Man follows black teen who seems "suspicious" and kills him.

The reason it's so popular is that it's pretty much the most magnetic trial ever. Rodney King and OJ rolled into one. what more could you want from court television?

Originally posted by Newjak
Fox really tried to blame it on the kid because he was wearing a hoodie? That's stupid if that's true.

TBF though, there was a string of robberies that had occurred recently, so Zimmerman had a reason to be more suspicious than usual. It's not like he just saw the hoodie and was thinking "******!!" Not saying it's complete justification, but you can empathize with him.

Just a sad story for all involved really.

Originally posted by Lestov16
The reason it's so popular is that it's pretty much the most magnetic trial ever. Rodney King and OJ rolled into one. what more could you want from court television?

TBF though, there was a string of robberies that had occurred recently, so Zimmerman had a reason to be more suspicious than usual. It's not like he just saw the hoodie and was thinking "******!!" Not saying it's complete justification, but you can empathize with him.

Just a sad story for all involved really.

For one hoodies are such common attire to wear, another being it was raining out makes the hoodie not stand out of place. In no way should a rational thinking person or news network try to blame the kid for this because he was wearing a hoodie. To do so is stupid and idiotic. The fact the guy jumped to that conclusion as well also imo makes him idiotic.

Originally posted by Lestov16
[B]. what more could you want from court television?

For it to go away

Look at the bright side. If Zimmerman wins, there might be some riots, which means I can get my flatscreen! 🙂

Originally posted by Archaeopteryx
I'm sick of hearing about this. This kind of shit happens all the time. Why is this particular case such a big national phenom? Is the public really that bored?

TBF, the Egyptian revolution going on as we speak I think deserves more news coverage than Zimmerman 24/7.

Originally posted by dadudemon
Have you followed the case, at all?

If not, catch up on the case. Do some google searching and especially pay attention to the audio recordings.

I have which is why i'm asking you your opinion. There were a string of robberies commited in his area by young black men wearing hoodies. He saw an unfamiliar young black man in a hoodie walking slowly in the rain around the area and though he looked suspicious so he called it in. What's racist about that at all? Especially given the fact that contrary to popular belief he said nothing "racist" in his 9-1-1 call and has black family and mentored black kids. I'm just not seeing it

Originally posted by Newjak
I honestly can't empathize with him on that count.

For one hoodies are such common attire to wear, another being it was raining out makes the hoodie not stand out of place. In no way should a rational thinking person or news network try to blame the kid for this because he was wearing a hoodie. To do so is stupid and idiotic. The fact the guy jumped to that conclusion as well also imo makes him idiotic.

I disagree. It's not like he saw the kid and ran up to him, weapon drawn and ready to kill. He was just watching the kid at first until, according to the witness on the phone, Trayvon asked why he was being followed. To me it sounds like Martin walked up to Zimmerman, not the other way around. Not saying that should have caused the fight/shooting but it seems like Zimmerman was trying to just watch and not confront

Originally posted by Omega Vision
I get the impression that you think we should be talking about global warming, global warming, and global warming, because OMG global warming is all that matters.

I think I'm the only black person in the US who empathizes with Zimmerman. I don't think he was wholly justified, but I can definitely see it from his point of view.

Originally posted by juggerman
I disagree. It's not like he saw the kid and ran up to him, weapon drawn and ready to kill. He was just watching the kid at first until, according to the witness on the phone, Trayvon asked why he was being followed. To me it sounds like Martin walked up to Zimmerman, not the other way around. Not saying that should have caused the fight/shooting but it seems like Zimmerman was trying to just watch and not confront

Zimmerman pursued a kid without any probable cause other than he looked funny and suspicious to Zimmerman. That alone is a red flag that he did that. Regardless of how things went down in private between the two once Zimmerman was confronted or did the confronting his pursuit of a kid directly led to an innocent person being killed.

The fact that if Fox news is trying to say it's Trayvon's fault because he is was wearing a hoodie makes Fox stupid.

As for Zimmerman being justified in his pursuit he isn't. If all you have is black kid wearing hoodie as your descriptor that is not enough to pursue someone that you don't know for sure has committed a crime.

You wanna know why because that description can match any number of possible innocent people walking the street at a given time. There is no legitimate reason for Zimmerman to pursue Trayvon in that scenario other than he made a stupid judgement call that cost a kid his life.

Originally posted by Newjak
No matter how you want to spin it.

Zimmerman pursued a kid without any probable cause other than he looked funny and suspicious to Zimmerman. That alone is a red flag that he did that. Regardless of how things went down in private between the two once Zimmerman was confronted or did the confronting his pursuit of a kid directly led to an innocent person being killed.

The fact that if Fox news is trying to say it's Trayvon's fault because he is was wearing a hoodie makes Fox stupid.

As for Zimmerman being justified in his pursuit he isn't. If all you have is black kid wearing hoodie as your descriptor that is not enough to pursue someone that you don't know for sure has committed a crime.

You wanna know why because that description can match any number of possible innocent people walking the street at a given time. There is no legitimate reason for Zimmerman to pursue Trayvon in that scenario other than he made a stupid judgement call that cost a kid his life.

Ok i wasn't spinning it. I was saying what occured.

He didn't persue and i think that's where you are drawing your conclusion from. He followed and seemingly was just trying to keep an eye on.

I agree

Again no persuit. He saw what looked like a person up to no good and called the police. Then he tried to keep an eye on the "suspect". Nothing really wrong with that imo

While this is true it still stands to reason that if crimes were being commited in your area by men fitting a certain description and then you happen to see a man fitting that same description one night you might be cautious and you'd rightfully be so regardless of whether or not that person actually did something or not.

Originally posted by Lestov16
I think I'm the only black person in the US who empathizes with Zimmerman. I don't think he was wholly justified, but I can definitely see it from his point of view.

Negative. I'm right there with you pal

Originally posted by juggerman
Ok i wasn't spinning it. I was saying what occured.

He didn't persue and i think that's where you are drawing your conclusion from. He followed and seemingly was just trying to keep an eye on.

I agree

Again no persuit. He saw what looked like a person up to no good and called the police. Then he tried to keep an eye on the "suspect". Nothing really wrong with that imo

While this is true it still stands to reason that if crimes were being commited in your area by men fitting a certain description and then you happen to see a man fitting that same description one night you might be cautious and you'd rightfully be so regardless of whether or not that person actually did something or not.

The kid never should have become an outright suspect though. He wasn't behaving weirdly, he wasn't fleeing, he wasn't in someone's yard walking around the house there is nothing to support any claim the kid should have been suspected of anything other than a personal judgement call by a guy whose only reason for description was skin color and hoodie for crimes that weren't committed that day.

He didn't have any facial descriptions or even a particular type of hoodie he was looking for. There was no reason for him to follow the person. And because he did something stupid and uncalled for he got a kid killed.

I might be cautious I wouldn't follow said person or even call the cops over black kid with hoodie unless I noticed them doing weird things like messing around a house I know isn't theirs.

The only time I would do something like that is if I had a highly detailed description of the people.

Originally posted by Newjak
Following is basically the samething as pursuing in this case. He had no lawful reason to follow the kid other than he was suspicious. There was no immediate evidence he needed to keep an eye on this kid.

The kid never should have become an outright suspect though. He wasn't behaving weirdly, he wasn't fleeing, he wasn't in someone's yard walking around the house there is nothing to support any claim the kid should have been suspected of anything other than a personal judgement call by a guy whose only reason for description was skin color and hoodie for crimes that weren't committed that day.

He didn't have any facial descriptions or even a particular type of hoodie he was looking for. There was no reason for him to follow the person. And because he did something stupid and uncalled for he got a kid killed.

I might be cautious I wouldn't follow said person or even call the cops over black kid with hoodie unless I noticed them doing weird things like messing around a house I know isn't theirs.

The only time I would do something like that is if I had a highly detailed description of the people.

I disagree. It seems as tho Zimmerman had no intention of actually confronting Martin. He seemed to be fine with keeping an eye on him from a distance. I would not equate that with persuing

True enough but i believe Zimmerman called in a few of these suspects that did indeed commit crimes. He might have a better idea of what he was looking for than the police. Also it was dark iirc so then wasn't much chance he got a great look at facial features.

In the neighborhood watch you're supposed to call the police if you believe something/someone is suspect. It's what they do. Him following him was a judgement call and while it wasn't the right one in this situation i can see why he might make such a choice.

I understand that you disagree but for arguement's sake let's say he didn't call/follow and the "suspect" ended up doing something horrid. Zimmerman would have to live with the fact that he did nothing when it's possible he could have helped someone. I understand that isn't the case here but that's what you have to think about. He was only trying to protect his area and now everybody's jumping on him like he should have just magically known Martin was a minor just going home from the store and that the night would end in death.

As i said i'm not at all saying he's guilty or not but it seems like people are lashing out at him cuz he can't see the future or foresee that crime isn't going to happen

Originally posted by Lestov16
I think I'm the only black person in the US who empathizes with Zimmerman. I don't think he was wholly justified, but I can definitely see it from his point of view.

Originally posted by juggerman
Negative. I'm right there with you pal

Uncle Tom boot-strap licking mutha****ers! Where's your rage!?!?!?!?

Originally posted by Robtard
Uncle Tom boot-strap licking mutha****ers! Where's your rage!?!?!?!?

😂 😆

Now i feel like Samuel L in Django

Originally posted by juggerman
I disagree. It seems as tho Zimmerman had no intention of actually confronting Martin. He seemed to be fine with keeping an eye on him from a distance. I would not equate that with persuing

True enough but i believe Zimmerman called in a few of these suspects that did indeed commit crimes. He might have a better idea of what he was looking for than the police. Also it was dark iirc so then wasn't much chance he got a great look at facial features.

In the neighborhood watch you're supposed to call the police if you believe something/someone is suspect. It's what they do. Him following him was a judgement call and while it wasn't the right one in this situation i can see why he might make such a choice.

I understand that you disagree but for arguement's sake let's say he didn't call/follow and the "suspect" ended up doing something horrid. Zimmerman would have to live with the fact that he did nothing when it's possible he could have helped someone. I understand that isn't the case here but that's what you have to think about. He was only trying to protect his area and now everybody's jumping on him like he should have just magically known Martin was a minor just going home from the store and that the night would end in death.

As i said i'm not at all saying he's guilty or not but it seems like people are lashing out at him cuz he can't see the future or foresee that crime isn't going to happen

So it was dark and he didn't get a good look at the people he called in but he's willing to make a judgment call and automatically declare someone guilty or suspicious even though they weren't exhibiting any suspicious behavior other than they had a skin deep look to the people he saw.

He did call the police and than he did what the police told him not to do, which is follow the kid.

He didn't need to magically know Martin was just a kid doing his thing, and no one faults him for trying to protect his neighborhood. What the problem is he assumed suspicion without any hard evidence to do so. That suspicion led him to do something he shouldn't have because he had the shoot first and ask later mentality about some random dude walking down a street. That something he shouldn't have done led to an innocent kid getting killed. I can see maybe why he would do it but I don't agree with what he did.

And the argument what if he let someone get away that then goes on to do something horrid is itself stupid.

What if cops decided to just come into your house and start looking over everything you owned because they were briefly suspicious of you even though you weren't doing anything suspicious at all. Would you be okay with that?

Odds are they do that enough they will find something somewhere they otherwise wouldn't have, but percentage wise most of the time they wouldn't find anything and they just end up harassing an innocent person. In fact odds are you would have a few more Trayvons than you would hideous crime commiters found out.

Again, there was a string of robberies, the perpetrator looking very similar to Trayvon. You can not fault Zimmerman for being suspicious.

I don't fault Zimmerman for calling the police on a person who loosely looked like a suspect to a robbery.

I fault Zimmerman for not listening to the police operator and staying away/not confronting Trayvon.

I also fault Zimmerman for pulling out a gun and shooting someone cos they handed him his ass in a fist fight, of which I'm inclined to believe Zimmerman caused.