I know, police barracks were guarded, so they beat some poor white truck driver named Reginald Denny instead.

I took some pretty awesome pics during the riot, my building guarded the Ralphs next door, I asked the guys as they were loading up and heading to the roof of my apt building what they were doing.

"Our beer is in that Ralph's, nobody is getting our beer"

That Ralphs on Sunset Blvd remained untouched right there in the heart of Hollywood.

 

-----signature-----

You've missed the point. (And I checked the thread to see if this has been addressed directly.) Even if you can claim "stand your ground" for Martin as well, it doesn't *cancel* Zimmerman's legal rights, and it opens the more broad claim of good old-fashioned "self defense," which is the precise claim that Zimmerman made. While it is unfortunate that the entire exchange appears to be based entirely on a misunderstanding, that wouldn't legally invalidate Zimmerman's right to self defense.

If this witness's story holds, then I don't see where Zimmerman did anything actually illegal, and will not be convicted even if indicted. I don't think it was a fruitless effort to launch a proper investigation on this, however. The police should have done due diligence in any case involving a dead body.

I do see one heck of a *civil* case against Zimmerman, as he exceeded the rules of his neighborhood watch by being armed, and this incident would not have occurred had he followed the explicit instructions of the 911 operator. These points might have been forgivable as a private citizen, but he identified himself as a member of his neighborhood watch and was operating under its authority. (I don't see much of a civil case against the police unless Zimmerman were convicted, as their negligence was shameful but did not lead to Martin's death nor in that case to letting a murderer skate.)

 

-----signature-----

Black Panthers target Zimmerman

Updated: Monday, 26 Mar 2012, 9:10 AM EDT
Published : Saturday, 24 Mar 2012, 8:55 PM EDT

Tiffany Teasley

SANFORD, Fla. (WOFL Fox 35) -- The New Black Panther Party came back to Sanford with a vengeance, the shouted “black power” and “Justice for Trayvon," rallying at the memorial near the scene where Trayvon martin was shot and killed, they didn’t hold back their anger.

“It’s time for us as black men, to take justice in our own hands,” said Mikhail Muhammad of the New Black Panther Party.

The panthers say they plan to recruit 10,000 men to search for George Zimmerman and arrest him.

“We want to search, mobilize, organize for the capture of George Zimmerman and we will bring him to justice,” said Muhammad.

Their message was offensive and violent at times.

“You kill mine, God D***it, I’ve got to kill yours,” said Muhammad.

They cursed and lashed out at Zimmerman, Sanford Police and even the special prosecutor Angela Corey.

“She’s a liar and murderer right along with the rest of them, so we’re not pleased with Angela Corley’s appointment,” Muhammad said.

As the tension reached a fever pitch, Sanford police officers came in to control the crowd.

“They want to go out here and do their thing that’s fine, I just want make sure everyone is safe and not in the street,” said an unidentified Sanford Police Officer.

Once the police arrived, the panthers seized the opportunity to call them out.

“We’re going to make you do your job, if you had that same kind of concern, Trayvon would be living today,” Muhammad said.

Meanwhile in Orange County, there was a different message promoting peace.

“Keep the peace, keep the peace, cause justice will prevail,” said Pastor Stovello Stovall of the God is Able Church in Orlando.

Pastor Stovall marched with church members asking others not to fight violence with violence.

“The main thing I want these young people to know that’s on the outside, of all these churches and got so much anger built up inside them, keep the peace,” Stovall said.

The New Black Panther Party also says they plan to protest at Sanford City Hall on Monday.

The City of Sanford released the following statement in reaction to the statements made by the New Black Panther Party “The City of Sanford is calling for calm in the wake of an appeal from the New Black Panther Party.”


Read more: http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/local/032412-Black-Panthers-target-Zimmerman#ixzz1qGSLxx8L

 

-----signature-----

The law got rid of civil liability too.

Just a crappy situation all around. Zimmerman cannot be charged after the fact if he acted legally.

Only good that can come out of this is proof that the NRA law was a failure and it gets repealed by the legislature.

Probably a reason the common law developed like it did to use lethal force in self defense. Usually you can only use it in your home/place of work or in a situation with no other option. That would be a jury question. It probably developed that way for situations like this.

Hopefully Florida wakes up changes the law and we do not see this again.

 

-----signature-----

if someone was following me i might be afraid for my well-being. that gives me the right to self-defense. the whole problem with the law that is exemplified by this case is if I acted first out of legitimate fear for my life but did such a great spinning back kick that the follower is now fear for his life. now both people have reasons to act in self-defense.

the only difference is one person out of the two thought they were batman and actually followed someone.

I dont get how the law failed in light of the statement of a witness being released?
from the witnesses statement the law worked as written or you just want to start ignoring witness statements, especially one that was taken at the scene of the shooting right after it happened.

 

-----signature-----

The kid would be alive today if it was not for the law. It is obvious this dude knew the law... he was studying to be a cop and doing neighborhood watch.

The law empowered this dude to run around acting like a cop. If you do something this stupid you should not be protected by the law.

The kid called one of his friends telling her that a weird dude was stalking him... she told him to run and he said no... apparently she was on the phone when the confrontation happened too.

Really this is what the law was designed for... so you could have your gun-toting NRA member save the community. The gun ideology just started clouding common sense for people... the law was working perfectly fine before and you do not need to add another loop-hole for murder.

 

-----signature-----

Once again though, facts ignored. You guys aren't even reading the materials readily available, just sucking up the crap that Al Sharpton is saying on MSNBC, right?


Zimmerman did not call 911. He called a non emergency police number. I listened to the recording. I read the transcripts. They did not give him explicit instructions to not follow Martin.


Operator: "Are you following him?"

Zimmerman: "eah"

Operator: "Ok we don't need you to do that."


When I tell my kids to not play with matches, I don't say "Hey kids, I don't need you to play with matches."


That is NOT an explicit instruction.


However, Zimmerman did take that as an instruction, he clearly answered "Ok" and he started back for his vehicle, telling the operator he'd meet the police at the clubhouse. On his way back, Martin approached him from behind and they had some words, and Martin punched him, breaking his nose, knocking him on his back and began beating him, bashing his head against the sidewalk. Police found him bloodied, broken nose, a gash on his head, grass stains and wet on his back.

Even if Trayvon beat up Zimmerman, does that justify the use of deadly force?

A guy comes at you with fists, so you come back with guns? No.

 

-----signature-----