Open Season on Black Boys After a Verdict Like This

Calls for calm after George Zimmerman was acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin are empty words for black families

(CHICAGO) - Let it be noted that on this day, Saturday 13 July 2013, it was still deemed legal in the US to chase and then shoot dead an unarmed young black man on his way home from the store because you didn't like the look of him.

The killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin last year was tragic. But in the age of Obama the acquittal of George Zimmerman offers at least that clarity. For the salient facts in this case were not in dispute. On 26 February 2012 Martin was on his way home, minding his own business armed only with a can of iced tea and a bag of Skittles. Zimmerman pursued him, armed with a 9mm handgun, believing him to be a criminal. Martin resisted. They fought. Zimmerman shot him dead.

Who screamed. Who was stronger. Who called whom what and when and why are all details to warm the heart of a cable news producer with 24 hours to fill. Strip them all away and the truth remains that Martin's heart would still be beating if Zimmerman had not chased him down and shot him.

There is no doubt about who the aggressor was here. It appears that the only reason the two interacted at all, physically or otherwise, is that Zimmerman believed it was his civic duty to apprehend an innocent teenager who caused suspicion by his existence alone.

Appeals for calm in the wake of such a verdict raise the question of what calm there can possibly be in a place where such a verdict is possible. Parents of black boys are not likely to feel calm. Partners of black men are not likely to feel calm. Children with black fathers are not likely to feel calm. Those who now fear violent social disorder must ask themselves whose interests are served by a violent social order in which young black men can be thus slain and discarded.

But while the acquittal was shameful it was not a shock. It took more than six weeks after Martin's death for Zimmerman to be arrested and only then after massive pressure both nationally and locally. Those who dismissed this as a political trial (a peculiar accusation in the summer of Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden) should bear in mind that it was politics that made this case controversial.

Charging Zimmerman should have been a no-brainer. He was not initially charged because Florida has a "stand your ground" law whereby deadly force is permitted if the person "reasonably believes" it is necessary to protect their own life, the life of another or to prevent a forcible felony.

Since it was Zimmerman who stalked Martin, the question remains: what ground is a young black man entitled to and on what grounds may he defend himself? What version of events is there for that night in which Martin gets away with his life? Or is it open season on black boys after dark?

Zimmerman's not guilty verdict will be contested for years to come. But he passed judgement on Trayvon that night summarily.

"Fucking punks," Zimmerman told the police dispatcher that night. "These assholes. They always get away."

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Anonymous July 16, 2013 6:14 pm (Pacific time)

I had 17 year olds in my infantry unit in Vietnam until LBJ had pressure put on him to return 17 year olds back to the states until they turned 18. All of our country's wars going back to our founding had young men 17 and younger involved in fighting. Many have/had been decorated warriors. Trayvon assaulted Zimmerman at night and how was he going to respond? Check his ID as he was woozy (per evidence) after the nose blow? It s a tragedy, but Trayvon was the one who started the criminal assault. Now we have two white kids who were killed in Virginia earlier today by a mob of blacks who claimed the murders were payback. This is happening all over the nation...so it's time to make sure the nation is informed on all the racial crime data as per the U.S. Justice Department. Facts are always going to trump the real racist propaganda, and we know who the real criminal haters are. Look at Trayvon's past behavior for insight on the fact that this young man was not some child who caused no trouble. He brought it on by himself, as are the racists like Sharpton and Jackson, and countless others...we will have martial law sometime this summer in various locations. Since Obama was elected we are even more divided, and it is Obama's lack of leadership that has worsened race relations. He like Zimmerman, are both half white, but the racists call Zimmerman a "White Hispanic"...gimme a break! I expect considerable blood shed because of black racism and anti-Americanism.

Anonymous July 16, 2013 12:56 pm (Pacific time)

I will no longer follow your bias. So peddle your trash blog elsewhere among your racist filth scumbags. Just because a Black kid decided to take the thug approach and beat someone senseless, you'll never convince anyone that Zimmerman did not have the right to self defense. 82 percent of those polled agree, and the other 18 percent are minorities who hate non-minorities and the bleeding-heart liberals who won't take the time to analyse the case. Instead, they ANAL-ize it,like you have. So you wonder why your site is going nowhere? When you are bankrupt and homeless, I wonder if you will think back to your short-sided and hateful comments you make against those who disagree with your myopic worldview. OVER AND OUT.

A 17 year old is a kid, you can't beat them and you can't have sex with them if you are an adult. There are no exceptions to the rule. Remember that kid was minding his own business, Zimmerman messed with him, got his ass kicked and then he got a gun and took revenge and you are an advocate for murdering children, we understand, stop putting relentless comments on this story.

Anonymous July 16, 2013 12:51 pm (Pacific time)

You are so full of bias, Tim.

The 17-year old was not a "kid", as he was old enough to go into the military and fight for our country! He showed by his actions that he was old enough to fight and HE threw the first punch. You will never see this for anything other than what your small world view really is, and you won't take the time to read the transcript. Trayvon committed felonious assault. He did not mind his own business. Go ahead and call Zimmerman a murderer on your site. I dare you. And Sanford is NOT considered the "DEEP SOUTH" as Orlando has none of the culture of the South. No one lived here until 50 years ago, so the history of slavery has no hold here. If you would even listen to why the jurors made their decision, you might actually give THEM some respect. Three wanted to go for murder, but after considering the evidence presented, that was heavily slanted against Zimmerman, they just could not make a finding of guilty. Your slant makes you so unprofessional as a journalist. Go ahead. I dare you to call Zimmerman a racist murderer.

Sanford is the deep south, Florida is the deep south. I am not going to keep arguing with you here. I am allowing your comments to post, be glad for that.

Deadblackkid July 16, 2013 5:31 am (Pacific time)

Had a not been tresspassing I might be alive, had my mother not failed me I might be alive, had my father not failed me I might be alive, had a not attacked and armed white man I might be alive,

Anonymous July 16, 2013 3:16 am (Pacific time)

If you want to report real news, what about the racial violence that took a man's life? On Aug. 11, six Black teenagers attacked and beat Pat Mahaney, as the (White) 45-year-old was returning home with a six-pack of beer, North College Hill Police Chief Gary Foust said. wlwt.com/news . Some of the teens had prior arrest records. "Authorities say the Cincinnati-area man who was badly beaten by six teens almost a year ago in a Cincinnati suburb has died. Pat Mahaney, 46, died yesterday in the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, said Julie Wilson, spokeswoman for the Hamilton County prosecutor’s office. The six teens, all 13 or 14, injured Mahaney in August and told police they did it because they were bored and looking for something to do. Wilson said Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters has asked the coroner for an autopsy. Three of the youths have pleaded guilty to felonious assault. Wilson would not elaborate on whether the office will seek additional charges against the teens. She said the office will describe its “next steps, if any,” after the coroner issues a report."

Anonymous July 16, 2013 2:52 am (Pacific time)

Trayvon was not "minding his own business". The testimony was that Zimmerman was concerned and stopped his trip to Target because he saw Trayvon walking between houses in an area he had no right to be and then was looking into the houses as he walked slowly by them. Again READ the transcripts or WATCH the trial if you want to be informed. Taking OTHER peoples' comments and thoughts will always make you appear ignorant. If Trayvon HAD minded his own business, he would NOT have attacked Zimmerman. A jury of his peers has spoken, Zimmerman was not guilty of any crime. Trayvon, had be survived, would have been charged and been found guilty of felonious assault. He beat an innocent man with the intent to cause great bodily harm. THAT is what the jury decided. Anything else you write is merely rhetoric.

Nope, the kid was minding his own business, talking on the phone, you are wrong.

Anonymous July 16, 2013 2:48 am (Pacific time)

With the acquittal, there are attacks on innocent White people in L.A. Is THAT not racist, plain and simple? Open season an Blacks? Will the DOJ charge these criminals with hate crimes?

Anonymous July 16, 2013 2:41 am (Pacific time)

The juror said she didn’t think Martin’s race was the reason that Zimmerman followed him on a dark, rainy night. She said she also believed Martin threw the first punch and that Zimmerman, whom she referred to as ‘‘George,’’ had a right to defend himself.

‘‘I have no doubt George feared for his life in the situation he was in at the time,’’ the juror said.

Emmett Till was murdered and the jury found the racist murderers of that boy innocent, so I don't think we can have faith in the fairness of a Soiuthern jury in this case.

Anonymous July 16, 2013 2:41 am (Pacific time)

Juror B37, the only juror to speak publicly about the case so far, said Monday that the actions of Zimmerman and Martin both led to the teenager’s fatal shooting, but that Zimmerman didn’t actually break the law. While Zimmerman made some poor decisions leading up to the shooting, including leaving his car when police told him not to, Martin wasn’t innocent either, the juror said. ‘‘I think both were responsible for the situation they had gotten themselves into,’’ said the juror. ‘‘I think they both could have walked away.’’

Anonymous July 16, 2013 2:35 am (Pacific time)

I like how you contort what is said into not having sympathy for Trayvon. Is this how you live your life, making judgments on others? Where did I say I endorsed the shooting? Do you always put words into others' mouths to make you feel better about yourself? I think you need to see a mental health expert yourself.

pinkfloyd July 15, 2013 7:54 pm (Pacific time)

The only ones I see promoting racism is the obama administration and the mainstream media.

Anonymous July 15, 2013 6:59 pm (Pacific time)

Tim, this kid was not killed because of his race. HE attacked an innocent civilian and brutally assaulted him and was killed in self defense. THOSE are the facts of the case. Turning this into a race issue is disingenuous and reflects pandering to the racists who cannot see the facts for what they are. You clearly did NOT watch the trial and are basing YOUR beliefs on what others are writing. Get with the program and take the time to find the facts of the case and not the racial undertones you want to see. Zimmerman was a part-Peruvian and part White and 1/8th Black individual who mentored Black kids and was raised with some Blacks. To call him a racist or this a race issue smells like shit.

That kid was minding his own business and that is all. None of it needed to happen, it was wrong and your lack of sympathy is just amazing, anyone who endorses the shooting death of a child needs to have their head examined.

Anonymous July 15, 2013 6:36 pm (Pacific time)

Maybe you should recognize that people like me, who have studied this case, and can write intelligently about is, should at least be able to write without being attacked in such a rude and condescending manner. I see that you get hardly any comments any more. Perhaps you scare off your reader base by your worthless attacks? If you don't like what I have to say, delete the comments without retort and I will stop reading your site. I don't care. I was trying to share honest evaluations and meaningful dialogue. If you think you are better than me, keep your blinders on.

pinkfloyd July 15, 2013 5:25 pm (Pacific time)

And while being distracted with this fiasco: 1. Russia and israel fighting.. 2. the bond market is collapsing. 3. obama sings more laws bringing on martial law, 4. western backed rebels in Syria and Egypt are now fighting amongst themselves. 5. 250,000 full time jobs lost, but because part-time jobs were added the MSM calls it a good thing. 6. Oil is now $106 a barrel, which mean $4 dollars a gallon minimum within days. I have 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 etc, but I think you get the point.

Anonymous July 15, 2013 5:17 pm (Pacific time)

It's becoming clearer every year that the only thing keeping Al Sharpton relevant is Al Sharpton making up bogus claims of racism. Despite George Zimmerman being acquitted on murder and manslaughter charges by a jury of his peers and despite zero evidence in his trial showing racial bias, Sharpton is planning protests in 100 cities this weekend. Only racists can be "race baited". Point of fact, whenever I hear the words "race baiting" I'm reminded of the old adage "he who barks loudest..." and all that. You guys are making this matter into one of race, where it should not have anything to do with race, only character.

Anonymous July 15, 2013 4:46 pm (Pacific time)

Is this Tim King writing in support of what Gary Younge wrote?

Maybe you should recognize that people like me, who have studied this case, and can write intelligently about is, should at least be able to write without being attacked in such a rude and condescending manner. I see that you get hardly any comments any more. Perhaps you scare off your reader base by your worthless attacks? If you don't like what I have to say, delete the comments without retort and I will stop reading your site. I don't care. I was trying to share honest evaluations and meaningful dialogue. If you think you are better than me, then go on your bike ride and keep your blinders on.

Yes this is Tim King, glad you clarified that you are not a racist, your description of the young man sure reads racist to me, but glad you clarified. I just see sad reasoning to justify murdering a kid because he didn't "look right" or because something he did in a picture rings of crime. This race was "owned" just more than 150 years ago. What happened reminds me once again that my country is racist to the core.

Anonymous July 15, 2013 4:38 pm (Pacific time)

I, too, am a father and care about kids, so your rant about that shows that YOU have the problem. I am not racist, and your drivel about such shows your immaturity. I mentioned NOTHING about race. You reading something into my comments makes YOU the racist. I mentioned FACTS. You respond with attitude and shows that you are not a journalist, but an instigator. I mentioned nothing about being afraid of Black people. Again, your lame attempt to support your racist attitudes. Are you going to step up and act like a mature adult, or continue to argue via ad hominem attacks? Everything I wrote is a documented FACT. If you think there is a race issue, then those are the facts of the case. You guys are sad.

pinkfloyd July 15, 2013 4:27 pm (Pacific time)

This is a common tactic from those in control..get us fighting amongst ourselves, so that they can continue to rape us of our liberties, freedoms, and finances. They do the same thing in the Middle East, getting people to fight amongst themselves. If people want to fall for this, and continue to be a guinea pig of the globalists, then go for it. 1. Over 500 people killed in Chicago this year, some of which were 15 years old. But they dont talk about that, because it would expose the failure on the war on drugs, and the pay for profit prison industry, and the total failure of gun control. 2. What the heck is a "white hispanic"? Did they just make that up? Is obama/barry soretoro a white negro? 3. Why dont we hear about the prisons being filled with blacks? 4.Why dont we hear about the open borders bringing drug gangs in and fighting with the blacks? 5. I could do this all day long. This is set up by those in control to get us fighting amongst each other, while they rape us... If you like being a guinea pig, enjoy. As for me, I will stick with being a caring, loving and learned human being.

Anonymous July 15, 2013 3:00 pm (Pacific time)

Why don't you post the pictures of the 17-year old football player who was strong rather than the little kid picture? You think you are doing you readers any service by this? Why not show the pictures of him holding his gun? The picture of him getting high? The picture of him flashing gang signs? The messages about making "lean". What about the evidence that his Watermelon drink and Skittles was something he mixed with prescription medicine to get high because it could not be detected in a drug test? How about the pictures of him showing off his "grill" teeth that gangbangers are so proud of? Trayvon was a tough gangsta who was honing his skills in a beat down that night, and he was unfortunate to be up against an adult who was trying to make his neighborhood a safer place.

You know, I'm a father, I care about kids, I despise your pathetic racism and I find it laughable, little anon writer so scared of Black people because you live by fear and fear alone. I think these comments opposing an innocent youth shot to death by a screaming idiot to be among the most low life drivel I have ever read. I would suggest that you get a life but I don't see it happening.

Anonymous July 15, 2013 2:55 pm (Pacific time)

Don't forget the 10,000 text messages and pictures from Trayvon's phone that were withheld from the defense in an illegal manner because they showed just what an "angel" this young gangbanger thug really was. He was a violent thief who decided that he needed the street cred of beating the Neighborhood Watch volunteer. He decided to strut around the car, reaching into his OWN waistband as if to indicate that he was armed. Then he ran off and stood in wait until Zimmerman got OFF the phone with 911 before he decided to pounce. He was a thug.

Anonymous July 15, 2013 11:34 am (Pacific time)

The Editor made a mistake re-publishing this on your blog. Clearly, you did not watch the entire trial and/or you do not have an understanding of the legal system. You also do not know who Trayvon was, He was a drug dealing, fighter and was found with stolen jewelry and burglary tools on his person just a week prior to his killing. It was TRAYVON who attacked Zimmerman. Trayvon has a twitter account "No Limits Nigga" and his brother asked him to show how to properly fight MMA-style because he knew how to "pound and ground." If Zimmerman were a 65-year old lady, no one would think that she should undergo such a brutal beating that could lead to death. Trayvon knew that a single good punch could actually kill. He also told Zimmerman "You are going to die tonight, Motherfucker." It is so sad that Salem-News has published this garbage. Personnel in the police and prosecutor's office had to be reassigned in order to line up employees who would prosecute the case. Those moved out of the way knew there wasn't a case there worthy of prosecution, and at least two have been fired.

Anonymous July 14, 2013 10:03 pm (Pacific time)

IT WAS A CLASSIC SELF DEFENSE CASE. HOW DID YOU ASSESS OJ KILLINGS? WHITE PEOPLE RIOT? THE VERDICT WAS A LEGAL STATE OF MIND CONCLUSION.

pinkfloyd July 14, 2013 4:31 pm (Pacific time)

I read, even from government statistics, that blacks kill blacks 94% of the time. I wasnt there so I dont know what happened, but articles such as this promote racial divide, and I would hope that salem-news would delete this article and move on to other things. The picture attached is totally misleading, and the facts show nothing but making more racial divide. There were 26 murders in Chicago last week, and Chicago is a no gun zone. Yes, 28 murders last week in Chicago, but nothing is said about it. This entire fiasco was promoted by the obama admin and the main stream media to promote racial division to cover up for the other atrocities and lies that both obama and MSM promote. My condolences go out to the family, but I just lost a step daughter this week. 10 years I was with her, and loved her dearly. She was 17 years old. My wife will never be the same. So, I lost a daughter and a wife in one day. I blame it on social media. I will write more about that later, I need to go rest, I am tired.

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Open Season on Black Boys After a Verdict Like This

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