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George Zimmerman not guilty verdict. Why is it a race issue?

By Chellie Cervone - Posted: Jul 18, 2013 at 3:42 pm

George Zimmerman not guilty verdict. Why is it a race issue?

The George Zimmerman not guilty verdict has stirred up heated passions on both sides of the coin.

For his supporters, the George Zimmerman not guilty verdict has reaffirmed their faith in the judicial system after the jurors, six women, reached a unanimous decision and found George Zimmerman not guilty for the death of Trayvon Martin.

For those that oppose the verdict, they continue in their attempts to turn the Zimmerman verdict and Martin’s death into a racial issue.

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The big question is why is it a racial issue?

In an attempt to obtain an answer, let us examine a few important points.

Point 1 Zimmerman/Martin case. The facts.

On February 26, 2012, 17 year old Trayvon Martin, lost his life. He was shot by George Zimmerman, who served as a neighborhood watchman for the complex where the shooting took place and was off-duty at the time.

There is no disputing the facts. There is also no disputing that when a person loses their life, it is tragic. Race is not, or should not be, an issue.

Point 2 Zimmerman/Martin case. Trayvon’s Martin’s family’s behavior

Travyon Martin's parents speak out about the George Zimmerman not guilty verdict

Sybrina Fulton & Tracy Martin speak about the George Zimmerman not guilty verdict in the death of their son Trayvon Martin on The Today Show

Immediately after Trayvon Martin’s death, Martin’s family and some notable black leaders including the controversial, and some believe racist, Reverend Al Sharpton quickly mobilized and immediately began laying the groundwork to paint Martin’s death as a result of his race.

Some of their initial tactics used was to circulate photographs of Martin that were many years old, and bore little resemblance to the strapping young man he had become. Many believe this was an attempt to sway public option.

Martin’s family deleted his twitter account that eschewed racist comments towards white people and pooh poohed reports of his alleged drug use as well as images that he posted that showed him as a more worldly young man. To some, it appeared that instead of portraying the person he was, including his good and not so good points, the family carefully crafted a persona of who they wanted the world to believe that Trayvon Martin was and to paint him as a victim of racial violence.

Martin’s father, Tracy Martin, initially, and more than once, said that the screams for help that could be heard when 911 was called did not belong to his son. He, however, later testified that the screams did belong to his son, leading some to believe that he was pressured by other family members and supporters of the Martin family, and their costly legal team, to say that the voice was Martin’s to further their case.

The family of Trayvon Martin appears to have made a substantial amount of money off of Trayvon Martin’s death.

It is believed Martin’s family received in excess of 1 million dollars from the homeowners association, where the shooting took place. Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton has filed trademarks for certain phrases, in essence turning the name of Trayvon Martin into a brand. Some believe a profitable brand although the family deny’s those allegations.

They also did not appear in court for the verdict. Some speculate that because of the evidence presented during the trial, the family knew in their hearts that there would be a not guilty verdict.

The Martin family has every right to protect their late son’s name and interests, however, to some these actions simply raise more questions than are answered.

Point 3 Zimmerman/Martin case. George Zimmerman’s behavior

George Zimmerman not guilty cerdict. Photos shows head gashes that Zimmerman received after he says he was attacked by Trayvon Martin.

George Zimmerman (Photo: State Attorney’s office)

To the police who initially interviewed George Zimmerman and later to the Jury, they believed George Zimmerman’s version of events.

He came across to many as credible when he said that he was attacked by Trayvon Martin. He claimed that while Martin was on top of him that Martin slammed his head into the ground. Zimmerman did have bleeding gashes in the back of his head lending credibility to his version of the events that led to Martin’s death.

Zimmerman has also said that authorities were looking for a young black male as a burglary suspect and others have backed up his account. In a recent interview, Fulton, it appears, has chosen to ignore that possibility.

When George Zimmerman was erroneously told that the entire incident was captured on videotape, he replied, “Thank God” , which to many lent the most credibility to his case.

Zimmerman is not without his flaws, though. There are some who believe that if he had simply waited in his car for authorities to arrive, that the outcome very likely would have turned out differently. Unfortunately we will never ever know.

Zimmerman, much like the Martin family, has had questionable actions when it comes to money being made off of the case. Supporters had donated, at that time, over a hundred thousands dollars to his defense fund and it appeared that Zimmerman was attempting to move the money into other family members accounts.

Zimmerman has been described as a, “cop wannabe”, based on the amount of 911 calls he has made over the years. He made 46 calls to either 911 or the non-emergency police number from 2004, up until Martin’s death.

For a period of over eight years, that averages to less that one call every two months.

Is that an excessive amount of calls for a neighborhood watchman?

Just as the Fulton/Martin families have a right to protect their interests, George Zimmerman retains that same right.

Point 4 Zimmerman/Martin case. Rachel Jeantel

Rachel Jeantel

Rachel Jeantel was on the telephone with Trayvon Martin before he was shot and she testified during the trial. Her testimony might very well be one of the reasons for the George Zimmerman not guilty verdict.

There are people who criticize her because they said she sounded uneducated and one of the jurors even said they did not understand the terminology she used.

None of that should matter. What matters is that she is a proven liar and somehow, someway the American people are expected to excuse it. We’re told she lied about her age because she did not want to be involved. Jeantel also told other lies about what she heard or did not hear and her education level.

Why is this being construed as a race issue?

There are plenty of people that do not want to testify in court for a variety of reasons. People of all races and cultures, however when you tell a number of lies, your credibility is damaged. Period.

Further damaging her credibility is that Jeantel, the woman who so did not want to get involved is all of a sudden making the media rounds leading many to speculate that she is being paid by someone.

Jeantel has even been offered a free ride to college, which unfortunately sends a very poor message to our youth that if you lie repeatedly, are combative, obnoxious and disrespectful in a court of law and then make the media rounds, then good things will come your way.

She has been on television trying to justify the use of the very derogatory term “creepy-ass cracker” that she claimed Martin used to describe George Zimmerman.

Simply put she was a horrible witness with zero credibility. Whether or not Martin did use the derogatory racist term doesn’t even matter because few believed her anyway, especially, it appears, the jurors.

George Zimmerman not guilty verdict – the aftermath

The aftermath of the George Zimmerman verdict is very far reaching.

Violence has already erupted in certain cities like Oakland California and many of the Martin family supporters appear to want to turn Trayvon Martin’s death into a civil rights issue.

From Congressman Charles Rangel calling for a federal grand jury to Stevie Wonder saying he is not playing again in Florida, it seems that the death of Trayvon Martin has evolved into something that it should never have been. A race issue.