The Hispanic security guard who shot an unarmed black 17-year-old claimed self-defense and police declined to arrest him. NBC's Pete Williams reports.
Almost three weeks after his death, the Trayvon Martin 911 tapes are released and they are chilling.
Should the white neighborhood watch captain who killed the unarmed African-American teenager as he walked home from the store be arrested? And if so, charged with what?
MSNBC host the Rev. Al Sharpton (Politics Nation) and New York Times columnist Charles Blow join Ed for full analysis and reaction.
Florida’s “stand your ground” law may have set the stage for Martin’s shooter to walk away from this killing without being charged. Ed will look into that with Dan Gross, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
More Republicans (like John McCain) are scolding their own about the war on women, but Tennessee pushes a new bill that would identify abortion providers. Bill Burton, former White House Deputy Press Secretary under President Obama, and Joan Walsh, Salon’s Editor at Large, will have reaction.
Democrats in Wisconsin are fighting fire with fire. Ed will have a major announcement from a new candidate for high office in the Badger State.
Petyon Manning is headed to Denver, which means the so-called praying quarterback Tim Tebow is looking for a new city. Ed looks at where Tebowmania may be he might be going next.
And in our Big Finish, Mitt Romney pumps out more lies on Barack Obama and gas prices. Then, he says he can’t make a decision on Afghanistan, but says the president’s policies have failed. Ed invites Democratic strategist Bob Shrum to straighten the Mittster out.
It's going to be another packed @EdShow at 8pET on @msnbctv.
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This is the legal criteria of assault and battery.
Zimmerman cannot satisfy this criteria because Zimmerman sought contact with Trayvon (i.e.: Zimmerman cannot legally claim he was assaulted of battered).
Contact between Zimmerman & Trayvon was consensual for Zimmerman. The idea that Zimmerman "felt threatened" is a lie according to the legal definition because Zimmerman was pursuing Trayvon.
Trayvon is no longer with us to describe his side of the story, but the evidence shows Trayvon did not illegally trespass on property of Zimmerman, so Zimmerman cannot legally claim he felt a threat upon his person from Trayvon to "deny his life, liberty, or property".
In fact, Zimmerman "invaded the space" of Trayvon after police told him not to do that. The evidence from the 911 calls from neighbors indicates Zimmerman was conducting an illegal detainment at gunpoint.
The Florida police and district attorney are profoundly ignorant for failing to realize the public outcry that will start after people begin talking about the legal aspects of the situation.
The police are partly responsible because they allowed Zimmerman to be appointed to position of authority, so the Martins need to sue both the Zimmermans and the city.
I hope the only reason police have delayed arrest for murder is because they don't want Zimmerman to use an insanity plea to avoid a date with "old sparky". If there is no arrest by local police, then the FBI & DoJ need to prosecute the civil right violation.
well put, ca. i'm so appalled by the the story of this young man.
On the tape, he mumbles to the policeman....."They always get away...."
He was not going to let this one get away. So he shoots him in the back as he is trying to run from a man who is assaulting him.
As he also reports the kid was running. Why wouldn't he be running when some creep was following him much larger than himself. I'd be running, too.
This nothing more then a hate crime. NRA is responsible for this.
Zimmerman sought contact with Trayvon.
BOTTOM LINE.
the fool Zimmerman was ON THE HUNT.... hoping to get into a situation where he could be a hero by killing himself a target. seeing as how his target didnt shoot him, ZMON decided to ratchet up the ante and CORNER HIS PREY.
then, claim that his prey acting up and being hostile.
THIS IS CALLED "ENTRAPMENT"
there is a reason entrapment is AGAINST THE LAW.
ENTRAPMENT is NOT simply a test, it is ALSO A LURE, A SETUP, A GUISE, A TEMPTATION, AND A FRAUD.
and i can prove it.
FLORIDA "CRIMINAL MIND" GOVERNOR SCOTT has declared open season on everyone but lilly white republican thieves.
Sadly but so true. the answer being yes, a Zimmerman of color be sitting pleating his case of being threaten in from a jail cell, just a dumb piss poor excuse. but being white he if free.
not many other ways you can spin it.
smiling heck who am i kidding!! bet some will try.
I love my president, but he needs to speak out for Travon like he did for Ms. Fluke and the Rush Limbaugh issue!
This was a heinuous murder of a young man guilty of nothing. The police let this nut loose after he disobeyed the order not to follow the young man. This was a wanna be cop who actually was approved to carry a gun. I cannot even imagine what the boys family must be going through. The justice department should be involved immediately although his family will never be able to bring their child back.
This is a disgusting situation. This teenager was gunned down. Zimmerman, who is a moron, is not even being arrested after killing this young man. This shows some very poor police decisions in that area. I really do not see why this man is not behind bars.
well it was a poor decision by both Zimmerman and the police dept. about the only one who made the correct decisions was the 911 operator, she seem to have told him to stop and the police will take care of it. so guess they the 911 ops are just people with no Authority as far as being part of the chain? at what point "The Police will take care of this" released Zimmerman from continuing to pursue while on the phone. I mean follow from a distances if you want but do not confront! well unless you have a problem.
Florida will remember in September for the election Democrats
Yes it is ceinseattle. It is very much a political issue. The NRA backs the Republicans who always make it much easier for these nasty "gun laws" that put more murderers on our streets.
ceinseattle~~Every issue is political. Ask any republican. It was the republican NRA, that forced the republicans to enact this stupid law.
Sorry but it is political for the main reason that Zimmerman who had a arrest record for a violent crime was not only able to buy a gun because of lax gun laws he was also able to get a CCW permit because of lax gun laws in Florida. All law's wrote, passed and enforced by the GOP.
I am not going to make this a Black/White issue. We don't know if Zimmerman would have shot a white kid in the same situation. But one person was running to get away from Zimmerman, one person was scared to death, one person was screaming and crying for help, and one person was armed. Zimmerman murdered that kid!
Neighborhood Watch means just that. You WATCH and YOU REPORT. You are not Judge and Jury and you are not supposed to act like a damned vigilante.
The death of this child is appalling especially in this day and time! Florida has a very controversial law on the books which was passed in Oct 2005 that allows citizens to stand their ground. This law basically allows persons to take the law into their own hands and to pursue individuals who look as though they are up to no good! Rediculous!!! Something must be done to stop these types of senseless crimes. This man should be arrested and tried in a court of law.
Zimmerman is Hispanic, but media has turned this into a white vs. black issue.
Zimmerman is not hispanic he's multi racial, half white + half latino however because he does not appear to have any hispanic heritage nor does his name reflect a latino heritage the story very easily falls into the nation's long history of racial violence. Remember that many of those who were attacked by police for wanting to vote are still alive.......racial often take a long time to heal.......
More importantly this has nothing to do with race this has to do with the admission by Zimmerman that he shot a teenager who he was told not to stalk about the neighborhood who claims he was in danger in his car with his 9mm from an unarmed teenager. This case prosecutes itself. Anyone who has watched a law and order marathon should have been able to win this
then according to you failed reasoning Obama isn't our first Black President
He doesn't seam to have much of a Black Heritage being raised by his White Mother mostly abroad and neither does his name reflect it unless he is a Black Muslim
And you are not qualified to have an opinion about anything dealing with race and race issues. Why, because you are a tea bagging republican out for a spin.
Indeed president obama is most accurately described as multi racial as well. This is quite true and many forget he is also white.
Poverty and single parent homes are not "black heritage" it is a black stereotype but this is another matter which is largely irrelavent here.....you are correct Obama's name makes it harder to lump him in the white category unlike Zimmerman. His skin color also makes it difficult to think of him as a white man unlike Zimmerman's.
It's pretty self evident that a name like Zimmerman's does not evock any hispanic/latino/ whatever they wish to be called background at first glance you would likely think Zimmerman is just white, his skin allows him to pass for white Obama's does not although both are multi racial
Disgusting situation indeed. I heard the 911 calls last night and the police asked Zimmerman if he was following Martin and he said "yes". At that point the police instructed him not to do that.
I think this guy had a concealed carry permit and was looking to be a cowboy.
Also interesting to note that this Zimmerman guy has made over 40 calls to 911, which I might be able to understand if he's a neighborhood watch guy, but I think they're probably going to be reviewing all of those tapes, or probably should.
I also agree that if Zimmerman were black he probably would be in custody right now. I'm not sure that would be specific to Florida either. Across the country there are a disproportionate amount of black and hispanic inmates in the prison system, that is a statistical fact.
Just sad.
Hispanic/Black racism is alive and well. In California the black gangs target Hispanic neighborhoods. The Hispanic gangstarget the black neighborhoods. Black/Brown racism exists. Also, in the 1850's there was a large influx of German immigrants into Mexico (ever wonder why Mexican music sounds like polka music) and so Zimmerman is not an unusual name for some hispanics. Just consider all the Mexicans named Romney?
As an out of state attorney I think its important to examine the local statute. At issue is Florida Statute 776.013(3) which states:
"A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony."
The first reason why this does not apply to the situation is that Zimmerman was engaging in unlawful activity. Zimmerman attempted to confine an innocent person by force or the threat of force, thereby committing the crime of false imprisonment under Florida Statute 787.02. Because Zimmerman's initial conduct of stopping or attempting to stop Trayvon Martin was unlawful, the self defense statute does not apply, period.
The second reason why this self defense statute does not seem applicable to Zimmerman's actions is that it only states that someone has no duty to retreat and has a right to stand their ground. It does not grant someone the right to pursue or antagonize a situation. Whatever threat of death or grave bodily injury Zimmerman may or may not have reasonably believed existed, he brought them on himself through pursuit, not by standing his ground. Oh, and I don't know how anyone can persuade a jury that someone pleading for their own safety could possibly be an imminent threat to others.
This man in nothing less than a kid killer, he was out looking for someone to shoot so he could be some kind of self made hero, He should be arrested and put in trail, I heard he moved out of his house once he heard the 911 audio, I hope this ends with him being put behind bars for a long time, this family deserves justice for there loss.
The NRA has gone too far & needs to be reined in. The constitution never meant for this organization to get so powerful & endanger the United States citizens. Gun violence is so prevalent & things such as happened in Florida because of their crazy law will never be avoided.
The "Skittles Defense" is not going to work here. Should this Zimmerman character get away with this, it only sets a precedence for such a criminal to decide redheads or the clergy,trick or treat kids, or you name it "looks suspicious". And there's bound to be "copy cats" if he's not prosecuted. Thank God the media is staying on this like bulldogs and not letting go. And finally the justice dept is showing interest and an obvious investigation is in progress. Shame on the Sanford police for doing the very wrong thing. But the justice department has done some "cleaning houses" in police departments (with much less wrongdoing). I am not for taking guns away from people; but guns like cars are deadly weapons, and someone is going to be accountable to make sure gun owners are mentally stable enough to use one; just like a car. Otherwise, something is very wrong. Mr. Zimmerman has not only murdered, he has hurt the rights of every single innocent gun owners who simply want protection, and gun-owners should be equally livid.
Like I tweeted earlier today, "The reality is that Blacks are not marketed as victims in media, but are exploited as the culprits" Our media is so unjust that it sickens me, and it is so disturbing that our country is still so set in our barbaric ways in 2012. As a 21 year old Black female, I grew up thinking that I lived in a society where the fundamentals are justice and equality. I am vastly realizing that our country is acutally founded on pure hypocracy.
It's a shame that Florida Governor Rick Scott hasn't said anything about this injustice. You would think that he'd make a public comment by now, but he has been hiding. What is he afraid of. Can it be that he is just as guilty as the Sanford police in the death of Trayvon Martin.
This law has absolutely nothing to do with the Right to Bear Arms. If anything demonstrates that the NRA is morally bankrupt, their backing of this law does. The Stand Your Ground law should not even apply to this situation. Zimmerman observed Trayvon, calmly giving information over the phone to Dispatch. With his reported obsession with being in law enforcement, Zimmerman apparently decided to play policeman. He deliberately ignored the request not to pursue Trayvon and, as a a member of Neighborhood Watch, knows what his limits are - to observe and report, to refrain from carrying firearms. He had no authority to detain or question anyone. Nevertheless Zimmerman instigated an exchange, knowing that he had a weapon with which he could employ deadly force.
And the Florida AG is considering Manslaughter...
I may not be a lawyer, but I know that this is NOT manslaughter.
Okay Shultz, so you got 200K from the unions? A journalist you're NOT. It sure screams that you have lost what little credibility you had.
Don't know if my question got through, It was the question to ask is, With the shooter being the same (Zimmerman) but the child/victim being white, would there be an arrest? And what was Zimmerman's state of mind, did he do this knowing that he would get away with it because of the law. And that if they arrest him, he could have a law suite, and get a lot of money.
What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty ? I guess the defendant must have a long rap sheet for it to apply. It appears that this Zimmerman should ultimately be convicted of 2nd degree murder, or manslaughter. I really haven't heard what the police had to say yet. Does anyone on this blog have all the facts ?
Finally, yeah, right, the NRA is responsible. ( Roll eyes)
Roll your eyes all you want but it doesn't change the facts of the case that show NRA involvement. 1 Zimmerman was arrested for assaulting a police officer yet he was able to purchase a hand gun, NRA 2 Zimmerman had a CCW permit even though he had been arrested, again something the NRA pushed to relax the laws on gun safety. In most states Zimmerman would have had neither because he showed behaviors that reflect an unstable personality.
The shooting of this young man appears to be senseless and if so, Zimmerman needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. However, can someone please explain how this is a black/white issue? Mr. Zimmerman is described as being Hispanic. the reasoning above ...because he is half white..is ridiculous. Might the crime be racially motivate...sure...but to label it as a black/white issue is preposterous. Can someone explain, from viewing the video clip above, how the NRA is to blame for this? If any person has a reasonable belief that their life is in danger, they have a right to defend themselves. Mr. Zimmerman may have believed his life was in danger...none of us were there and do not know...that is what the law enforcement officials will decide. the next step would be whether a jury believes that his belief was REASONABLE given the circumstances.
People on BOTH sides of the issue need to stop trying to indict an entire race or issue because of the actions of one person.
1 Zimmerman was mixed race and from photos he doesn't look Hispanic. 2 Zimmerman is not a Hispanic surname. 3 Hispanic is not black and Hispanics can be just as racist towards blacks as whites can. 4 What don't you understand about racism that allows you to draw a conclusion that only if Zimmerman was 100% white then it would be a race issue but that Zimmerman being Hispanic means race wasn't a motivation. Clearly that shows you haven't a clue about racism or what racism is.
WHOM:
It is hard for anyone to have a clue as to what racism means in our society today given how people like you have bastardized the definition. For you to give me a lecture in the definition of racism is hypocrisy to the infinite degree.
First...I never talked about whether the crime was racist in nature or not. I simply addressed the point that Schultz had created a poll over in regards to whether it was a black/white issue. You immediately turned it into a racism issue related to whether he had to be 100% white for it to be so.
Second...look at your comments..."he doesn't look hispanic"..."his name is not hispanic"...how bigoted are you really? Notice I didn't say racist because that would be an improper use of the word. You are a bigot...someone who believes a particular race of people should act or sound a certain way. A racist is someone who believes that is race is inherently superior to another race simply because of the difference in the two races.
It is obvious the that you have your own personal hate filled agenda that you are trying to promote.
Here we go again. Here is a clue when you say Hispanic around tea bagging trolls like you it brings up a image of a Mexican illegal which is why I said he didn't look Hispanic, especially to a tea bagging republican from the south who I know for a fact believe that all Latinos and Hispanics look Mexican. As far as your nonsense that surnames doesn't reflect race that is laughable as I have never heard of any Hispanics with the Name Zimmerman. So once again we see a tea bagging troll throwing around garbage hoping he can get something to stick that causes others to question my honesty and in the mean time all that person is really doing is showing himself to be a racist bigot who projects not only his own views but also his reason for being on a liberal blog spewing right wing garbage.
as usual, when you are confronted with facts that show how out of touch you are, you have to start with the name calling. thanks for proving my point for me.
Using your logic...what race is someone with the name Johnson? am I referring to Magic Johnson? or am i referring to Jimmy Johnson? One is black and one is white...
You are the one doing all the stereotyping...
You are the bigot that you accuse others of being...
CynicalCitizen, and whomitmay: Excuse me but Zimmerman does appear Hispanic, because he sure doesn't look white. I don't know what you are seeing, and sir name doesn't mean anything.
According to you to me he looks like his is of Italian or Mediterranean decent. I have black hair, brown eyes, dark complexion, high cheek bones and have been mistaken as being of Hispanic decent my Birth certificate says white as does my mother.
It would be interested to see how many of his 911 calls in the past were reporting black males.
Trigger happy wannabe cop.
Ed,
If I could say one thing and be heard by Republican leaders and candidates I would remind them that honesty is a moral value. Don't tell us that Obama destroyed the economy and is the most dangerous president ever and think you are modeling high moral values.
*********
On the subject of Mitt Romney:
Andrea Saul was on the Andrea Mitchell show today "contrasting" Mitt Romney with Obama by pointing out that Romney left MA with a "rainy day fund" and that "he went in [the Salt Lake City Olympic Games] with a budget deficit and turned things around." Saul said Romney thinks it's "immoral" to pass on debt.
Ed, please make the point that Romney had a lot of help from "handouts" (her word) from the American taxpayers through the federal government both in Salt Lake City and Massachusetts.
"Almost 1.3 billion of Federal Funding and Support Planned or Provided for the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City"
*******************
I would highly recommend Ryan Lizza's comprehensive reporting of what went into the Romney administration's development of Massachusetts' health care law. It's the best account I've read of the process, especially as it concerns mandated coverage.
Republicans can turn on a dime as soon as Obama compromises with them.
"The Onion memorably captured his dilemma in April with the headline 'MITT ROMNEY HAUNTED BY PAST OF TRYING TO HELP UNINSURED SICK PEOPLE.'”
@whomitmay. His family says he is Hispanic, end of discussion you #!%
And just what does a Hispanic look like? In fact I bet if the family had never mentioned his heritage you would have thought it was just another white guy. I'm a white person with black hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion I, look more Hispanic then Zimmerman FFS.
Having the commentator Mr. Gross to comment about guns is equilvent to killing an abortion doctor commenting on abortion. There are millions and millions of law abiding gun owners that those comments attacked. If you break a law with a gun, prosecute the law breaker, not the gun. Strengthen the common sense laws on guns, do not work to eliminate them. People are the problem, not the mechanism.