The George Zimmerman Trial — Page 10

"NAACP President Ben Jealous said on CNN that the civil rights organization had spoken with Justice Department officials about lodging federal civil rights charges against Zimmerman.

"There will be a federal civil rights phase," Jealous said.

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"George Zimmerman's business with the criminal court in Florida may be done, but a federal civil rights investigation remains open"

Not sure how this would be possible considering that the Dept. of Justice had the FBI investigate the incident to see if Trayvon Martin's civil rights were violated and their conclusion:

(MIAMI HERALD) — After interviewing nearly three dozen people in the George Zimmerman murder case, the FBI found no evidence that racial bias was a motivating factor in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, records released Thursday show.
Even the lead detective in the case, Sanford Det. Chris Serino, told agents that he thought Zimmerman profiled Trayvon because of his attire and the circumstances — but not his race.
Serino saw Zimmerman as “having little hero complex, but not as a racist.”
The Duval County State Attorney released another collection of evidence in the Zimmerman murder case Thursday, including reports from FBI agents who investigated whether any racial bias was involved in Trayvon’s Feb. 26 killing.

http://www.wnd.com/2013/07/fbi-no-evidence-zimmerman-was-racist/#6mci7hdkPYg6EOBP.99

Also, according to this article in the NY Times on the Zimmerman case, defendants in civil suits involving self defense can be granted immunity to civil action.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/us/in-zimmerman-case-self-defense-was-hard-to-topple.html?_r=0

The only evidence of racism in the incident comes from Trayvon Martin, who, according to his girl friend, called Zimmerman a "crazy ass white cracker".
I think it is in everyone's best interest to simply move on.

Updated On: 7/15/13 at 01:38 PM

No, you absolutely don't move on from this. The nation will be reminded of this in some capacity. It stays with you forever. It DOES and can leave behind a chilling legacy. The pain and suffering from Trayvon's family will endure until they leave this earth, partly over what potential he had. As for George Zimmerman, he will have to deal with that legacy that he himself started.

Liza's Headband, Hendrik, and a few others on this thread mentioned and gave great insights about the quirks in the Florida judicial system and the issue of reasonable doubt. and how the prosecution blundered in key steps. As I made note in another thread, I am a young black male. I am not surprised by the verdict but still very infuriated over this. It seems as though it is now officially open season on young black people and the jury granted tacit approval towards that. Let's get this perfectly clear: Zimmerman, like with police officiers for example, WAS indeed reacting to the negative image of black males in America and failed to check his narrow and arbitrary assumptions. Also, what Martin's right to "stand your ground" . Then again, it is a hideous law. Situations like this reminds time and again that we are less than in a nation that ought to strive to be more socially equal and sustain it. However, I seriously fear we will easily transform into a fascist police state before we reach something into a progressive democracy.

I seriously think that George Zimmerman is nothing more than an arrogant and vicious itchy-trigger-finger-happy cop wannabe sociopath. Never will I be stunned Zimmerman's "inner vigilante" will pull another stunt like that. Guns are highly worshipped here in the US. Trayvon did nothing wrong. But there's an unconsenting and complicated burden in being young and black in America. Makes me sick to see that sight of him smiling in court like an evil serpent. If I had my way, I would've liked to send him to South Africa under aparthied, and let them, like the police and SADF, do whatever the hell they like to him on a daily basis. And he doesn't come out it.


We all should know what a very lovely place it was back then...

I would be too. F**k him, it's your avatar and it's not in poor taste, disrespectful, or ironic. It's a tribute to a murdered boy who was denied justice.

If someone doesn't like, they can just scroll past it.

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I mean really! your avatar is a nice portrait and quite respectful to Mr. Martin.

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I heard (I think it was Joy Reid) say today that Zimmerman ran out of money so they ended up doing the case for free and that's probably why those lawyers are now doing so much "publicity", getting the word about themselves out there to hype up business.

I just found this. $61,000 for living expenses? WTF! He sure as hell ain't starving!

O'Mara: We've spent $300,000 on George Zimmerman and are desperate for more donations
January 30, 2013|By Rene Stutzman, Orlando Sentinel

Defense attorney Mark O'Mara and client George Zimmerman have spent their way through more than $300,000 in donations and are desperate for more funds.

"The case is out of money," O'Mara said Wednesday, just hours before he filed court paperwork asking that the trial, currently scheduled for June 10, be delayed.

Zimmerman's defense fund has raised $314,099.17, O'Mara disclosed, but its balance is currently less than $5,000.

The defense cannot finish preparing for trial, for example hire needed audio and gun experts and private investigators, without more cash, he said. He and Zimmerman need about $30,000 a month, according to his website.


From the same article: Where has the money gone?

George Zimmerman and his lawyers have spent nearly $314,000* in legal defense fund contributions.

Bond $95,000

Zimmerman's living expenses 61,747*

Bodyguards, security 56,100

Law firm spending 40,648

(more office space, computers, software, etc.)

Case expenses 35,588

(law office security, website hosting, etc.)

*Does not include more than $64,000 that Zimmerman took in and spent before the creation of a trust to oversee the fund.

Source: Zimmerman Legal Defense Fund

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-01-30/news/os-george-zimmerman-defense-fund-update-20130131_1_george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-defense-fund

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Updated On: 7/15/13 at 05:57 PM

No apology necessary. I see the political talk as just being realistic.Look who a majority of his supporters are.Sean Hanity was the only one who interviewed him.

I have been very happy there has been no riots or acts of violence as a result of the verdict.I think The Martin family has really shown a lot of class.

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Even the Onion seems to hit the nail directly on the head.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/zimmerman-found-not-guilty-technically-but-cmon,33124/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=SocialMarketing&utm_campaign=LinkPreview%3A1%3ADefault

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Very beautiful Huffington Post article from a young black female on the verdict and what it means to be young and black in America. I still stand by my Aparthied South Africa fantasy for George--we saw no remorse or regret for his actions, but sometimes I wonder like in the essay what if George Zimmerman, instead of viewing Trayvon Martin as a threat, offered him a ride home to resume watching the NBA All-Star Game as a kind neighbor in the rain. On the other hand, Trayvon may rejected it out of "don't get rides with strangers". There are were many ways for Zimmerman not to set the stage for the fateful encounter. Sad that society still does not value the lives of youth of color as equally as whites.
Omnia Saed's Great Read

Actually, best12, on a million dollar surety bail bond, a bond fee of 10% is paid and it is nonrefundable. Had Zimmerman been able to raise the entire amount in cash without relying on a bail bondsman, then the entire amount would be refundable.