Councilman wants Baltimore to boycott Florida after Zimmerman trial

[alp227]

Source: Baltimore Sun

If Councilman Nick Mosby has his way, Baltimore government would boycott Florida-based businesses in protest to the state's stand-your-ground law after George Zimmerman's acquittal.

Mosby intends to file a resolution on Monday to encourage city agencies and investment boards to avoid doing business with companies in the Sunshine State. He hopes that would pressure the legislature there to rethink a law that allows individuals to use lethal force, if necessary, to defend themselves in public places.

The resolution also calls on city officials to avoid traveling to Florida or attending events in the state.

"Ultimately, the purpose of the legislation is to call to attention to an issue I think is very severe, and is not just a Florida issue but an American issue," Mosby said. "I never want to see another Trayvon Martin again in my lifetime, nor do I want to see another policy that exacerbates the social issues we have in this country."


Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bal-councilman-wants-baltimore-to-boycott-florida-after-zimmerman-trial-20130808,0,5564151.story

[branford]

1. American cities boycotting each other . . . that won't cause any problems or divisiveness.

What happens when residents of Florida want to boycott Baltimore?

[KamaAina]

4. Florida's a city?

[branford]

5. Oops, No. :)

No good can come from American states and cities boycotting one another!

[whopis01]

32. Yep. Just south of Homestead.

Though I don't think that's what he was referring to...

[noiretextatique]

8. the diviseness is already there

poor investigation by the police because of the victim's race.
inaction by the DA because of the victim's race.
acquittal...because of the victim's race.

i am sure the citizens of baltimore will be just fine without florida teabaggers.

[branford]

9. Wow. I rarely get to see so many blunt, conclusory opinions in one short post?

Regardless, Florida is a large, fairly wealthy state. Baltimore is not a rich city. Even most Floridians who did not agree with the verdict will not appreciate calls to boycott their local businesses that had absolutely nothing to do with the Zimmerman mess. I similarly sincerely doubt that the good residents of Baltimore will appreciate it if, and when, Florida state residents respond in kind the city's boycott (if the resolution passes).

We have real political and economic problems in our country. Nothing will be solved by such pointless, smug grandstanding.

[olddots]

14. call me smug , call me pointless

[branford]

15. No, I called the politician in Baltimore smug and pointless, not you.

I believe that at best, the boycott proposal is self-aggrandizing and meaningless, and at worst, can have a negative economic impact of Baltimore.

You are perfectly entitled to your opinions, we simply do not agree.

[Fringe]

23. In the past ..

Last edited Sat Aug 10, 2013, 10:26 AM - Edit history (1)

Many employees did not agree with sexual arrassment or gender or race discrimination, yet companies have been sued for millions and inturn they were forced to make change.

Yes, and those lawsuits did hurt the company and employees.

[noiretextatique]

33. boo hoo

i am sure liberal floridians won't be upset about the boycott. as for the rest i could give a shit what zimmerman apologists think.

[billh58]

13. Sad, but all too

true. The NRA and ALEC are very adept at playing on a region's inherent bigotry and racism, and CCW coupled with SYG was an easy sell to the corrupt Florida politicians who sponsored them.

Florida is not a safe destination for anyone, but especially not for people of color.

[otohara]

18. If Me or Family Member Gets Killed In Florida

by some wanna be cop profiler.... I want the person who did it to A) get arrested on the spot. B) go to jail.

Screw these states with laws that allows people to get away with murder.

[Fringe]

24. Exactly..

More than anything it's about safety. Florida is not safe.

[TheDebbieDee]

26. SYG is the law in 21 or 22 states. If SYG is ever to be repealed, then it must be done

one state at a time! Nothing will get a state's legislature's attention quicker than several small business managers banding together to complain that SYG is hurting their business.

Florida today, Missouri (I live in Missouri) tomorrow.....

[otohara]

27. North Carolina's New Open Carry

everywhere law totally freaks me out - not to mention the other insane laws they've passed recently.
Even though our kid is living there for a few years, we won't go - NC was a state I wanted to visit until recently.

[TheDebbieDee]

28. I lived in North Carolina from 1983 - 1986..........

I was married to a very abusive man at the time and I'm quite sure that I would have been killed if there was an open carry everywhere law.

[Jenoch]

2. I don't see this as being a good idea.

Why punish a company or people that have nothing to do with the Zimmerman trial?

[Dr. Strange]

22. Maybe this could encourage companies to get involved.

You know, have the companies try to get certain people elected, maybe spend a lot of their money on elections. That would be good, yes?

Oh, wait.

[Chakab]

3. I appreciate the sentiment, but Baltimore should focus on its own problems.

n/t

[Niceguy1]

11. and depending on the source

Of the money they are spending a boycott would be illegal.

[billh58]

6. A very visible response

aimed at combating SYG vigilante-enabling laws not only in Florida, but across the nation. A growing number of prominent people are joining the fight to restore sanity to our streets and communities.

It isn't the results of the boycott which matter so much, but rather the national awareness of these obscene NRA-sponsored "gunz are the solution" laws that the publicity brings.

[branford]

7. Should these boycotts include states with both strict gun laws and SYG, like California? n/t

[Kingofalldems]

12. No one got away with murder in California.

[alp227]

16. OJ Simpson? Robert Blake? N/t

[Kingofalldems]

17. Wow. Didn't know they were SYG cases.

[X_Digger]

34. Psst.. California has SYG in jury instructions

http://www.courts.ca.gov/partners/documents/calcrim_juryins.pdf#page=289

A defendant is not required to retreat. He or she is entitled to stand his or her ground and defend himself or herself and, if reasonably necessary, to pursue an assailant until the danger of (death/great bodily injury/<insert forcible and atrocious crime>] has passed. This is so even if safety could have been achieved by retreating.

[we can do it]

19. I refuse to visit a state wher I can be shot for no reason.

Devisive? It" the fault of Florida, not mine...vote the assholes out, change the law...stop backing bigots.

[KinMd]

29. You can get shot almost anyplace for no reason it seems

..ie Aurora Co and Newtown Ct

[Nye Bevan]

20. Why only Florida? Why not every state with SYG? (nt)

[otohara]

25. I'm There - None Are Safe

Stand your ground states are dangerous and unjust.

[Fringe]

21. I'm boycotting Florida.

Florida can suc it! I have not bought anything from Florida since and I'm not planing to. I am also considering a trip to Cali instead of that place.

[X_Digger]

35. Might want to rethink that Cali trip..

http://www.courts.ca.gov/partners/documents/calcrim_juryins.pdf#page=289

A defendant is not required to retreat. He or she is entitled to stand his or her ground and defend himself or herself and, if reasonably necessary, to pursue an assailant until the danger of (death/great bodily injury/<insert forcible and atrocious crime>] has passed. This is so even if safety could have been achieved by retreating.

[Fringe]

36. When was zimmerman in danger?

Florida let a murderer go free.

[X_Digger]

37. The same result could have happened in California.. might want to avoid it. n/t

[Fringe]

39. Florida is the south and the south is racist

Racist live every where but the most racist still live in the south.

Florida is not safe. Cali is nothing like Florida. There are many things that frequently happened in the south that could not or would be something unusual in another state.


Also, something appears to be wrong with your link. At least i can't access on my ipad.

[X_Digger]

40. Ahh, remove the #page=289 part of it, maybe?

Those are the jury instructions given to jurors in similar cases in California.

If you're blaming 'stand your ground' and boycotting Florida because of that, then you should also boycott California (and about 30 other states that either have the same law explicitly or via jurisprudence.)

[Fringe]

42. Jury instruction is not

Key to the verdict. Even judges on the supreme count given the same instructions reach different verdicts/opinions.

I am blaming Florida for the murder of someone who happen to be walking while black, and the fact that a murderer is free.

[X_Digger]

44. These are the standard instructions given to jurors.

Had this case occurred in California, it likely would have reached the same result.

Feel free to visit Cali, but it's a bit hypocritical.

[Fringe]

46. There is no likely...

It would depend on the demographics. There are more racist in the south and that does matter.

[Ecumenist]

52. NOPE, wouldn't have happened here, trust me, I'm a native BORN AND BRED MINDSET

is completely different. WE ARE NOT A SYG STATE! Sorry to burst your bubble but you are confused and conflating things, by OVER-FUCKING-READING to the "nth" degree.

[X_Digger]

57. *cough*

http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2013/07/22/5-things-to-know-about-stand-your-ground-in-california/

[Ecumenist]

65. BULLSHIT! You can twist everything you want...JUST KEEP ON COUGHING because ALEC tried to

institute SYG here & in NEVADA ...THEY FAILED...period!

[X_Digger]

66. LOL!

It's okay, don't let facts get in the way of good poutrage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand-your-ground_law

Many states have some form of stand-your-ground law. Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts (though the term is used very loosely there), Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming have adopted Castle Doctrine statutes, and other states (Iowa, Virginia, and Washington) have considered stand-your-ground laws of their own.

(footnote markers removed)

California has 'stand your ground' via jurisprudence (as it existed before explicit SYG laws). Doesn't stop a legislator from also trying to pass a law, but not having the law doesn't mean it isn't in practice in California, either.

You should take up your concerns with the California Supreme Court.

http://www.californiajuryinstructions.net/Criminal/CALCRIM/Vol_1/SERIES_500_HOMICIDE/CALCRIM_505_228_Justifiable_Homicide_Self-Defense_or_Defense_of_Another.htm

{A defendant is not required to retreat. He or she is entitled to stand his or her ground and defend himself or herself and, if reasonably necessary, to pursue an assailant until the danger of (death/great bodily injury/_________________________________________ <insert forcible and
atrocious crime&gt has passed. This is so even if safety could have been achieved by retreating.}

{Great bodily injury means significant or substantial physical injury. It is an injury that is greater than minor or moderate harm.}

The People have the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the {attempted} killing was not justified. If the People have not met this burden, you must find the defendant not guilty of (murder/ {or} manslaughter/ attempted murder/ {or} attempted voluntary manslaughter).

[Ecumenist]

67. Interpretation via JURISPRUDENCE DOES NOT MAKE US A SYG STATE...You think that if someone

did a "zimmermurder" here in the Golden State, he'd have gone home that night? ARE YOU HIGH?!! That shit wouldn't have happened EVER! WE ARE NOT A SYG STATE and LEGAL THEORY AND interpretation DOES NOT CHANGE THOSE FACTS which is WHY the list of SYG states is only 21 STATES LONG. None of them are CALIFORNIA..You have a right to your opinion but your sorry ass DOES NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO YOUR OWN FACTS!

[X_Digger]

69. Actually, it does.

http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Stand-your-ground-the-rule-in-state-courts-affirm-3482665.php

The stand-your-ground doctrine, which has vaulted into national prominence with the killing of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, isn't limited to the two dozen states that have passed laws since 2005 expanding the right to use deadly force in confrontations.

It's also the rule in California, by court decree. For more than a century, the state's judges have declared that a person who reasonably believes he or she faces serious injury or death from an assailant does not have to back off - inside or outside the home - and instead can use whatever force is needed to eliminate the danger.

[X_Digger]

71. Lol, if you say so. What do the lawyers and judges actually know about the law, compared to you?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/17/1224515/-5-Myths-about-Stand-Your-Ground-Debunked

Some states, like California (I am a California criminal defense attorney), have Stand Your Ground based on case law handed down by the courts over decades and centuries. Other states, also including California, have Stand Your Ground codified into their justifiable homicide statutes.

[tumtum]

38. FL did not let a murderer go free.

He was prosecuted by the state of FL, it was the 6 jurors that found him not guilty due to the failure of the DA's office to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

And that Cali trip, their SYG is very similar to FL's.

[Fringe]

41. Yes, a murderer did go free.

There wasn't a proper investigation/collection of evidence and there was a jury tilted with racist.

[tumtum]

43. I don't fundamentally disagree with you,

what I'm saying is that FL prosecuted him, it was the 6 jurors that set him free due to the prosecutions fuck ups.

[Fringe]

45. Well, if the case was not properly investigated.

Then Florida did let Zimmerman go free. As far the jury, there have been many tilted southern juries in the past that have had the same outcome.

Before ever spending another dime in Florida something will have to change. Get them in in pocket , companies losing money helped to bring awareness to sexual harassment/racial discrimination, so boycotting Florida can work.

[tumtum]

47. The problem with a boycott

is that historically, state to state boycott's usually fail miserably, which is probably going to happen here if the resolution is passed, which is not guaranteed.
Now, country to country boycott's are more successful, as was our boycott against S. Africa.

[crim son]

30. Perhaps the move is only symbolic.

I need no encouragement to stay the hell out of Florida and I suspect I'm not alone.

[blkmusclmachine]

31. .

.

[madville]

48. Baltimore murder rate 7 times that of Florida

The Baltimore murder rate is 35 per 100,000 residents whereas Florida's is 5 per 100,000 residents, so one is seven times more likely to be murdered in Baltimore (where 94% of murder victims are black).

Maybe they should focus on their own problems as much.

[DrDan]

54. facts facts facts - how dare you muck up a good rant with facts . . . . the boycotters here were on

a roll

[tumtum]

59. Now you've gone and done it,

introduced facts into the story, how dare you do that.

[Dr. Strange]

61. The murder doesn't bother them.

It's just the SYG law.

[Throd]

68. But that would require real (and difficult) work.

Much easier to point the finger of outrage 1000 miles south rather than 2 miles northeast.

[Beacool]

49. I intend to go to Florida like I always do.

I have loved ones in the state. I lived in So. Florida at one time and have no intention of ceasing to go there over a verdict.

[DrDan]

55. I have lived here for over 30 years - will stay

the call for a boycott is just more grandstanding

justice ran it's course, many disagreed and are having a hard time coming to grips with the verdict

[Beacool]

58. Not to go over the whole thing again.

But I mostly blame the prosecutors. They brought in a special prosecutor, she decided that a grand jury indictment was not needed and they overcharged Zimmerman. It was never a murder 2 case. If they had charged him with manslaughter from the onslaught, I think the verdict would have been different.

Regardless, I'm not going to stop going home for the holidays just because of a verdict in a trial.

[DrDan]

60. I think they feared the grand jury would not decide to indict and they feared the

public reaction.

They did not, for whatever reason, have the evidence - definitely not for murder 2. I don't think it was there for manslaughter. But we will never know.

The jury spoke - and I find it hard to find fault with the verdict as I did not hear "proof beyond reasonable doubt".

anyway, its history now.

[tumtum]

62. +100.

I think you've correctly stated the truth. Watching the trial on TV, I couldn't help but notice how the prosecution bumbled the case, their own witnesses were making the defense case, it's no wonder GZ didn't take the stand, why should he?
The prosecution made the case for him.

[DrDan]

63. you are absolutely right - every witness the state put on worked against their case in some way

the die was cast midway through the trial

[lynne]

50. LOL! Pot, meet Kettle -

- as Baltimore is the "Murder and Gun Violence Capital" of Maryland and their murder rate is significantly higher than any city in Florida.

Makes much more sense to boycott Baltimore.

[Niceguy1]

51. they should consult the city attorney

First...you can boycott a state when spending federal money... unless they wantntonloose that funding..which wouldn ironic.

[Eleanors38]

53. There needs to be a Hate Florida Group on DU...

That way all the regional and cultural animosity can be consolidated in one spot so DUers can writhe and over-indulge until they can't stand themselves, and GOPers can have convenient one-stop shopping for hate quotes for delivery to selected voters in that state -- which TWICE has gone for Obama.

I'm in. Who else?

[DrDan]

56. great idea -

I live here and would love for the beaches and restaurants to be a bit less crowded

[Eleanors38]

64. LOL! That was the standing response our family had

whenever someone complained about Florida: Believe all you hear, it's horrible. Don't come!

My Mom's family came into FL in '59. 1859.