Someone standing in the alley behind my chain link fence looking at my house for a long time would be suspicious, no matter who he or she was, and no matter the time of day/night.
Two teens walking down that alley together, of any color and almost any dress, talking to each other and acting like normal teens, laughing or shooting the breeze loudly, walking at the somewhat fast pace that teens do, not paying attention to the houses....not suspicious. (Although I still look at anyone who appears in the alley, since it's unusual and is used as access for breakins.)
Two teens walking down that alley, looking closely at the houses, not talking to each other like teens normally do, walking slowly....suspicious. Add to that the fact that it's nightime, more suspicious. Add to that those baggy jeans where their cracks show, torn t-shirts, generally unkempt appearance FOR A TEEN, that would maybe be more suspicious, but I don't even need to get that far.
Two neatly dressed middle aged people walking down that alley, walking slowly, not talking, looking at the houses - not suspicious.
Note that I don't mention race at all. That wasn't intentional. It's because that might be an added factor, but what would get my attention FIRST would be the appropriateness of their behavior, the appropriateness of where they are, their age, etc.
If I recall, GZ told the cops in the 911 call that some guy was acting like he was on drugs, walking funny or something. It's possible Martin was on the phone with gf or was texting, and was walking funny for that reason, not paying attention to where he was going, and not walking fast like most young people do (w/o running like a criminal, that is).
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