Zimmerman heard to be using racial slur on 911 tape

[HipChick]

At 2:21, he can be heard to say "Fuckin Coons" -I am sure someone will still say that this is not racial..

&feature=player_embedded

[hexola]

1. Well, obviously you havent heard about Florida's Raccoon Problem...nt

[baldguy]

5. Raccoons in hoodies carrying skiddles. They always get away.

BIG problem

[eridani]

129. But they were just responsibly sorting recyclables!

[HipChick]

7. Really? someone can find the murder of a child a joke?

[jeff47]

48. One can not be serious 100% of the time. (nt)

[Zalatix]

90. Are you counting the murder of a child among those times when we shouldn't be serious?

Please tell me I'm reading you wrong.

[jeff47]

99. No, the claims of racists is when one shouldn't be serious.

And more to the point, there's lots of times where humor will get your point across far better than rigid seriousness.

[Zalatix]

102. I feel the time for humor is past, when it comes to Zimmerman.

He crossed the line with premeditated murder. Now it's time for him to be locked away, forever.

[jeff47]

103. And how many people "on the fence" do you think you'd reach with that statement?

vs. the Raccoon comment that started this sub-thread? That silly comment demonstrates the absurdity of Zimmerman's position and provides an opening to people who are otherwise not following it.

Seriousness works great when everyone's already on the same page. Silliness is one way to open a door to a wider group of people.

[SemperEadem]

132. the joke bombed

it's too soon to try your hand at standup with this subject.

[jeff47]

134. For you. You aren't everyone. (nt)

[SemperEadem]

136. never said I was

that's non sequitur...

[jeff47]

137. Not when you're claiming the joke "bombed"

That means the vast majority didn't get it or didn't like it. And while there's a couple people complaining about it, there's also a couple people saying it was funny.

Your declaration of "bombing" is based only on your response.

[Honeycombe8]

139. I wouldn't say he was a child. He was a minor, a teen, but "child" usu. means

before puberty.

Awful, tragic, sad, needless, and all those things. But saying he was a child comes off as trying to push for a little more sympathy, when there's no need. It's plenty sympathetic, as is.

[uponit7771]

21. lol...needed that

[stonecutter357]

41. creepy

POS

[WI_DEM]

2. It's a crime that Zimmerman has not been arrested for murder.

[duhneece]

35. That's what I say, too

First, Zimmerman. Then the police chief.

[BootinUp]

3. Well ok, I'll try

you know maybe some raccoons were getting it on in somebody's yard there, and he was just very upset about that. Ok thats probably not it. hmmm

[cali]

4. whoa. that's pretty damned clear.

[unapatriciated]

16. It is very clear.

I had heard it loud and clear earlier this morning, when it was pointed out. Yet did not pick it up the first time I heard that tape.

[dipsydoodle]

6. rec'd for posting

.

[tosh]

17. Another rec.

Thanks for posting this, HipChick.

[Cirque du So-What]

8. The dispatcher said 'sir, you don't need to be saying things like that,' or something very close

immediately after Zimmerman utters the racial epithet. Also worthy of note is that very early in the conversation, the dispatcher asked if the 'suspect' was black or Hispanic...WTF?!?

[HipChick]

13. Apparently Asians don't commit crimes..

White,Black or Hispanics was all the dispatcher asked about

[thesquanderer]

28. That could be demographics, not bias

Sanford FL only has 611 Asians out of a population of 77,853.

White = 34,776
Black = 15,624
Hispanic = 4,651

The dispatcher didn't ask if it was one of the 254 Indians, either.

[Hissyspit]

20. The dispatcher says he doesn't need to follow him.

[intheflow]

81. That's SOP.

If the cops show up to investigate, it'll help them narrow down any people they see out and about. That's not a racially motivated question, it's a logical one in the course of an investigation.

Not that these cops did much investigating.

[Number23]

131. He says "black, white or Hispanic." He lists all three

And the dispatcher doesn't admonish him for saying a racial epithet. He simply asks "are you following him?" and when Z says yes, he tells he doesn't need to do that.

[Honeycombe8]

140. I can understand for a racial description, since it'd help police know the guy,

when they located him. Hispanic I'm not so sure about, though, since that's not always obvious. Unless in that area most of them have a distinctive look, meaning their ancestry is from some country where there is another race involved, like indian or whatever.

But identifying a guy's race seems okay, whether white or black or Asian or whatever, since it helps with identification. Along with height, what he was wearing, hair color, etc. I think Zimmerman described what he was wearing.

Ironic that Zimmerman is hispanic, himself.

[leveymg]

9. Recced for visibility. The local police chief should be arrested for negligence and accessory

If the local cop really thinks this murder is okay, he should be put on trial as an accessory after the fact.

[trumad]

10. I didn't hear it.

where in the tape?

[cali]

12. 2:21

and it's definitely audible and hard to imagine it's anything but the slur described.

[bluecoat_fan]

14. yep, this is premeditated murder.

[leveymg]

24. I also hear "f-cking c--ns" muttered @ 2:21. The dispatcher then tells him not to follow.

For me, the worst part is not on this tape segment. It's the piercing scream the victim cries out immediately before he's shot dead by this lunatic.

[trumad]

25. Thanks

Played it several times---

YEP--- low voice, out of breath---but it is there.

WOW!

[maddezmom]

38. yup, I heard it

very breathy but still very clear.

[Pachamama]

46. Heard it too....whispered, under the breath but very clear that is what he said....

I cant imagine any jury listening to that and with the background noise filtered out for them wont hear it even clearer....

He was not referring to a Raccoon problem....

There more I hear and more details coming out, there is no question that this was a race hate crime.

[madaboutharry]

45. That is absolutely what he said.

It is clear. Further, the tape can be enhanced so that it will be even clearer.

[Comrade Grumpy]

65. It could be either "fuckin' coons" or "fuckin' punks" as far as I can tell.

Doesn't make what Zimmerman did any more defensible, though.

[ellisonz]

84. It's clearly the former...

[Hissyspit]

93. No, it's not clear.

I've listened to it about 40 times now without headphones, and with two different sets of headphones. It sounds like "punks" to me.

[ellisonz]

94. On second listen maybe...

...still I'd like to hear the 40 odd other calls this guy made.

[unapatriciated]

18. because Zimmerman is running & breathing heavy, it is muttered in a low voice. You miss it at first.

It becomes very clear once you know what you are listening for.

[Hissyspit]

22. It is whispered.

Last edited Tue Mar 20, 2012, 12:33 PM - Edit history (1)

Assuming this is not doctored audio, it's clear he says " fucking" and then something else, even though it is under his breath.

[rurallib]

37. I couldn't hear it either

sounded more like heavy breaths.
But my hearing is fading and I have trouble picking out words in noise anymore.

[XanaDUer]

96. Zimmerman drops his voice when he

Mutters it but I heard it, too. I hope the Feds can enhance the tape.

[MoonRiver]

11. Wow!

Obviously there's no justice in FL. But it looks like the feds are getting into this. That call may just fry Zimmerma's arse for racial profiling.

[a kennedy]

15. It's a hate crime....

arrest and charge him with murder, period.

[DLevine]

19. Zimmerman was a ticking time bomb.

I hope he doesn't get away with this obvious hate crime. And the cops need to be held accountable as well.

[uponit7771]

23. Yeap, it's racial...it's a hate crime...why wasn't this guy arrested?

[ScreamingMeemie]

26. Why the HELL is this dispatcher working with the murderer?

As in "Could you have them call me when they get here?"---- "Yeah, we can do that..."

This dispatcher should have shut the murderer down right away.

[leveymg]

29. Dispatcher told Zimmerman not to follow after the racial slur at 2:21

Zimmerman: (racial slur)

Dispatcher: "Are you following him? Okay, we don't need you to do that"

[ScreamingMeemie]

31. I listened. Dispatcher should have told him, at that point, that he appreciated

the head's up that no, they would not have someone "call him" when they got there, because they are not at Mr. Zimmerman's beck and call and that, if they needed anymore information from him, they would contact him. They should have shut him down from that point on. They did not.

[leveymg]

32. 9/11 operators need to issue clear, forceful "Do not pursue" commands. Call it a "Zimmerman warning"

There needs to be a federal law that covers all such cases nationwide, particularly in "stand your ground states." There has to be a clear rule that armed civilians cannot chase down other citizens. People need to understand that unauthorized pursuit while armed amounts to a crime, vigilantism, and is already a violation of federal Civil Rights laws.

Here's the present Florida statute, which is ambiguous:

Florida Laws: FL Statutes - Title XLVI Crimes Section 776.012 Use of force in defense of person.


776.031 Use of force in defense of others.
A person is justified in the use of force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to prevent or terminate the other's trespass on, or other tortious or criminal interference with, either real property other than a dwelling or personal property, lawfully in his or her possession or in the possession of another who is a member of his or her immediate family or household or of a person whose property he or she has a legal duty to protect. However, the person is justified in the use of deadly force only if he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony. A person does not have a duty to retreat if the person is in a place where he or she has a right to be.

History.--s. 13, ch. 74-383; s. 1189, ch. 97-102; s. 3, ch. 2005-27.

Sections: Previous 776.012 776.013 776.031 776.032 776.041 776.05 776.051 776.06 776.07 776.08 776.085 Next

[randome]

33. Absolutely!

The Dispatcher should get some heat for this, as well. Zimmerman should fry.

[LisaL]

72. I think Zimmerman understood perfectly well what the operator was telling him.

But there is no law that Zimmerman broke if he chose not to follow those directions.

[leveymg]

76. I agree about Z's understanding. He knew what he was doing.

But, if the 911 operator is deputized, as they should be for this propose, it is a violation of the law to disobey the order of an officer to not pursue. It's also murder, of course.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

27. Didn't think I was capable

of feeling this much outrage given what we have witnessed in the last few years.
I'm so angry this bastard is walking around a free man and the FBI has to be brought
in to investigate what is clearly a cold blooded premeditated murder of an innocent kid.

I will never set foot in the State of FL. as long as I live. We know these sick, vile humans
live in this country, but to give them the legal advantage to act on their hate is inexcusable.

[HipChick]

30. Boycott Florida..

this is where I am at too..

[Tommy_Carcetti]

34. But it's not just Florida. See California. See New York.

Think Rodney King. Think Amaduo Diallo. Think Oscar Grant.

These types of cover-ups and injustices spread far beyond the Florida borders. It's systematic, it's country-wide.

[Boojatta]

39. "Think Rodney King."

I'm thinking. It's a pity that the people who killed him weren't arrested. Wait, he wasn't killed, and the people who were accused of using excessive force in apprehending him while he was in the act of committing a crime were arrested, and they were put on trial.

Do you have an idea for reforming the system to prevent juries from ever reaching verdicts that you consider incorrect?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

43. Rodney King's "luck" was that someone was videotaping the incident a block away.

Had the beating not been videotaped, I highly doubt any of those officers would have even been charged.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

44. FL. is a good place to start. There is no way this case is going to get buried

under the "it's so prevalent, systematic, country-wide, to make radical changes" bullshit
excuse to do nothing. Not to suggest that's your intent. This CANNOT be allowed to further
numb us into tolerating hate crimes supported by the rule of law. Not this case, not this young
man.

[Leesaann1173]

54. RIght..

Maybe you should start with New York City, or what about Philly... Hmmmm lets start with the Carolinas, or wait, no, no, Florida is way more important then LOS ANGELES ! God knows there's wayyyyy more hate crime in Florida *eye roll*

Good lord.. everyone get off the soap boxes and stop using Florida as your poster child... it's lame now.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

58. I gather you have a soft

spot for FL. Beautiful State, with some lovely people living there. That being said,
Trayvon Martin was murdered in FL. and if there is an ounce of justice to be had
in this country the case will be tried in FL. Get use to the glare of public scrutiny,
this is not going away anytime soon.

[one_voice]

36. There's no doubt that's what he said.

[Odin2005]

40. So much for the posters insisting this wasn;t about race!

This bastard needs to rot in jail.

[SmellyFeet]

42. Some heard it differently ('punks', 'cops', etc..)

http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/r4q7k/george_zimmerman_heard_audibly_saying_fuckin/

Not making an opinion, just pointing out that it's not absolutely 100% clear. I hear 'coons' or 'punks'; depending on what I'm listening for at that point in the audio.

[Hissyspit]

47. It's actually sounding more like

"punks" to me at this point. I've listened about twenty times now. But, yes, every time one of these audio accusations comes up on DU, people tend to forget that effect of the power of suggestion.

[Quantess]

49. I agree that it was not crystal clear.

The first word is clearer than the second. I would give it a 50% likelihood he is saying "fucking coons".

[Rex]

51. SO THAT IS WHY

the PD would not release the tapes!!! FUCKERS. Maybe some in the PD are racist? Why would they protect a racist murderer?

[Lilyeye]

63. Was stormfront boring today?

[Rex]

75. HAHA!!!

Poor little troll...I cannot give a sassy retort now!!! Well I know the troll is probably lurking now so I will say...failsauce troll, major failsauce; maybe you should take up handgliding or something? Anything besides thinking...

[WilliamPitt]

55. Didn't hear it.

Listened twice.

[ScreamingMeemie]

56. It is said, in a gaspy tone, as he is running

at about 2:21. The first part clearly says "fucking" the second part is up for debate but "punks" or "coons" appears to be what most are hearing.

[The Magistrate]

62. He Said 'Fuckin' Coons', Sir: It Is Quite Clear

[Hissyspit]

68. Actually, it's not.

Some people hear "punks" and I've listened to it about 20 times now and it sounds like it could be either depending on what one is expecting to hear.

[LisaL]

71. I agree. It's not clear at all.

[deutsey]

79. It was clear to me

I have listened to it a few more times with headphones on and with the volume way up at 2:21.

There's no question to me. He says it.

[Hissyspit]

86. This is reminiscent of the Mickey Kantor "War Room"

Last edited Tue Mar 20, 2012, 11:42 PM - Edit history (2)

controversy, when the YouTube video transcript claimed he was saying "whit n*****s." Plenty of people here were absolutely convinced. But it was the power of suggestion from the transcript. He wasn't saying that at all. I still say it is not CLEAR what Zimmerman is saying, even if he is saying the C word.

I'm off to find a different set of headphones.

[deutsey]

106. Based on my earphones, it was pretty clear.

When I heard it on the computer earlier without them, I honestly couldn't tell. But it sounds pretty clear with my earbuds on and cranking the sound at 2:21.

I'm not sure I'm familiar with the Kantor thing you're talking about (sounds familiar but I can't conjure it up from the memory banks at the moment), but the most recent example of this kind of thing was Santorum's "blah people" quote.

I personally believe he was either about to say "black people" and caught himself before he slipped or he intentionally blurred it to have a dog whistle type of thing happen with plausible deniability.

However, I can see where that was debatable. This, on the other hand, is pretty clear to me.

[Hissyspit]

124. Obviously, it's debatable.

And not clear. I'm not the only one who is not sure.

[deutsey]

133. Obviously, or there'd be no debate, I suppose

[Hissyspit]

87. dupe post - self-delete

[NNN0LHI]

88. As clear as an azure sky of deepest summer, Sir

[Cali_Democrat]

57. Hate crime...murder

Hopefully this bastard will rot in jail for the rest of his pitiful life.

[fishwax]

59. wow

[JonLP24]

60. Thank god Leesaann was PPRd

What a disgusting bunch of filth displayed all over this thread.

to MIRT & Admin.

[ScreamingMeemie]

61. Agreed.

Also, if she is from Florida, she did not represent her state very well.

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

73. A 12 minute history, wonder if that's a record?

[Leftist Agitator]

108. Nah.

I've seen trolls get TSed in less than 5 minutes on the old DU. Fucking amateurs need to learn how to be a troll's troll, and not play their hand straight out of the gate.

[Lilyeye]

64. It sounded like he said punks to me

but regardless of what was said, this was a clear example of racial profiling.

[warrior1]

66. I heard it.

[nanabugg]

67. Hate crime. That is all. nt

[Catherine Vincent]

69. I barely hear it...it's not clear enough.

So I don't think it can be proved.

Btw, the operator asked if he was black, white or hispanic.

[LisaL]

70. Operator asked if "suspicous" person Zimmerman claimed he saw was black, white or hispanic.

[RZM]

74. The audio just isn't good enough to determine exactly what he said

I'd guess 'punks' but I really can't tell for sure.

[leveymg]

77. It is on my computer. Wear headphones.

[RZM]

78. I just did

Good, padded ones. Not iPod earbuds.

I do think that with headphones it sounds more like 'coons.' But I wouldn't quite take it to the bank, though I'm now leaning much more in that direction. But you're right, wearing headphones did help.

[roman7]

80. this is a murder.

and not doing anything about it opens the door for more of the same. in case you havent noticed the (haves) are starting to put all the have nots in the same catagory.

[intheflow]

82. Sounds like wind shear to me.

Last edited Tue Mar 20, 2012, 09:04 PM - Edit history (1)

After he gets out of his car. At 2:10, there's a beeping like someone is opening a car door with the key in the ignition. Then the door slams at 2:14. Wind shear noise starts at 2:16. Wind shear intensifies right at 2:20. The dispatcher heard the wind shear and asked, at 2:24, if Zimmerman was following the person, and tried to stop him at that point by saying he didn't need to do that.

Also, everything else Zimmerman says is clear as day. I had to really strain to hear the racial slur the OP suggests. It really does sound just like wind shear.

FWIW, I think Zimmerman sounds like he was fucked up out of his mind during this call. It's like he was talking in slow motion.

Paranoid slow motion.

[Mariana]

126. We'll never know if he was fucked up out of his mind

because the fucking cops didn't see any need to test him for anything. Seems to me that someone investigating a shooting would want to know if the shooter was under the influence of any mind altering substances. Because if the shooter is fucked up, you might be a tiny bit less inclined to take his account of the incident and the circumstances that led up to it as gospel. But, what the fuck do I know?

[barbtries]

83. i heard it.

i had not heard it previously.

hate crime. murder, special circumstances.

[liberaltrucker]

85. To remove any "power of suggestion" doubts, here's what I did

I listened between 2:17 and 2:30 ten times.

Then I asked my roommate to listen to audio only, without
knowing the content of this thread and without seeing the video.

THEN, I asked my neighbor to do the same, again without thread
content or video.

Roomie and neighbor listened ten times as I replayed the same
2:17-2:30 clip.

We all agree Mr Zimmerman said "fucking coons".

Case closed at the lt household.

[fascisthunter]

89. I Heard it too, however I had to increase the volume

[liberaltrucker]

91. Max volume thru headphones

TV and as much household background noise as possible off.

If I'm going to condemn someone, I want to do so beyond a
reasonable doubt. Having said that, this motherfucker should fry.

[Alameda]

100. I heard fucking coons too. Listened several times.

I have no doubt about it. The K sound is not at all like the P sound. How can anyone think coon and punk sound similar? K sound is very different from a P sound.

[USArmyParatrooper]

114. If you say so.

Unfortunately there's no way to prove it, but if there were I would literally bet money he said punks.

[Hissyspit]

125. I did the exact same for the person living with me.

Last edited Tue Mar 20, 2012, 11:48 PM - Edit history (1)

She said it sounded more like punks.

[uppityperson]

92. I don't hear well but heard both but either way, fucking murderer.

First I heard punks then listening again, coons. Damn him to the deepest part of

[XanaDUer]

95. I heard about this from Joe Madison

I hear it now

[arely staircase]

97. that's what it sounds like but

it maybe i think that because it has already been suggested to me - just like i could here the "backward masking" on certain led zep records after i had ben told what to hear. it wouldn't surprise me but i can't swear that's what he says. someone says there is a cleaned up version w/o all the background noise. doese anyone have a link?

[Canuckistanian]

98. Has he been arrested yet?

This is so big, it's making headlines here in Canada.

Seriously, what's the hold-up?

[HipChick]

104. He's prob left the country, and tossed the murder weapon..the holdup is Sandford Police

[workinclasszero]

101. Heard that...no doubt about it!

Racial hate crime + 1st degree murder!

Zimmerman was the aggressor the whole time. He stalked and killed Trayvon because he wanted to kill a "fuckin coon"! The kind that "always get away"!

If this asshole isnt charged with premeditated murder and racial hate crime....

[USArmyParatrooper]

105. He said, "F-ing Punks"

Listen again.

[deutsey]

107. Unless he says "punks" like "poonks"

I distinctly hear "coons".

[USArmyParatrooper]

111. I distinctly hear "punks"

But we're just not going to agree on that.

[workinclasszero]

109. I listened again

And again I heard "fuckin coons".

[joshcryer]

115. 'P' is not as distinct as 'K.' I posted the waveform below.

It is 100% "coons." No doubt. I can post an enhanced wave if you still doubt it.

[Honeycombe8]

141. I don't see a waveform. Is it supposed to be in your post?

Maybe my anti-virus program is blocking it.

[joshcryer]

142. It's just an image of the wave.

I posted it on imgur so maybe you blocked that site since people can post arbitrary images to that website (some which can be less than savory).

[Honeycombe8]

143. Ah, I see. I don't have the site blocked...the AV program decides those things.

It's getting to be a hassle, though, with the things that get blocked.

[joshcryer]

110. I put the waveform into Audacity, and it's 100% what he whispers:

Screenshot of the waveform. The first part is "fucking" the second part is "coons."

You can see the "ing" in the "fucking" part at the beginning.

This guy is toast.

[HipChick]

112. I played it on my Mac

Stripped other background noises...that is exactly what he says

[USArmyParatrooper]

117. So are you saying

you can READ what people are saying on a waveform without having to hear it?

[joshcryer]

120. If you play it you can see the dictation.

A specialist could maybe 'read' it, certainly if this goes to court they might be able to find someone that shows the waveform and dictation in normal speech.

[USArmyParatrooper]

121. Well unless someone can demonstrate

the ability to read it without the aid of audio, it's kind of meaningless to me.

With that being said, I'm listening through my iPhone. When I heard it on LO I can see how "coons" could be interpreted as well.

I'm on the fence on this one. I won't make the accusation unless I'm sure.

[HipChick]

113. Lawerence is going to play the tape on his show...

[myrna minx]

116. I've been too squeamish to listen to the tapes, but I think I'll tune into O'Donnell.

This whole thing is just infuriating and devastating.

[Honeycombe8]

118. Are you sure? That's such an old fashioned term. Even racists don't use that term anymore,

I thought. Esp. by youngish people like the shooter.

[HipChick]

119. It's clear on the tape...

Hate Crime..

[morningfog]

135. Consider yourself fortunate to not know any racists who

still use that term and others, I assure you they still do.

[Honeycombe8]

138. Then I will consider myself lucky. Altho I know plenty of racists. They use the N word.

I haven't heard the "coon" word in a loooong time, maybe decades. Used in the derogatory sense, I mean.
That dates from like the 1940s and before, I think.

[WillyT]

122. I Heard It... He Said It... The FBI Will Confirm It...

Well... at least 2 out of 3...





& :kick:

[ellisonz]

123. A sound engineer should enhance...

...the 9/11 call that recorded the screaming and the gunshot.

911 call #2 at this link: http://www.wftv.com/news/news/sanford-911-calls-released-teens-shooting-death/nLWWS/

[renate]

127. at the very end of Lawrence's show, was there suggestion that the official tape was doctored?

The lawyer didn't say so--nobody did--but she said that the version that the police department had released didn't have "f-ing" or anything else at that point in the tape.

Then Lawrence ran out of time to discuss it further. But if what the lawyer said is true (and that's a big if, of course, since she'd just gotten a call about this from her office during the previous commercial break and it'd have been easy to misunderstand when things were moving that fast), either the police department edited the "official" tape or somebody else added "f-ing coons"--and if it had been added deliberately, wouldn't it have been done better?

[tiny elvis]

128. punks. short u, not long

well preserved ks sound at the end
the s at the end of coons will be sounded like z
at the end of punks it will be a soft s
distinguishing consonants can be difficult as they are special tongue and lip percussion attacks and vibrations
this is reflected in the fact that you cannot shout consonants
you really only shout the vowels, making the vietnamese name ng nearly impossible to shout
so, listen for the long u in the recording
it is not there
also, as someone else mentioned, only old men occasionally say, 'coon,' these days