Trayvon Martin

[madbrian]

Wanted to start a discussion on this case. To me, it seems like the NRA has legalized vigilantism, having passed laws in many states greatly broadening the definition of 'self defense'. That said, even Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' law, signed by Jeb Bush with an NRA lobbyist at his side, shouldn't protect this killer from a 2nd degree murder charge. I wonder how much latitude the cops in this small town in Florida would have given to an African-American who had chased and shot down an unarmed white teenager because he felt threatened.

[Gothampc]

I think the question you should be asking yourself is "Why this case?" A few weeks ago in Kansas City, some black teens threw gas on a white kid and set him on fire. So what interests you about this specific case?

[Reginald Tresilian]

Because the police in Kansas City were actually interested in finding the suspects.

The police in this case were utterly indifferent.

The question you should be asking yourself, Goth, is why you don't see a difference in the two cases.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Also Missouri does not, to my knowledge, have a law that says it's okay to douse someone with gasoline and set them on fire.

[JerseyGirl2]

Well, first, Goth... This was an armed adult with a history of bizarre behavior. The story you mentioned is about teens. The shooter called 911 and the dispatcher told him to leave the young man alone and let the police handle it. He ignored them and shot anyway. He's claiming self-defense even though the whole neighborhood heard the kid yelling for help. He had a can of Arizona Iced Tea and a bag of Skittles for his little brother. Trayvon's girlfriend heard the whole thing over a cell phone connection. I assume the teens you mentioned are behind bars or at least awaiting sentencing. This man is walking around free.

[StockardFan]

This whole situation is horrible. Why this guy wasn't arrested is beyond me. That law needs to change.

[Reginald Tresilian]

And until there was a national outcry, the response of the police was that the so-called Stand Your Ground law entitled this man to chase an unarmed teen, wrestle him to the ground, and shoot him dead--in the name of "self defense."

Is it all a little clearer now?

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Sickening. Both the incident itself, and anyone who attempts to justify it.

[PalJoey]

False equivalence, Goth.

[madbrian]

And make no mistake, there are folks on the right trying to justify this, most of the on Fox News. Hannity suggested that it may have just been an 'accident'. There was absolutely nothing accidental about this.

[madbrian]

Geraldo Rivera:

"But I am urging the parents of black and Latino youngsters particularly to not let their children go out wearing hoodies. I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was."

[JerseyGirl2]

Geraldo Rivera said the hoodie was to blame.

[Mister Matt]

I blame shoelaces.

[canmark]

Geraldo says his son is ashamed of him.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74403.html

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Geraldo Rivera's son Gabriel is "ashamed" of his controversial comments about Trayvon Martin and his hoodie from earlier in the day, the Fox News host admitted to POLITICO.

"Gabriel broke my heart. He's my oldest, 32, and he just told me that for the first time in his life he's ashamed of what I wrote on [Fox News Latino]," Rivera said in an email.

* * *

But even despite his son's anger (Cruz, unlike his older brother, isn't mad at him about the comments, Rivera said), the TV and radio personality said he has no intention of taking back what he said. "No I don't retract a word of it because I'm concerned with saving kids lives," he said.

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[Mister Matt]

Guns don't kill people. Hoodies kill people. The NRA is breathing a collective sigh of relief.

[madbrian]

So, does Geraldo think African-Americans shouldn't wear hoodies, but it's OK for white American to wear hoods?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Apparantly it was reported in The Orlando Sentinel that George Zimmerman got out of the car and that Martin attacked him first, so people who are so inclined will try to spin it to imply that it was Martin's fault.
ABC News

[madbrian]

"...so people who are so inclined..."

We call them racists.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

I was shying away from that word so knees wouldn't jerk.

[James885]

This whole affair is absolutely disgusting. I don't see how anyone can say what Zimmerman did was self-defense when he was the one who ignored the 911 dispatcher's instructions and pursued and confronted Martin.

The fact that this overzealous 'neighborhood watch officer' is still walking around today without having been charged is deplorable.

[Mister Matt]

The Sentinel was just reporting what Zimmerman told the police. He's always said Martin started the attack. It's a shame the prosecutors seem to be backing off for fear of lack of evidence.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Ah, thanks, Matt.

[Reginald Tresilian]

The various witnesses' accounts make it very difficult to buy the self-defense story.
Link

[Reginald Tresilian]

And while we're encouraging self-reflection, Goth, you might ask yourself why you think a tragic occurence like this is worth discussing only if the victim is white.

[canmark]

Geraldo himself has been seen in a hoodie, the very thing he's telling other people not to wear. OK for me, not OK for you.

http://geraldoinahoodie.tumblr.com/