What would Zimmerman's chances be if Trayvon had been white?

[Quixote1818]

First of all, Zimmerman would have been arrested and convicted very quickly had Trayvon been white. A dopey watchman kills an un-armed middle class white kid? TOAST! No contest!

You can't tell me that in general, people view blacks as more scary than whites and so it's viewed as okay for Zimmerman to be scared for his life when a fight turns out of his favor with the kid being black. Had Trayvon been white I think people would view it as just the kid being scared and fighting for his life and Zimmerman not being just in being scared for his life in a fight with a 17 year old white kid. The fact is the damage done to Zimmerman was typical of say a bar fight. Nothing life threatening however fear does come into play and I have little doubt Zimmerman was more afraid because the kid was black and went for his weapon more quickly because of this prejudice fear. The bulk of the doubt is coming because people are prejudice of blacks and instantly think they are more threatening. So Trayvon gets murdered twice, his life and his reputation because they need to build on peoples natural prejudice and fear of blacks.

Yes, perhaps Zimmerman thought his life was in danger but MOSTLY because he is prejudice of blacks and fears them like too many American's. The prosecution should bring this up. Would you convict Zimmerman had Trayvon been white? Have them do the whole crime in their head imagining a white kid fighting with Zimmerman. Simple fact is that a 17 year old white kid from a middle class family that smokes pot is not life threatening but a middle class black kid who smokes pot is, in societies eyes.

[RC]

1. The prisons are full of the evidence of your post.

[noiretextatique]

2. indeed...and all the zimmerman defenders

would be clamoring for his head.

[dorkzilla]

4. Yep and considering his parentage (his mother's side)...

...they'd be inferring that GZ was a "gang banger" and talking about dirty Messicans.

[gollygee]

10. Particularly if Zimmerman had been black as well

He would have been pressured to plead guilty, and if he hadn't pled guilty he would never had raised a defense fund the way Zimmerman did so he would have had a public defender.

[badtoworse]

3. I don't think it would matter.

This will be decided on the basis of reasonable doubt. I think there is sufficient doubt as to what actually happened that anyone would likely be acquitted of murder. Manslaughter conviction - possibly, but without substantiating all the facts, how can you prove it. I would hate to be on this jury.

[Voice for Peace]

12. The defense's case rests on the premise that Trayvon attacked Zimmerman unprovoked.

This is absurd and there is no foundation for
it. Why would he do that? What for?

This piece in my opinion is impossible for
anybody to swallow unless they have a serious
pre-established bias. Or they aren't paying any
attention.

[badtoworse]

14. People sometimes do things for inexplicable reasons

I don't believe your argument would pass the reasonable doubt standard.

[Voice for Peace]

15. I do believe it passes the common sense standard, which is

hopefully how they will determine reasonable
doubt.

Of course people can be unpredictable, but it
just doesn't wash that he would attack.

He was barely 17, on his way home to watch
a football game.

[JI7]

5. he would be convicted already, and the Gun nuts who defend zimmerman would have said the kid should

have been armed.

notice they aren't using the "everyone should be armed" argument on this case.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

6. Zimmerman self identifies as white....

...but in your scenario, he would be judged as a Hispanic man.

[Blackford]

7. He'd be facing a needle in his arm because he'd be the brown suspect who killed a white kid.

Sad, but true.

[Rex]

8. Worse - then the crapfest defense couldn't use

the evidence of 'walking at night while being black' and Foxnews would have to choose which white person they would be backing. No doubt it would be based on completely superficial stuff.

[galileoreloaded]

9. without firsthand knowledge, thats quite a stretch,,,

[sbh]

11. No difference. He murdered a kid. Black, white, blue, purple, it doesn't matter. He killed him.

[etherealtruth]

13. In a sane and just world you are correct

What is truly correct (right) isn't always what happens.