My Zimmerman Verdict

The case of Trayvon Martin and George Zimemrman is so sad, simply because this entire tragedy could have been easily avoided. Consider if Zimmerman had instead yelled out to Martin on that fateful February 2012 night, “Hey there, how are you doing? Do you need help? Are you lost?” Trayvon Martin would be enjoying this beautiful Sunday with his family.

Instead, George Zimmerman’s common sense told him to profile Trayvon Martin as a criminal, and then call the police, which he had done 46 times before, even though Martin was not doing anything wrong. 

Next Martin's common sense told him to defend himself and run from Zimmerman--an arguably reasonable action given how Zimmerman was following/stalking Martin as he walked around the neighborhood. 

After that the details get fuzzy, which is probably why the jury found Zimmerman not guilty.

However we know Zimmerman's common sense--or his overzealous attitude and desire to be a police officer--told him to keep following/stalking Martin after he initially fled, even after 911 dispatch said it wasn't necessary, and even after Zimmerman agreed with 911 dispatch by saying "Ok". 

Therefore Zimmerman is guilty of engaging in an overzealous pursuit of an unarmed and otherwise peaceful Martin. Why did Zimmerman pursue Martin to such extents, even after Martin initially fled the scene? 

Zimmerman's handgun embolden him to pursue Martin to such extents--a pursuit based on the biased perception that Martin appeared suspect. Sure the neighborhood had suffered a recent string of robberies. And if Zimmerman saw Martin do something wrong this would be a different story, but Zimmerman didn't because Martin was not doing anything wrong. 

Florida's “Stand Your Ground” laws are guilty of encouraging the use of deadly force during physical altercations, even when retreat is a viable option. Ironically enough, if Martin stood his ground instead of fleeing from Zimmerman, he may still be alive today. 

After Martin fled and Zimmerman followed him, both Martin and Zimmerman are guilty for not following Dr. Bernice King’s advice to “conduct ourselves on the higher plane of dignity and discipline”  by letting this escalate into a physical altercation. Who started the fight is an unanswered question, all we know is that Martin ran away, Zimmerman (against the common sense of 911 dispatch) zealously followed him in pursuit, there was a fight, and Martin was killed. 

Now onto the hot button (i.e. racial) aspects of this case…

First let me set the stage. Is there racial discrimination in the U.S.? Absolutely, America’s war on drugs is a clear example of institutionalized racism.

Is Zimmerman guilty of being a “creepy ass cracker?” Yes (even though Zimmerman is multi-racial Hispanic). 

Is Zimmerman guilty of profiling Trayvon Martin as a criminal based on his appearance? Yes. 

Is Zimmerman guilty of engaging in an unnecessary pursuit of an unarmed, peaceful 17 year old who was suspected of nothing more than (I'm using Zimmerman's own words to the 911 dispatcher): 1) being born with black skin, 2) walking around in a hoodie with one hand in his hoodie's pocket, and 3) running away from an armed, emboldened, and overzealous wannabe cop? 

Yes, yes and yes.

Is Zimmerman guilty of murder? Apparently not. 

It’s all very sad. A young man is dead, his life cut short. A beautiful family torn apart. A country divided.