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Monday, March 26, 2012

Things that are Not Okay: Trayvon Martin


Hi guys. As you know, I rarely post about news or serious things. But even though this news story is a bit old, I've been following it for weeks and I want to talk about it. It’s important.

So, let’s have a discussion with myself.


Well, in a nutshell, a 17 year old African American boy named Trayvon Martin was walking to a family member’s home when he was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, self-appointed “neighborhood watch leader.”
Zimmerman claims it was “self defense.”


No, Trayvon was carrying some skittles and a drink from a convenience store.


No. In fact, Zimmerman saw Trayvon while he was still in his car.  He called 911 and the dispatcher told him to stay in his car. He got out and approached Trayvon instead.


Not really, no. Trayvon called his girlfriend and said a guy was following him.  Zimmerman had about 100 pounds on him, so Trayvon was probably intimidated. His girlfriend said that she told Trayvon to run, but he said he was going to walk fast. No one knows exactly what happened after that. 

But even if Trayvon got scared and attacked Zimmerman (unarmed), Zimmerman was the one who got out of the car and approached him. Thus, Zimmerman was the aggressor in this situation - Florida's "Stand Your Ground" laws protect the victim, not the aggressor. Zimmerman cannot follow someone home, get out of his car, approach him, shoot and kill him (whether or not it was during an altercation), and claim it was self defense.

Yes. Just minding his own business.

Yes.


Yes.

I know.


I am too. Do you want to know what’s worse?

The police fucked up the investigation. Zimmerman hasn’t been charged with Trayvon’s killing yet.

Yeah. They didn’t administer any kind of drug/alcohol test to Zimmerman. They didn’t interview Trayvon’s girlfriend right away. They didn’t catch a racial slur on the 911 tape. One report claims they “corrected” a  witness who heard someone yell “Help, help.”

Did I mention that Trayvon was black? I think they assumed he was guilty. Or it would go away quietly.

That’s how I feel. Zimmerman has a prior record (Trayvon doesn’t), and was known for calling the police about (black) kids in the area.
I agree.

It’s awful.

Well, real people can sign this petition. I mean, it’s clear that the case is being investigated now, but it’s still important for people to go “Hey, this isn’t okay.”
I know.

Me too. We can be funny again tomorrow.

50 comments:

  1. I'm not in the US, but can I still sign the petition? Sounds like a massive miscarriage of justice to me.

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  2. Signed it. Still totally pissed off and sad about this. If this was my child.... God help the man if this was my child.... Grrrrrr

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  3. We had a guy here in Wes'BYGAWD Virginny who shot a guy WHO WAS ROBBING HIM and STILL got arrested and went to jail until the cops, etc. determined it was self-defense. Only THEN did they let that guy out. This situation is all kinds of wrong.

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  4. Bravo, my friend. Sometimes it's good to stop the funny and bring up something like this that is just ridiculous in this day and age.

    I heard Travyon's name enough times that I had to Google it last night, so I read up on the investigation myself. After plenty of WTF moments, I went and signed that petition.

    I really hope Zimmerman gets charged for this.

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  5. This is just so fucked up. Racial profiling is so damaging and unnecessary. It pisses me of sooooo much.

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  6. So sad. This case is killing me. Thanks for writing about it.

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  7. Racism is alive and kicking. Hopefully, as more and more of the older population dies out, we can move toward a better understanding of each other without as much first hand experience with longstanding hatred.

    Regardless of the evolution of racism in the world, my heart weeps for this kid and his family.

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  8. Yeah. This whole thing is insane. I want to say "let's hope they straighten this out", but really, they can't.

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  9. Zimmerman needs to be arrested and serve a hefty sentence.

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  10. Astounding and horrific situation. Just unbelievable really. And your post was a sweet way to speak up about it. Thank you for the petition link - I hadn't heard about that yet.

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  11. I totally agree he should have stayed in his car. That was his decision to leave the car and it was a poor one.

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  12. thats sad.
    i'd love to kick and punch Zimmerman in his stomach.

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  13. Awful situation. If anything good happens from all of this, I hope anyone who ever judged someone from the color of their skin takes a good hard look in the mirror and decides to change their behavior.

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  14. I hate this. It is so sad, and I don't like sad. :( It is a terrible situation. Thanks for taking time out from funny to post about this, because if people haven't heard about this (they've been hiding under a rock) they need to.

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  15. There shouldn't even be a trial. They should just let this racist monster rot in a jail cell for the rest of his life. The fact that Zimmerman's friends and family are still trying to defend him is disgusting as well. Backing this man should be a crime in and of itself.

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  16. Petition has been signed.

    I think Will Smith summed it up quite eloquently in a tweet (Not exactly his words but close): We live in America where a girl who threw flour on Kim Kardashian was arrested but the man who killed Trayvon Martin is still free.

    This whole situation makes me 200 kinds of mad/angry/sad. My heart goes out to Trayvon's family and friends. I hope George Zimmerman rots in hell.

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  17. This whole situation is a circus. Sometimes I think there is no such thing as 'justice' in this country. I kept hearing Trayvon's name and finally looked into it last week. The whole thing makes me sick. This guy is walking around "policing" his neighborhood and feels justified to attack an UNARMED person and then has the audacity to claim it's self-defense?! Un-fucking-believable.

    Petition signed.

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  18. I think part of what I don't get AT ALL is the idea that someone shot someone and didn't get arrested. I try to remove the racial aspect of this whole thing and say this. . . Person A approaches Person B and shoots him thinking he's armed and he's not. . . "Whoops, my bad" doesn't seem like a good defense even in my "best case scenario" above.

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  19. Well done! I still kinda wished I could see what a cartoon's head looks like when it actually explodes. She did say her head was exploding over it. It's still all a load of bullshit. I say put that Zimmerdude in jail and see how internal law takes care of stuff like that.

    heh heh heh there's another follow-up cartoon! maybe her head wouldn't explode after seeing that...

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  20. The whole situation totally disgusts me. :(

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  21. SO I'll be the one I guess.

    Not one person discussing this online knows the facts of this incident. There may be evidence that the media hasn't really discussed that says Trayvon *was* attacking Zimmerman before being shot. The newer question is was Trayvon turned on Zimmerman becaus ethe jagoff was stalking the kid. And that may be the case. Thing is, none of us know.

    And this notion that we should kill Zimmerman or lock him up without trial? That's just as disgusting as letting a murderer walk free.

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    Replies
    1. Well, I've definitely read about the evidence that suggests that - Zimmerman may have had a broken nose and other injuries. Additionally, Zimmerman may have been the one yelling for help (which is why in the post above, I don't say it was Trayvon yelling, just that the police tried to "correct" that it happened at all). I in no way deny that they may have been fighting in the post above. I also outlined why I don't think Zimmerman can claim self defense, even IF Trayvon attacked him after getting stalked by him.

      Nor did I claim that Zimmerman should be killed or go to prison without trial or go there for the rest of his life. I do think, though, that when you shoot and kill a human being, you should be arrested. And that the local police were trying very hard to make the case go away. Not okay.

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    2. We agree totally that it's not okay that Zimmerman seems to have been glad-handed by the local PD. They really seem like they were trying to sweep it all away as fast as possible. Trayvon's family deserves about three million times more effort to find out what happened.

      My closing comment was more about the other commenters calling for pitchfork & torch justice, which isn't justice at all.

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    3. Actually this blog has prompted me to delve further into the case. I see that there are many loose ends still. I now realize that my above comment was a bit short of taste; I was getting caught up in the hype. Also, I was over the line of calling him racist seeing as he has multiple friend from diverse backgrounds. That being said, I believe he should still be detained. Should he somehow be found not guilty, I believe compensation will due to cover up any jailtime. On the other hand, there is too much evidence stacked agaist him for me to even begin to believe he's innocent.

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    4. Well, I think it's awesome that this made you look more closely into it. It's good to be informed, regardless of whether or not that changes your original opinion.

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  22. This really is disgusting. I can't believe the man hasn't been arrested for murdering a child yet. I signed the petition and passed it around.

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  23. This is just horrific! We've been talking about this a lot at work...I work in an inner city school where the majority of the kids are black and hispanic. Its created a HUGE discussion... which is a good thing.

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  24. But, don't worry! The legal system still works! The person who throw flour on Kim Kardashian was arrested immediately following the incident!!!

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    Replies
    1. Ha! I know right? The flour-thrower should have claimed it was self defense...of Kim Kardashian being awful.

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  25. Thanks for bringing attention to this, Gia. I, too, find myself taking time out from being funny to talk about something important to me on occasion. You as a blogger have a lot of influence, so when you speak up about something like this, you're really heard.

    I really appreciate this about you. Thank you again.

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  26. It's issues like these that get my blood boiling!

    -Barb

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  27. Gia, Thank you for reporting this story with accuracy. Sometimes I'm ashamed that I live in Florida, a state that has a long history of racism (remember hanging chads and black people who were turned away when they went to vote?).

    Love,
    Janie

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  28. This is a great post! You do serious well.

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  29. I agree with every word you wrote. (and I signed.) You can't chase a guy down and brandish a gun and then use it, and then plead self defense.

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  30. I am also outraged about this case. I can't believe that it has already been one month since this occurred and they still haven't arrested Zimmerman.

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  31. This is just a tragedy. Law is law. Sad that people are using it as buffet menu and picking what they want and giving their criticism and blame.
    That Zimmerman guy broke so many laws forget his fight and struggle with gun against "icetea and skittles". And florida has absolutely no law to book that guy?

    On other hand a in-house campus case is taken to court and non-homophobe is expecting sentence upto 10 years after being labelled as homophobe though he isnt charged for suicide and not bullying, he is being bullied and lied and vilified by media and without recording anything how could he upload a porno video?

    Instead the Tyler had his photos in compromising pose in gay sites and that is how M.B who didnt even know Tyler's lastname got lucky with him thrice. JUST RIDICULOUS.

    NON-WHITE vs WHITE - Unlawful, disgusting and hateful
    WHITE vs NON-WHITE - First amendment, Self-defense.

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  32. This is really horribly sad. I can't imagine how his family feels. If this was my brother I would be ripped apart.

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  33. I just can't believe what the world is coming to. This is beyond horrible. But, thanks for putting up this post. Sometimes you just need to remind people about the stupidity of our legal system.

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  34. I've been following this story too. It's disgusting. I don't know how they are letting that man get away with this. Racism in it's finest.

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  35. One of the first things they tell you in a gun safety class, is that if you fire your gun and kill someone you WILL be arrested until the shooting is investigated. I have just heard of this story. (Which is sad cause I live in FL. Unfortunately I live under a rock.) I do not know all the details, nor do I think the public has all of them either. But this guy should be arrested. If not because he is guilty, then for his own safety. Ok, wait, I think that came out wrong. What I mean is, I think he should have at least been arrested after firing his gun, once he was found innocent or guilty should any charges be dropped. In this case (as I understand it) that's not what happened. As it is being portrayed in the media (I think it's important to state that) this is an example of laws protecting the criminals. Unfortunately, that is not what the "Stand Your Ground" law was meant for. If Zimmerman got out of his car (and I think we can all agree he did) then Trayvon had every right to defend himself if he felt threatened. But the media is telling us the law is being used the other way around. If nothing else though, it has made FL look at the law a bit closer and there are already works to change it since it is very generalized. Ok, I'm done, this whole case makes me mad and I don't even have all the facts.

    Thanks for the link to the petition Gia!

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  36. Good job. This has been a baffling case and so sad to see happening in 2012

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  37. I just signed, Gia, but I wish I could do more.

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  38. Amazing post kid. This is great.
    I just heard this story last week. Something idiotic about a hoodie. This shitnis so effing brutal I can't even stand it. I like to think Canada is les racist, but I can't be sure.

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  39. Thanks for this. I have been following this case pretty closely and I am SO SAD for Trayvon's family. He was taken way before his time, and no matter what the facts in the case, it is a tragedy to be sure.

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  40. This is such a great post, Gia. You summed it up perfectly. My prayers are with Trayvon's family.

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