Trayvon Martin and the fatal history of American racism

[House]

wow, they all fell in line, newt had the best most thoughtful response, imo, romney was silent because he did not have to speak, he was silent because obama was silent, so, when obama speaks, he and the others have to fall in line, because there is no other reasonable position to take!

exactly

Leaders lead. They don't wait to see which way the wind blows. The betas will follow. There was never any downside to doing the right thing because this killing was particularly egregious. Unfortunately, in the end, Barack Obama is a politician. Like all politicians, he was waiting for the people to lead.

[mhd]

exactly

Leaders lead. They don't wait to see which way the wind blows. The betas will follow. There was never any downside to doing the right thing because this killing was particularly egregious. Unfortunately, in the end, Barack Obama is a politician. Like all politicians, he was waiting for the people to lead.

I think obama feels exactly the way he spoke today, that he did not say it sooner or of his own accord is a function of the dynamic of his advisors, obama's heartfelt eloquence was there when he said, if i had a son he would look like trayvon, that was his moment, I'm sure some of his advisors were cringing

[LEONARD REMIX RROY]

Now this fool...........

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-5...-said-about-tr

1.
"I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin's death as George Zimmerman was."

2.
"I'll bet you money, if he didn't have that hoodie on, that nutty neighborhood watchguy would have never responded in that violent and aggressive way."

3.
"I am urging the parents of black and Latino youngsters particularly to not let their children go out wearing hoodies."

4.
"He wore an outfit (Trayvon Martin) that allowed someone to respond in this irrational, overzealous way, and if he had been dressed more appropriately. I believe unless it's raining or at a track meet leave the hoodie at home."

5.
"You know the old Johnny Cash song 'don't take your gun to town son, leave your gun at home.' There are some things that are almost inevitable."

Geraldo later tweeted this:

Geraldo is so out of touch that he needs to STF-Down and fish with grandkids and talk about the old days.

I remember when he was in Afghanistan talking with us and it was on FOX News live...everybody had the "WTF is he talking about?" look on his face once the show got going.

It comes a time in every person life when they have to realize - it's over!!!!

[djmarbll]

wow, they all fell in line, newt had the best most thoughtful response, imo, romney was silent because he did not have to speak, he was silent because obama was silent, so, when obama speaks, he and the others have to fall in line, because there is no other reasonable position to take!

Newt said what Obama did was disgraceful by throwing race into it. That was the most thoughtful response to you?

[House]

It's notable that even Col Allen West spoke out. He might drink tea but he won't drink the Kool aid

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...m_politics_pop

[BrazenMuse]

Newt said what Obama did was disgraceful by throwing race into it. That was the most thoughtful response to you?

admittedly, hvn't read Newt's response yet...but ummm...errr...seems to me race was already there...damn pink elephants.

[DaBownca]

admittedly, hvn't read Newt's response yet...but ummm...errr...seems to me race was already there...damn pink elephants.

was a very cunning attempt to skew the Presidents intent and I know some Obama haters will bite.

"

What the president said, in a sense, is disgraceful. It’s not a question of who that young man looked like. Any young American of any ethnic background should be safe, period. We should all be horrified no matter what the ethnic background.Is the president suggesting that if it had been a white who had been shot, that would be OK because it didn’t look like him. That’s just nonsense dividing this country up. It is a tragedy this young man was shot. It would have been a tragedy if he had been Puerto Rican or Cuban or if he had been white or if he had been Asian American of if he’d been a Native American. At some point, we ought to talk about being Americans. When things go wrong to an American, it is sad for all Americans. Trying to turn it into a racial issue is fundamentally wrong. I really find it appalling."

[neon]

Oh good Lord. Geraldo is an idiot.

[djmarbll]

It's notable that even Col Allen West spoke out. He might drink tea but he won't drink the Kool aid

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...m_politics_pop

It's probably the first time I've ever heard Allen West agree with Obama on anything.

[djmarbll]

Oh good Lord. Geraldo is an idiot.

Geraldo's the smartest person on FOX, which says a lot about FOX, lol.

[djmarbll]

was a very cunning attempt to skew the Presidents intent and I know some Obama haters will bite.

"

What the president said, in a sense, is disgraceful. It’s not a question of who that young man looked like. Any young American of any ethnic background should be safe, period. We should all be horrified no matter what the ethnic background.Is the president suggesting that if it had been a white who had been shot, that would be OK because it didn’t look like him. That’s just nonsense dividing this country up. It is a tragedy this young man was shot. It would have been a tragedy if he had been Puerto Rican or Cuban or if he had been white or if he had been Asian American of if he’d been a Native American. At some point, we ought to talk about being Americans. When things go wrong to an American, it is sad for all Americans. Trying to turn it into a racial issue is fundamentally wrong. I really find it appalling."

Gingrich is trying to stay relevant in the primaries. So he needs to say the most outlandish things to keep attention going until the August convention. Its obvious he won't get the votes necessary to stay in the race mathematically, but his voice can always be heard as long as he says stuff like this.

[mhd]

Newt said what Obama did was disgraceful by throwing race into it. That was the most thoughtful response to you?

dude, you a fuckin idiot

[CarlCollins]

Oh good Lord. Geraldo is an idiot.

and a friggin hypocrite...

[djmarbll]

dude, you a fuckin idiot

Come on Mark, I know you to be too intelligent to give such a short and immature response. Give me an explanation of your defense of Gingrich's response and not a five word comment that includes foul language and an insult in response to a simple question.

[SuzanneT]

and a friggin hypocrite...

Not a hypocrite, Gerry hasn't been a Latino for about 20 years.
*sarcasm*

[mhd]

Come on Mark, I know you to be too intelligent to give such a short and immature response. Give me an explanation of your defense of Gingrich's response and not a five word comment that includes foul language and an insult in response to a simple question.

look, you fuckin idiot, at the quote at 1:55 pm on friday where i commented on newt's response in markb's post:

"I have faith that the American system of justice and that this is why you have a balance between the police and the district attorney," he said. "The district attorney has the ability to step in and say, 'wait a minute, let's look at this again.' They're clearly doing that. The police chief himself has been suspended. And I think that Americans can recognize that while this is a tragedy -- and it is a tragedy -- that we are going to relentlessly seek justice and I think that's the right thing to do."

Gingrich was also asked Florida's Stand Your Ground law, which host Piers Morgan called "nonsense." Gingrich largely defended the law but suggested it did not apply in this case. People "should not be translating 'standing their own ground' into 'pushing somebody else,'" said Gingrich.

He added that "apparently the shooter was following the young man -- that's not a stand your own ground, that's a chase the other person into their ground." He said he expected that the law would thus not apply to this case, though he stressed he had not heard the full evidence in the case.

Speaking to reporters Friday, Gingrich hit many of the same notes about the situation. He said "there's a point in there where it ought to be some kind of signal that's pretty clear that this is a guy who found a hobby that's pretty dangerous."


"Do I think citizens ought to have the right to defend themselves if attack? Sure," he said. "The question here is was he attacked or was he the attacker and that's what the grand jury will lead to. If they decide he was the attacker I suspect they'll indict him and if they indict him their going to go to a jury trial. And I support that I think this is a case. Again if somebody breaks into your home and you're at risk you ought to have the right to defend yourself."

[Mike Barnes]

Chuck, I don't recall you're man Geraldo Rivera chastizing Bam(Afrika Bambatta), For Sportin a hoodie when Bam was on Geraldo Rivera's show in regards to the Hiphop concert riot at CCNY in Harlem in 1990, My man/LOL, Sue, I've heard Geraldo Rivera say on his TV show during the early 90's, Tthat he used to tell cats that he was italian when he was growing up in New York during the 1950's and 60's/LOL, Infact, I'm very sure Geraldo Rivera was not chastizing the Young Lords

(Latino street gang from uptown/Harlem during the 1960's), For sportin Hoodies, While Geraldo Rivera was representing the young Lords for bum-rushing a church in Spanish Harlem in 1969/LOL.

Much Respect
Mike Barnes

[DaBownca]

Chuck, I don't recall you're man Geraldo Rivera chastizing Bam(Afrika Bambatta), For Sportin a hoodie when Bam was on Geraldo Rivera's show in regards to the Hiphop concert riot at CCNY in Harlem in 1990, My man/LOL, Sue, I've heard Geraldo Rivera say on his TV show during the early 90's, Tthat he used to tell cats that he was italian when he was growing up in New York during the 1950's and 60's/LOL, Infact, I'm very sure Geraldo Rivera was not chastizing the Young Lords

(Latino street gang from uptown/Harlem during the 1960's), For sportin Hoodies, While Geraldo Rivera was representing the young Lords for bum-rushing a church in Spanish Harlem in 1969/LOL.

Much Respect
Mike Barnes

MY man? I wsh I cou;d b ust him in his Madam ass face

[bomb cola]

Trayvon Martin and the siren song of Capitalism...

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...n-attacked-him

Meanwhile, the Smoking Gun, a website that tracks criminal cases and document filings, reported Monday afternoon that Martin's mother, Sabrina Fulton, filed two applications last week for trademarks on her late son's name.

Fulton is seeking marks for the phrases "I Am Trayvon" and "Justice for Trayvon," according to filings with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In both instances, Fulton is seeking the trademarks for use on "Digital materials, namely, CDs and DVDs featuring Trayvon Martin," and other products.


I'm hoping all proceeds go to charity. I have a feeling that they will.

[CarlCollins]

Now it's he went for my gun! Smear campaign in full effect! When is the question going to be asked why were you there when the police told you not to pursue? An arrest needs to be made and let the courts take it up or we can keep waiting and have tensions get even higher...


http://gma.yahoo.com/trayvon-martin-...-abc-news.html


Trayvon Martin Shooter Told Cops Teenager Went For His Gun
By MATT GUTMAN and SENI TIENABESO | Good Morning America – 16 hours ago

George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch crime captain who shot dead 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, originally told police in a written statement that Martin knocked him down with a punch to the nose, repeatedly slammed his head on the ground and tried to take his gun, a police source told ABC News.
Zimmerman had claimed he had called police about Martin, whom he found suspicious, then went back to his car when Martin attacked him, punching him.

The new information is the most complete version yet of what Zimmerman claims happened on the night of Feb. 26 when he shot and killed the teenager.

In addition, an eyewitness, 13-year-old Austin Brown, told police he saw a man fitting Zimmerman's description lying on the grass moaning and crying for help just seconds before he heard the gunshot that killed Martin.

The initial police report noted that Zimmerman was bleeding from the back of the head and nose, and after medical attention it was decided that he was in good enough condition to travel in a police cruiser to the Sanford, Fla., police station for questioning. He was not arrested.

Martin's girlfriend had said in a recording obtained exclusively by ABC News that she heard Martin ask Zimmerman "why are your following me, and then the man asked, what are you doing around here." She then heard a scuffle break out and the line went dead.

Phone records obtained by ABC News show that the girl, who is 16 and asked to remain anonymous, called Martin at 7:12 p.m., five minutes before police arrived, and remained on the phone with Martin until moments before he was shot.

ABC News has also learned that Martin was staying in Sanford at the time because he'd been suspended from Krop High School in Miami after school officials found him with a baggy that they suspected contained marijuana. He was staying at his father's fiance's house in Sanford.

Family spokesperson Ryan Julison confirmed to ABC News that Martin was suspended for an "empty baggy that had contained pot."

"It's irrelevant to what happened on Feb. 26, does not change material facts of the situation, specifically that had George Zimmerman not left his vehicle and heeded the police dispatcher's guidance, we wouldn't be here today," Julison said.

During Zimmerman's call to 911, the dispatcher asked him if he was following the teen. When Zimmerman replied that he was, the dispatcher said, "We don't need you to do that."

Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, said at a news conference today, "All I've got to say is they killed my son, and now they're trying to kill his reputation."

The new information threatens to heighten tensions in the emotionally charged case. Sanford's Mayor Jeff Triplett told ABC News that "the city today is a tinder box."

"This city is a glass house, and making matters worse the civic center has a lot of glass," he said referring to a town hall meeting slated for 5 p.m. where family and residents will be airing grievances about the Martin shooting.

In addition, the Rev. Al Sharpton said today that he and other protesters intend to "occupy" Sanford on Easter weekend and pray that the city arrests Zimmerman.

The details of Zimmerman's early account of the confrontation could complicate pressing charges against him, which one veteran prosecutor has already said could be difficult.

"The stand-your-ground law is one portion of justifiable use of deadly force," veteran State Attorney Angela Corey told ABC News. "And what that means is that the state must go forward and be able to prove it's case beyond a reasonable doubt… So it makes the case in general more difficult than a normal criminal case."

Zimmerman shot Martin dead the night of Feb. 26 after following him for several minutes. Zimmerman told police Martin looked suspicious because he was wearing a hoodie, and when he confronted him the two fought -- ultimately resulting in a single bullet in Martin's chest.

[El Mayimbe]

Not a hypocrite, Gerry hasn't been a Latino for about 20 years.
*sarcasm*

^^THIS!!!!

Chuck, I don't recall you're man Geraldo Rivera chastizing Bam(Afrika Bambatta), For Sportin a hoodie when Bam was on Geraldo Rivera's show in regards to the Hiphop concert riot at CCNY in Harlem in 1990, My man/LOL, Sue, I've heard Geraldo Rivera say on his TV show during the early 90's, Tthat he used to tell cats that he was italian when he was growing up in New York during the 1950's and 60's/LOL, Infact, I'm very sure Geraldo Rivera was not chastizing the Young Lords

(Latino street gang from uptown/Harlem during the 1960's), For sportin Hoodies, While Geraldo Rivera was representing the young Lords for bum-rushing a church in Spanish Harlem in 1969/LOL.

Much Respect
Mike Barnes

sad part is Geraldo's complete 180 sellout has finally shed on the national spotlight. to be a former associate for the Young Lords party and now become a lackey for Faux News brings even more sadness to this tragic death and nullifys the bs career this asshole has made for himself


http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Lords

[D J 1 3 8]

campaign to paint him as a hoodlum in full effect http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/2...#storylink=cpy

[LEONARD REMIX RROY]

Oh good Lord. Geraldo is an idiot.

[The Good Reverend Rollo Goodlove]

campaign to paint him as a hoodlum in full effect http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/2...#storylink=cpy

As if this justifies him being murdered.

[DeesKo]

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...black-teenager


You know what I don't get about this whole "he attacked me & I feared for my life" argument?

Regardless of who swung first, how the fuck is Zimmerman covered under the Stand Your Ground law but Trayvon Martin isn't?

One person is walking home minding their own business, the other is actively stalking him.

The subconscious predisposition to place Zimmerman as the only person standing his ground could be construed as a symptom of institutional racism. In every account I've heard of the dynamic between Zimmerman & Martin, Zimmerman is the one placed in the position of superiority in their relationship, either through Martin's requirement to not interfere with Zimmerman's attempts to harass him or through Martin's lack of equal access to a proper defense when it comes to explaining his reactions.