Nikki Jones
Group project - Week 4 group 3- Individual Assignment
December 6, 2013
The Trayvon Martin case was primarily on the shooting of the teen. Martin unarmed was shot by Zimmerman who was also known for being well trained in martial arts and much larger than the teen appearing to Zimmerman to be involved with drugs. However, there was no proof of the drug relation, only a statement from Zimmerman. (Williams, 2013) His parent stated that was not something Trayvon was involved in and could not believe he would have the dugs on him or dealt with such a thing. (Kaufman, & Lindner, 2013) The trial was in the state of Florida where they allow a jury of as low as half in major criminal cases. (Williams, 2013) Martin being and African-American and Zimmerman a Hispanic man. The point of racial profiling. Impacts of public order. The trial was based upon the actions of a 28-year-old 200 pound, white man following 17 years old 158 pound, the black teenagers. Not to mention the fact the teen was stereotyped as a thug. As Zimmerman was a political figure. In 2006, a similar case was presented convicting John White for manslaughter; he did, however, own many weapons. (Williams, 2013) After an argument started Zimmerman went to reach a cell phone to call 911 and Martin took action as the appearance of Zimmerman was reaching for a gun. Zimmerman was punched in the nose, face, and head. Hitting his head into the concrete several times. Trayvon was killed from the shooting. His wound was in the back of his head. Zimmerman states the action he took was self-defense. Since he was killed there was the relying on the witnesses and 911 calls. The dispatcher advised not to follow Martin. The facing of a hate crime, extreme excessive force that may not have been needed to be taken as witness stated there was neither a threat nor self-defense needed to be taken. In the charges that Zimmerman faced was 2nd degree murder and manslaughter. The final decision of the jury was not guilty. (Kaufman, & Lindner, 2013) The actions of Zimmerman were described as not only excessive force yet also lethal force. There is a major dilemma in the fact since Zimmerman was a leader of a neighborhood watch that happened to have a conceal to carry permit. Martin was only returning from a seven eleven his clothing was considering him a suspicious subject, of a ordinary hoodie. His person was carrying an iced tea and skittles, a simple a teen with an unhealthy snack. (Deggans, 2012) The stand your ground law in Florida saved Zimmerman in the trial pleading self-defense. The media was in a quarrel of the villain and injustice category. As the racial factor and the facts and the case could not be altered in order to maintain peace and the public from acting out in such ways as riots and crying of unfairness in the court system the possibility to take violence to receive justice was a high probity. The line of walking while being black was the pointing fingers of the guilt that Martin was in to have such a thing happen to him, in addition to not being known in the neighborhood. The idea of a neighborhood watch is not meant to track down everyone who is not familiar to the area. The media had to watch the major points of journalism not to place fear in the public and allow having the continued trust in the law enforcement agencies through the country. The ability to tell enough of the backgrounds of each party will a lot the information to not be basis by the publications. Height, weight, race, and clothing are often a description used to identify those in an event. This is not intended to create chaos in the community. (Deggans, 2012) The applied force and deadly action used as a self-defense is the heated discussion. The one-party statement is only one view, there were witnesses and additional reenactments in science studies to see what really happened. Zimmerman of the head is the man did have injuries on the back of his head as well as a broken nose. This is a possibly that his information is true. That Zimmerman was the head of the neighborhood watch program. He was not an officer on duty. He did the proper thing to contact the police department and make them aware of the suspicion. Although the dispatcher did tell him not to follow Martin. They were sending an officer. The idea to call back was reasonable when the confirmation started. However, when he went to reach for the phone, he should have announced what he was doing and not make sudden moves. The physical actions appear to be related to Martin being in fear of his own life. That could have been prevented. (Kaufman, & Lindner, 2013) In my option, there is a large difference and defending one’s self and shooting someone. Then again I see no way that a shot to the back of the head is self-defense In order to defend yourself the person would have to be coming at you or you beneath the attacker. The young man was curious of why he was following him. I feel a shot in the back at all especially the head the case should be an automatic full sentence and guilty verdict. This raises question of the scientific reenactment of the situation. Is there a possibility to make the case appear in one favor or another, if so how can there be this evidence or assistance to the case? There are so many unknowns in the case; this is in many murder cases. Since the two people involved are the only two who really know the truth. And one cannot talk. (Kaufman, & Lindner, 2013) Zimmerman was acquitted from 2nd degree murder and manslaughter. There for that did not have enough proof to find him guilty. The press and reports have stated that the jury found him not guilty which is not exactly true. Yet this is what it is considered as is quitted. (Lizette, & Buckley, 2013) This is the same in a rape trial not saying that the crime did not happen or that that person was not the one who committed the crime yet that they cannot sentence them for the crime.
References
Deggans, Eric, Why ethics and diversity matter: The case of Trayvon Martin coverage, (2012). Retrieved from: http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/everyday-ethics/192604/mostly-white-and-sometimes-brown-media-people-in-a-mostly-brown-and-sometimes-white-world/
Kaufman, Gil, & Lindner, Emilee, Trayvon Martin Case: The Complete Story As George Zimmerman is found not guilty, we take a look back at the Florida teen's killing and the 504 days that followed, (2013). Retrieved from: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1710511/trayvon-martin-case-timeline.jhtml
Lizette, Alvarez & Cara Buckley, Zimmerman Is Acquitted in Killing of Trayvon Martin, (2013). Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/us/george-zimmerman-verdict-trayvon-martin.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Williams, Patricia J. 2013. "The Monsterization of Tryvon Martin." Nation 297, no. 7/8: 17. MasterFile Premier, EBSCO host (accessed December 5, 2013).
