The Department Of Justice announced today that it will not be pursuing charges against George Zimmerman in connection to the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. One juror, who was the only minority on an all female jury, had this to say,
“You can’t put the man in jail even though in our hearts we felt he was guilty, but we had to grab our hearts and put it aside and look at the evidence.”
The Shooting took place almost two years ago on the night of February 26, 2012. The case against Zimmerman was riddled with conflicting witness statements and inconclusive evidence, not to mention Zimmerman’s account, which left many people suspicious of his guilt. George Zimmerman told police that while Martin emerged from the dark while he was walking back to his truck, Martin struck Zimmerman and then got on top of him. Martin began slamming Zimmerman’s head against the pavement. According to Zimmerman, Martin spoke to him during the assault saying,
“You’re going to die tonight.”
Indeed listening to Zimmerman’s account, Martin seemed like a demon thug emerging from the darkness and attacking him without reason or warning. Indeed if there was an account that would justify self-defense, Zimmerman’s heroic tale of survival would certainly do the trick.
Let’s forget for a second that between Zimmerman and Martin, only Zimmerman actually had a criminal record — a criminal past which included arrests for domestic violence and assaulting a police officer. He was also fired from his security job for being “too aggressive”. You can also look at his anger management issues after the shooting. Meanwhile Martin, is apparently a “thug” because of his Facebook and twitter accounts. As we all know, being a tough guy on the internet automatically translates to real life.
And then there is the issue of the “injuries” Zimmerman sustained during the confrontation. Zimmerman claimed Martin had slammed his head against the pavement during the struggle, several times. Yet the pictures of Zimmerman’s injuries do not seem to coincide with trauma caused by blunt force. Whenever someone has a blunt force injury to the soft tissue on the back of the skull, there is usually one or more large bumps known as contusions left in the area.
Take a look at this photo taken of Zimmerman’s injuries. Injuries which the? former Boone County medical examiner, Dr. Valerie Rao, called? “insignificant” on the witness stand.? Then there is the fact that Zimmerman refused to go to the hospital the night of the incident and the next day doctors found no symptoms of a concussion, however they did recommend a psychiatric evaluation. Advice which Zimmerman also refused.
Here is the partial transcript and the full audio of Zimmerman’s 911 call.
Dispatcher
Sanford Police Department.
Zimmerman
Hey we’ve had some break-ins in my neighborhood, and there’s a real suspicious guy, uh, it’s Retreat View Circle, um, the best address I can give you is 111 Retreat View Circle. This guy looks like he’s up to no good, or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.
Dispatcher
OK, and this guy is he white, black, or Hispanic?
Zimmerman
He looks black.
Dispatcher
Did you see what he was wearing?
Zimmerman
Yeah. A dark hoodie, like a grey hoodie, and either jeans or sweatpants and white tennis shoes. He’s here now, he was just staring.
Dispatcher
OK, he’s just walking around the area?
Zimmerman
looking at all the houses.
Dispatcher
OK?
Zimmerman
Now he’s just staring at me.
Dispatcher
OK-you said it’s 1111 Retreat View? Or 111?
Zimmerman
That’s the clubhouse?
Dispatcher
That’s the clubhouse, do you know what the-he’s near the clubhouse right now?
Dispatcher
How old would you say he looks?
Zimmerman
He’s got button on his shirt, late teens.
Dispatcher
Late teens. Ok.
Zimmerman
Somethings wrong with him. Yup, he’s coming to check me out, he’s got something in his hands, I don’t know what his deal is.
Dispatcher
Just let me know if he does anything, ok?
Zimmerman
(unclear) See if you can get an officer over here.
Dispatcher
Yeah we’ve got someone on the way, just let me know if this guy does anything else.
Zimmerman
Okay. These (expletive) they always get away. Yep. When you come to the clubhouse you come straight in and make a left. Actually you would go past the clubhouse.
Dispatcher
So it’s on the lefthand side from the clubhouse?
Zimmerman
No you go in straight through the entrance and then you make a left, uh, you go straight in, don’t turn, and make a left. (expletive) he’s running.
Dispatcher
He’s running? Which way is he running?
Ambient sounds are heard which may be Zimmerman unbuckling his seat belt and his vehicle’s “open door” chime sounding. The change in his voice and the sound of wind against his cell phone mic indicate that he has left his vehicle and is now walking. The dispatcher seems to pick up on these changes and sounds concerned when he later asks Zimmerman if he is following Martin.
Zimmerman
Down towards the other entrance to the neighborhood.
Dispatcher
Which entrance is that that he’s heading towards?
Zimmerman
The back entrance?(expletive)(unclear)
This section of the recording has been the subject of much speculation. Some suggest that Zimmerman has just made a racial slur, but the audio is not clear.
Dispatcher
Are you following him?
Zimmerman
Yeah.
Dispatcher
Ok, we don’t need you to do that.
Zimmerman
Ok.
Dispatcher
Alright sir what is your name?
Zimmerman
George?He ran.
OK let’s stop there. In the audio tape, you can hear George Zimmerman speaking as though he had been running and slightly out of breath. Many people, including myself, believe Zimmerman actually chased Martin that night. This would constitute in any reasonable person’s mind a “hostile action” — that is unless you like being chased by strangers.
This case will probably divide Americans for decades to come, much like the Michael Brown case, and the Eric Garner case. What the Zimmerman case really highlights is the conscious and unconscious racism inherent in our society when it comes to certain groups of people. Many people said Trayvon was lost, a thug, a no good punk kid, a waste of life destined to wind up in jail or worse. I’m sure those people would have said the same of Judge Greg Mathis when he was around Trayvon’s age.
I want to leave you with some quotes as well as a video from from Judge Mathis about this case and Black American’s social conditions,
?To all the folks living in poverty and drug and crime-infested communities, that was me as well, so I have lived all the lives of the people who come before me,? Mathis told theGrio. ?I can relate to them. I can speak their language. ?
?You know we talk about the criminal justice system and in many ways I think it is criminal in and of itself,? he said. ?Being from the inside and the outside, I have the observation that the justice system, throughout our journey, has been used as a tool of oppression.?
?I believe that [Martin] was stalked and murdered and the type of murder I believe was manslaughter,? Mathis told theGrio. ?My observation is that Zimmerman was guilty of first-degree murder, I believe he was guilty of manslaughter and that is the use of a weapon resulting in the death of Trayvon Martin ? and he had no legitimate self-defense claim. That’s my assessment.?
