I seldom comment on politics or current events. I have very strong opinions about the current state of affairs in our country but I am not often provoked into an argument. In this case, what should be done is clear and because of how poorly this tragedy has been handled, I will make an exception.
If you simply look at the facts, what we know to be true about what happened that evening in Florida when seventeen year old Trayvon Martin was shot while returning from a corner store to get snacks, the way to proceed seems like common sense.
- Martin was walking home from the store talking on the phone to a young woman.
- Martin noticed a man was following him.
- From his phone call to 911 we know that that man was 28 year old George Zimmerman.
- Zimmerman speculated to 911 dispatchers Martin was up to no good and seemed to be under the influence.
- The police discouraged Zimmerman from following Martin but he did so anyway.
- Shortly after Zimmerman’s call to 911, neighbors in the area called reporting hearing gun shots.
- When the police arrived, they found Martin dead with a single gunshot wound to the chest.
- Zimmerman admitted shooting the boy.
There is lots of speculation surrounding what happened after Zimmerman’s call to 911 and leading to Martins’ death. Some say Zimmerman acted in self-defense and others say he shot the boy based solely on his suspicions.
Here is why Zimmerman, an adult, should be prosecuted based just on what information we know to be fact. Zimmerman was following a young man, who became aware he was being followed. At some point Martin turned to Zimmerman. He may or may not have attacked him and he was shot and killed. Even if Trayvon did attack Zimmerman (I personally don’t believe he did,) it was an act of self-defense. He was being followed by a grown man. Zimmerman had no business following the youth. The police asked him not to.
Zimmerman shot and murdered an unarmed boy that he was pursuing. He was the aggressor and catalyst for whatever violence ensued which resulted in the death of a child. He clearly instigated what happened and should be charged accordingly. Any attack that may or may not have occurred on Trayvon’s part was defensive by the very nature of the encounter. He was being pursued. No matter how you slice it, he was the victim.
It defies logic and rational thought that Zimmerman not be brought up on charges for killing this young man
snarkysnatch
/ April 5, 2012“Even if Trayvon did attack Zimmerman (I personally don’t believe he did,) it was acting in self-defense….. It is illogical that Zimmerman not be brought up on charges for killing this young man.” Bravo!
The Wandering Mind
/ April 5, 2012What a waste. Violence was unnecessary.
thefutureofhope
/ April 5, 2012VERY well said. Completely agree.
Cakes McCain
/ April 5, 2012Tragic. This type of vigilantism is not acceptable and should not be encouraged, but left it up to law enforcement. This man should be prosecuted, he took someone’s life. so sad.
The Drunk Archer
/ April 5, 2012to a large extent i think some police guys out there are very VERY disturbed psychologically
Jen and Tonic
/ April 5, 2012This whole story disgusts me. I cannot believe this man is walking free after he killed an innocent young man.
trjensen
/ April 5, 2012The idea that they are even trying to justify it is just proof they know they made a bad call. Zimmerman admitted he was pursuing Martin, an unarmed minor. Even if Martin attacked Zimmerman he was certainly provoked. He shot an unarmed young man who had committed no crime. He should be arrested. Now it seems everyone is trying to prove Zimmerman’s innocence to cover up the police department’s mistake.
mysterycoach
/ April 6, 2012Ridiculous.
Viciously Sweet
/ April 6, 2012This story was truly heartbreaking. Florida needs to charge this guy with murder and take a good look at who they have keeping people safe… Its just such an awful story.
bestbathroombooks
/ April 7, 2012There needs to be a trial, no doubt.
renxkyoko
/ April 8, 2012What I’m afraid of is this….. the policemen would concoct a story to fit Zimmerman’s. I’m very disturbed about the wittnesses’ stories that their stories were being bungled too. And sometimes completely ignored by investigators if what they had witnessed didn’t fit Zimmermann’s.
trjensen
/ April 9, 2012It is absolutely what they are doing. I watched an interview with a woman who tried to tell police that the fight took place in the grass because she watched it from her window. The officers told her where the fight took place was irrelevant and when she offered to show them they said it wouldn’t be necessary. They also told her the person she heard screaming was safe even though she said she was certain it was Trayvon she heard screaming for help.
renxkyoko
/ April 9, 2012Oh, my gawd…. Do you know that even the special prosecutor ( who is going to prosecute of course ) ‘s behavior is a bit disturbing ? That’s what the attorny of one witness observed when the state attorney came over to interview his client ( the witness ). By the way, how come witnesses have their own attornys?
trjensen
/ April 9, 2012The whole thing is joke. It seems as though the police are only accepting accounts that support Zimmerman’s account of what happened. What I don’t understand is why, when this man was the instigator, does it matter if Trayvon hit him? Zimmerman was chasing an unarmed minor and clearly anyone in that situation would feel threatened. Trayvon was the one being pursued and if he encountered Zimmerman then that would be self defense.