When Sanford, Fla., police arrived on the scene, they encountered a grown man who acknowledged killing an unarmed 17-year-old boy. They did not arrest the man or test him for drug or alcohol use. They conducted a less-than-energetic search for forensic evidence. They hardly bothered to look for witnesses.
Why should they have? As the trial proved, the killing was a clear case of self-defense.
Only a national outcry forced authorities to investigate the killing seriously. Even after six weeks, evidence was found to justify arresting Zimmerman, charging him with second-degree murder and putting him on trial.
National outcry? By whom? The only voices I heard were the race mongers. Evidence was 'found'? Found? More like created from whole cloth.
Jurors knew that Zimmerman was an overeager would-be cop, a self-appointed guardian of the neighborhood who carried a loaded gun. They were told that he profiled Martin — young, black, hooded sweatshirt — as a criminal. They heard that he stalked Martin despite the advice of a 911 operator; that the stalking led to a confrontation; and that, in the confrontation, Zimmerman fatally shot Martin in the chest.
Okay, let's take these one at a time. 'Jurors knew.' No, that's what they were told by the prosecution.
A 'would-be cop'. Aspiring to be a police officer is a bad thing?
A 'self-appointed guardian of the neighborhood'. Hardly; he was a member of the local Neighborhood Watch, a program originally started by the police way back in 1972 (before Robinson's time, obviously). Due to my advanced age, obviously, I can remember back when every parent in a neighborhood was a 'self-appointed guardian of the neighborhood'.
Who 'carried a loaded gun'. For those of us who do choose to carry, yes, it is loaded. And Zimmerman was fully authorized to do so.
He 'profiled Martin'. It's profiling to report someone who is acting suspiciously? OMG ... better tell Homeland Security.
He 'stalked Martin despite the advice of a 911 operator'. Not according to the trial transcript, which, assuming he can read, Robinson should have read.
The 'stalking led to a confrontation'. And according to the trial transcript, it was Martin who confronted Zimmerman, not conversely.
Zimmerman 'fatally shot Martin'. That's the first factual statement Robinson made; but just to add a few additional facts, the shooting occurred only after Zimmerman was attacked, was being beaten, and in fear of his own life.
Eugene Robinson is the racist bigot; not George Zimmerman.
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