The verdict in the Zimmerman case is a terrifying statement for anyone who is a person of color.

[stevenleser]

The verdict in the Zimmerman case is a terrifying statement for anyone who is a person of color. If you look like "the other" walking through a neighborhood, you are taking your life into your hands.

I stand with the NAACP in their efforts to get the justice department to file Federal Civil Rights charges against Zimmerman. Perhaps that can provide some justice as it did in the Rodney King case some 20 years ago.

[hlthe2b]

1. Especially persons of color, but not only persons of color. It seems Florida has legalized murder.

[jmg257]

2. And a terrfying statement

Last edited Tue Jul 16, 2013, 12:42 PM - Edit history (1)

[YarnAddict]

12. Part of the reason for the verdict, though

Is that there was no evidence that Trayvon was "forced" into a confrontation. It may have appeared to the jury that Trayvon did have plenty of time to get home and avoid the confrontation. They must have believed that Trayvon turned back and became the aggressor. Right or wrong, the prosecution presented no evidence to contradict Z's version of events.

[rurallib]

15. ever been followed?

maybe the jury supposedly believed it.
GZ started the whole confrontation. As such whatever happened after should have been his fault

[YarnAddict]

17. Under the law

the confrontation began when one person put his hands on the other. It isn't against the law to follow someone, but it is against the law to grab, punch, or whatever. There were no witnesses as to who first touched the other. In the absence of any evidence that Z touched Trayvon first, the jury came to the decision they made.

Can't say I've ever been followed, but I know that if I was, I wouldn't turn and fight; I would get the hell out of there as fast as I could. (But I'm a 57-year old woman, and not a 17-year old young man.)

[rurallib]

19. but when you can't get away your best hope

is a surprise attack on your pursuer.

[YarnAddict]

20. Yes.

and if I were confronted and couldn't get away, I would fight with everything I had. but my #1 response would be to run for my life.

[MH1]

3. Exactly my feelings. What a horrible country this can be for a person of color.

I'm sure that some people of color who are born to privilege (thankfully we've made the small step forward that it is at least possible now) probably don't have this fear.

But for the majority, the vast majority, I think, you must live every day in fear of some situation like this, or being profiled by the cops and busted for something an average white kid would never get busted for even if they were caught.

I am white, but I HATE THIS.

[CanonRay]

4. Florida is now a "shoot first" state

that's what stand your ground really means. Honestly, if I were living in Florida and black, I'd get a gun. It's open season on blacks, and every redneck knows it.

[Progressive dog]

5. Move on petition to DOJ

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/open-a-civil-rights-case?source=mo&id=71224-20078295-BWQ5lvx|

[allin99]

6. that statement has been there, it is unfortunately not surprising.

[cbdo2007]

7. It is terrifying for all of us. We all could wind up with someone else's bullet in us someday.

Just wait until the Govt uses "Stand your ground" against the masses.

[CrispyQ]

8. This is a bad precedent to set, for everyone.

There will be more SYG laws in other states. There are too many macho men with a chip on their shoulder & something to prove. Next it will be rape. Some guy will try to rape a woman, she will resist, he will kill her & get off on SYG. Sounds unlikely? Who thought an armed man could stalk an unarmed teenager, kill him & get away with it?

I am sickened by the verdict. I can hardly concentrate today for the anger.

My heart goes out to TM's family & friends.

[arcane1]

9. And if someone starts harassing you and trying to provoke you, you can't stand up for yourself

Doing so would risk "justifiable" death.

[etherealtruth]

11. Exaclty

Especially if you are a person of color or a person marginalized by society

[YarnAddict]

13. Harassing and provoking are not crimes,

and it probably is best not to stand up for yourself, given just those circumstances. Especially since you never know when someone has a concealed carry permit.

[rurallib]

16. I remember these tactics from my youth

a crowd harasses a black person. Black person reacts. Now a beating or a lynching is justified.
I once thought all this was behind us, but thanks to Nixon and the southern strategy the Dixiecrat party lives.

[Baitball Blogger]

10. If you understood the kind of things that they get away with in this county,

you would understand why that verdict would not have been a surprise. People just want to look away from the mundane things that a racist county does everyday, laughing it off as good ole boy nonsense, and then when something really heinous happens they can't understand why things did not follow the course it would have followed if things were Constitutionally in line with the rest of the nation.

Well, here's a clue: Seminole County is not Constitutionally in line with the rest of the nation on everything else it does. Why would you be surprised that it wouldn't be in line Constitutionally, on everything else that matters?

Yes, it sadly, will take the NAACP and every other Civil Rights group in the area to shed some light on what is going on here, because everyone else has given them a pass.

[Ilsa]

14. Or GLBT persons, if they are out or look

different, as some transexuals might early in the process.

[justiceischeap]

18. It's not just persons of color that this effects

Though they are more obvious but this effects any group that people consider "less than." Immigrants, LGBT, hell, even women. It also sends the message that if someone attacks you, you can't defend yourself.