Trayvon Martin - Stand For Something

Give to us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for - because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything. Peter Marshall

The New York Times article was published March 16, 2012 and entitled, “The Curious Case of Trayvon Martin.” That’s an interesting title for an article regarding a shooting of a Black teen. Curious means searching or questioning. When anyone is shot in a residential, non-war environment, should not have questions. Taking a life should not be a matter of fact, daily event to be seen as nothing unique. This is a curious case of the shooing of 17 year old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, FL. Trayvon had been gunned down in a gated townhouse community in outside Orlando. Trayvon was not a stranger to the neighborhood because his father had taken him to visit a friend. The shooting occurred on February 26, 2012.

Fact 1 - The father thought that he was missing, according to the family’s lawyer, Benjamin Crump, but the boy’s body had actually been taken to the medical examiner’s office and listed as a John Doe. According to the article, the father called the Missing Persons Unit of the Sanford police. No luck. He followed by calling 911. The police asked the father to describe the boy, after which they sent officers to the house where the father was staying. There they showed him a picture of the boy with blood coming out of his mouth.

Question 1 – How did Trayvon end up missing in the mind of his father? 

Fact 2 - Trayvon left his father’s friend’s house his father was visiting to walk to the local 7-Eleven.  Trayvon was on his way back to house when he was seen by George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch captain, who was in a SUV. Zimmerman called the police because the boy looked “real suspicious,” according to a 911 call released. 

Question 2 – What made this teen age boy look suspicious besides being Black? 

Fact 3 - Sanford, FL one of Central Florida’s oldest incorporated cities. In 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford purchased the land west of Mellonville. Download the Sanford Historic Brochure HERE.  As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 53,570. In the city the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. Approximately 36% of the population was between the ages of <18 to 24. 

Question 3 - So why did seeing a teenage boy walking and Zimmerman being in a car make the boy suspicious except he was Black?

Fact 4 - According to the 2010 U.S. Census for Sanford:

• 57% of the population is Caucasians and White Hispanics. 
• 45% of the population is Non-Hispanic White or Caucasian.
• 31% of the population is Black or African-American
• 20% of the population is Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
• 3% of the population is Asian.
• 0.5% of the population is Native American or Native Alaskan
• 0.1% of the population is Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian.
• 3% of the population is two or more races (Multiracial).
• 5.4% of the population is some other race.

Fact 5 - The 911 operator told Zimmerman that officers were being dispatched and NOT to pursue the boy.  Zimmerman ostensibly chased Trayvon anyway.  He got out of the “safety of his car” at some point confronted the boy. 

Question 4 – If one is a law abiding citizen and a creditable member of the Neighborhood Watch, why would Zimmerman ignore instructions given by a police officer? Is it a crime in the United States to ignore specific police instructions? Especially when it ends in loss of life?

Fact 6 - According to the Sacramento Sheriff's Department, some of the instructions for Neighborhood Watch include the following:

1. Make sure your citizen patrol:
2. Undergoes training by law enforcement and have their support;
3. Works in teams;
4. Wears identifying clothing -t-shirts, caps, vests, .jackets-or reflective clothing or patches;
5. NEVER carries WEAPONS of any kind — e.g. guns, black jack, mace, baseball bat, or knives;
6. NEVER challenges anyone;

Question 5 – Why was Zimmerman armed? Why did he chase down Trayvon? 

Fact 7- As reported by the 13 News, Zimmerman is a neighborhood watch volunteer who was on patrol when he encountered Trayvon. Zimmerman admitted to the shooting.  Zimmerman had a 9 millimeter handgun. Trayvon had a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea. The two allegedly engaged in a physical altercation. There was yelling for help, and then two gunshots. Police arrived to find Trayvon face down in the grass with a fatal bullet wound to the chest. Zimmerman was standing with blood on his face and the back of his head and grass stains on his back, according to The Orlando Sentinel. No indication the blood found on Zimmerman was his own. No reports that Zimmerman required medical attention. Zimmerman was taken into custody, questioned and released. 

Question 6 – Who blood was found on Zimmerman? Why wasn’t he reprimanded by police for using deadly force?

Fact 8 - Zimmerman said he was the one yelling for help. He said that he acted in self-defense. The police say that they have found no evidence to dispute Zimmerman’s claim. Hmmmm They also did not release the investigation report that should answer the first six questions. 

Question 7 – Why not? The report is public record.

Now less stop for a minute and look at the pictures of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman. Who do you think was calling for help?

Zimmerman in orange and Trayvon in red

Zimmerman 28 years of age was arrested 2005 and that's his mug shot to the left. Zimmerman appears well built, heavy.

There is no mention of citizen's arrests in Florida's criminal statutes but state courts have cited common law in establishing when such an arrest can be made. The crime has to be a felony. It has to be witnessed by the citizen making the arrest or the citizen has to have probable cause that the person being arrested is guilty of a felony. None of this is in fact in this case, unless it's a crime to be Black teen walking in the rain, and trying to find your father. It can be fatal, but not a felony.

Yes this is a curious case, make more so when you listen to the 911 calls. Zimmerman declares the Black guy looks “strange, like there is something wrong with him, this assholes always get away, he looks like he’s on drugs.”

Question 8 – Would a reasonable person of some intelligentsia leave the safety of his car, and not wait for police, but chase the person Zimmerman describes?

You can actually listen to the 911 calls from one individual on the The Orlando Sentinel website.

Retreat at Twin Lakes

Fact 9 – There are 88 Offenders/Predators found within 5 miles of Retreat at Twin Lakes, which is listed as 1525 International Parkway, Lake Mary, FL 32746.

Question 10 - Was Trayvon afraid of the guy chasing him in a black SUV with a gun? 

Fact 10 - Houses seem to look alike.“He’s just looking at all the houses,” Zimmerman said. “Now he’s just staring at me.”

Question 9 – Could Trayvon be looking for the house and address where he left his father?  

In an interview this week with the Miami Herald, Police Chief Bill Lee said the 911 calls would prove the incident was not a case of racial profiling, because when asked whether the suspect was white or black, Zimmerman did not know. However the recording clearly shows that when asked, Zimmerman said, “He looks black.” And then a few moments later, “He’s a black male.”

Yes it was! I get racially profiled when I walk my dog in my own neighborhood.