George Zimmerman has been found not guilty of second degree murder in the death of 17 year-old Trayvon Martin.
At the time of the shooting that took Martin’s life, Zimmerman was a neighborhood watch volunteer, and had been accused of profiling Martin based on the fact that he was a black male.
The jury in the case deliberated for a little over sixteen hours over a two-day period.
George Zimmerman is now a free man and is free to leave Florida.
A spokes person for the NAACP has stated that “justice has failed Trayvon”, and has also called on the Department of Justice to investigate “civil rights” violations in the matter.
Florida and the nation is now holding their collective breaths, waiting to see if the type of violence that followed the Rodney King verdict, will again erupt following this verdict.
We can only hope that cooler heads will prevail, that those shallow misguided people who are known for instigating and inciting will fail in their attempts to rouse the community into a state of agitation.
We know that the African-American community will have deep emotional feelings over this case and that they may find fault with the outcome, we can only hope that the leaders of that community will call on their friends and neighbors to respect the fact that this is how the system works, and there is no guarantee that we will always be pleased or agree with the outcome, but certainly to resort to violence is not an acceptable response.
Trayvon Martin’s father tweeted following the verdict, “even though I am broken-hearted my faith is unshattered”.
I hope that everyone will take that view, that even though they are broken-hearted, or angry, I hope they can find peace through prayer and introspection.
Let us all take a moment to pray for the families of everyone involved, and for the hope that any wounds that this case has caused may be healed quickly and with as little violence as possible.
And now the so called journalist have started the narrative of how the prosecution failed and how the jury got it wrong. Injecting their personal beliefs rather than reporting the facts.
I have no opinion about the case other than the loss of a life is tragic, a young life more so than an older one.
What does piss me off is the issue of states rights. This is a issue for the state of Florida to deal with as they see fit. Their ellected officials, their legislature, their courts. It is not the function of big brother, the NAACP, or the justice dept. to further or continue anything. 6 honest souls in Florida rendered a verdict in their jurisdiction.
George Zimmerman is NOT a free man
George Zimmerman is a marked man
He will be a social out cast, a societal pariah . He wears a billet proof vest in public – he will never be comfortable with someone walking up behind him.
He is living in a hell of his own creation- a hell, I think he justly deserves.
If George Zimmerman had done EXACRLY what he was only supposed to do- none of this would have happened.
He wasn’t rushing into a burning house to save a life, he wasn’t diving into a lake to save a life- he disregarded his training , his role and the advice of the dispatcher
He should have called in his suspicions and left it at that
To me, his crime was that if being a vigilante- that is what led to the shooting.
Beyond race discussions, gun control
Discussions etc…..he exhibited poor judgment and a cowboy mentality
Just my 4 cents worth
Yeah, I would say that Zimmerman is an insurance risk for the foreseeable future.
Laffter agreed. He will surely face a civil suit at the very least. As you say he will no doubt have death threats. There is no doubt he took the young man’s life. Criminally he was found not guilty, civilly he will be forced to take the stand and most likely be found guilty of wrongful death much in the same manner that O.J. was.
The problem I have is the hate filled rhetoric coming from the media and the so called leaders of the black community.
But OJ was not acquitted on the grounds of self defense . He was just found not guilty.
Zimmerman in the other had was found not guilty because the defense argument was based on self- defense
Does Fla law allow for a civil suit under these findings…hmmmm
Don’t know but time will tell
On the other hand, it’s many leaders of the black community that have called for calm. Most that I have seen and read anyway
As well as the parents of Martin.
They however have called for more dialogue and they are absolutely right in that. White people and black people and Hispanic people and Asain etc – we all need to come to more of an understanding of each other….really.
And as much as the black community calls for understanding of their community, it should also be visa versa…….with EVERYONE all races and creeds
Just listen again, carefully to the words of John Lennon’s ” IMAGINE” and maybe I’m naive but that could happen some day….it’s just going to be a long and painful road to get there.
Tuxamus Maximus doesn’t think justice prevailed here but it’s a fine line and will go with the call the jury made. Zimmerman could have done a lot better and been wiser but it seems he had an agenda and a point to prove. Sadly it’s states like Texas and Florida that pass laws that allow things like “stand your ground” (yeah Tuxamus Maximus knows it was ‘self defense’) and ” I am in fear of my life” to work on property that doesn’t belong to them. If we’re going to pass out carry permits like candy bars maybe we should have all those getting them get screened by professionals first. All that have written have good points and most of all Waterpirate in that the loss of a young life is tragic. We don’t know the kid couldn’t have been a Nobel prize winner one day. Not likely but anything otherwise isn’t fair to a minor. It’s just sad anyway it’s looked at because so much could’ve been done to avoid the whole thing even happening.