harm the black race by their continued rants!

Those head wounds were next to nothing on Zimmerman. Small head wounds bleed a lot before clotting. Why don't they put a close up of the gunshot wound on Martin side by side with Zimmerman's head wounds and then compare the two.

Bottom line is, Zimmerman had no right to be armed on a neighborhood watch and had no right to do anything other than call the police and wait for them when he saw something "suspicious".

@BlueBurner

If it had been Trayvon Martin who was in the habit of profiling white guys and finally shot someone's white child, we all know he would have been arrested immediately, imprisoned, no bail, and no celebrated lawyer stepping up to volunteer his services gratis.

Why stop there Blue? I think you left a few things out. For instance the media wouldn't be attempting to try and convict Martin in the court of public opinion and we wouldn't hear a peep about the story from Jackson, Sharpton or people like YOU who would all just look the other way. Black people kill white people 4 times as often as it happens the other way around. When is the last time one of those stories got national media attention? If you're going to toss out the race card don't forget that it has TWO sides.

And let's not forget one other little thing shall we? If Zimmerman had been the VICTIM he wouldn't be a white guy. He'd be referred to as an Hispanic and you know it as well as I do because you are one of the people who would be doing it.

Zimmerman's father is white and his mother is Hispanic; Martin was black.

Why is this statement necessary in this article? Don't we ALL already know this? Why don't they specify the ethnicity of Martins parents? When speaking of Obama, do they say his father was black and his mother was white?

“I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of your son,” said Zimmerman, who, in a surprise move, took the stand at the hearing.

Following the hearing, Natalie Jackson, an attorney for the Martin family, said Zimmerman's apology was "insulting to the family."

WOW! Since WHEN is an apology insulting? I’m sure Jesus is so proud of her today. Matt. 6: 15

Bottom line is, Zimmerman had no right to be armed on a neighborhood watch and had no right to do anything other than call the police and wait for them when he saw something "suspicious".

Actually Zimmerman had every right to be armed. He also had every right to follow Martin. He even had a right to approach Martin although I doubt he did. The bottom line here is Martin had no right to assault Zimmerman and Zimmerman had every right to defend himself. I don't see why this is so confusing to some people.

PJ-69

Re: If Zimmerman was an innocent kid shot because people feared him due to his color then do not people like you also bear some responsibility for the event because you certainly play your part in creating a racist environment.

Sounds to me like you also think Zimmerman is "Guilty" re-reading your comments over and over again!

Why would people fear Zimmerman because of his color and also b/c he's the one brandishing a weapon? Black or White...I don't think anyone is going to approach someone with a pistol!!

I'm not opposed to Zimmerman getting bail and I don't think the threats on his life are that serious. The Martins have shown nothing but class throughout this travesty. Most all the protests have been peaceful and non-violent. All the hype over his safety has been spread by his family non by the community. As far as his guilt that will come out in trial, but as for me the facts that are known are Zimmerman followed a unarmed teen whom had done nothing wrong and on his own decided to use gun killing the poor kid. Something is wrong when a self appointed neighborhood watch person can follow and gun down a unarmed person whom he thinks is up to no good. If this is legal than something is wrong with the laws in this country.

if you eat one skittle...does that make you a skit eater...

So far I have had my link blocked, and now deleted. Someone is trying hard to hide this information. Now I am going to post the living sh*t out of it.

I might shoot a kid before this progressed any further than this:

Goto-abcnews.go.com/images/US/ht_george_zimmerman_head_dm_120419_wmain.jpg

Post the picture of the back of Zimmerman's head from that night. Show us how bloody he was and how close to death Zimmerman was before he defended himself with deadly force. Yahoo showed it.

PJ-69

Re: If Zimmerman was an innocent kid shot because people feared him due to his color then do not people like you also bear some responsibility for the event because you certainly play your part in creating a racist environment.

Sounds to me like you also think Zimmerman is "Guilty" re-reading your comments over and over again!

Why would people fear Zimmerman because of his color and also b/c he's the one brandishing a weapon? Black or White...I don't think anyone is going to approach someone with a pistol!!

Sorry, I am just brain dead. Hubs had a stroke recently and between the baby and the farm I am just so beat I can't think straight I meant to say Trayvon. Sleep typing is not a good idea. Honestly I am thinking Zimmerman probably made a few dumb moves but is not guilty under the law as it stands. There are things I am sure in retrospect he sees that might have prevented the situation (like never getting out of his vehicle or even joining the neighborhood watch) just nothing that made him guilty of a crime but the courts will decide that soon enough. Honestly I feel sorry for the guy and his family as well as for Trayvon and his parents. Teenage kids do dumb things and get in over their heads sometimes. They make wrong decisions which given the time they outgrow if they get the chance but sometimes they don't get that chance and you cannot blame Zimmerman because Trayvon made a mistake and decided to fight with him. I think Trayvon as a teenager confronted the situation the way a teenager does with bluster and bravado and it got him killed

Just a PS to what I wrote above... I don't mean Zimmerman did a bad thing joining the neighborhood watch or even reporting Trayvon. I just imagine the poor guy wishes he had his life back just as much as Trayvon's parents wish the same for Trayvon. I doubt Zimmerman will ever feel safe or sure of himself again on a great many levels.

If he started the fight then he SHOULD have wounds, and deservedly so!!! He started the fight!!!

Stand your ground doesn't mean "if you get yourself into a fight and are getting your a$$ kicked as a result".

Look how much blood is in that photo. If those were serious enough injuries to consider your life in danger then there would be a hell of a lot more blood. Those are superficial wounds at best!

This guy got overpowered by a boy and decided to commit murder rather than face the shame of getting a well deserved butt kicking. One that he had coming. If you follow someone around for that amount of time then you should expect nothing less. There may not be an official law against it, but the cops will come if you report that someone is following you. So yes, following/stalking IS a problem as it indicates a possible intent to harm. Good rule of Thumb: IF A 911 DISPATCHER TELLS YOU NOT TO DO SOMETHING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, STOP DOING IT!!!!!!

Trayvon was the one defending himself, NOT Zimmerman!

First of all, why was this string collpsed by the community? It was a simple question and very relevant to the article. I think that A LOT of people have thin skins and whine about any little thing that they disagree with on here.

As far as bail goes, did the police ever have trouble locating him? I haven't heard where they have. The man was defending himself while trying to protect his community. I don't think that he pulled his weapon while trying to question Martin. I think that Martin was the most surprised when he was shot in the middle of a beat down that he was giving to someone that he had no fear from. If he were truly afraid he would have fled the scene and gotten home to call the police. He was after street justice and didn't expect to get the death penalty for it, but that is what happened. I don't know if I would have acted differently than Zimmerman. If crime is bad enough in an area where a neighborhood watch is needed, people have to protect themselves if the police can't be there for you. Didn't this happen at 3am? How many upstanding school age children are out in the rain at 3am? I think that I have read that his parents didn't know that their son was dead until 3 days after the shooting. I am not saying anything negative about them but their cries about the appology insulting the family fall on deaf ears for me. My children would not have been MIA for 3 days before I started asking questions.

The man shouldn't even be tried but if the prosecuter wants to continue this circus it should not be a bail that is excessive. The $15k was not the total amount of the bail like some were claiming on here, just the amount that the family had to pay the bail bondsman. I know that I could not afford that but I also know that I could not afford to be in jail for the months before this goes to trial. This man's life is ruined because he was trying to protect his neighborhood by asking someone why they were walking around it at 3am on a Sunday morning in the rain and that person responded with violence. Those are the facts that have been presented. When did it start to happen that the criminals had all of the rights?

Big Jake-Are you kidding me? In every single story on this issue from the beginning there have been multiple posters making threatening statements. Or do you just skim past and ignore those!!! the elderly couple presumed to be residing at "zimmermans" address received threats and fled their own home due to imminent DANGER thanks to spike lee and his 250,000 twitter followers as well as Roseann Barr. The ladies of the show "the Talk" didn't help either with their biased statements made to hundreds of thousands of viewers. Do I really have to cite the dozens of others in the media????? Including the new black (gangsters) panthers!!!!!

Posters started out here saying Zimmerman would not get bail or it would be extremely high. Some said he would be safer in jail because somebody will "get" him. Well, they were at least WRONG about the bail. Sincerely hope they are wrong about the threats on his LIFE!!!!!

Now we have PROOF that Zimmerman did sustain injuries. Yet many won't buy this because they are ASSuming that the injuries aren't credibly documented. As if the general public have all the evidence!!!!! Some are calling his family LIARS just BS with nothing to back it up other then their fantasy conspiracy theories because of dads prior profession. But that's right.."guilty until proven innocent" and not even them to some of the anti-Zimmerman racists!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The parents claimed that they wanted an apology. They got it today and now it's INSULTING???? Just what did they want him to do?? Fall to his knees, tearfully confess to purposefully killing their son and asking if they would like to bury him under the jail??(sarc) He hasn't apologized before now because he was advised not to. Obviously it would not have been in anybodys best interest to have had the family and him meet before charges were brought. Risking for his safety and defense as well as for the safety of the parents.

The parents have been calling for "peace and calm" have stated they don't want mob rule and rioting. Now that Zimmerman is getting out on bail I sincerely hope that they mean that, that Sharpton steps up and advises his public to be peaceful and calm. Zimmerman has proven that he is not running away. For his safety I hope he is allowed to leave the state until the next scheduled court proceeding.

Big Jake-Are you kidding me? In every single story on this issue from the beginning there have been multiple posters making threatening statements. Or do you just skim past and ignore those!!! the elderly couple presumed to be residing at "zimmermans" address received threats and fled their own home due to imminent DANGER thanks to spike lee and his 250,000 twitter followers as well as Roseann Barr. The ladies of the show "the Talk" didn't help either with their biased statements made to hundreds of thousands of viewers. Do I really have to cite the dozens of others in the media????? Including the new black (gangsters) panthers!!!!!

Posters started out here saying Zimmerman would not get bail or it would be extremely high. Some said he would be safer in jail because somebody will "get" him. Well, they were at least WRONG about the bail. Sincerely hope they are wrong about the threats on his LIFE!!!!!

Now we have PROOF that Zimmerman did sustain injuries. Yet many won't buy this because they are ASSuming that the injuries aren't credibly documented. As if the general public have all the evidence!!!!! Some are calling his family LIARS just BS with nothing to back it up other then their fantasy conspiracy theories because of dads prior profession. But that's right.."guilty until proven innocent" and not even them to some of the anti-Zimmerman racists!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The parents claimed that they wanted an apology. They got it today and now it's INSULTING???? Just what did they want him to do?? Fall to his knees, tearfully confess to purposefully killing their son and asking if they would like to bury him under the jail??(sarc) He hasn't apologized before now because he was advised not to. Obviously it would not have been in anybodys best interest to have had the family and him meet before charges were brought. Risking for his safety and defense as well as for the safety of the parents.

The parents have been calling for "peace and calm" have stated they don't want mob rule and rioting. Now that Zimmerman is getting out on bail I sincerely hope that they mean that, that Sharpton steps up and advises his public to be peaceful and calm. Zimmerman has proven that he is not running away. For his safety I hope he is allowed to leave the state until the next scheduled court proceeding.

Big Jake-Are you kidding me? In every single story on this issue from the beginning there have been multiple posters making threatening statements. Or do you just skim past and ignore those!!! the elderly couple presumed to be residing at "zimmermans" address received threats and fled their own home due to imminent DANGER thanks to spike lee and his 250,000 twitter followers as well as Roseann Barr. The ladies of the show "the Talk" didn't help either with their biased statements made to hundreds of thousands of viewers. Do I really have to cite the dozens of others in the media????? Including the new black (gangsters) panthers!!!!!

Posters started out here saying Zimmerman would not get bail or it would be extremely high. Some said he would be safer in jail because somebody will "get" him. Well, they were at least WRONG about the bail. Sincerely hope they are wrong about the threats on his LIFE!!!!!

Now we have PROOF that Zimmerman did sustain injuries. Yet many won't buy this because they are ASSuming that the injuries aren't credibly documented. As if the general public have all the evidence!!!!! Some are calling his family LIARS just BS with nothing to back it up other then their fantasy conspiracy theories because of dads prior profession. But that's right.."guilty until proven innocent" and not even them to some of the anti-Zimmerman racists!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The parents claimed that they wanted an apology. They got it today and now it's INSULTING???? Just what did they want him to do?? Fall to his knees, tearfully confess to purposefully killing their son and asking if they would like to bury him under the jail??(sarc) He hasn't apologized before now because he was advised not to. Obviously it would not have been in anybodys best interest to have had the family and him meet before charges were brought. Risking for his safety and defense as well as for the safety of the parents.

The parents have been calling for "peace and calm" have stated they don't want mob rule and rioting. Now that Zimmerman is getting out on bail I sincerely hope that they mean that, that Sharpton steps up and advises his public to be peaceful and calm. Zimmerman has proven that he is not running away. For his safety I hope he is allowed to leave the state until the next scheduled court proceeding.

Lolly,

This guy got overpowered by a boy and decided to commit murder rather than face the shame of getting a well deserved butt kicking. One that he had coming. If you follow someone around for that amount of time then you should expect nothing less.

Well deserved butt kicking? I can't think of any reason that violence is acceptable until A) Physical contact is made, or B) There is a threat with a weapon. There is not a state in this country that makes it illegal to talk to someone or ask them questions. So, I must conclude that it was "well deserved" because of street rules, interestingly enough when this wasn't on a street but in an apartment complex. Comments and attitudes like yours are the main problem in these situations and a large one in our country. Sadly, what this case has done most is make the targeted victims think twice before they protect themselves in the future and that may end up getting them killed because they fear being the next George Zimmerman. Just another victory for thuggery...

If he started the fight then he SHOULD have wounds, and deservedly so!!! He started the fight!!!

The only problem with that is there's no evidence suggesting that Zimmerman initiated physical contact.

Look how much blood is in that photo. If those were serious enough injuries to consider your life in danger then there would be a hell of a lot more blood. Those are superficial wounds at best!

If I got jumped by some thug and they were smashing my head into concrete I would consider my life to be in danger, as would you.

This guy got overpowered by a boy and decided to commit murder rather than face the shame of getting a well deserved butt kicking. One that he had coming. If you follow someone around for that amount of time then you should expect nothing less. There may not be an official law against it, but the cops will come if you report that someone is following you.

I hope this whole ordeal serves as a lesson for moronic thugs who think they can and should assault people over trivial @!$%#.

Good rule of Thumb: IF A 911 DISPATCHER TELLS YOU NOT TO DO SOMETHING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, STOP DOING IT!!!!!!

After the dispatcher said "We don't need you to do that.", Zimmerman said "Ok". He didn't have to listen, but it sure sounds like he did.

Trayvon was the one defending himself, NOT Zimmerman!

Aside from the GSW, Zimmerman is the only one with any injuries.

JohnSixty

While it's true that he may not a threat to 65% of society, he's still a threat and a killer. He needs to receive the same treatment Trayvon Martin would have received had the tables been turned.

I am guessing you are referring to Trayvon Martin's color/race, and you think that, assuming he would have killed a white man in self-defense, he wouldn't have received the same treatment as Zimmerman ...

Then surely you must also mean the same treatment as the (black) guy who killed (white hispanic) Daniel Adkins (a guy who was unarmed and walking his dog) at a Taco Bell in Phoenix, who has not been arrested nor charged ...

"The parents have been calling for "peace and calm" have stated they don't want mob rule and rioting."

But that doesn't stop U, does it skrewdworld? Hate, hate & more hate 4 any1 who doesn't agree with U.

Wait 4 it, peeps; There will B more hate.............

Following the hearing, Natalie Jackson, an attorney for the Martin family, said Zimmerman's apology was "insulting to the family."

"This is the most unmeaningful apology we've ever seen in our entire lives," Jackson said, according to an Orlando Sentinel reporter.

Just keep stiring it up... Poor little victim. We want an arrest: Shot in the chest. They got the arrest but that is not good enough. Now they are going to want a conviction.. And of course the appology is not good enough. It would not have mattered what George said, they would have the same retoric above.

After all, Sybrina Fulton-Taryvon's enduring mother-has said it was an accident...Ohhh, that was before damage control by Sharpton, Jackson, and the "special" prosecutor. What a joke.

I like the fact thogh, they have kept Sybrina Fulton on a short lease and they are not allowing her in front of a microphone.

George will be exhonorated, the streets will fill with violence. After a few rocks and bricks are thrown in the tantrum, everyone will go home feeling better....what a fiasco!

Bail. Simple fact is he won't run. Not with the cops with an eye on him 24/7 now. Oh and for whoever said he should get whatever punishment trayvon would've gotten if it was vice versa he would have never been questioned about what happened and let off with self defence. Not racist but it would be true and you all know it.

Going WAY back to Ruken..."...he had two months to run and didn't.".

Ruken, during those two months he was certain that "Stand Your Ground" would get him off and that he'd never be arrested or charged.

Now he is in jail and being charged with second degree murder. He has lost his Ace in the Hole.

ssmike, if he was arrested, you don't need Mr. Holder. It only a hate crime when someone doesn't go thru the proper precedure for a crime against humanity.

Eric Holder isn't needed. The man is likely arrested.

John The first sentence sums it up

S.S. Mike, there was no need for federal authorities. The local police took care of it. Reginald Denny was white so those who committed crimes against him were arrested. Had Denny been the criminal as were the LAPD, he would never have been arrested.

I think we African Americans should leave. White people killed native Americans, stole land, enslaved people while simultaneously claiming to be Christian. I doubt there is any recovery for them. Best thing is to leave and let them find new faults with each other.

Where would you go (serious question)? Africa is fairly rough and has been for quite a while. The Caribbean?

There is no such thing as a HATE crime, BULLY crime, RACE crime, ETC, ETC.. The Government could ELIMINATE half the crime-laws on the books and still have more then enough to cover every crime... GET REAL ! God Bless America... AGAIN !

A person is only white when it suites the likes of those that have fallen from the public eye.

If J.J. or A.S. where to truly be trying to follow in the footsteps of M.L.K. they would show up for crimes of prejudice regardless of the direction from which they came. It is tough to follow in the shadow of a great man.

Was he arrested? if so there is no need for Holden.

Also,

I keep seeing comments about Martins past but why no chat about Zimmerman's?

He was convicted of assaulting a police officer

Had a court action about assaulting a woman

And applied and denied entry into the police academy.

Fact or fiction, matters not if Martin was a criminal or not he had a legal right to be there just as Zimmerman had. This is why this is a issue for the courts (jury) not for you or me to decide.

Why is it that Whites ignore the legal aspects of this and only focus on fiction or how a person looks?

That is the sad truth about race relations in this country one side sees things in color and the other black and white. How do you view the word?

And for the record most Black don't like Jackson or Al Sharpton cant stand them you whites just assume that we do.

ssmike, was the 'black' man arrested? Without knowing what you are talking about, I can answer with a confident 'YES!' That is the different. Sick of people pretending that the only reason this case is in the forefront is because of the murder. It is in the forefront because of injustice!

Anna-2034615

You people are pathetic and make me ashamed of being white. How do we know Trayvon wasn't defending himself? Oh that's right we don’t know, because he's dead. If some plain clothed hispanic was following me in the middle of the night I'd bash his head in too. If some white 17 year old kid was shot by a black plain clothed man you people would be on the other side. Get a life. This is America. It’s not America the White, it’s America the Red, White and Blue. You people need to get the hell out if you can’t deal with it.

If some plain clothed hispanic was following you, hopefully you'd do the safer thing which would be getting to a safe place asap and call 911, if instead you decide to start bashing someone's head just because you think he/she follows you, don't be surprised if it ends badly.

And your other sentence is such bs too, how many riots and rallies have you seen for the white guys who have been killed by black guys? You're the one who is being manipulated by the medias and Jesse Jackson & Co., you are the one who is playing the race card, personally I don't see any difference whatsoever whether the people involved are black or white or any other color/race. I would feel the exact same way if Martin had been white and Zimmerman black, when I see someone being convicted by the public opinion, when they barely know anything, to where his life and his family's lives are in danger, to where they can't even realise that either could have jumped on the other, and that despite his mistakes Zimmerman may have had good intentions (protecting his neighborhood) even if overzealous, I don't think its right.

Obviously you have already convicted George Zimmerman, eventho you, like all of us, weren't there and don't know much about what actually happened. And you call others pathetic ...

Glenn, if you actually read the article, it was stated that Zimmerman has never been convicted of any crime, period. Now with that said, I am in no way defending him. I will admit, when this story first hit the headlines, I was angered. I was angered NOT because of the biased articles with statements of racial hate crimes and everybody screaming racism. This is the only reason that this story has even made headlines.

The fact that this has been labeled as another white vs. black hate crime is disturbing to me. I believe this is what has clouded judgement from the public, and I am no different. My first thoughts were to defend this Zimmerman character and I tried to justify his actions in my mind. I am having a very tough time with this though. On one side, I can't blame Zimmerman for following the guy. If there was a strange person walking around my neighborhood, I would be inclined to check him out also. The difference between myself and Zimmerman though, is that I would not have been weilding a gun. The bottom line is that a life was taken, a HUMAN life was lost, black, white, asian, hispanic, it doesn't frickin matter people. Someone died by the hand of another person, and that is not right. Nobody has the right to take another life. This can be argued however in the case of self defense, BUT, and I mean BUT, this is the only exception, and the law is defined as "self defense if your life is in danger". This is the big caveat, was Zimmerman's life in danger ? I don't know about that, but, I WASN'T THERE so how the hell would I know ?

This is what it will boil down to in court, was Zimmerman's life in danger. He is going to have a tough time trying to convice a jury that he thought Trayvon was going to kill him. The other part of this that is going to be very very difficult for Zimmerman is the fact that this was on the street, not on Zimmerman's property or someone else's property, he was not caught red handed doing anything wrong. Oh my, I think Zimmerman is going down, and he probably should.

I'm speaking as a Republican with a concealed permit, and this is a very disturbing case. The shooting should not have occured, nobody should have died. Zimmerman should not have been following somebody with a gun on him. Again, I feel that he was not doing anything wrong in following a suspicious person, but it sure seems like he had a certain mindset when he carried out these actions.

One last thing that I would like to say;

during my concealed weapons course that I attended over ten years ago, we had an interesting conversation that stuck with me. There was a 21 year old kid in the class who was all hyped up about carring a gun, you could tell by the questions he was asking. When the instructor was giving a lecture on the laws, and he started talking about "what if", what if you actually had to use your weapon, and what if you had to use your weapon in public (not defending your home etc.) oh boy, the instructor pretty much said that if you shoot someone, you are going to jail, period. The kid then asked, "what if I get in a fight in a parking lot and I'm getting beat down, can I pull out my gun ?" the instructor looked at him, shook his head, and kicked him out of the class.

The instructor then went on about specifics of the law, "the only time you are justified in taking another life, or causing permanent bodily harm to another person, is when your life is in immediate danger", NO OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. An example would be if someone broke into your house and your life is in danger. And this can even be very difficult, even if you shoot someone in your own house, you might still go to jail. You have to PROVE that your life was in danger, which sounds screwy, since we are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, but that doesn't pertain to this subject, when you take another life that is a different story.

I have a permit but I do not carry my gun around, in fact that last time I did was when the family went hunting in the mountains. I have a permit so that if my family goes camping or on a road trip, I can carry. But then I don't even carry on my person, it is something that is in my gear, my equipment, for emergencies, not to carry and weild around the neighborhood.

Was Zimmerman justified in taking the life of this young man ?

in my mind I don't think so, but again, I wasn't there and we do not know all the facts.

And your other sentence is such bs too, how many riots and rallies have you seen for the white guys who have been killed by black guys? You're the one who is being manipulated by the medias and Jesse Jackson & Co., you are the one who is playing the race card, personally I don't see any difference whatsoever whether the people involved are black or white or any other color/race.

-Anna-

Lol...I'm playing the race card?

Glenn Llyod - You're making the same mistake that Zimmerman did when you refer to what "Whites" do or don't do. That's the real problem with race relations today.

LouA, shaking my head indeed! The woman in your lightbulb statement was ARRESTED! You can't discern the different?

anna your right. you are an embarrassment.

I might kill a kid before injuries like this progress to something more serious.

It's a shame that when someone is shot all anyone can say is that a black man was shot, instead of saying that a human being was shot. That is the whole problem. And this is just another publicity stunt for Jackson to look good. It's just pathetic that an advocate of peace is inciting a race war.

"This is the most unmeaningful apology we've ever seen in our entire lives," Jackson said, according to an Orlando Sentinel reporter.

What's insulting is for this attorney to spout off this way when she wasn't there and doesn't KNOW what happened. Neither does the family. In fact, the ONLY person on this planet who REALLY knows what happened is George Zimmerman. In this case, the attorney should just have not responded. Let's let the trial happen before we convict George Zimmerman. I'm still not convinced that he's not the REAL victim here.

Apparently my links get blocked...

I might kill a kid before injuries like this progress to something more serious.

Goto:abcnews.go.com/images/US/ht_george_zimmerman_head_dm_120419_wmain.jpg

There is no such thing as a HATE crime

Sure there is. Oddly enough, it happens when there's nothing PERSONAL involved, and therefore no personal animosity.

If one man cheats another in a business deal, and they used to be friends, the one who got cheated might "hate" his former friend for cheating him and therefore murder the former friend and business partner. That would NOT be a "hate" crime, even though the murderer "hated" the vicitim.

But when an ignorant fool at a gas station in Arizona shot a Sikh man that he'd never met or spoken to, because he mistakenly thought the Sikh was Muslim, THAT was a "hate" crime. There was nothing personal involved. The murderer was acting out of sheer bigotry (and stupidity, since Sikhism and Islam are two different religions, and there is no mistaking a Sikh turban).

Hilarious! Zimmerman's wife says he isn't a violent person or threat to the community after he identified an unknown black kid as up to no good, hunted him down and killed him. All in "The community."

I truly believe Zimmerman is sorry for killing Martin but not for Martin and his family but for himself and the consequences he is facing.

Thank You !!

'ssmike' wrote:

"A black man killed a hispanic man last night! Where is Eric Holder? Or is it only a hate crime when its performed by a white male ?"

REPLY: Mike, here's the problem I have with your post...

Your comment (and racist rhetoric in the form of a question) makes clear that you see the world, every aspect of the situation, and the nature of crime in America through the limited vision of your personal racial biases.

What many have been saying when questioning Mr. Zimmerman's intent/mindset/motivations the day that he grabbed his loaded 9mm and pursued a teenager and killed him was that it appears clear that he saw the world, every aspect of the situation, and the nature of crime in America through his limited vision and personal racial biases.

A long look in the mirror might be in order, Mike. You would find that your world is far less threatening when you learn to enjoy the richness and diversity offered to you, without focusing on race, and closeting yourself in prejudice and bigotry.

Just food for thought.

@JohnSixty

I think we African Americans should leave. White people killed native Americans, stole land, enslaved people while simultaneously claiming to be Christian. I doubt there is any recovery for them.

Well, technically... Native Americans were killing and stealing each others land long before the white man arrived and technically it was mostly black people enslaving other black people and then selling them to whites but... Let's just ignore what everyone else was doing and blame all of the evils in the world on the "white man".

Best thing is to leave and let them find new faults with each other.

Sounds to me like it's not just white people who find faults with others. If you left who on Earth would you blame all of your problems on?

Why are people so determined to convict or exonerate before all of the evidence and testimony has been presented at trial ? Have we become that much of a gossip, tabloid addicted society we believe everything we read or hear from corporate media who manipulates news to sell papers or ad space ? Long, long ago media stopped reporting just the facts. There is no such thing as neutral media anymore, just like the Supreme Court, corporate media is a political wing of one or the other major party.

George's head is totally dry in the photo. You'd think being on his back in the rain would've smeared the blood. Instead, I see definitive blood streaks depicted. Why no pictures of the broken nose? Where's the grass and/or stains that detectives saw on his back?

Paramedics must've used a new super-absorbent invisible bandaid on him. I would've seen that puncture wound and/or bandaid on the video. I don't understand why the paramedics didn't give him a whole box of that super bandaid. He had to wrap his head in gauze the next day.

SPD: "George, this is going to sting a bit...better bite down on this...it's for your own good and the good of SYG laws".

The news media described him as a white Mexican. He don't look to white in that picture. This dude is a chameleon. All his pictures look different.

ITA, Dick. I think that the entire apology was as a result of Trayvon's mother stating that he has never apologized for killing him. I do believe it was self-serving and that he is truly sorry that he is now having to face the consequences of his actions. Given the same set of circumstances, I am not so sure he wouldn't do it again. In the event he is set free, I do believe he will be back on neighborhood patrol.

Just one picture? I would have thought they would have taken more,or showed more pictures of it from different angles

I don't fault Geore Zimmerman for patrolling the neighborhood as part of a Neighborhood Watch program.

But I do fault him for being armed while doing so.

I don't fault him for being suspicious of someone over six feet in height, walking in the rain, looking around in confusion because he's new to the neighborhood and every building in that development looked EXACTLY alike (look at the photos, who wouldn't be confused their first night there?)

But I do fault him for assuming the person was up to no good.

I don't fault him for trying to see where his new neighbor was going.

But I do fault him for not talking respectfully to the guy to find out what he was up to. The kid was trying to find his house, for crying out loud. It was raining. He could have used a ride. If you're afraid he's a criminal (and why would you assume that?), don't offer him a ride, and don't get out of the car.

I don't fault him for calling 911 if he thought the stranger might be up to no good.

But I do fault him for getting out of his car to track Trayvon Martin.

It must have been very scary. First a car is following you slowly, then the guy driving gets out and starts running after you.

It's too bad Trayvon didn't call 911 about the suspicious guy that was stalking him. A horrible tragedy might have been averted.

I don't fault the police for arresting George Zimmerman in the first place.

But I do fault the Assistant DA for releasing him without an investigation.

Quoting the article:

"The terms of the bond include a curfew and no alcohol or guns."

REPLY: Uh oh, here we go. The NRA is going to be OUTRAGED that this man's guns were taken from him!!!!

And, of course, the people who want Zimmerman's head keep reporting fiction. Claiming convictions that never happened, claiming Zimmerman had no injuries, claiming Zimmerman "hunted down and shot" somebody -- None of these claims are true. They aren't even consistent with the known facts. Here's a hint. If Zimmerman had hunted down and shot Martin. Martin would never have gotten the chance to get close. The people who want Zimmerman to be guilty need to rely on fiction. The facts support his claim of self-defense.

FireBlade:

You are correct in that most jurisdictions have the insane requirement that someone who acts to save his own life then has to prove it (and the authorities will sweep away all the evidence.) The "stand your ground" law in Florida doesn't change what is legal. It only shifts the burden of proof. The prosecution needs to prove it wasn't self-defense. And I think that's the way it should be.

HAHAHAHAHA, I am glad his azz got bonded out. Should be interesting. These Zimmerman people are something else. Tried to handpick the judge (the first one), completely disregarded the details of the complaint filed against him back in 2005 when he assaulted a police officer (nooooo, he's not violent AL ALL), EXCEPT (his daddy states) when he is provoked and then he turns the other cheek. WTF does that mean? So maybe he should have turned the other cheek instead of shooting an unarmed teenager in the chest. I was not in Angela Corey's camp before (I am currently in Jacksonville) but I sure am now. I hope she gets the max for this cold-blooded killer. The psych test probably kept him from his lifelong (wet) dream of being a cop, thank goodness for small favors on that one. George Zimmerman is a murderer......period! End of story.

JohnSixty wrote:

I think we African Americans should leave. White people killed native Americans, stole land, enslaved people while simultaneously claiming to be Christian. I doubt there is any recovery for them. Best thing is to leave and let them find new faults with each other.

Ok bye! If you don't want to be here we aren't stopping you! If you want to go back to the "Mother Land" go for it. Just FYI tho, Your own people sold you to the white folk. Also they don't have welfare or NAACP there. But best of luck to you.

I'm surprised the police didn't get rid of that photo. It shows Zimmerman clearly injured. We know they wanted him charged. Obviously, they forgot to tell whoever took that picture that they weren't supposed to collect any evidence that might help Zimmerman.

Well..If I was zipperman...I could prevent all the problems of the world

BUT....IF you kill the ones you are ......

Narcissist...and then some

If you follow someone...then confront someone...and then kill someone

You are the perpetrator....guilty

'Commonsense....' wrote:

" .....It must have been very scary. First a car is following you slowly, then the guy driving gets out and starts running after you.

It's too bad Trayvon didn't call 911 about the suspicious guy that was stalking him. A horrible tragedy might have been averted....."

REPLY: 'Commonsense...', you chose a very apt nickname. I agree with every word of your analytical and commonsense take on the traggic events of that day. It was indeed a horrible tragedy, probably fueled by individual's perceptions and experiences.

The two sentences borrowed from your post (above), made me think "Yes, that's probably exactly what I would have done, given that I had a cellular phone in hand." The problem with that thinking, however, is that I grew up in America in a Northwestern state, and I grew up as a white male.

Unfortunately America is still very much a place where by the time a young black male reaches the age of 17 he knows all too well that calling the police to come to his aid is as likely to result in his own injury as is taking his chances (standing his ground if you will, or fleeing) against the present threat; or even more likely he would end up in custody. Young black males in America know that asking the police for help is a LAST RESORT roll of the dice; and they are loaded dice, at that.

And until white Amercians can honestly wrap their minds around the marked differences in how people of color are perceived in our society, even by public safety entities sworn to 'protect and serve' them, we will not be able to approach cases like this one, with full insight.

-Anna- had this to say:

If some plain clothed hispanic was following you, hopefully you'd do the safer thing which would be getting to a safe place asap and call 911, if instead you decide to start bashing someone's head just because you think he/she follows you, don't be surprised if it ends badly.

Ummm, Anna? You do know that Florida has a Stand Your Ground law, meaning that if one feels one life is in danger, one doesn't have to go to a safe place and call 911, right? Further, Martin apparently could not find his house, was in a strange neighborhood, was lost, and got accosted by an aggressive Hispanic who could very easily have been part of a Hispanic gang and/or sexual pervert looking for young boys to rape and then murder (or murder and then rape).

Martin did not "think" Zimmerman was following him--Zimmerman was following him. According to Zimmerman's own call, he saw Martin, who messed with something at his waistband (his phone, it turns out), then started to approach him, and then ran away. The logical thing to think is that Martin started to approach this person to ask where the house he was visiting might be located (they all look the same), saw the man give him the stink-eye, and then ran away from him. For a big, sturdy boy like Martin to turn around and run away means that Zimmerman must have given him a heck of a look--he must have appeared threatening.

Zimmerman then followed Martin and lost sight of him. He was then told not to follow Martin and was asked to meet the police at a certain location--this he refused to do. From his final statement to the dispatcher, he was going to continue to look for Martin (following him, hunting him), and the police were to give him a call and ask where he was when they got there.

After that, we don't know what happened. Did Martin double-back, having gotten completely spooked, completely lost in the rain? According to the girl on the phone with him, he turned around and asked Zimmerman (the guy who had spooked him in the first place) "why are you following me?" Zimmerman did not identify himself or try to defuse the situation, but escalated it by saying something along the lines of "why are you here?" I assure you that Martin, who would have been reasonably familiar with gang-type language (he was a rapper wanna-be), would know that being asked what you are doing in someone else's neighborhood is an aggressive statement--it's usually followed by an assault in many poor neighborhoods.

Yes, if I were being followed by a person in plain clothes, in the rain, who pursued me and then accosted me aggressively--I probably would respond with violence. That's what the Stand Your Ground law means--if someone threatens you in public (and this was a threatening series of actions), you don't have to back down and can meet force with force. This is sensible--and that's why the law was (originally--though ultimately badly) written. One does not have to retreat. One does not have to call 911 and whine and wish for help.

The point is that these two were not well matched--Martin had the upper hand in terms of athleticism and probably also in terms of street fighting. Zimmerman had a gun. I do not doubt that there was a scuffle--I do not doubt that Martin had the upper hand at one point. But, the issue is that Zimmerman provoked this situation for no good reason. He also had no blood stains on his shirt when taken into custody--so he did not shoot Martin at close range. If the pleas for help were not his--and I do not think that they were--then that was Martin, seeing the gun pointed at him by what he might well have thought was a sexual pervert, pleading for help from someone. Did he figure he was dead anyway and try to grab the gun in a last-ditch effort to save himself, and get shot? Did Zimmerman pull a Clint Eastwood and tell him "not to move," and he moved? I don't know.

What I do know is that Martin was under no obligation whatsoever to retreat and call 911. I also don't think he knew where to retreat to, because he was lost. I don't think he trusted 911--many young black males do not (which is sad--I think that they would definitely have been on his side on this one).

If Zimmerman had retreated and followed the instructions of the 911 dispatcher, this would not have happened. I fail to see why Martin is being criticized for not doing something that 1) he wasn't obligated to do and 2) that Zimmerman would have equally been obligated to do.

I really hope that there was a security camera that caught this whole thing--or that there is enough evidence that (even if there was a scuffle) Zimmerman was not at the point that he shot Martin in fear of his life. He might have been a minute or two earlier, but it appears that he got the upper hand (hence, the screams--which I do not believe were Zimmerman's--try to scream like that while someone is pounding your head . . . isn't going to happen). After he got the upper hand, he tried to act like a cop and then shot. He then turned Martin over (or Martin was already turned over), straddled the poor boy as he was dying (possibly compressing his back and causing him to asphyxiate), and played cop.

It's possible that the autopsy will show (or showed) that Martin suffocated. That would be really handy, as it would show wrongdoing on Zimmerman's part. It's possible that the lack of blood on Zimmerman will show that they were not in great proximity when Zimmerman shot, thus undermining Zimmerman's version of the story. It's possible that they have photographic evidence.

I still think that the investigation was botched (probably intentionally) and that Zimmerman will walk. I don't think that the feds can get involved, because the bar is too high to prove that Zimmerman was profiling people.

I mean, seriously, when you hear that Zimmerman claims he got out of his truck to check the street sign to see what street he was on--this from a guy in a small, gated community who regularly patrols there--you have to know that his story is fishy. But, yeah, while it is the case that retreating and calling 911 is a good idea--why is it that Martin had that duty and not Zimmerman, and why is it that in a state with the Stand Your Ground law, we are suddenly saying that some people get to stand their ground and others should not?

Dress like a thug, then one can expect to be treated like a thug, white or black. Right or wrong that is what will happen, so get off your white guilt trip, please.

From recent news coverage in Court, while Zimmerman took the stand, it is the Prosecutors who have been manipulated into making this a Racial Issue. They are guilty of negligence investigating this case.

When asked by Zimmerman's Attorney to the Prosecutor, if he knew who started the fight first, he said, "I don't know", he also was asked if Zimmerman went back to his car after the murder, "I don't know".

There. A group or groups of people pushing the Prosecutors to make this a Poster Case for another Racially Motivated Hate Crime. A HUGE discrepancy.

Zimmerman wil most likely be free after the trial. There is absolutely no evidence from the Prosecution to convict him. Florida again. The Legal System there needs to be overhauled, so people can get a fair trial. They may have even been "bribed", by a certain group--just a guess.

There will be more shocking details to come out---re: the Prosecutors, the Police who are inept in this State to Convict anyone. Lazy investigations. Case in point: "Casey Anthony".

1st im so tired of hearing white people say...BLACKS SOLD BLACKS INTO SLAVERY...oh yeah PROVE IT...it sounds like another white propaganda story to me...and even if they did since WHITES are on hear claiming they are high and mighty, why didnt they say to the people of GAO, BENIN,MALI,SENAGAL,and CONGO "hey man, thats wrong, you shouldnt be selling slaves, we should all live in peace" no one made whites buy slaves and treat them with such distain...no one puts METH to your mothers mouth and say you better smoke, hell no she did it on her own accord.... the truth is most of south western europe was coming out of slavery around the time they started to take african slaves...the MOORS made slaves out of the people of PORTUGAL,SPAIN,ANDORRA,and WESTERN FRANCE for 692 years...yes blacks had whites as slaves more than once...so the whole blacks were slaves doesnt bother me at all...because i know true history, not some cooked up bull@!$%# they teach in public schools

hell yeah we should have been gone back to AFRICA(WASET) with our knowledge and skills we would be running the place by now...then we could start treaties with all those other nations that dislike the racist people over here, and come against them as one...we dont need your help. AFRICA has all the diamonds,gold,oil,natural gas,food, and everyother natural resource we need...WHITES DONT WANT YOU TO GO BACK TO AFRICA...dont let them fool you with that b.s. like oh yeah go on and go....

ZIMMERMAN will have his day in court, if he wins so be it, just liike many people have beat murder raps, this wont be the first nor the last...AL CAPONE beat 9 murder raps, so its not beyond belief that this man can beat this one...will he walk, i surely hope NOT...but whos to say...

HeroWolf, you and others need to get an education, especially on this subject. Are you aware that some families in African tribes still raise their own children to sell ?

Mothers and fathers raise their daughters all big and fat, and the more big and fat they are the more $$ they get for them. I am not happy to state these facts in any way, it is appauling to me, but it is fact. I encourage you to study or travel around Africa and take a personal look at what goes down over there, and many other countries for that matter. Many countries and tribes, cultures, societies, still practice slavery and human trafficking and fully support it. But yeah, we are so bad over here in America. Time to WAKE UP !

every heard of triangle trade ?

if you are not aware of these facts, don't simply deny it because you don't know, do you own homework. And by the way, the text books don't teach you everything, they teach you what governments want you to know.

but I'm sure you will just chalk all this up as "white propaganda"

Hero wolf-Look it up ,it's all there. Did you go to school and learn how to research??? AFricans were sellling each other into slavery long before there even was an American!!!!!!!!!!!! Just because you don't earn this in k-12 doesn't mean it's not true. Colleges have courses that go into this in depth. Again-look it up!

beanathome- to your post #3.51-All I can say to your post at the moment is, go back to school and take writing classes. You should nurture your talent for writing pure fiction. Piece of advice though. If you want to be a true crime writer you have to understand that you can't make up facts!!!

Anna-2034615

Lol...I'm playing the race card?

You sure fall for it, to where you are, according to your own words, ashamed of being white (now talk about a succesful manipulation, you even reject your own race/color ... way to go Jesse, make the whites hate themselves and kill each other). Ask yourself why the medias (with the support of Trayvon's parents and Jesse Jackson & co) have been showing us pictures of a defenseless 13 year old child, versus pictures of Zimmerman when he was a delinquant. I will tell you why, it is to manipulate your feelings so you would automatically side against Zimmerman, who was pictured as a racist and cold blooded child killer. I guess they didn't mention the 2 african-american kids in Orlando that George Zimmerman helped either, nor the fact that he has friends who are black, nor the fact that he campaigned for a black homeless man who had been beaten by a (white) police officer's son, because it didn't fit in their "racist" profile

But you're right, it would have been a little bit different if Martin had been white ... they wouldn't have been able to make us believe that Zimmerman was a racist at least.

And how would you know if the police department didn't follow the standard procedure in cases deemed self-defense? are you familiar with their standard procedure?

And how do you explain with your "black vs white" theory that the (black) man who killed Daniel Adkins (white hispanic) has not been arrested nor charged? I guess you can't use the excuse of the race/color for that one.

I don't know any more then you do if Zimmerman jumped on Martin, or the other way around, but at least I realise that either is actually possible, and that their race/color has nothing to do with it.

I do agree with you 100% tho that racism is wrong, but it is wrong of anyone and everyone, not just whites.

Kevin S

Anna - how many rallies where held for the lynching throughout this nation up into the 70's in Mississippi and the 90's with James Byrd being dragged to his death by a white guy in a pick up? What country do you live in?

Kevin there is no denying that there has been terrible crimes committed against black people. There is no denying that many have been victim of racism, even when not to the extreme (as in the examples you mentioned). And I woudn't have agreed with lynching then, and I don't agree with lynching now either. I also don't agree with racism, and the race/color of the racist doesn't matter to me, racism is wrong, period.

You know its like those 2 crazy guys who killed black men recently, supposedly because a black guy killed one of the guy's father, so how did that solve anything? It didn't. All they did was kill innocent men who had done absolutely nothing to him or his father, because they were black. Now reverse the situation, 2 black guys kill a few white men because a white man killed one of the guys' father ... and it still would be as stupid and unfair.

beanathome

Ummm, Anna? You do know that Florida has a Stand Your Ground law, meaning that if one feels one life is in danger, one doesn't have to go to a safe place and call 911, right?

beanathome, yes absolutely, but "stand your ground" doesn't mean you are supposed to turn around and start bashing people's head just because you think they're following you. If that's what you want to do if you ever feel someone is following you then do whatever you want at your own risks. I just hope for your own sake that you don't happen to seem to follow Anna-2034615 one of these days ... but have fun smashing each other's head.

Personally I would prefer trying to get somewhere safe and call 911 first, assuming that I would be able to do that. If someone actually attacked me tho I would try to defend myself any way I can.