Unarmed black 17 year old shot by Neighborhood watch captain in gated community...

[umbrella39]

I asked the same earlier. Also I'd like to know why he was suspended from school for a week.

Being tardy too many times. The school already answered it very early in this case to stop the inane speculation and diversions...

 

[micrometers]

I don't know that he said "coons," though I do think that is a reasonable interpretation. That being said, your defense of him seems disingenuous to me. He was not in a "conflict" - he was just following a teenager walking in the rain. To the extent this was a particularly stressful situation, it was because he had, in his head, turned it into a threatening one.

He was obviously stressed about this suspicious person, who we now know is innocent but at the time he didn't know that.

 

[soundforbjt]

I asked the same earlier. Also I'd like to know why he was suspended from school for a week.

He was suspended for multiple tardiness. Not anything violent.

 

[umbrella39]

It does matter. This kid is being accused of being some thug, or at least looking suspicious which led to the neighborhood watch guy confronting him.

The fact that there are NO current pictures make me believe some of these accusations of him being a thug could be true, and that someone (media, family, whoever) are witholding them because of that.

Personally, it makes me assume that there are no 'media presentable' pics of the kid.

 

[Capt Caveman]

It does matter. This kid is being accused of being some thug, or at least looking suspicious which led to the neighborhood watch guy confronting him.

The fact that there are NO current pictures make me believe some of these accusations of him being a thug could be true, and that someone (media, family, whoever) are witholding them because of that.

Personally, it makes me assume that there are no 'media presentable' pics of the kid.

Wow

 

[M0RPH]

That doesn't matter. There are people who get suspended from school for a week for wearing funny costumes at football games.

Never mind, I got my answer.

 

[micrometers]

It does matter. Maybe the kid has a history of violence or being confrontational with authority. People are using Z's back history to make judgements about him, why would you not want to know about the kid?

All I am saying is that 5/10 day suspension is not automatically violent or criminal. He has no juvie record. 5/10 day suspensions get meted out for stupid pranks all the time.

 

[soundforbjt]

It does matter. This kid is being accused of being some thug, or at least looking suspicious which led to the neighborhood watch guy confronting him.

The fact that there are NO current pictures make me believe some of these accusations of him being a thug could be true, and that someone (media, family, whoever) are witholding them because of that.

Personally, it makes me assume that there are no 'media presentable' pics of the kid.

To someone who has racist tendencies, all black teens look like thugs. The only picture of the shooter is 7 years old.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Please elaborate on this.

 

[waggy]

It does matter. Maybe the kid has a history of violence or being confrontational with authority. People are using Z's back history to make judgements about him, why would you not want to know about the kid?

and maybe you should read the thread or even a article. its been mentioned a LOT. he was suspended for being tardy

sheesh.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

He was obviously stressed about this suspicious person, who we now know is innocent but at the time he didn't know that.

I don't see how that would excuse calling black people "coons," if he did (as I wrote, it is not clear to me that he did). If he used the word "coons" it would fundamentally change my perspective on the case - other than that I have no reason to believe his behavior was motivated by racism, but "coons" would change my mind in that respect.

 

[Dulanic]

Why the fuck is anyone even argueing about his school suspension. What do you think this tool went and pulled his school records before he followed and shot him?

 

[micrometers]

I don't see how that would excuse calling black people "coons," if he did (as I wrote, it is not clear to me that he did). If he used the word "coons" it would fundamentally change my perspective on the case - other than that I have no reason to believe his behavior was motivated by racism, but "coons" would change my mind in that respect.

IIRC, there have been many cases where someone tried to hold up usage of a slur as evidence of a hate crime, and that wasn't granted since a slur might be uttered in the heat of the moment.

 

[M0RPH]

Why the fuck is anyone even argueing about his school suspension. What do you think this tool went and pulled his school records before he followed and shot him?

No, but I'm trying to figure out how someone coming up to you and asking your name and why you are here turns into a knockdown brawl and shooting.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Why the fuck is anyone even argueing about his school suspension. What do you think this tool went and pulled his school records before he followed and shot him?

B/c skittles and ice tea can be used as a dangerous weapon.

 

[Ausm]

Why the fuck is anyone even argueing about his school suspension. What do you think this tool went and pulled his school records before he followed and shot him?

It's a veiled attempt by the Rabid right to vindicate the lax gun laws in that State lobbied for by the NRA.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

IIRC, there have been many cases where someone tried to hold up usage of a slur as evidence of a hate crime, and that wasn't granted since a slur might be uttered in the heat of the moment.

I don't know what you mean by "wasn't granted" in this context, and I suspect you may not either. His use of a racial slur (if it occurred) would certainly be admissible as evidence that his actions were motivated by racial prejudice. That doesn't necessarily mean he would be convicted, but "coons" alone would be enough to lay it over for trial in my opinion.

 

[soundforbjt]

Why the fuck is anyone even argueing about his school suspension. What do you think this tool went and pulled his school records before he followed and shot him?

They are wishing for him to have a violent past to help their case for Z. Thet want him to" look scary". Remember this kid was 140lbs and his pursuer was 250lbs. Have to make look him "scary" somehow.

 

[umbrella39]

No, but I'm trying to figure out how someone coming up to you and asking your name and why you are here turns into a knockdown brawl and shooting.

Do you need me to link you Zimmermans 911 call? He was chasing the kid through the streets at night with a loaded gun before ever saying one word to the kid, just following him slowly in his vehicle... when the kid ran, Z exited and a foot chase ensued. He did not kindly walk up to him and ask him his name. Where are you hearing this account?

 

[M0RPH]

People want to say that J was afraid for his safety because some stranger was coming after him. But that really doesn't mesh with the account of the girl on the phone. If a bad guy is coming after you, they are gonna jump you @ass. They are not gonna stop and ask, 'what's your name and why are you here?'

 

[rchiu]

No, but I'm trying to figure out how someone coming up to you and asking your name and why you are here turns into a knockdown brawl and shooting.

Why because the neighborhood watch guy is suppose to just contact police and let people with the experience and the authority to confront any suspect. And because he freaking carries gun doing things he is not authorized, experienced and trained to do.

 

[alien42]

No, but I'm trying to figure out how someone coming up to you and asking your name and why you are here turns into a knockdown brawl and shooting.

is there a reason you are leaving out the part where an armed Zimmerman followed the kid both in a car and on foot?

if someone did that to you at night, you would be scared shitless.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

People want to say that J was afraid for his safety because some stranger was coming after him. But that really doesn't mesh with the account of the girl on the phone. If a bad guy is coming after you, they are gonna jump you @ass. They are not gonna stop and ask, 'what's your name and why are you here?'

Trayvon never mentions Z having a gun during the conversation either. Sorta goes against the chasing him all over the neighborhood with a loaded gun.

 

[Capt Caveman]

People want to say that J was afraid for his safety because some stranger was coming after him. But that really doesn't mesh with the account of the girl on the phone. If a bad guy is coming after you, they are gonna jump you @ass. They are not gonna stop and ask, 'what's your name and why are you here?'

Link to this is what Zimmerman said?

 

[micrometers]

I don't know what you mean by "wasn't granted" in this context, and I suspect you may not either. His use of a racial slur (if it occurred) would certainly be admissible as evidence that his actions were motivated by racial prejudice. That doesn't necessarily mean he would be convicted, but "coons" alone would be enough to lay it over for trial in my opinion.

slur =/= hate crime.

Pretend that...you get in a bar fight with a minority guy. You're fighting over a girl. He punches you. You get mad. You insult him.

The fight is over a girl. You do not target the other guy because he is a minority. But once you find yourself in conflict with a minority, in your anger you might slip some trash talk. in this case, the trash talk is incidental to the conflict.

Now, in this case, I don't really believe Z is racist because he chooses to live in a racially mixed neighborhood and he has many black relatives that he likely interacts with at family gatherings.