Racism…. It’s Not Always What You Think, Even When It’s There.

I have argued with many of my liberal friends that George Zimmerman was not a racist. I stand by that opinion.

That said…. I think he should have gotten a guilty verdict, because in my opinion, when Zimmerman stepped out of the truck to pursue Martin, the “stand your ground” law became moot. But I was not on the jury.

I was also not on this jury. I can almost excuse the Zimmerman verdict.

But there is no way to explain this one.

This, my friends is what institutional racism looks like.

Politics / Law Stuff | Sonicfrog July 14, 2013

4 Comments to “Racism…. It’s Not Always What You Think, Even When It’s There.”

By Cinesnatch, July 19, 2013 @ 6:12 am

I can’t say whether or not there was a deep-seeded unconscious racism in the mind of George Zimmerman. But, thanks to the police bungling the initial investigation, Martin did not receive any justice, nor was there any hope in the trial. A minor was killed on his way to the home where he was a guest. Whether he was drugged up and/or threw the first punch, he didn’t deserve to die.

And the woman getting twenty years is just ridiculous. And I’m unsure why the eager media doesn’t jump on this as fervently as with the Zimmerman case. Makes no sense.
By Sonicfrog, July 19, 2013 @ 1:41 pm

I’m of the opinion that this is on the prosecution, who tried to go for the murder 2nd degree charge when there clearly wasn’t the evidence for that. They only brought in the manslaughter charge a week before the trial was over when it became obvious they were failing at the murder charge. But then it was too late… They had already given the defense plenty of doubt my over-reaching.
By Cinesnatch, July 20, 2013 @ 12:42 am

Yes, I agree with you. But, the police didn’t help as much as they could have.

-They barely took pictures of the crime scene
-They did not secure Zimmerman’s vehicle for further investigation, as it was used to stalk Martin.
-They did not adequately canvass the neighborhood to ascertain the identity of Martin
-Despite having shot and killed an unarmed minor, Zimmerman wasn’t administered any type of blood test for drugs and alcohol.

To me, it sounds like Zimmerman was not treated like a murder suspect, which I find odd. But, then, so are Florida’s gun laws. He shot and killed an unarmed minor who was a guest in his neighborhood. The police could have done better, but, like you said, the prosecution performed even more poorly.
By Lori Heine, July 26, 2013 @ 8:11 am

I think people of color have been unfairly treated, by law enforcement authorities, for generations. They’re treated like children, given credit for having no judgment and suspected of criminality if they try to defend themselves against violence.

I think George Zimmerman was genuinely trying to defend himself, but a young person did die at his hand — one who was unarmed. I can certainly understand why the African-American community is livid about this.

The authorities are now beginning to treat White people the same way they’ve always treated people of color with regard to firearms and self-defense. The Tea Party is only now getting upset about it. Injustice to other races never seems to bother them. It only becomes real to them when it happens to White people.