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Neighbor comes to defense of Trayvon Martin's shooter

taxigirl

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U.S. News - Neighbor comes to defense of Trayvon Martin's shooter
"George is a congenial, amiable, admirable person,” he said. "He had a passion and a care for this neighborhood to ensure the safety of everybody here. And, furthermore, George is no Rambo."

Taaffe said that Zimmerman was appointed as a watch captain, despite reports that he appointed himself to the post.

I did a search about Zimmerman being tried in the media and did not really come up with much. There was a nice article in an Australian publications, but other than that I only found a couple mentions, including Geraldo's claim that the hoddie caused Trayvon's death.

This happens in high profile cases and it is a shame that race has become an issue. If this goes to trial how can Zimmerman get a pool of an unbiased jury? I am not saying that I think what he did was right, he said Trayvon looked "suspicious" what does that mean? What about the dispatcher telling him they did not need him to follow the suspect -- the dispatcher should have said "do not follow the suspect" -- if of course they are allowed to say that. I do not think Zimmerman should have gave chase. What I am disturbed about is that no one is sticking up for him, the media has destroyed him for what may be a mistake. We were not there, we are only assuming what happened. Are we being fair?
 
Zimmerman is innocent until proven guilty and deserves the full rights granted to the accused. The problem is that despite considerable evidence suggesting murder, he hasn't even been arrested. Zimmerman deserves a fair trial, but there needs to be a trial in the first place.
 
Zimmerman is innocent until proven guilty and deserves the full rights granted to the accused. The problem is that despite considerable evidence suggesting murder, he hasn't even been arrested. Zimmerman deserves a fair trial, but there needs to be a trial in the first place.
If he is found innocent, invariably riots or at least outrage will occur. He has little chance at a fair and impartial trial.
 
If he is found innocent, invariably riots or at least outrage will occur. He has little chance at a fair and impartial trial.

Yes. We have seen this before. I think it was 1989 in Florida, and we had the Rodney King incident in CA, so many others that were thankfully not on that scale. I understand people wanting to rise up and make a statement, but destroying things is not necessary. What really sucks about the riots is that people end up destroying their own neighborhoods. I have never understood that.
 
If he is found innocent, invariably riots or at least outrage will occur. He has little chance at a fair and impartial trial.

You're right about that and what an utter shame. The police should have investigated it as a murder from the beginning.
 
U.S. News - Neighbor comes to defense of Trayvon Martin's shooter


I did a search about Zimmerman being tried in the media and did not really come up with much. There was a nice article in an Australian publications, but other than that I only found a couple mentions, including Geraldo's claim that the hoddie caused Trayvon's death.

This happens in high profile cases and it is a shame that race has become an issue. If this goes to trial how can Zimmerman get a pool of an unbiased jury? I am not saying that I think what he did was right, he said Trayvon looked "suspicious" what does that mean? What about the dispatcher telling him they did not need him to follow the suspect -- the dispatcher should have said "do not follow the suspect" -- if of course they are allowed to say that. I do not think Zimmerman should have gave chase. What I am disturbed about is that no one is sticking up for him, the media has destroyed him for what may be a mistake. We were not there, we are only assuming what happened. Are we being fair?

Be certain that the public relations guys are digging for dirt on Martin and "gold" on Zimmerman.

This is a high profile firearm self-defense case.

The whole pro/anti-gun circus is in full swing.

Which sucks, because it doesn't help. Its the kind of thing that the most stringent gun control measures WON'T prevent, short of an oitright ban on ownership.

And that's never going to happen, so its just gonna make everybody fight and hate each other more. Making it harder to deal with the situation in a reasonable manner.
 
I thought this thread would attract more attention than it has. Is it because people have made up their minds already?
 
I don't quite see how he came to his defense. "A perfect storm was created . . . we've had a lot of break-ins by black kids" . . . that's a defense?
 
U.S. News - Neighbor comes to defense of Trayvon Martin's shooter


I did a search about Zimmerman being tried in the media and did not really come up with much. There was a nice article in an Australian publications, but other than that I only found a couple mentions, including Geraldo's claim that the hoddie caused Trayvon's death.

This happens in high profile cases and it is a shame that race has become an issue. If this goes to trial how can Zimmerman get a pool of an unbiased jury? I am not saying that I think what he did was right, he said Trayvon looked "suspicious" what does that mean? What about the dispatcher telling him they did not need him to follow the suspect -- the dispatcher should have said "do not follow the suspect" -- if of course they are allowed to say that. I do not think Zimmerman should have gave chase. What I am disturbed about is that no one is sticking up for him, the media has destroyed him for what may be a mistake. We were not there, we are only assuming what happened. Are we being fair?

Fair point. I think we can blame law enforcement for doing a cursory investigation and not wanting to release the 911 tapes. Further, it seems that "community watch" was Zimmerman's hobby. That's okay...BUT. The police department should have explicit guidelines for these people; and one of them should be, "Do not attempt to approach or apprehend a suspicious person. Call 911 and report!"

Zimmerman was not a trained LEO; of that there is no doubt. He wasn't in any kind of uniform. Of that there can be no doubt. A situation he instigated that got out of hand would, in all likelihood not gotten out of hand if a LEO had done the exact same thing he did.

It is unfortunate that he's being fed to the goats...but such is the result of the rather provocative hobby he engaged in.
 
U.S. News - Neighbor comes to defense of Trayvon Martin's shooter

I did a search about Zimmerman being tried in the media and did not really come up with much. There was a nice article in an Australian publications, but other than that I only found a couple mentions, including Geraldo's claim that the hoddie caused Trayvon's death.

This happens in high profile cases and it is a shame that race has become an issue. If this goes to trial how can Zimmerman get a pool of an unbiased jury? I am not saying that I think what he did was right, he said Trayvon looked "suspicious" what does that mean? What about the dispatcher telling him they did not need him to follow the suspect -- the dispatcher should have said "do not follow the suspect" -- if of course they are allowed to say that. I do not think Zimmerman should have gave chase. What I am disturbed about is that no one is sticking up for him, the media has destroyed him for what may be a mistake. We were not there, we are only assuming what happened. Are we being fair?
Neighbors said this about Bales too, so...
 
Zimmerman is a Spanish speaking Latino, a minority is a predominately African-American neighborhood. He not only has African-American friends, but African-American relatives. MANY people in the neighborhood and school have said he is nice, polite and certainly not a racist.

His 46 calls amount to about 1 per week - astonishingly low for a neighborhood watch captain - in a neighborhood where there are over 400 911 calls a year. I have not read that in any of those he "stalked," confronted, detained or blocked anyone or that anyone complained of his conduct.

Of the claim that he is a cop beater, he disputed this, it was ultimately dismissed and case file sealed. For all the people howling racism, I don't see anyone questioning the fairness of a minor charge against a Latino - accused of intervening in a bar for a friend that he felt the cop was roughing up - Zimmerman getting between the friend and the cop - for which the cop alleged Zimmerman pushed him (as in pushing the cop off his buddy) - this translated by Zimmerman haters to "cop beater."

The "woman beater" case is from when 21st when a woman pursued a restraining order/injunction against Zimmerman. It was not a criminal charge. Zimmerman denied doing so. He was not found guilty of anything and that case sealed too - tending to suggest the court found it unjustified and sealed the record to protect Zimerman's reputation. Yet from that it is declared by Zimmerman haters that he's "a woman beater."

For the President to announce to the entire world and 100% of the grand jurors and all prospective jurors that this is a race-matter and should be looked at as a race matter - literally claiming his empathy was for Martin because he is the same race as Martin - is absolutely outrageous.

Is it fashionable to openly hate Latinos? Is a person's worth based on their race, as Obama implies? Do we each side with our own race as he claims?

If so, Zimmerman is screwed. The neighborhood he is in is predominately African American. There are few Latinos in the city. The President, by declaring the tragedy is Martin's death - not the good news Zimmerman is alive is it WAS self defense, was the President essentially saying "my black son was murdered by the Latino guy."

The white Republicans, though Gingrich condemned attaching race to it, also asserted Martin's death was tragic, with little indicating they wanted a fair trial for the Latino.

I believe the fact is that Martin was assaulting and continuing to assault Zimmerman because he was pissed of at Zimmerman calling the cops on him. I think it highly suggested that when Zimmerman was screaming for help they were stuggling over the gun - which prior at no time did Zimmerman pull it or even say he had it.

At that point, likely one of the two was likely going to die. If Martin had gotten the gun, there is a high chance Zimmerman would just be an unsolved murder that maybe earned 6 paragraphs in the local news.

I would presume any homicide would automatically go to a grand jury for review. Its 100% not Zimmerman's fault if the police were lazy asses or didn't give a damn. He fully cooperated. And at the start he had called the police and his first words to others was "call the police" - apparently the police not interested in coming to that high crime neighborhood until a 911 call received.

I see NO justice in this matter and and am stunned not only the summary declarations of guilt of murder of Zimmerman by many on this forum - but even the raw, unlimited attempts to villify him asserting unknowns into facts to "prove it."

Yeah, let's all hate the Latino who was attacked by a suspended from school violent punk - because that is who Martin is proven to be. But, I can't recall reading anyone on the forum saying he/she is Latino. It appears the consensus of the political black community and political white community is that the one thing both agree on is if there is a conflict with a Latino, we all know its the Latino's fault.

I hope this backfires on Obama and this racist statement of Obama - grossly racist and of racial division - is something that may actually turn me back to voting Republican - something I thought impossible.

I WILL VOTE FOR THE SIDE I THINK MOST REPRESENTS JUSTICE. That meant I could not longer consider voting Republican. However, since this matter concerns potential life imprisonment or death penalty to use racial division as a political agenda in a key swing state? No, I don't think I can possibly tolerate a president who would do that - and an reminded that Obama is the first president to openly declare - and do - his belief that he can order Americans summarily assassinated.
 
Fair point. I think we can blame law enforcement for doing a cursory investigation and not wanting to release the 911 tapes. Further, it seems that "community watch" was Zimmerman's hobby. That's okay...BUT. The police department should have explicit guidelines for these people; and one of them should be, "Do not attempt to approach or apprehend a suspicious person. Call 911 and report!"

Zimmerman was not a trained LEO; of that there is no doubt. He wasn't in any kind of uniform. Of that there can be no doubt. A situation he instigated that got out of hand would, in all likelihood not gotten out of hand if a LEO had done the exact same thing he did.

It is unfortunate that he's being fed to the goats...but such is the result of the rather provocative hobby he engaged in.

I'm glad to see your position softening. I think more people are going to start questioning the hate orgy on Zimmerman. Hell, he's a relatively low intelligence guy trying to be somebody by doing something good for his neighborhood (watch captain), tried to watch where he thought someone suspicious had gone to tell them when the police arrived, suddenly finding a very fit 17 year old beating the hell out of him and maybe then struggling to get his gun (that he legally had and permit too) - a gun he did not confront Zimmerman with at any point (known by girlfriend phone call) or even said he had one as a threat.

How he became a KKK racist who ran down an African-American coming back from a candy store gunning him down in cold blood because he hates black people - and now even the President joins in that chant - TRULY is sickening to me.

Before, the concern of no grand jury hearing this was a perfectly legitimate one. But now? Do you think a fair trial is even possible - let alone 2 (they will go for manslaughter first and if they faill then a Federal criminal civil rights violation charge - legal double jeopardy.) Even if he wins and refuses to plea to get out, he can be in jail for 2 to 3 years regardless.

Do you think he can still get a fair trial after the president went on National TV declaring Martin was basically his own "son?" People who kill a President's son don't get an impartial jury or a fair trial.
 
I'm glad to see your position softening. I think more people are going to start questioning the hate orgy on Zimmerman. Hell, he's a relatively low intelligence guy trying to be somebody by doing something good for his neighborhood (watch captain), tried to watch where he thought someone suspicious had gone to tell them when the police arrived, suddenly finding a very fit 17 year old beating the hell out of him and maybe then struggling to get his gun (that he legally had and permit too) - a gun he did not confront Zimmerman with at any point (known by girlfriend phone call) or even said he had one as a threat.

How he became a KKK racist who ran down an African-American coming back from a candy store gunning him down in cold blood because he hates black people - and now even the President joins in that chant - TRULY is sickening to me.

Before, the concern of no grand jury hearing this was a perfectly legitimate one. But now? Do you think a fair trial is even possible - let alone 2 (they will go for manslaughter first and if they faill then a Federal criminal civil rights violation charge - legal double jeopardy.) Even if he wins and refuses to plea to get out, he can be in jail for 2 to 3 years regardless.

Do you think he can still get a fair trial after the president went on National TV declaring Martin was basically his own "son?" People who kill a President's son don't get an impartial jury or a fair trial.

I originally posted this in another thread... please consider carefully.

I think Obama meant it more like everyone else who is saying it means it. They are showing compassion for the family and saying they can identify with the tragedy. How can one incident deflect the focus of an entire administration? I think you are making the comment larger than it is. I'll join Obama and say "If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon", and I mean that every parent and every friend and family member sees it as a tragedy, my son would look like Trayvon because he would be a beautiful person. Why don't we try to see it that way, as solidarity against violence.


" Obama said in the Rose Garden. "I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this. And that everybody pull together."
 
Sanford Fl is 47% white 'only', 30% black, 17% hispanic, and 2.3% asian. So not sure why some are calling it a black town with a minority hispanic community. Seems to me you are far more likely to run into someone of a paler shade. But I can understand folks in areas where a darker skinned man is rare might think 30% black is an awful lot of not white.

For some, Zimmerman going on tape as chasing down a suspicious person shifts the debate to why didn't the police take a tougher look at the shooter. Personally if Zimmerman was legally carrying a concealed weapon then it means he passed a concealed carry class. Some of those classes are a real joke but they should at least have covered what a 'good' shoot is. Self defense doesn't mean you can chase someone down and if they object you can shoot them. I do hope other 'watchers' take that in with some sober thought.

I have read the Sanford police chief has stepped down after a vote of no confidence by the city commission. Does seem the home town crowd isn't happy with the way the police dept handled the call. While Zimmerman is referred to as a 'watch captain' he was infact on a personal errand in his car when he saw and decided to follow the 17year old.

bad business all the way round. A watcher turned shooter, a police force too quick to look the other way and a few too quick to take whatever is said to be some attack on hispanics...
 
Joe Oliver, George Zimmerman's Friend, Defends Shooter In Trayvon Martin Case

George Zimmerman, a Latino whose mother came from Peru, has both African-American relatives and friends.

One African-American friend claims that George Zimmerman cried for days after the event, acknowledging he may be putting himself in danger speaking on behalf of his friend.

MANY African-Americans who knew him have described him as not a racist, polite, respectful and a "cool guy."

I think we are more coming to see George Zimmerman as someone who cared about his neighborhood, was multi-racial socially and highly thought of my those who knew him, and certain not a reclusive person. His being a non-violent person may explain why it took so long for him to pull his gun - only with his head being pounded into the concrete - and only firing one time. If someone was beating your head into a concrete sidewalk and you had a gun, how many times would you fire?

It now appears known - by contrast - that Trayvon Martin was a drug dealer at school and in the neighborhood, a thief, burglar, vandal, drug user and came to prove he was a very violent 6' 3" young man, not a child just walking home from a candy store.
 
I thought this thread would attract more attention than it has. Is it because people have made up their minds already?

I guess your thread isn't extreme enough to have attracted all The Stupid that most other threads on this subject have.


But they'll come along eventually I'm sure. I've rarely ever seen mindless polarization take place so quickly.
 
The police department should have explicit guidelines for these people; and one of them should be, "Do not attempt to approach or apprehend a suspicious person. Call 911 and report!"
Unless it is made law it wouldn't matter.
Neighbors can come together and watch their neighborhood.
And making a law as such would be worse.
Start telling citizens that they can't carry a weapon in defense of their self and their neighbors in their own hood, would be stepping over the line.
 
If he is found innocent, invariably riots or at least outrage will occur. He has little chance at a fair and impartial trial.
If both the Feds and State find no reason to pursue it any further I think the least our President could do to avoid a scenario like you mention, would be to bring the Martin's to Washington on his dime, and be there with them when when they are briefed.
Make sure they understand why, and solicit their support in telling the Nation.

I see doing something like that as a way to avoid most problems that could arise.
 
It now appears known - by contrast - that Trayvon Martin was a drug dealer at school and in the neighborhood, a thief, burglar, vandal, drug user and came to prove he was a very violent 6' 3" young man, not a child just walking home from a candy store.

So, the suggestion is to stop talking Zimmerman but assassinate Trayvon's character. There isn't any support for your allegations, just hearsay like your comments about Zimmerman being friendly and gregarious. One fact is Zimmerman weighs 250+ lbs and 6"3' Trayvon weighed 140 lbs. So, it is very unlikely this eyewitness who claimed he saw Trayvon beating Zimmerman may be perjuring himself in the face of the other evidence. In any event since Zimmerman chased Trayvon he probably felt he could easily overpower such a skinny kid. I'm 5"7' slim and weigh 150 lbs. If I were stretched to 6"3', I would be very skinny. I have friends in the 240, 250+ lb. range and unless you are a martial artist, they could pummel you quite easily if you only weigh 140 lbs even if you could sucker punch them first.

Zimmerman is a Jewish name. His mother is Latina but his father is white. Zimmerman in the news picture could pass for an white supremacist.
 
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Yes. We have seen this before. I think it was 1989 in Florida, and we had the Rodney King incident in CA, so many others that were thankfully not on that scale. I understand people wanting to rise up and make a statement, but destroying things is not necessary. What really sucks about the riots is that people end up destroying their own neighborhoods. I have never understood that.

The bolded is why they call it "blind rage".
 
Zimmerman is innocent until proven guilty and deserves the full rights granted to the accused. The problem is that despite considerable evidence suggesting murder, he hasn't even been arrested. Zimmerman deserves a fair trial, but there needs to be a trial in the first place.

WTF? Considerable Evidence Suggesting Murder?
Where?

I haven't seen this "Considerable Evidence"
 
So One fact is Zimmerman weighs 250+ lbs and 6"3' Trayvon weighed 140 lbs. So, it is very unlikely this eyewitness who claimed he saw Trayvon beating Zimmerman may be perjuring himself in the face of the other evidence. In any event since Zimmerman chased Trayvon he probably felt he could easily overpower such a skinny kid.

A 5'9" man who weighs 250 pounds is fat, not strong. I would expect that a tall thin kid could easily overcome a short fat man.

Zimmerman is a Jewish name. His mother is Latina but his father is white. Zimmerman in the news picture could pass for an white supremacist.

Not in the pics I've seen.
 
As of today, it has been revealed that the lead investigator(police) wanted to arrest Zimmerman for "Manslaughter" because he did not believe Zimmerman's account of what occurred. What happened?
 
So, the suggestion is to stop talking Zimmerman but assassinate Trayvon's character. There isn't any support for your allegations, just hearsay like your comments about Zimmerman being friendly and gregarious. One fact is Zimmerman weighs 250+ lbs and 6"3' Trayvon weighed 140 lbs. So, it is very unlikely this eyewitness who claimed he saw Trayvon beating Zimmerman may be perjuring himself in the face of the other evidence. In any event since Zimmerman chased Trayvon he probably felt he could easily overpower such a skinny kid. I'm 5"7' slim and weigh 150 lbs. If I were stretched to 6"3', I would be very skinny. I have friends in the 240, 250+ lb. range and unless you are a martial artist, they could pummel you quite easily if you only weigh 140 lbs even if you could sucker punch them first.

Zimmerman is a Jewish name. His mother is Latina but his father is white. Zimmerman in the news picture could pass for an white supremacist.

Umm....
Im going to make a really lost list of **** that you need to "put up or shut up" for.

A. What evidence do you have that someone who is an EYEwitness perjured themselves against just due to body weight? What is the "other evidence"? Weight don't mean ****.
B. Zimmerman ran to retain visual on Trayvon. Not to chase after him.
C. What evidence do you have that "HE FELT HE COULD OVERPOWER.. blah blah" ?? Are you, too, a mind reader?
D. Your assumptions on weight and ability to fight and take a punch are laughable at best. Weight has no bearing on that.
E. You are judging Zimmerman on his appearance? He "LOOKS" like a white supremacist? And you think its wrong for someone to say Trayvon "LOOKS" like a criminal?
 
As of today, it has been revealed that the lead investigator(police) wanted to arrest Zimmerman for "Manslaughter" because he did not believe Zimmerman's account of what occurred. What happened?
One has to know when this desire to arrest him began. And what evidence came out AFTER he made this assumption to change his mind.

This, with absolutely no other context, means nothing.
 
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