Forensic voice identification experts tell the Orlando Sentinel that the final screams before the fatal gunshot — captured in a neighbor’s 911 call — aren’t from Zimmerman. Following last week’s release of police video showing an apparently unharmed Zimmerman soon after Martin allegedly beat his head on the ground, “the pile of evidence bringing Zimmerman’s claims into question grows deeper every day,” says Timothy Lange at Daily Kos.
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An unidentified Florida businessman is selling gun range targets designed to make people feel like they’re shooting Trayvon Martin. The target shows a silhouette in a black hoodie, holding Skittles and a can of iced tea, with a huge bullseye on it. The businessman admits he’s only in it for the money, adding that he sold out of the targets in two days.
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![When reporters and pundits describe the upcoming trial of Florida neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman — facing second-degree murder charges for the shooting of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin — as the ‘trial of the century,’ take it with a grain of salt.
That particular phrase is widely overused:
O.J. Simpson murder trial“That image of the white Bronco speeding down the freeway is forever burned into our minds, and it was only the start of what would become one of the most unbelievable trials of the century. On June 17, [1994,] O.J. was expected to turn himself in for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend. But O.J. never showed up to the police station.” (Kristin Wong, Hollyscoop, Nov. 7, 2011)
Microsoft antitrust trial“Forget O.J. The real ‘trial of the century’ is taking place right now in a Washington, D.C., court room., where mighty Microsoft Corp. is going toe to toe with the U.S. Department of Justice.” (John Moran, Hartford Courant, Dec. 24, 1998)
Bill Clinton impeachment“The impeachment trial of President Clinton will be the ‘trial of the century.’ We know this is true in the same way we know so many other things are true — because everybody says so. ‘It will truly be the trial of the century,’ Alan Dershowitz wrote in USA Today. ‘It will be the real trial of the century,’ Tom Brokaw said on NBC News. ‘Without doubt, the trial of the century,’ Cynthia McFadden said on ABC News. ‘Trial of the Century,’ reads the huge headline on the cover of the Weekly Standard, a conservative magazine. The Independent, a liberal London newspaper, agrees. So does Agence France-Presse. And the New York Post, the New York Daily News, the Detroit News, and the Rock Hill (S.C.) News, all of which termed the upcoming impeachment battle ‘the trial of the century.’” (Peter Carlson, The Washington Post, Jan. 4, 1999)
Martha Stewart obstruction-of-justice trial“It is Trial of the Century time again, and Martha Stewart, America’s doyenne of domesticity — perhaps the only woman in the world who decants her washing-up liquid — is in big trouble. The preliminary skirmishes are over, the media circus is assembled, and on January 12 at the Manhattan Federal Courthouse, a jury will be asked to decide if Martha is a crook.” (William Langley, Britain’s Daily Telegraph, Jan. 4, 2004)
6 other supposed ‘trials of the century’](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2kwdk5RRl1qdjbb7o1_r1_500.png)
When reporters and pundits describe the upcoming trial of Florida neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman — facing second-degree murder charges for the shooting of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin — as the ‘trial of the century,’ take it with a grain of salt.
That particular phrase is widely overused:
- O.J. Simpson murder trial
“That image of the white Bronco speeding down the freeway is forever burned into our minds, and it was only the start of what would become one of the most unbelievable trials of the century. On June 17, [1994,] O.J. was expected to turn himself in for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend. But O.J. never showed up to the police station.” (Kristin Wong, Hollyscoop, Nov. 7, 2011) - Microsoft antitrust trial
“Forget O.J. The real ‘trial of the century’ is taking place right now in a Washington, D.C., court room., where mighty Microsoft Corp. is going toe to toe with the U.S. Department of Justice.” (John Moran, Hartford Courant, Dec. 24, 1998) - Bill Clinton impeachment
“The impeachment trial of President Clinton will be the ‘trial of the century.’ We know this is true in the same way we know so many other things are true — because everybody says so. ‘It will truly be the trial of the century,’ Alan Dershowitz wrote in USA Today. ‘It will be the real trial of the century,’ Tom Brokaw said on NBC News. ‘Without doubt, the trial of the century,’ Cynthia McFadden said on ABC News. ‘Trial of the Century,’ reads the huge headline on the cover of the Weekly Standard, a conservative magazine. The Independent, a liberal London newspaper, agrees. So does Agence France-Presse. And the New York Post, the New York Daily News, the Detroit News, and the Rock Hill (S.C.) News, all of which termed the upcoming impeachment battle ‘the trial of the century.’” (Peter Carlson, The Washington Post, Jan. 4, 1999) - Martha Stewart obstruction-of-justice trial
“It is Trial of the Century time again, and Martha Stewart, America’s doyenne of domesticity — perhaps the only woman in the world who decants her washing-up liquid — is in big trouble. The preliminary skirmishes are over, the media circus is assembled, and on January 12 at the Manhattan Federal Courthouse, a jury will be asked to decide if Martha is a crook.” (William Langley, Britain’s Daily Telegraph, Jan. 4, 2004)
- O.J. Simpson murder trial
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Will George Zimmerman get a fair trial? Michael Filoz at American Thinker sure doesn’t think so, saying everyone from the New black Panthers to “professional race-baiter” Al Sharpton to boxer Mike Tyson has called for Zimmerman’s head, and even President Obama has weighed in.
Jennifer Rubin in The Washington Post disagrees: The “court of public opinion has been working overtime” she writes, but the real “judicial system prosecutes high-profile, high publicity cases regularly.”
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George Zimmerman’s murder charge, explained:
Seven long weeks later, George Zimmerman has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
Why murder instead of manslaughter? Many defense attorneys were surprised that Angela Corey, the Florida state attorney, opted for the tougher charge. Their conclusion: “Corey and her team of prosecutors must know something that the rest of us don’t,” says Dan Sullivan in the Tampa Bay Times.
What happens now that he has been charged? Zimmerman will be arraigned Thursday, and can ask to be released on bail. It’s possible that the 28-year-old could be granted bail because he has proved that he’s not a flight risk. But if he does get bail, he will almost surely remain under protective custody.
Will Florida’s gun law protect Zimmerman? To win immunity under the law, the burden of proof is on the defendant, and few meet it to a judge’s satisfaction. “Most judges, I think, are comfortable letting the adversarial system play out before a jury rather than make decisions themselves,” Ralph Behr tells Reuters. During Wednesday’s press conference, state attorney Angela Corey told reporters, “If ‘stand your ground’ is an issue, we’ll fight it.”
How much jail time could he get, and what is the most likely outcome?
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Yesterday George Zimmerman’s lawyers announced they would not be representing him in court.Attorneys Craig Sonner and Hal Uhrig said Zimmerman is making it impossible for them to represent him: He’s been incommunicado for several days, and has made several bad moves without telling them, or against their counsel. What’s really behind this strange parting of ways?
- Zimmerman is an impossible client
Sonner and Uhrig say their erstwhile client — who’s still somewhere in the U.S. but no longer in Florida — called and spoke directly with Fox News host Sean Hannity behind their backs, and contacted the prosecutor assigned to the case, Angela Corey, in an attempt to set up a one-on-one meeting. For Corey to talk to Zimmerman without his lawyers present would violate “ethical rules in every state,” says Darren Lenard Hutchinson at Dissenting Justice.
- And he might not be in his right mind
Sonner and Uhrig said Zimmerman is ”not doing well emotionally,” and is possibly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Charlie Pierce at Esquire says Zimmerman “seems to have decided that the way out of his troubles is to become a cable-television celebrity.”
- The lawyers were tired of working pro bono for an ingrate
At their “bombshell press conference,” Sonner and Uhrig revealed that “Zimmerman has never paid his attorneys,” notes Tommy Christopher at Mediaite. Sonner did say, however, that he agreed to represent Zimmerman pro bono until charges were filed. Neither lawyer has met Zimmerman in person, and he essentially dumped them by not returning their calls and text-messages.
- Zimmerman is an impossible client
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Is George Zimmerman’s story falling apart?
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Why do Americans often ignore black shooting victims?
When a young white female is killed or goes missing in the U.S., odds are good that Nancy Grace will dedicate weeks of her TV show to the case, and “these girls, their parents and everyone associated with them gets a magazine cover, or two, or three.”
Why is it, then, that when a black youth like Trayvon Martin gets killed — and a disproportionate number of homicide victims are young black males — “very few people outside their family hear about it”?
(Source: theweek.com)
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It’s getting increasingly difficult to keep up with the Trayvon Martin story. Here’s what you need to know:
- ABC News obtained a police surveillance video of George Zimmerman at the police station shortly after he shot Trayvon Martin. No blood or bruises are visible, seemingly contradicting Zimmerman’s report that Martin attacked him. It has also emerged that the lead homicide investigator on the case wanted to arrest Zimmerman, but was overruled by a prosecutor.
- Congressman Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) donned a hoodie on the House floor in a gesture of solidarity with Martin. He was escorted off the floor for wearing a hat.
- Trayvon Martin’s mother is trying to trademark the phrases “I Am Trayvon” and “Justice for Trayvon.” Her lawyers say the move is to prevent anyone from profiting off Martin’s name — cynics wonder if she’s being a little opportunistic.
- Fox is yanking its marketing for Neighborhood Watch, a feel-good comedy about neighborhood watchmen taking their jobs too seriously.The $70 million movie, starring Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and Jonah Hill, is set to be released July 27, and some are wondering if Fox may pull the film completely.
The Trayvon Martin case: A comprehensive timeline
- ABC News obtained a police surveillance video of George Zimmerman at the police station shortly after he shot Trayvon Martin. No blood or bruises are visible, seemingly contradicting Zimmerman’s report that Martin attacked him. It has also emerged that the lead homicide investigator on the case wanted to arrest Zimmerman, but was overruled by a prosecutor.
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Cartoon of the day: Enraging loungewear
More: Cartoonists respond to the Trayvon Martin controversy
Copyright: Bob Gorrell, 2012 Creators Syndicate
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George Zimmerman: What we know about Trayvon Martin's killer
For weeks, all the world saw of him was an unsmiling 2005 mug shot. As investigators and reporters try to piece together why the Floridian shot a black boy 10 years younger and dozens of pounds lighter, a fuzzy picture of Zimmerman is emerging. Here’s what we know so far:
- What is Zimmerman’s basic biography?
George Michael Zimmerman was born in 1983, the third of four children of Robert and Gladys Zimmerman. Robert, a retired military man and magistrate judge, describes the family as multiracial, telling the Orlando Sentinel that “George is a Spanish-speaking minority with many black family members and friends.” Gladys is of Peruvian descent. George grew up in Manassas, Va., where neighbors describe the Zimmermans as very religious — George was an altar boy and evening receptionist at the family’s parish, All Saints Catholic Church. The Zimmerman children attended Catholic school through eighth grade, then public high school. The family moved to Florida about a decade ago. George married Shellie Nicole Dean, a cosmetologist, in 2007.
- What does he do for a living?
At the time he shot Martin, Zimmerman was working as an underwriter at mortgage risk-management firm Digital Risk. He had also been working on an associates degree at Seminole State College from 2009, with an eye toward law enforcement, until the school pushed him out after the shooting, citing safety reasons. In 2008, Zimmerman completed a 14-week citizens’ police academy program offered by the Seminole Sheriff’s Department. Zimmerman has also worked in the past as an insurance agent, and at a credit card company that garnished his wages to recoup unpaid debt.
Has he had any previous run-ins with the law? What’s his political party? How long had he been a neighborhood watchman? More on Zimmerman
- What is Zimmerman’s basic biography?
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“Every time you see someone stick up a 7-Eleven, the kid is wearing a hoodie. I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was.” -Geraldo Rivera on Fox & Friends.
The Fox News host is facing an angry backlash for suggesting that Trayvon Martin, the black Florida teen shot dead by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, was targeted because he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt that made him look like a criminal. Should Geraldo be fired for his ‘incendiary’ remark? Not everyone agrees…
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Why are Mitt Romney and his GOP rivals dodging Trayvon Martin? Earlier today, President Obama called for national “soul searching” to better understand how this tragedy occurred. Then Obama got personal: “When I think about this boy, I think about my own kids. … If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon.”
Obama’s GOP counterparts have been somewhat less open. Until Newt Gingrich spoke out on Thursday night, telling CNN’s Piers Morgan that Martin’s death is a “tragedy,” the GOP presidential field has been conspicuously silent on the issue. Likely nominee Mitt Romney had even ignored reporters’ questions about Martin’s shooting. “Why have they been so noticeably silent… about the shooting of an innocent 17-year-old black boy?” asks Lawrence D. Elliott in Technorati. Here, several theories:
- They fear upsetting Florida’s influential Republicans
Martin’s killing became national news the same week that Romney all but locked up the GOP nomination, aided by a coveted endorsement from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R). Another influential Floridian, Sen. Marco Rubio (R), is among Romney’s top VP picks. Both Bush and Rubio strongly backed the expansive gun law that has kept Zimmerman out of jail. If Romney wants to stay allied with them, says Kelly Virella at Dominion of New York, he’d have to stake out “a pro-‘Shoot First,’ pro-Zimmerman stance” that’s out of step with popular opinion. It’s easier, and safer, to say nothing.
- Romney doesn’t want to offend the NRA
Any comments that paint Martin’s killing in a negative light would also sit poorly with another important GOP constituency: The deep-pocketed gun lobby, says Dominion of New York’s Virella. Romney has a cordial but not warm relationship with the National Rifle Association (NRA), which was a major driving force behind Florida’s controversial gun law. In this expensive campaign, no Republican wants to risk losing “campaign contributions from the NRA.”
- Addressing the killing has no political upside
“Who would cheer Romney or Santorum for condemning the killing?” asks Frank Rich at New York. The GOP “has very few African-American adherents and is prone to claiming that all cases like this are hoaxes trumped up by liberals.” On top of that, every Republican is courting the Latino vote, and Zimmerman is half Latino.
Update: Romney and Santorum have commented.
- They fear upsetting Florida’s influential Republicans
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It’s hard to look at the tragic shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin without considering race. Martin, who was black and unarmed, was slain by an evidently overzealous, self-appointed neighborhood watchman, George Zimmerman, with a history of calling 911 about “suspicious” black guys in the Orlando-area gated community where he lives and Martin was staying. The local police accepted Zimmerman’s self-defense claim with apparently only a cursory investigation, and the half-white, half-Hispanic 28-year-old shooter has still not been arrested, though now the feds are investigating. What does this story tell us about race in America? Here, four lessons:
1. Sadly, being black in America is still dangerous
Martin’s killing is a stark reminder that even today, “one of the burdens of being a black male is carrying the heavy weight of other people’s suspicions,” says Jonathan Capehart in The Washington Post. “One minute you’re going about your life, the next you could be pleading for it, if you’re lucky.” Martin wasn’t, and that “has black parents around the country clutching their sons a little closer.” More frightening still, says Christy Oglesby at CNN, is that Martin followed the rules we black mothers tell our sons to keep them alive: Look sharp, avoid trouble, don’t ever run in public. I’m sure some readers “just sucked their teeth in disgusted disbelief and decided that I’m exaggerating…. I’m not. If I were, Trayvon would be alive.”2. The Left still uses race as a political weapon
“The media feeding frenzy over this particular story — one out of the thousands of homicides in this country —” is driven by a “left-wing campaign to keep” the divisive tale in the headlines, says Dan McLaughlin at RedState. Liberal activists cynically believe they’ll benefit politically by inflaming “racial division in an election year,” using the Trayvon Martin case to “provide a backdrop of racial strife” that will theoretically fire up the base. But more often, ginning up race-related outrage just leads to “riots that leave people dead or homeless and local businesses and jobs destroyed.”3. Racial bias and lax gun laws are a deadly combination
This story isn’t just about race, says Ta-Nehisi Coates at The Atlantic. “This is about race along with” Florida’s “absurdly low threshold for self-defense claims” in homicides. The Sunshine State’s 2005 “Stand Your Ground” law allows permitted gun owners like Zimmerman to use lethal force on anybody if they reasonably believe it will prevent grave injury or death. And because of our enduring biases, “black people bear a spectacular burden for” such “bad public policy.” Indeed, it’s not enough to blame the “racist criminal” in this case,” says Michael Coard at The Philly Post. We have to blame the “racist criminal system,” too, for its bigot-empowering “shoot ‘em up” law.4. None of us are without bias
We’re all at least a little bit racist, University of Chicago psychology professor Joshua Correll tells NPR. For years, Correll has studied bias against black men, and has found that people “are universally more likely to fire at black men — whether the shooter is young, old, male, female, or even black,” say Eyder Peralta and Mark Memmott at NPR. In Correll’s studies, people play a game in which they have two buttons: “Shoot or don’t shoot.” They’re shown pictures of black men and white men, some carrying guns, others holding run-of-the-mill items like cellphones. “The point is to shoot the guys with guns.” But Correll discovered that across the board, shooters are “more likely to fire at an unarmed black man” and “less likely to shoot an armed white man.”For more coverage, read Why Trayvon Martin’s killer isn’t under arrest
