318 replies to this topic

[Cyclogent]

You may have heard the story of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Florida teen who was killed by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch leader who claimed self defense and thus not arrested.  CNN is the ONLY major media outlet playing up this story with "breaking" developments of protests and an announcement that Al Sharpton would be joining.  At issue is Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, a law that liberals absolutely hate.  And speaking of hate, CNN is pushing the race card big time, asking "would Zimmerman have been arrested/charged if he wasn't White/Hispanic?"  CNN will do anything to spark controversy...simply disgusting, IMO.

It is tragic whenever a teenager is killed for whatever reason regardless of race.  Prayers to Martin's family. I suppose the real lesson to be learned is that it is not a good idea to walk the streets alone at night (regardless of age or race)...much less in an area with a recent string of break-ins. Strength in numbers...


link to CNN story


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[David in SW Blount]

Cyclogent, on 22 March 2012 - 04:18 AM, said:

I suppose the real lesson to be learned is that it is not a good idea to walk the streets alone at night (regardless of age or race)...much less in an area with a recent string of break-ins. Strength in numbers...

I'm not going to defend media sensationalism, but I would say the real lesson learned is that you don't shoot and kill a teenager out on a public street unless you d****d sure know he's a threat.

[Cyclogent]

David in SW Blount, on 22 March 2012 - 06:15 AM, said:

I'm not going to defend media sensationalism, but I would say the real lesson learned is that you don't shoot and kill a teenager out on a public street unless you d****d sure know he's a threat.

Well yes that too.  The mainstream reports are that Zimmerman called 911 to report a suspicious person passing through the neighborhood, and was told by dispatch NOT to follow him but he did anyway and that's when the altercation occurred.  Seems like is a case of a trigger happy cop-wannabe, so to that end, the Stand your Ground defense wouldn't neccessarily apply.

[David in SW Blount]

Cyclogent, on 22 March 2012 - 06:36 AM, said:

Well yes that too.  The mainstream reports are that Zimmerman called 911 to report a suspicious person passing through the neighborhood, and was told by dispatch NOT to follow him but he did anyway and that's when the altercation occurred.  Seems like is a case of a trigger happy cop-wannabe, so to that end, the Stand your Ground defense wouldn't neccessarily apply.

Yep.  If you break into someone's house or threaten them with deadly harm, then all bets are off.  But this Zimmerman dude sounds like a vigilante nutjob.

[Pastor of Muppets]

It is not just CNN.  Fox had this on all day yesterday as well.  

The scumbag murdered the kid and the fact charges haven't been brought against him is unbelievable.  Unfortunately, Al Sharpton getting involved will only serve to turn people in the wrong direction due to his reputation.  He should have stayed out of it.

[ams30721us]

The title of this thread could be changed. CNN is correct in the way they have been portraying this story. For those who believe it does not exist anymore you now know that is false. Not to mention the City of Sanford and the Local Police Department. I do not even know where to start on these pieces of you know what. This is a clear case of racial profiling gone wrong but beyond that the locals reaction and investigation on this has been atrocious. My number one gripe for these people is for whatever you think may have happened to not pick up the kids cell phone and type in MOM or DAD or even redial the last number and find out who this kid is gunned down in the gated community of where he lives or ask around but instead have the parents find out through their own investigation that the A&B  student they gave birth to had been gunned down. Instead they had to call around until they found out he had been a John Doe at the Morgue for like 3 days. Obviously horrible investigation that night and to allow a shooter like that to walk free with the shooting weapon is ridiculous. People keep talking about a scuffle between these two when this guy had 100+ pounds on Trayvon and the simple fact is Zimmerman followed then chased this kid at night when told not too (Even still violating the official Neighborhood Watch Policy) although Zimmerman is not even official he appointed himself. Going back on the hate crime part of this lets not ignore this mans history within the past year with 9-1-1 where he had plenty bogus over zealous calls about black teens in the neighborhood that turned out to be false and nothing to them. Now back to the city cover up lets remember the city tried to close the case before people like Al Sharpton and others stepped in help the family SUE the city just to get the 9-1-1 tapes released. Listen to the witness 9-1-1 tape of Trayvon screaming for help before the the gunshot and the silence and tell me how much of an accident occured? This story is exposes the piece of dog crap our American Justice System is., Unreal that this happens in 2012. the 50s and 60s? Yes now unreal.

[NathansGal]

Now we have Geraldo saying "the hoodie the kid wore is what caused him to be killed" give me flipping break....that's the style for many young people, male, female and all races, it was raining that day, so yeah he wore a hoodie...what's a neighborhood watch dude doing with a gun anyway??? I don't believe it to be as much racial as this guy was a threat to any kid. From what I understand this was a gated community and the boy lived there....it's a mess and is going to become a big racial mess and the truth is murder isn't about always about color even if someone other than a white person is involved, it's about cruelty, bad judgement and evil....I'm waiting to see Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson's mugs showing up to stir things even more....this whole situation is sad!

[ams30721us]

NathansGal, on 23 March 2012 - 08:03 PM, said:

Now we have Geraldo saying "the hoodie the kid wore is what caused him to be killed" give me flipping break....that's the style for many young people, male, female and all races, it was raining that day, so yeah he wore a hoodie...what's a neighborhood watch dude doing with a gun anyway??? I don't believe it to be as much racial as this guy was a threat to any kid. From what I understand this was a gated community and the boy lived there....it's a mess and is going to become a big racial mess and the truth is murder isn't about always about color even if someone other than a white person is involved, it's about cruelty, bad judgement and evil....I'm waiting to see Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson's mugs showing up to stir things even more....this whole situation is sad!

I agree with most of what you said except I just want to point out this was indeed racially motivated. This guy did the exact definition of racial profiling. The tapes clear that up and not just the 911 tapes from that night but the many zimmerman did before then.

In regards to the Al Sharpton comments I think most people have to realized it is because of him and a few other people this is getting the attention it deserves from the Fed. Gov't and even just today the Florida Gov. decides to finally step in. The injustice by the city of Sanford is horrific.

[Stormlover]

ams30721us, on 23 March 2012 - 08:08 PM, said:

I agree with most of what you said except I just want to point out this was indeed racially motivated. This guy did the exact definition of racial profiling. The tapes clear that up and not just the 911 tapes from that night but the many zimmerman did before then.

In regards to the Al Sharpton comments I think most people have to realized it is because of him and a few other people this is getting the attention it deserves from the Fed. Gov't and even just today the Florida Gov. decides to finally step in. The injustice by the city of Sanford is horrific.

When people of your race stop acting like they need Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to carry a cause, which they don't, more progress will be made.

[ams30721us]

Stormlover, on 23 March 2012 - 08:12 PM, said:

When people of your race stop acting like they need Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to carry a cause, which they don't, more progress will be made.

hmmm funny you say that. lets look at this case for an example. Before Al Sharpton got involved the City of Sanford basically tried to close this case and push it under the rug.

Al Sharpton gets involved helps the family sue to get the 9-1-1 tapes, we get the real facts and through that we organize get bus loads of people from around the country to bus in and march. Setup marches all across the country and all of a sudden The Florida republican Gov. now is interested enough to appoint a special prosecutor, the Federal Gov't gets involved, the National Media applies more pressure and now all of a sudden the case is reopen and all this suprising evidence starts coming to light...yea Al Sharpton really did not help here. His involvement is really bad...

[Stormlover]

ams30721us, on 23 March 2012 - 08:23 PM, said:

hmmm funny you say that. lets look at this case for an example. Before Al Sharpton got involved the City of Sanford basically tried to close this case and push it under the rug.

Al Sharpton gets involved helps the family sue to get the 9-1-1 tapes, we get the real facts and through that we organize get bus loads of people from around the country to bus in and march. Setup marches all across the country and all of a sudden The Florida republican Gov. now is interested enough to appoint a special prosecutor, the Federal Gov't gets involved, the National Media applies more pressure and now all of a sudden the case is reopen and all this suprising evidence starts coming to light...yea Al Sharpton really did not help here. His involvement is really bad...

Al Sharpton should have been thrown in jail for trying to ruin the careers and lives of some policemen by supporting a fraudulent charge against them. He tried to use race and hate and anger to get cops thrown in prison for something they did not do. Do you think we've forgotten? He has zero credibility.Nothing but a race rouser.

[NathansGal]

ams30721us, on 23 March 2012 - 08:08 PM, said:

I agree with most of what you said except I just want to point out this was indeed racially motivated. This guy did the exact definition of racial profiling. The tapes clear that up and not just the 911 tapes from that night but the many zimmerman did before then.

In regards to the Al Sharpton comments I think most people have to realized it is because of him and a few other people this is getting the attention it deserves from the Fed. Gov't and even just today the Florida Gov. decides to finally step in. The injustice by the city of Sanford is horrific.

I've heard a few of the 911 tapes but apparently not all, I will definitely look into it but for now, I'll take your word for it!!

ams30721us, on 23 March 2012 - 08:23 PM, said:

hmmm funny you say that. lets look at this case for an example. Before Al Sharpton got involved the City of Sanford basically tried to close this case and push it under the rug.

Al Sharpton gets involved helps the family sue to get the 9-1-1 tapes, we get the real facts and through that we organize get bus loads of people from around the country to bus in and march. Setup marches all across the country and all of a sudden The Florida republican Gov. now is interested enough to appoint a special prosecutor, the Federal Gov't gets involved, the National Media applies more pressure and now all of a sudden the case is reopen and all this suprising evidence starts coming to light...yea Al Sharpton really did not help here. His involvement is really bad...

I'm not so sure about how much the public should get involved (LA Riots?) because it can get ugly by people that just want to use this as an excuse to start violence and a mob mentality HOWEVER, something did need to be done as far as the parent's getting the 911 tapes and the situation being investigated....that should be the case for whatever the color the young person was and whatever color the shooter was....I just don't want this separating our already separated (politically) country....

[ams30721us]

Stormlover, on 23 March 2012 - 08:26 PM, said:

Al Sharpton should have been thrown in jail for trying to ruin the careers and lives of some policemen by supporting a fraudulent charge against them. He tried to use race and hate and anger to get cops thrown in prison for something they did not do. Do you think we've forgotten? He has zero credibility.Nothing but a race rouser.

Hahaha nice try. What does that have to do with him organizing and drawing 30,000 people to the city of Sanford to have a peaceful non incident march, or to put this story on the national stage to get real justice that the local system tried to sweep under the rug. I don't care what you think of Al Sharpton his getting involved with this situation WEEKS ago was huge and is very helpful. You don't have to admit it is a fact. Just look on TV even Fox news has been covering this story in depth all of a sudden.

[Stormlover]

ams30721us, on 23 March 2012 - 08:32 PM, said:

Hahaha nice try. What does that have to do with him organizing and drawing 30,000 people to the city of Sanford to have a peaceful non incident march, or to put this story on the national stage to get real justice that the local system tried to sweep under the rug. I don't care what you think of Al Sharpton his getting involved with this situation WEEKS ago was huge and is very helpful. You don't have to admit it is a fact. Just look on TV even Fox news has been covering this story in depth all of a sudden.

No, not all of a sudden. They have been covering it a lot the last week. I know, I've see it.

[ams30721us]

Stormlover, on 23 March 2012 - 08:45 PM, said:

No, not all of a sudden. They have been covering it a lot the last week. I know, I've see it.

Yea thats all of a sudden. Al Sharpton has been talking about this on his show and having people on for weeks now all the way back at the start of this month. He has been involved with the family since then. Before this week unless you were watching Sharptons show or on Social Media you had no clue who Trayvon Martin was. I signed the petition after watching Sharpton 3 weeks ago when it only had like 3,000 people. It is well over a milion and a half now. Again thanks to the national spotlight and great grassroots activist like Sharpton this injustice is getting a much closer look by all.

[Stormlover]

ams30721us, on 23 March 2012 - 09:00 PM, said:

Yea thats all of a sudden. Al Sharpton has been talking about this on his show and having people on for weeks now all the way back at the start of this month. He has been involved with the family since then. Before this week unless you were watching Sharptons show or on Social Media you had no clue who Trayvon Martin was. I signed the petition after watching Sharpton 3 weeks ago when it only had like 3,000 people. It is well over a milion and a half now. Again thanks to the national spotlight and great grassroots activist like Sharpton this injustice is getting a much closer look by all.

No one watches Al Sharpton's show though, comparatively speaking. Fox News probably brought more attention to it than him, just stating facts about viewership. O'Reilly has about 3 1/2 times as many viewers:
FOXNEWS O'REILLY 2,733,000
FOXNEWS HANNITY 2,079,000
FOXNEWS GRETA 1,905,000
FOXNEWS SHEP 1,616,000
FOXNEWS BAIER 1.601,000
FOXNEWS FIVE 1,499,000
MSNBC MADDOW 988,000
CMDY DAILY SHOW 879,000
MSNBC SCHULTZ 865,000
MSNBC O'DONNELL 818,000
MSNBC SHARPTON 817,000
MSNBC HARDBALL 791,000
CNN COOPER 738,000
CNN PIERS 703,000

Edited by Stormlover, 23 March 2012 - 09:04 PM.

[ams30721us]

I don't even think that info deserves a response... Fox news coverage has been beyond horrible on this...Hell you have Geraldo blaming the kids school hoodie on the shooting and you have Hanninty trying to explain how this could have been an accidental shooting. Terrible coverage. And trust me People did not find out about this through O'Reilly thats for sure.

[Stormlover]

ams30721us, on 23 March 2012 - 11:19 PM, said:

I don't even think that info deserves a response... Fox news coverage has been beyond horrible on this...Hell you have Geraldo blaming the kids school hoodie on the shooting and you have Hanninty trying to explain how this could have been an accidental shooting. Terrible coverage. And trust me People did not find out about this through O'Reilly thats for sure.

The general public sure doesn't find it out from PMSNBC or Al Sharpton either. Not now, not ever.

[ams30721us]

Stormlover, on 23 March 2012 - 11:25 PM, said:

The general public sure doesn't find it out from PMSNBC or Al Sharpton either. Not now, not ever.

Wow. Nice try. IDC about your opinion on MSNBC or Al Sharpton. Most people would say the same thing about FAULSE news who should not even cover this story as bad as they have been so far. Let me give you a hint. People did find out and get organized and got 30,000 people to an Al Sharpton rally in Sanford the other day from Fox saying hey let me tell you about this....really.

[Stormlover]

ams30721us, on 23 March 2012 - 11:32 PM, said:

Wow. Nice try. IDC about your opinion on MSNBC or Al Sharpton. Most people would say the same thing about FAULSE news who should not even cover this story as bad as they have been so far. Let me give you a hint. People did find out and get organized and got 30,000 people to an Al Sharpton rally in Sanford the other day from Fox saying hey let me tell you about this....really.

Hello? All the networks and media outlets are, and have been covering it. It sure wasn't from Al Sharpton on PMSNBC that got it going.

[RollTide18]

Man, not blaming FNC that much cause I don't watch it but for Geraldo to blame Trayvon for his own murdering is just disrespectful. I'm like bro, everybody wears a hoodie, every race, every gender. If anyone should be blamed, its that police officer for wrongful racial profiling. How can you say something so dumb like that on National Television?

Edited by RollTide18, 24 March 2012 - 05:52 AM.

[Pastor of Muppets]

RollTide18, on 24 March 2012 - 05:49 AM, said:

Man, not blaming FNC that much cause I don't watch it but for Geraldo to blame Trayvon for his own murdering is just disrespectful. I'm like bro, everybody wears a hoodie, every race, every gender. If anyone should be blamed, its that police officer for wrongful racial profiling. How can you say something so dumb like that on National Television?

He wasn't a police officer, he was on community watch.

[David in SW Blount]

Reprehensible that people are trying to make this yet another issue of political polarization.  The "blame the victim" stuff is surreal - what was he doing walking around wearing a hoodie, etc. Please.  I wear hoodies when I get cold.

No one should be excusing this Zimmerman whack job, and the evidence is strong that race was a motivating factor.  Anyone who thinks that Black people aren't still subject to racial profiling is living in LaLa Land.  I remember working at a Winn-Dixie grocery store in Harahan, LA (New Orleans suburb) as a teen, and EVERY time a Black person walked into the store, the managers instructed one or two of us to follow them (because what was a Black person doing in Harahan aside from something criminal?).  I'm sure that kind of stuff is still happening in many places.

[ams30721us]

Stormlover, on 23 March 2012 - 11:42 PM, said:

Hello? All the networks and media outlets are, and have been covering it. It sure wasn't from Al Sharpton on PMSNBC that got it going.

Please, maybe you should watch Hannity, or The factor with your friend Bill who btw last night had Geraldo on agreed with him and his ridiculous comments and added more to it. What a dumba** or don't get me started on Fox and Friends commentary with Geraldo yesterday or should we really look at how much and when they started covering this compared to the other networks??? Oh lets not forget the first story the did on this was about how this would be an attack on the NRA and members who support less gun laws etc. Like really you won't to compare coverage of this?? Hello I would hope you are not that blind.

[ams30721us]

David in SW Blount, on 24 March 2012 - 08:40 AM, said:

Reprehensible that people are trying to make this yet another issue of political polarization.  The "blame the victim" stuff is surreal - what was he doing walking around wearing a hoodie, etc. Please.  I wear hoodies when I get cold.

No one should be excusing this Zimmerman whack job, and the evidence is strong that race was a motivating factor.  Anyone who thinks that Black people aren't still subject to racial profiling is living in LaLa Land.  I remember working at a Winn-Dixie grocery store in Harahan, LA (New Orleans suburb) as a teen, and EVERY time a Black person walked into the store, the managers instructed one or two of us to follow them (because what was a Black person doing in Harahan aside from something criminal?).  I'm sure that kind of stuff is still happening in many places.

I agree! It amazes me at how some people really do believe this does not happen today. Every black teen gets the "Talk" once they go from looking like a kid to a man but its hard to watch this unfold in 2012 like the 50s and 60s along with the police corruption! I mean lets be clear, a cop shoots a suspect who is in a gun fight with them and he gets his weapon taken away and is suspended until the investigation is complete. THis case with this paranoid creep the guy gets to keep his weapon and go back to doing what he does without a real investigation?? They drug test and do an alcohol test on the dead teen but can't notify his parents he is dead but they can let Zimmerman go with no investigation because he said it was self-defense? I mean honestly I don't understand how the entire police department is not replaced.

[RollTide18]

Pastor of Muppets, on 24 March 2012 - 07:35 AM, said:

He wasn't a police officer, he was on community watch.

Well yea, community watch.  

[ams30721us]

RollTide18, on 24 March 2012 - 10:28 AM, said:

Well yea, community watch.  

He was "Self Appointed" community watch meaning he appointed himself! Also choose not to register himself OR even follow the guidelines established by Neighborhood Watch. Not to mention the record of the past year of 9-1-1 calls that he had been committing indicating his racial profiling history. Or the scuffle he got into with the black undercover police officer at the time.

[Stormlover]

Story about the only eyewitness
http://www.myfoxtamp...merman-03232012

[Cyclogent]

Zimmerman and his attorney speak up

New Black Panthers offer $10,000 reward for capture of Zimmerman, and call for 5,000 men to find him


The mainstream media offering more coverage, but this latest "hate wave" and generalization/stereotyping of segments of our society based on their race was triggered by CNN as they were the FIRST to mention race by asking highly controversial questions on live TV.  Death threats have reportedly been directed towards Zimmerman, his attorney, and the investigating officers and the Chief of the Sanford police department.  The NBPP has not ruled out violence as part of their planned protest.  This could get ugly.  

By the way AMS, good to you see you post on the forum again...what do you think of our April frost/freeze(and uh oh maybe a flurry too) chances?


.

[Stormlover]

Anyone putting out awards or "dead or alive" posters, should be charged with terrorists threats. We saw the Black Panthers get nothing but a slap on the wrist for what they did in Philadelphia last election, and they feel that Holder and Obama will not do a thing to them. Race baiting and taking advantage of the situation to flame things will never end for some.

Edited by Stormlover, 24 March 2012 - 06:44 PM.