Fla. town on edge as Trayvon Martin case goes to court

[NaturalHigh]

Source: USA Today

The nation has debated the facts of the case ever since George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin. Now, those facts will be heard in a courtroom.


SANFORD, Fla. — The Trayvon Martin murder case has ignited protests, death threats, online campaigns, and become the center of national discussion about race, gun laws and self-defense.

And the trial doesn't even begin until Monday.



Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/09/jury-selection-in-george-zimmerman-murder-case-begins/2399235/

[graham4anything]

1. 70 years ago, a lynch mob ran Mr. Jackie Robinson out of town. Nothing changes.

I so hope to hear the words GUILTY
and the sentence be the maximum allowed for the charge.

[JimDandy]

2. Here's to hoping that justice is served. n/t

[JDPriestly]

69. +100000

[Nanjing to Seoul]

3. this is still florida and the wingnuts rule the state. Expect not guilty because Trayvon

is guilty of "living while black" and "wearing a hoodie" and "not being white."

[Bluenorthwest]

7. New York City (I spare NJ out of love) Election Night, 2008

On Election Night 2008, Ralph Nicoletti and Michael Contreras, both 18, and Brian Carranza, 21, of Staten Island, New York decided shortly after learning of Barack Obama's election victory "to find African Americans to assault," according to a federal indictment and other court filings. The men then drove to a predominantly African-American neighborhood in Staten Island, where they came upon a 17 year-old African American who was walking home after watching the election at a friend's house. One of the defendants yelled "Obama!" Then, the men got out of the car and beat the youth with a metal pipe and a collapsible police baton, injuring his head and legs. The men went on to commit additional assaults that night.
Their hate crime spree culminated with crashing their car into a man who they mistakenly believed to be African-American, causing his body to shatter the windshield. While the victim ultimately survived the attack, he was in a coma for a period of time. Brian Carranza pleaded guilty to conspiring to assault Staten Island residents after the election of President Obama and faces 10 years in prison. Nicoletti and Contreras pleaded not guilty.
http://www.civilrights.org/publications/hatecrimes/african-americans.html

Also your Metro Area is currently experiencing a large spike in anti gay hate crime, right now.
"According to the New York Police Department, there have been a total of 24 bias-related crimes so far in 2013, compared to just 10 in the same period last year. Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that the New York City Anti-Violence Project which tracks police reports of anti-LGBT attacks, says its numbers rose 13 percent in 2011.

Members of New York's LGBT community and other advocates turned out in droves at a May 20 protest in memory of Mark Carson, a 32-year-old gay Brooklyn resident who was killed after allegedly being taunted with homophobic slurs. Elliott Morales, 33, has since been charged with murder as a hate crime, according to the Associated Press.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/03/new-york-gay-self-defense-classes-_n_3377985.html

So while it is perhaps fun for you to pretend that such horrors were in Florida only, and 70 years ago, fact is your own metro murders gay people, attacks black people, by which of course I mean criminals are everywhere. Under Bloomberg, anti gay violence in NYC has more than doubled in the last year along.
It's not just Sanford Florida, you should understand Sanford is a mirror not a place apart from your own local reality.
Same things could be said about the places I am from as well, Graham. We are talking about our country. What happened there, it happens right in your own world as well. Pretending otherwise does no service to your region or to the future victims of these criminals.

[John2]

4. I've come to

the decision, he is guilty too, after hearing those screams. I don't believe it was Zimmerman at all screaming. It sounded like a young kid. Zimmerman shows no remorse or guilt at all. My first impression of seeing him, He looks like an angry, arrogant individual, who believes he can get away with murder. He looks like a person, who believes that he can take the law into his own hands. I've seen that type before. I examined his words before he confronted Martin.

I think it gave away Zimmerman's state of mind to support my conclusions. His exact word was "They", meaning whom? He used a curse word in describing the victim. That tone, showed hostility towards the victim, not fear of him. It seems to me Zimmerman had some hostility towards the victim in getting away with something, and he had already decided to not let him escape in his deluded and perverted mind.

In my mind Zimmerman is a punk and a coward, killing a defenseless kid. Why don't he take on a man. That is what I think of him. When I heard those screams from that kid for help, I felt for the kid. So I don't regret for one moment expressing my opinion. And I think he would be getting off light for second Degree Murder. In my mind, he stalked the kid like a predator and it was murder in the first degree.

[trumad]

8. Best post I have ever seen about this case.

Spot on.

[naaman fletcher]

11. Well,

I agree with everything that he wrote and I think Zimm is guilty in the moral sense, but I think he will be acquitted. I think that is quite clear actually.

[JimDandy]

12. Zimmerman is guilty in the legal and moral sense

and clearly he will be found guilty. The screams of a frightened boy looking down the barrel of a gun at his imminent death will convict Zimmerman, if the judge allows in the prosecution's expert testimony.

[naaman fletcher]

14. I disagree,

but we will see.

I mean, I think he's guilty, but I don't think that will be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

[davidpdx]

66. One the problems is so much misinformation has been put out that

and the case has gotten so much public attention. I think he is guilty, but I think there is a good possibility he will be acquitted based on the misinformation and the lies put out by Zimmerman and his lawyers. That is what would prevent proof beyond a reasonable doubt

[Ka hrnt]

18. I agree that he will likely be acquitted...

Given what we know, I just don't see how they will eliminate "reasonable doubt". It's clear to me from the pictures (cuts, broken nose) and autopsy report (besides the gunshot wound, no injuries besides an abrasion on a hand) Zimmerman got the worst of the physical altercation up until the gunshot. Some (not all) witnesses stated they saw Trayvon on top of George. Given this, it doesn't make much sense that Trayvon would be screaming for help while "winning" the fight. Zimmerman also claimed in his initial report he was screaming for help. As of right now, I personally couldn't convict as (from what I see/know), there isn't enough evidence to flatly overturn Zimmerman's account that Trayvon started the physical altercation. And if Trayvon escalated it to a physical confrontation then I don't see how Zimmerman gets convicted.

Given the strong charge (2nd Degree Murder vs. Manslaughter) I assume the prosecution has more evidence that hasn't been made public. (In particular, from my layperson's viewpoint, it all hinges on them proving that Zimmerman started the physical altercation.)

[bettyellen]

21. the screams stopped when the bullet rang out- although GZ maintains he continued to scream, because

he didn't know Trayvon was dead. But there were no screams after the bullet was fired. He also denied that he continued to follow Trayvon, explaining it was a complete coincidence he was going in the same direction. Looking for an address no where near he needed the police to come meet him. I doubt that is true. Not sure he'd need to make up so many stories to explain his actions if he didn't feel damned guilty.

[JimDandy]

10. Zimmerman has gained a LOT of weight

since he murdered Travon and even since he posted bail some months back. The night of the murder, Zimmerman was slim, trim and fit, and certainly looked, as you said, like "a person who believes that he can take the law into his own hands".

In court yesterday, George Zimmerman looked like he has gained at least 75 pounds. Having him deliberately gain weight in order to put a defendant in front of the jury who looks like he would be unfit to start a fight would be an interesting strategy for the defense.

The prosecutors had better keep photos constantly in front of the jury of Zimmerman looking fit and svelt on the day of the murder, because otherwise the jurists might unconciously be influenced by his current weight.

Eta: many sources reporting that Zimmerman has gained 110 pounds since the day of the murder when he repoted his weight to the police as 194 pounds.

[Submariner]

24. I noticed he also got rid of his MS13 punk gangsta look

by getting rid of the skin head look with the goatee, by shaving and growing a head of hair.

[JimDandy]

32. A lot of a trial is appearance and demeanor

of the defendant. Getting rid of the skinhead look and adding a huge paunch can only help him look more respectable and less menacing.

[GreenStormCloud]

56. 5" 8", 194 lbs is NOT "slim, trim and fit".

When I joined the Navy (long time ago) I was 5' 10 1/2" and 195lbs and I had a definate paunch. And Z is 2 1/2" shorter than me, so his paunch would be greater. On the transcript he starts panting after a short run.

[JimDandy]

65. I've seen several photos

of Zimmerman from immediately after the murder and he was very trim! A couple sites even show a series of photos of him dramatically gaining the weight between Feb 2012 and Jun 2013.

Also, he had recently applied to be a police officer around the time prior to the murder and would very likely have been as fit as possible in order to have the best chance of being accepted into training.

With the phone so close to his face as he was running, his breathing would have sounded louder and more pronounced than normal. (On Hannity's show, Zimmerman ended up denying that he was running during his call to the dispatcher and stated the sound was the swishing of the wind! His changing story will be a problem for his defence.)

[GreenStormCloud]

72. I used YOUR weight numbers.

His height is easily available on the internet - 5' 8", which is 68 inches. That weight with that height is NOT "slim, trim and fit". Here is a U.S. Army chart: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/army/l/blmaleweight.htm Z was well above maximum H/W. Max weight for 68 inches, at age 28, is 179 lbs. According to YOU he weighted 194, well over max weight.

[JimDandy]

74. Zimmeman had been training at the Boxing/Kickboxing

Gym called Kokopelli's in Longwood, with a membership paid by his father, the judge. It teaches mixed martial arts (MMA) fighting and advertises that it's "the most complete fight gym in the world".

Muscle mass is 3 times as dense as fat. A fit, muscly, 194 pound Zimmerman is very different from being just 194 pounds of fat, as you're probably aware if you've been through basic training in the military.

In any case, the nearly 40 lbs George Zimmerman (at 5'9" and 194) had over Travon Martin (5'10.5" and 158 per autopsy report) was a significant advantage, and put Zimmerman 3 fighting weight classes above Travon.

Eta: they would never be allowed to fight professionally in the ring together because of the unfair weight advantage Zimmerman had over Travon. At 28, and having had years of being a bouncer/security guard, the more experienced Zimmerman simply had the advantage in a fight in the dark with a teenager who had just turned 17 years old 21 days before he was murdered.

[HockeyMom]

73. There is video of Zimmerman

walking into the police station which will show his weight back then.

[JimDandy]

75. Thanks. I'll go look for that. n/t

[DinahMoeHum]

5. If that fuck walks, then "the sky's the limit" AFAIC. . .

. . .starting with Sanford, FLA. If the place burned down tomorrow, I wouldn't miss it.

[NaturalHigh]

13. I really hope that you are not advocating violence.

What exactly would that accomplish? What would be the moral justification for burning down "that place"?

[DinahMoeHum]

16. I hope to hell that never happens.

But the MSM people had better not act "shocked, shocked" if, G*d forbid, it comes to pass from people out there.

Personally, I prefer a general strike in that area which shuts that shit-ass town down.

[heaven05]

23. if

this fuck walks it will be open season for the 'stand your ground' gun jerks. No doubt about it. IF this fuck walks there will be MANY MORE MURDERS.

[wercal]

27. Really?

You want more violence?

Not even worth it....

[southernyankeebelle]

45. You need to take a deep breath with talk like that. What would burning the town down

do? Lots of innocent people who have nothing to do with this case will get hurt. Revenge gets you nowhere friend. Please think twice before saying something like that.

[Vattel]

63. wow, disgusting sentiment.

[gvstn]

6. I just read the USAtoday article

It seems they are playing it down the middle but with a slight tendency to throw in some sympathetic phrases for Zimmerman and a few aggressive phrases for Martin. Maybe I am reading it through tinted glasses?

This should be clear-cut. It was unnecessary aggression against an unarmed teen who was just walking home. Martin was not the instigator and unarmed thus an unnecessary shooting/killing.

I'm actually interested in how this trial plays out as opposed to something like Jodi Arias which was manufactured interest.

TPTB are the ones on trial here. They only leveled charges when it became clear the public was not going to allow this to be swept under the rug without a thorough investigation. They are still afraid of public unrest. The media, usually all gunge-ho for "hang 'em high", are afraid to do that here and are trying to sound more impartial without being anti-gun or telling white people that it is not OK to immediately think of blacks as suspect. Definitely something to watch play out.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. I have a dream...

...that some day the next step of the process will take place, and my city will be exposed for its segregated system of power that unfairly victimized minorities, first by improperly breaking State land planning laws to eliminate affordable multi-family housing that most minorities could afford, and by upscaling the price of homes to keep it out their reach; and secondly, by creating a shadow government which uses henchmen to take over homeowner Associations to neutralize dissent.

I hope the Trayvon Martin case is just the beginning.

[uppityperson]

36. Wouldn't that be a great thing to happen from this.

[Baitball Blogger]

38. I hope his legacy will live on.

[tofuandbeer]

15. Probably going to be a long trial.

[naaman fletcher]

19. I think it will be short.

There won't be a lot of witnesses:

Essentially all you have is the experts fighting about the voice stuff.

Then you have one or two witnesses from the apartment complex, and I think Zimmerman himself will take the stand.

I don't see it being that long. Certainly not an OJ type spectacle.

[wercal]

31. It actually depends on what is admitted as evidence

If the prosecutor has a voice expert...so does the defense. Bringing in the voice experts adds 2 weeks to the trial.

The defense has been instructed not to bring up Martin's character at the trial...but if the prosecution falters and declares Martin to have had a good character, the defense will want to bring in witnesses and records concerning Martin's expulsion from school, as well as photos from social media. The motions and decision making on this stuff could take a week.

So, it really depends on how the attorneys want to play it. It could be anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 weeks IMHO.

I think it will be very difficult for Zimmerman to take the stand. His initial statement to the police is a little 'squishy', he essentially lied to the court about his finances, and some of his statements on the Sean Hannity show do not mesh with his original statement. I would be amazed if he took the stand.

[naaman fletcher]

34. Hmm,

I think the finances issue wouldn't be allowed to be brought up, as it is not relevant to what he has been tried for. I don't know what he said on Hannity, I'll look for that.

My basic theory on this is he is going to tell the story he told all along (I don't know what was on hannity). I want him to be convicted, but I simply think there is reasonable doubt as long as he comes off as sincere (but again, I was under the impression he had been telling the same story all along).

[wercal]

39. Well I agree with you

I do think he will be acquitted.

But his discussion with Hannity falls apart at times:


HANNITY: -- trying to maybe get into the mind-set, because we also have learned that Trayvon was speaking with his girlfriend supposedly at the time -- that maybe he was afraid of you, didn't know who you were?

ZIMMERMAN: No.

HANNITY: You don't think -- why do you think that he was running then?

ZIMMERMAN: Maybe I said running, but he was more --

HANNITY: You said he's running.

ZIMMERMAN: Yes. He was like skipping, going away quickly. But he wasn't running out of fear.

HANNITY: You could tell the difference?

ZIMMERMAN: He wasn't running.

HANNITY: So he wasn't actually running?

ZIMMERMAN: No, sir.

HANNITY: OK. Because that's what you said to the dispatcher, that you thought he was running.

Let me ask you this. At that point, we can hear the unbuckling of the seatbelt, hear you opening the car door, and this dispatch asked you at that point, and this became a very key moment that everyone in the media focused on, and the dispatcher asked you, "are you following him?" And you said yes. Explain that.

ZIMMERMAN: I meant that I was going in the same direction as him, to keep an eye on him so that I could tell the police where he was going. I didn't mean that I was actually pursuing him.

HANNITY: So this moment where someone suggested you were out of breath on that tape, you yourself were not running?

ZIMMERMAN: No, sir.

HANNITY: And you I think made a statement to the police that it was the wind as you were getting out of the car and moving, and that was the sound we hear, not you out of breath?

ZIMMERMAN: Yes, sir.

[naaman fletcher]

41. Interesting, thanks nt

[GreenStormCloud]

57. You forgot forensics.

They will be able to determine the posture Martin was in when he was shot. That can support or crush Z's story.

And the clothing of both can be tested for fiber transfer to help establish relative positions.

[naaman fletcher]

59. forensics

You are right. Certainly there will be the gunshout wound info and powder burns. I am not too sure they will be able to figure out "relative positions" though.

I guess, if you shoot a guy who is on his back on the grass, maybe does the bullet go through and splash back dirt into the wound? I dont know.

[GreenStormCloud]

61. In the case you describe...

...Martin's clothes would be in contact with his body. In the case Z is describing, Martin would be on top of Z and bending over, which would cause his clothes to be hanging away from his body with a couple of inches gap between his body and his clothes. Forensics should be able to tell if his clothes, at the place of the wound, were in contact with his body or not. If there is such a gap, then Z's story is stongly supported.

The bullet did not exit Martin's body. There was no exit wound.

[naaman fletcher]

62. interesting, thanks. nt

[davidpdx]

67. True, we don't know what forensic evidence was collected

Hopefully the authorities collected enough to give a sense of what happened.

[JDPriestly]

70. If Zimmerman takes the stand, he has to undergo cross-examination.

That could be difficult for him even if he is schooled in his answers (which is not supposed to be the case). There are some aspects of his description of the events that are kind of difficult to follow. I think that is why the trial is taking place. His testimony has been somewhat murky if not contradictory. The prosecution will have transcripts of prior statements by Zimmerman. Lots of 'splainin' to do. But you never know how a case will turn out.

The outcome will depend on the judge, the jury and the lawyers and there are a lot of variables in that mix if you think about it.

[heaven05]

17. I'm

on the edge of my fucking seat.

[southernyankeebelle]

20. It bothers me to see MSNBC and Fox News going to cover this case. I don't like it. It will

make things worse. I wish they wouldn't televise this case. I see riots coming out of this either way. It scares me.

[wercal]

28. See Post #5

A DU member is advocating violence and riots.

[Iliyah]

22. Don't forget

HLN, CNN and probably majority of the television news channels across the country, especially Los Angeles which will remind a lot of people of the incident re: Rodney King.

[Socal31]

25. I think the recent images of Treyvon smoing weed and with a gun ended it.

Even though they were ruled inadmissable, in this internet-age, I would bet most of the potential jury pool saw them. And if someone had an agenda, they could easily say they did not see them during jury selection.

Those photos completely soiled the "little boy with skittles" image that was originally portrayed. So take that into account with the "reasonable doubt" issues with the escalation to a physical altercation, I don't think 12 people are going to find Zimmerman guilty.

Before my head gets bitten off, please note I am only stating what I believe to be true about the trial, not what I think of Trayvon, and not what I think of Mr. Zimmerman's actions that night.

[wercal]

29. The weed was not ruled inadmissable

The judge ruled that it could not be brought up in opening statements.

I'm sure the medical examiner/autopsy report will be presented, which shows THC in his system.

This is very important, in light of a 2nd degree murder charge...where gross negligence on Zimmerman's part has to be proved. The prosecution is trying to prove that a reasonable person would have known that following Martin could very likely result in a physical altercation. All the defense has to do is establish that THC makes some people paranoid, Zimmerman had no way of knowing Martin had it in his system, and a reasonable person would not have known that following Martin would have resulted in a homocidal confrontation.

That's it.

Its a hard case to prove.

And then we have winners right here at DU who want to riot if it doesn't go their way (post #5).

I predict mis-trial.

[naaman fletcher]

35. I don't think that's right:

The prosecution is trying to prove that a reasonable person would have known that following Martin could very likely result in a physical altercation

That would have ended his stand your ground claim, which is why he isn't using stand your ground.

As I understand it under florida law Zimmerman could have followed him and even provoked him. As long at Trayvon started the physical fight AND Zimmerman was in fear of his life, then he's acquitted.

I think the prosecution basically has to show that Zimmerman started the fight. Zimmerman was on top of Martin, and that it's Martin's voice on the 911 call.

Basically, that's impossible to prove, which is why I have said all along that this is going to end up like Rodney King. The prosecutors over-charged, and the result was an acquittal. They should be charging Zimmerman with manslaughter.

[wercal]

42. Well we agree and disagree on things

I agree it is impossible to prove who started the fight. This is why I don't think the prosecution will even bother trying to establish that...anything they say will be pure conjecture, with no witnesses or evidence to back it up.

This is why I think the case hinges on whether or not following Martin was wreckless and grossly negligent. Its all the prosecution has (and basically its the only thing outlined in the charging affidavit)...which in itself is a very long stretch and difficult to prove.

SYG never had anything to do with this case...not one thing. Zimmerman's initial statement to the police was that he was pinned to the ground...so this is a standard self defense case. Zimmerman never brought up SYG, nor have his attorneys. The mashed potato brained media talking heads brought it up...but nobody actually involved in the case ever has.

I too believe they should have charged manslaughter...as I predict a mis-trial on 2nd degree murder.

[naaman fletcher]

43. Ok, I agree

It should have been manslaughter. I don't think mistrial, I think staight acquittal.

[wercal]

46. I'm going to put on my flamesuit and

Explain why I think mistrial.

There will probably be at least one black person on the jury.

This case is very racially charged...Al Sharpton has made a trek down there to fan the flames...and not one single black facebook friend of mine has been without 'Justice for Trayvon' posts, in my anectdotal observation. It reminds me very much of the OJ case. I'd love to see a poll, but I imagine 90 percent and up of black Floridians are already pre-disposed to vote guilty.

So I predict the messy business of a mis-trial and the politics of whether or not to re-try...and whether or not Zimmerman gets bail after that.

[naaman fletcher]

47. interesting. nt

[NOLALady]

49. What is your prediction of

the pre-disposition of 90 percent of white Floridians?

Flames were fanned when Zimmerman stalked and shot an unarmed kid. Rev. Sharpton had nothing to do with the flames.

[wercal]

55. Not guilty

I'm predicting a mis-trial...and I predict the jury will break down along racial lines.

As to Sharpton - those of us outside of Florida would likely never have heard of this case, if it didn't 'go national' with the likes of Al
Sharpton. He brags about exactly that in this video:

Al Sharpton quite literally has a history of fanning flames...actually inciting the torching of a store, in which a half dozen people died. Racial flames is Sharpton's business.

[NOLALady]

58. " Racial flames is Sharpton's business."

I remember many who said exactly the same thing about MLK. There were many injustices that people outside of the local communities knew nothing about. MLK changed that.
It seems to me that Rev Sharpton is attempting to continue some of the work of Rev King.

[wercal]

60. You have insulted MLK and all his work

That is all.

[NOLALady]

77. Seriously?

Were you there?

Did you march for equal rights?

Were you arrested as a teen, for the crime of carrying a sign that demanded the right to vote?

Did you help MLK with his work?

Did you march alongside him as Rev Sharpton did?

[wercal]

78. Seriously

Were you there alongside Kareem Brunner when he suffocated?

Did you march alongside Garnette Ramantar before his horrible death.

Did you help Sharpton with his work, namely getting Angeline Marrero killed?

Was anyone arrested for the death of Olga Garcia and Mayra Rentas?

Does Cynthia Martinez even have the right to live, much less vote?

Maybe I should fish up his cocaine video.

Or maybe his anti-jewish slurs.

And I guess calling people 'homos' is ok, right?

Fred Phelps was part of the civil rights movement - does that innoculate him from all future wrongdoing, based on your logic?

[JimDandy]

48. The jury is six people.

I have never seen the photos you described. Travon is the victim and the jury knows that. They'll be able to reach a just verdict.

[yardwork]

54. None of that changes my opinion that Zimmerman is guilty of murder, and I'm white.

A teenage boy smoking weed? Shocking. A teenage boy posing with a weapon to show off on his Facebook page. Wow, that never happened before.

None of that changes the fact that this teenage child was gunned down by a self-appointed vigilante who panicked because he saw a black kid wearing a hoodie walking through his gated neighborhood.

[2Design]

26. Zimmerman defense is doing everything to squelch the fact it did not have to happen

if zimmerman had stayed in his car and not followed him as the 911 dispatcher told him

[Socal31]

30. I don't read or participate in the Martin/Zimmerman discussions, just because it is so inflammatory.

However, I bet this point has been argued ad-nauseam. I don't understand why the defense would need to squelch information that although proves Zimmerman is an idiot, does not prove he violated any law.

The case will come down to testimony and physical evidence as to who escalated the situation to physical violence first. To me, that fact alone is the difference between somebody being acquitted, and somebody deserving the needle.

[wercal]

33. I actually think the case does hinge on the 'getting out of the car' moment

If the prosecution thought that they could establish that Zimmerman escalated the situation to physical violence, they could go for first degree murder. Nobody knows who threw the first punch, and nobody (other than Zimmerman could ever know). Its unproveable.

This is second degree murder, and the prosecution must prove gross negligence...that Zimmerman acted so wrecklessly, that a reasonable person would have known his actions could result in homocide. So, it boils down to whether or not following Martin meets that test....which will actually very difficult, since the defense can show that Zimmerman made it a lifestyle to follow people through his neighborhood, without it resulting in death before.

And nobody will be getting the needle. Life in prison is the max for 2nd degree murder.

[Twofish]

37. I am fully prepared to deal with rioters.

Like a Korean in LA.

[Socal31]

40. Who is doing the rioting?

Who are they rioting against? Why do you feel the group that will riot will automatically act that way?

Rodney King was a bunch of white police officers beating a black man, with visual evidence played over and over, acquitted by a white jury.

Zimmerman is not exactly WASPY looking, and Florida is not exactly the racial powder-keg that LA was/is currently (although now it is African Americans and Latinos at war here), and the racial component to this story is being pushed heavily by the media to get page clicks.

I think it is irresponsible for media to hint at possible riots, almost like planting a seed. They are devastating to people, the community, and property.

And by "media" I mean the craptastic 24/7 infotainment channels that need to fill tons of airtime with garbage.

[Twofish]

44. Hmm.

https://twitter.com/search?q=trayvon%20riot&src=typd

You figure it out.

[NaturalHigh]

79. There is some nasty stuff in that thread.

Do these geniuses realize that police can see their twitter posts?

[Ash_F]

76. I think the racial component is not so much to do with Zimmerman

But the White prosecutors' inexplicable decision to not do his job and the incredible public outcry it took for the government to finally assign another prosecutor to the case.

People are really focused on Zimmerman, but that is a mistake. The real story here is our justice system.

[NOLALady]

50. Are you referring to

skin heads rioting if Zimmerman is convicted?

[Twofish]

51. I'm referring to anyone who riots.

I don't care if they're furries, or amish people turning over cars while wielding pitchforks screaming about justice for Trayvon and an end to integrated circuitry. Do that shit near me and it won't end well for you. I'll defend myself, I'll defend my neighbors. That shit has no place in a supposedly civilized society. This isn't the 90s, if people choose to riot, there will be a lot of dead rioters. It is dispicable that there are some people here encouraging it.

[Paladin]

52. Sounds like you're indulging in some wishful thinking. (nt)

[Twofish]

53. Sounds like you're projecting.

[MsFlorida]

64. live near here - yes, it seems we are all on edge

Hoping daughter and son in law chose that new job in Washington state, I will go with. Looking forward to escaping while I can. This is not a good place to live. Tried for 18 years, bought a house, had a good job -- now, just ready to go.

Crime is off the charts, work is well -- wally world if you are lucky.

[davidpdx]

68. Yowser

If you are there prepare to hunker down for a few days. It could be nasty. In the case you do stay, maybe you can give us updates if anything is happening.

[Scuba]

71. Good think Eric Holder isn't prosecuting; he would say there could be a "negative impact" and stop.