General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe notion that Trayvon Martin was a threat is preposterous
For one thing, Zimmerman greatly outweighed Martin. Even if Martin tried to punch Zimmerman, Zimmerman should have easily been able to subdue the kid or get away without resorting to deadly force. There was NO threat to his life!
I also have to seriously doubt that Martin would have attacked without any provocation. This was a kid visiting relatives on vacation. He was just returning from the store with a can of tea and a bag of candy. He wasn't loitering, casing houses, or looking for trouble.
He ran into a racist vigilante who was looking to pick a fight. Zimmerman had a history of reporting suspicious black men, and he was sick and tired of them "always getting away". He was damned sure going to make sure this black kid didn't escape.
The idea that Martin was a threat is bullshit.
ellisonz
(27,711 posts)George Zimmerman had reasonable fear of serious bodily harm and even death, he shouldn't have to have a scratch on him to have stood his ground.
Quixote1818
(28,958 posts)which is just as racist as him thinking he looked suspicious in the fist place.
FiercelyIndependant
(19 posts)However the only actual evidence that we've seen so far is of Martin on top of Zimmerman beating him.
Which certainly rises to the level of "threat" by any reasonable standard.
OKNancy
(41,832 posts)Quixote1818
(28,958 posts)The other witnesses said the fist fight took place three houses down and that Martin was confronted by Zimmerman in front of their house where Martin cryed for help and was shot. The witness who said he saw Martin on top of Zimmerman didn't see what happened before or after that.
If a fight occured then Zimmerman would have absolutly known at that point, especially with Martin crying for help that he was un-armed and not a deadly threat.
FiercelyIndependant
(19 posts)"The guy on the bottom who had a red sweater on was yelling to me: 'help, help and I told him to stop and I was calling 911," he said.
Trayvon Martin was in a hoodie; Zimmerman was in red.
The witness only wanted to be identified as "John," and didn't not want to be shown on camera.
His statements to police were instrumental, because police backed up Zimmerman's claims, saying those screams on the 911 call are those of Zimmerman.
Straddling someone, beating them repeatedly, pinning them to the ground...certainly sounds like a deadly threat to me.
Quixote1818
(28,958 posts)This witness explains that the fist fight occured three houses down and that there was no fighting go on when the shot was fired, only Trayvon crying for help. She believed Zimmerman followed Martin to her house well after the fight as his house was just a few more houses down. This would indicate that Zimmerman killed Martin out of anger of being beat up. And don't try and tell me that is Zimmerman crying because his voce is ten times deeper than what is heard on the 911 tape. The FBI will eventually show it was Martin and not Zimmerman.
Hugabear
(10,340 posts)He is no more
shraby
(21,946 posts)top to bottom except for the one woman who was interviewed for television who said she heard the screaming and saw Zimmerman and the dead Trayvon in her back yard.
intaglio
(8,170 posts)And to give you an idea Martin weighed 140 lbs, Zimmerman 250. In the real world unless Martin was some sort of superman - no way!
Now, consider this; if Martin hit Zimmerman then Martin was shot after getting off Zimmerman, not during the putative attack but after when the boy was at a distance. This means that if the story is true then there was no immediate threat to Zimmerman and the shot was a vindictive, beaten man shooting in revenge and that is murder.
FiercelyIndependant
(19 posts)Um no...Zimmerman USED TO weigh around 250, he has lost a considerable amount of weight and is much closer to Martin in weight now.
Quixote1818
(28,958 posts)We heard his black friend say he lost weight but no one knows that for sure. Of course the defense is going to say this even if he only lost two pounds. The fact that they didn't give his new weight tells me that it's probably a trumped up bogus claim, especially since the blond witness said Zimmerman looked gigantic standing over Trayvon.
uppityperson
(115,678 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)Small miracle--it would help if juries would understand that low-post count people flinging shit like an expert troll are indeed what they appear to be, and would use the judgment they possess to assist the process, instead of giving way too much benefit of the doubt.
Hugabear
(10,340 posts)You seem to "know" quite a bit that nobody else knows, including Zimmerman's miracle diet.
MADem
(135,425 posts)He has mercifully been shown the door.
Maybe next time, he'll learn to spell "independent"--might serve his cover better.
ellisonz
(27,711 posts)Has left the building...
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)Hugabear
(10,340 posts)There is no "evidence" that Martin was on top of Zimmerman, just the suspect testimony of a neighbor. Could very easily have been concocted to help defend a neighbor.
rrneck
(17,671 posts)X_Digger
(18,585 posts)rustydog
(9,186 posts)But we DO know Zimmerman disregarded police insructions to stop following Martin. He challenged Martin. Why? Because he was fucking BLACK. and Martin is DEAD because Zimmerman shot him.
There are your facts.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)In it Zimmerman described a teenager looking at the houses, approaching him and then running. Hardly someone who posed an imminent threat. Zimmerman apparently followed Martin. The phone call is available on Mother Jones as are other relevant phone calls.
http://audioboo.fm/boos/717340-george-zimmerman-call-to-police
warrior1
(12,325 posts)Last edited Sun Mar 25, 2012, 05:51 PM - Edit history (1)
this is right when Trayvon was on the phone with his GF. After he asked "Why are you following me?" and after GZ said "What are you doing here?" They got into a fight and Travyon was able to walk away. GZ kept following him and then pulled the gun on him in Mary Crouch's backyard, where is was heard Travyon pleading for his life. GZ shot him. I think he shot him because Travyon was able to defend himself and got the better of GZ and GZ was bloody and mad. GZ escalated to violence by shooting Travyon because he was angry. This is murder. Not self-defense.
ellisonz
(27,711 posts)Quixote1818
(28,958 posts)TheKentuckian
(25,029 posts)Don't start nothin won't be nothin but you go looking for shit and find it, that is 100% on you.
As far as I can tell Zimmerman hunted Martin seemingly initiating the whole mess, and is as such, a murderer.
All the who is bigger and all that is of no consequence, don't start nothin won't be nothin.