Trayvon Martin's parents talk verdict
The parents of Trayvon Martin sat down with Anderson and discussed the acquittal of George Zimmerman. Trayvon’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, described the verdict as “a complete shock.” She went on to say she did not believe jurors looked at Trayvon as an “average teenager that was minding his own business, that wasn’t committing any crime.” Trayvon’s father, Tracy Martin, raised concerns jurors took George Zimmerman’s story as the truth when Trayvon wasn’t there to give his side, saying, “Some of them had their minds made up, no matter what story was told.”
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Trayvon Martin |
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Trayvon Martin’s murder seems to hedge on the idea that he was a black man who had on a hoodie. For that reason Geroge Zimmerman believed he was a thug and “up to no good”. Has anyone stopped to think how Trayvon Martin felt when he saw George Zimmerman following him? Honestly if George looked the way he did the day he murdered Trayvon and I saw him in broad daylight, I would cross the road, clutch my purse or pull my daughter closer to me. If George looked the way he did the day he murdered Trayvon and he were following me around, I would call the police because I would be afraid he may try and rape me. How dare George Zimmerman show up for court after murdering a 17 year old unarmed child looking like the Marshmallow Man who would never hurt a fly. The day Zimmerman murdered Trayvon he looked like a thug who was up to no good.
What do you tell your kids to do when confronted by a stranger asking questions about you. It is simple – have a mature conversation with the person and explain what you are doing and be “polite”. Do not get angry because the person is asking questions.
There is a problem with Tracy Martin's comments that his son was just walking thru the complex, did nothing, and was shot in the heart. The problem is that his son decided to beat up GZ, which caused the self-defense of shooting him. Why isn't anyone asking them why Trayvon beat George up? That is fact, not conjecture, proved in court
I do admire the way that the Martin's and Fulton's are presenting themselves and asking for peace but their son help create this tragedy.
With all respect to all known facts, I am still wondering why Zimmerman's answer to the dispatcher QUESTION was called "racial profiling". What was Zimmerman supposed to answer : the guy was white, yellow . . . . or what?
Dispatcher: OK, and this guy is he white, black, or Hispanic?
Zimmerman: He looks black.
I am a international viewer, but lived int the USA for SOME time as a teen. I have brown skin and had racial profiling done to me. But the most disgusting thing i have been hearing is that... THE JURORS DIDNT KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT TRAYVON we didn't know enough about the kid. Please, please. ITS about the killing of a boy on his way home THATS IT.. it doesn't matter if he smoke pot, got kicked out of school or what ever, no one has the right to take someone elses life just because THEY THINK there gonna do something. The only thing that comes to my mind is basically. HEY he was black, wasn't going to be much so its OK to get shot.
There is one thing that I haven't heard on any media regarding the Trayvon Martin case. When the prosecutor said
that George Zimmerman will always have Trayvons blood on his hands. He is ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. But there are
a few other individuals that should be included with him. The individuals who had recently "got away" When GZ said
that , he obviously associated those individuals with Trayvon. So to thjose individuals who had previously did the
"no good" in that retreat they ALSO have Trayvons blood on THEIR hands.
The solution to racism in America is recognition of the spiritual truth of the oneness of humanity and an organic change in the structure of present-day society. No educational, economic, or political plan can take the place of the essential need to feel dignity derived from a genuine regard by others for their stature as human beings. Racism is a spiritual problem solved only with a spiritual solution recognition of the oneness of humanity.
I am still struggling to accept the fact that the prosecutors failed to argue that it was T. Martin voice asking for help. What happened is that Zimmerman shot Martin and during those few seconds before he died he yelled for help. He was already shot and yelled for help. Why is that nobody seem to understand this? Zimmerman could not have yelled for help just because he was punched by anybody, nor he was going to yelled because he could have been stroke against any hard surface. He was big enough to stand against Trayvon. Zimmerman was also armed, why was he going to yelled for help it he had a weapon. It is stupid to argue that he was yelling for help. Besides, I have heard Zimmerman speak and even I never knew Trayvon I can place his tone of voice in those cries for help and not Zimmerman.
I was surprised to hear Mark Garagos say that the state threw the case. I had similar thoughts starting the 2nd week of the trial. This verdict says that a person can hunt someone down in the dark without cause, start the confrontation, and when the victim tries to defend themselves, shoot them, and call it self-defense. Americans don't need to worry about terrorists destroying this country; we are doing it just fine from within. Discrimination, the wild west gun laws, a worthless Congress, an uneducated population, a failing infrastructure, and religious fanaticism are taking this country back a hundred years.
To D Moore I couldn't agree more with you. The prosecutors didn't even bother to bring the essence of Trayvon into that courtroom. They never argued a theory.
My heart goes out to the Martin family, no words can express the sorrows felt by the loss of a loved one. I feel that the prosecution should have done a better job presenting their case. Why didn't we use the fact that Trayvon also HAD a right to "STAND HIS GROUND." How did he know that George Zimmerman was just trying to look out for the community and wasn't some kind of pedophile or trying to follow him and kidnap him. Zimmerman must have placed some fear in Trayvon to feel he was forced to confront this man, in the dark. We only have his word, Trayvon was not able to speak in court to defend himself. Only God and George know what really happened and he will have to live with the decision he made. If he did lie about the accounts of that evening, he has to live with it and will be punished in due time by a higher justice.
For those who say It's over move on. My stepson was murdered and I will never "get over it". Our family felt robbed of justice when the charge was reduced to manslaughter with only a 15 year sentence. I can't imagine having to get over the loss of a child and then justice not served. Unbelievable pain.
I wish that I could give the parents and brother of Trayvon a hug and tell them how much I stand with them. I never believed George Zimmerman and I also believe Rachel, Trayvon's friiend. Just for the record, I am a 66 year old white woman. I pray for you all as well as all the Trayvon Martin's of the the world and all the injustices in this country
7-18-13 Trayvon was profiled by GZ because he was "on the phone". This was proved but not repeated enough during trial. The prosecution should have said it at least 100 times. He was "on the phone" which accounted for the differences made in his pace or gait including stopping "He was on the phone" Tens of thousands of people go outside to talk for privacy and exercise. He took longer on his way back because his trip to the store was done and he was more relaxed. Stopping could seem as if he was looking in peoples houses, but NO "He was on the phone"!!!!!!!
Trayvon's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin are a class act through and through. My heart goes out to you and the rest of your family. Justice was not served. You have portrayed yourselves with such dignity throughout this horrific ordeal. You have done Trayvon proud! May you find peace in your hearts.