...and shot to death by George Zimmerman. Mr. Zimmerman at the time was the neighborhood watch on patrol for anything suspicious. He noticed a young African American male, now known as Trayvon Martin. He described Trayvon as a ‘thug’ walking alone with a hoodie over his head. Mr. Zimmerman then made a call to 911 dispatcher. He was concerned about an unknown male walking in a neighborhood he did not belong to. Despite being told several times to not follow the teen, Mr. Zimmerman ignored those warnings and continued to follow after the teen. At some point Trayvon and Mr. Zimmerman became physical with one another. At some point through the struggle, a gun was drawn shooting Trayvon Martin to death....
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...On February 6th, 2012, Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman while on his way home. This event sparked national outrage, as many believed Martin, a black teenager, was a victim of racial profiling. Months later, Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder, and thus began the case State of Florida v. George Zimmerman. This case made national headlines, and many were unhappy with its ruling. Ultimately, this case is incredibly significant due to what occurred, the laws involved, the evidence presented, the final verdict, and the case’s lasting impact. The circumstances of the crime are what made this crime and this case such a national headline. The victim, Trayvon Martin, was walking home after purchasing snacks from the local 7-Eleven when George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, saw him and became...
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...of nowhere and after an altercation occurs he is dead lying on the ground. Under Florida’s stand your ground law George Zimmerman would have legally defended himself against Trayvon martin even though Zimmerman started the incident. The stand your ground law is basically a law that removes your duty to retreat. So if you get into a fight with someone you legally don't have to back down and can “stand your ground”. It is very similar to the castle doctrine which states a person does not have to flee when their place of residence is attacked.Many believe the stand your ground law is too much because it gives everyday citizens too much freedom to use lethal force. Lethal force should only be used when there is no other option. More than twenty-two states have passes laws similar to the stand your ground law. In Florida the law was passed in 2005....
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...State of Florida v. George Zimmerman Abstract Our group chose to do the highly debatable case regarding George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin. Based on the various parts from group members, it would seem we have both sides of the case so there will be discussion from either point of view. Our paper is not going to sway the reader in either direction, but simply state the facts for each side and give an overview of the case from our perspective. Introduction Within the last year, our country has seen one of the most high-profile murder cases unfold. This case is none other than the State of Florida v. George Zimmerman, for the charges of second-degree murder of Trayvon Martin. It took the State roughly two weeks to file an affidavit that stated Zimmerman profiled and confronted Trayvon Martin then shot and killed him when Martin was doing nothing wrong (Colby, Hamacher, & Emmanuel, 2012). This case became a highly political case as well as a racially invoked case. There are always two sides to every case and with that being said, this case could be pulled very far in either direction based on any given individual’s beliefs. George Zimmerman entered a not guilty plea with “stand your ground” as his defense for the charges filed against him. This case did go to trial where 10 jurors, 6 main and 4 alternatives; all female. Background Information George Zimmerman was involved with his local neighborhood watch program. He frequently walked with his dog while doing his...
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...Hate Crimes in America; the Trayvon Martin Story Cynthia Ellerbee COM/156 May 19, 2012 Laura Babbitt Abstract Hate Crimes in America; the Trayvon Martin Story In 2005, Florida became the first state to expand an ancient rule of law called the castle doctrine. That doctrine says that if strangers enter your house without permission, you can use deadly force to defend yourself. The Florida legislature decided that the old common law should extend not only to the sidewalk outside your house but to "any other place where he or she has a right to be"--any street, any park, any store: anywhere. It is called the Florida Stand Your Ground Law. (Cloud & Altman, 2012) Trayvon Martin was a lanky 6’3 17 year old African American boy. He attended Carol City Senior High in Miami Gardens, Florida and made A’s and B’s. Trayvon was a boy who did his family and community proud. It wasn't just that he mowed the lawn every weekend with his dad, worked the concession at a football field and helped his neighbors with their groceries. His mother had drilled manners into him, and it showed. "It was always 'Thank you,'" says Johnson, 60, his great-aunt. Each year he put up her Christmas decorations, and come summer he pulled the weeds from her yard. "He didn't mind anything you wanted him to do," she says. At 9, Trayvon helped his dad to safety when a fire broke out in the family kitchen. As he grew older, Trayvon, who had a love for aircraft, longed to go on to college like his...
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...s The Right to Stand Your Ground Florida is among 21 states with a "Stand Your Ground Law," which gives people wide latitude to use deadly force rather than retreat during a fight. The self-defense law helps explain why a neighborhood watch captain has not been arrested in the shooting death of an unarmed teenager. The shooting of the 17 year old Trayvon Martin has beyond doubt questioned Florida’s “Stand Your Ground Law”. Many have proclaimed that in Florida anyone who believes he is in danger can use deadly force, no matter how unreasonable his belief. This perception of the law is very wrong. The night that Trayvon was killed, George Zimmerman called the police saying that he sees a very suspicious young man that looks like he is up to no good, or on drugs or something. While Zimmerman was on the phone with the 911 operator he noticed that Martin had his hands in his pockets. Zimmerman was asked to stay in his car and not to follow then teen. The 911 operator said that we don’t need you to follow him. Zimmerman created his own crime. He had been instructed to stop the pursuit and did not. He decided to take the law into his own hands; Trayvon was killed. Zimmerman was arrested after killing Trayvon that night; he was taken into for questioning but was set free a few hours later. Since he was crying self-defense does that justify that he was free 6 weeks after the murder? That isn’t fair that someone can take the law into their own hands when they are told to stay...
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...am the real George Zimmerman," declares the website, set up over the weekend. "On Sunday February 26th, I was involved in a life altering event which led me to become the subject of intense media coverage. As a result of the incident and subsequent media coverage, I have been forced to leave my home, my school, my employer, my family and ultimately, my entire life. This website's sole purpose is to ensure my supporters they are receiving my full attention without any intermediaries." Zimmerman's "life altering event" was the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, an act that the neighborhood watch volunteer told Sanford, Florida, police was an act of self defense. Zimmerman has not been charged with a crime in Martin's death, a fact that has provoked demonstrations and calls that he be prosecuted for killing the teen. George Zimmerman posts new website Lawyer: Zimmerman's website is a luxury Legal experts discuss Martin Case Zimmerman attorneys say media unfair The statement posted on therealgeorgezimmerman.com warns viewers that "some persons and/or entities have been collecting funds, thinly veiled as my 'Defense Fund' or 'Legal Fund.' I cannot attest to the validity of these other websites as I have not received any funds collected, intended to support my family and I through this trying, tragic time." War of words continues in Trayvon Martin case But the site includes a link through which viewers can donate money to pay for Zimmerman's lawyers and...
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...Intro: The fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman took place on the night of February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida, United States. Martin was a 17-year-old African American high school student. George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old mixed-race Hispanic, was the neighborhood watch coordinator for the gated community where Martin was temporarily staying and where the shooting took place. Following an earlier call from Zimmerman, police arrived within two minutes of a gunshot during an altercation in which Zimmerman fatally shot Martin, who did not have any weapons. Zimmerman was taken into custody, treated for head injuries, then questioned for five hours. The police chief said that Zimmerman was released because there was no evidence to refute Zimmerman's claim of having acted in self-defense, and that under Florida's Stand Your Ground statute, the police were prohibited by law from making an arrest. The police chief also said that Zimmerman had had a right to defend himself with lethal force. Why this case captured America’s attention *What is the history of racial violence in America? Youth? Unarmed? Hoodie? Stand your ground - Mexican women lost her case confuse reader present every side of the case http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/11/why-did-trayvon-martin-s-death-upset-us-more-than-black-kids-killing-each-other/281452/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand-your-ground_law http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/05/us/trayvon-martin-shooting-fast-facts/...
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...The jury is made up of 6 people, all of which are female. Eventually George Zimmerman is found to be non-guilty of second-degree murder and of manslaughter. He’s acquitted of all charges and is free to go on his merry way. After some time, one of the jurors does an interview detailing the process of finding George non-guilty. She said that in the heart of all the jurors, it was obvious that he should be found guilty. However, by the law of Florida, there was no way that they could convict him. It’s the sad truth, sometimes guilty people walk free because of a loophole in the...
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...verdict. The outcome of this case has become one of the most controversial issues among many Americans people today. Justice System On July 13th 2013, a Florida jury acquitted George Zimmerman of all charges in the February 2012 shooting and killing of 17-year-old African American male, Trayvon Martin. The verdict “Not Guilty” caused an outrage among many Americans, mostly African Americans. Many Americans sought for justice, believing that Mr. Zimmerman was indeed guilty of murdering Mr. Martin on the act of racism, and that the justice system had failed to protect the rights of African Americans. Zimmerman was cheered by those who agreed that he was acting in self-defense, whereas others believed Zimmerman had targeted Martin because he was African American. On February 26th, 2012, Mr. Martin was walking back home from a Convenient Store, where he was followed by Mr. Zimmerman. Mr. Zimmerman who was on the Neighborhood Watch Committee for his community, believed that Mr. Martin was suspicious because he was walking in the rain at nighttime. Mr. Zimmerman and Mr. Martin got into a confrontation and Mr. Zimmerman shot in killed Mr. Martin; in claim of self defense. Many people have called Zimmerman’s actions reprehensible, and that the tragic event was caused by racial profiling and bias. They asserted that Mr. Martin was defenseless, an unarmed 17-year-old teenager, whom Mr. Zimmerman pursued because he was African American...
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...Getting away with Murder There are different laws in each state that allow citizens to protect themselves against a criminal. However, Florida’s law Stand your ground is giving todays citizens a right to kill. Every day we read about a new case where this law justifies the killing of another person. This law was made up to protect criminals and people who choose to kill when they could have easily avoided the whole situation. Shoot first and ask questions later should have been the name of this law. Walking home from the convenient store, playing your music in your car at a gas station, or even going to the movies and asking someone to keep it down has become a scary task. How is it possible that you run the risk of getting shot or killed by doing these everyday normal tasks and the person responsible for your death gets off Scott free with no repercussion for their actions? Having the right to protect yourself when you are seriously in harm’s way is necessary, but useless acts of violence is what todays people are doing and justifying it in court with the Stand your Ground law. This is turning innocent people into targets for angry individuals to take their frustrations or dislikes out on. I want to have the right to walk down the street with a hoodie on and not fear for my life. Gun laws have been restricted over the U.S since the Sandy Hook shootings; however Florida still hasn’t caught up with these actions and still provides an out for over zelles gun toting...
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...American who was shot and killed on February 26, 2012. With all the relentless news coverage, most us know these basic facts: Martin went to a 7-Eleven store during half-time of the NBA All Star Game. He bought a packet of Skittles and some iced tea and was returning to the home of his father's fiancée in Sanford, Florida when he encountered George Zimmerman. Zimmerman was a neighborhood watch captain with a long-standing interest in law enforcement. He thought Martin looked suspicious and called 911. Although the 911 dispatcher told him not do so, Zimmerman followed Martin and according to Zimmerman, Martin attacked him, causing injuries to Zimmerman’s nose and the back of his head; Zimmerman says that in order to defend himself, he fired on the unarmed teen. The case highlights Florida's 2005 "stand your ground" law. The law allows people to defend themselves, using deadly force, if they feel their lives are threatened. Florida legislators who crafted the law say that it was meant to allow Floridians who, for example, were defending their own property, to avoid being charged with a crime. Zimmerman invoked the stand your ground law and has not been arrested or charged; given that Martin was unarmed, and simply walking through the neighborhood there has been widespread outrage and charges of racism. Throughout the U.S. and even in London, thousands have protested the fact that Zimmerman has been neither charged nor arrested. What do you think about the case? As a student...
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...Debate Paper XBCOM/275 November 12, 2014 Heather Fontaine The topic that I have chosen for the subject of my debate paper is the trial of George Zimmerman. On February 26, 2012 a man that was unknown at the time was about to be the center of controversy when he shot and killed a 17 year old boy named Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida. The man in question George Zimmerman was a patrolman for the local neighborhood watch in his area. Trayvon Martin was visiting his father who lived in a gated community one of which is where the shooting occurred. That morning Zimmerman had noticed a male lingering in the neighborhood, he then called the non-emergency line to report this. While on the phone with the police the dispatcher informed Mr. Zimmerman not to follow the individual and that police were on their way. When the police arrived moments later they did not find a male lingering in the neighborhood what they had found was Trayvon Martin on the ground lifeless he had been shot in the chest. As the police walked the crime scene, the items that were found were a cell phone, ear buds, iced tea and a bag of skittles, no gun. The only person that was holding a gun was Mr. Zimmerman, this was to be the only gun found at the scene. This sparked outrage within the town, state and country. Mr. Zimmerman was charged with murder and arrested, he had non-life threatening injuries to his head which were treated. Mr. Zimmerman was questioned for many hours, after being questioned...
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...incident, Florida passed the “Stand Your Ground” law, which allows someone to use deadly means in order to protect themselves from someone who is a threat to their safety. It was the evening of 26 February 2012 and Martin was walking to his dad’s fiancee’s house from a nearby 7-11. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watchman, spotted Martin walking in someone’s yard and looking around at the houses. This struck Zimmerman as suspicious. Zimmerman called the police and described the situation to them. Martin, who was on the phone with his girlfriend at the time, noticed that Zimmerman was watching him. Martin continued on his way home and Zimmerman drove around, pursuing him. At one point, Martin started running, prompting Zimmerman to chase him. When Zimmerman informed police that he was running after Martin, they told him, “Okay, we don’t need you to do that”. What occurred after that point is filled in by what Zimmerman claimed happened. Zimmerman said that Martin punched him in the face, got on top of him, threatened to kill him, and then repeatedly smashed his head against the concrete sidewalk. Zimmerman, feeling threatened, took out his gun and shot Martin in the chest, fatally wounding him. If this is exactly what happened, then Zimmerman’s action was completely warranted; however, the general public believes that if Zimmerman had simply stayed in his car, none of this would have occurred. This key point made it difficult to believe Zimmerman’s story (Linder...
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...Shahbaz Ali Angela Saragusa Scandal Paper Engl 122 6/2/16 The Trayvon Martin Case and its Aftermath For years now racism still lives and kills many people. What is Racism or being racist mean? The Dictionary defines racism as being prejudice, having discrimination, or believe in antagonism which is directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own races is superior. In the case of Trayvon Martin, he was racial profiled like many other African Americans. His death lead to many protest and movement from the Africans Americans and other civil activists. Which made a big impact on society and how profiling people just of their race is wrong. The George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin case has made people question their intentions on racism and racial profiling and has gave them a lastly effect on them. Trayvon Benjamin Martin was born on February 5,1995 and is from Miami, Florida. He also has 3 other siblings and 2 divorce parents (Amber 1). Tracy Martin was the father of Trayvon and Sybrina Fulton was the mother although it that they were divorced the parents remain close for their children. In the article its says, “In fact Sybrina would say they better as friends as husband and wife “(Amber 1). Sybrina wants to be divorce but wants to remain close contact as a friend to Tracy. Tracy Martin was a fine with idea of stay as friends for the kids. Tracy was a truck driver and would go and meet his kids during the weekends and often during the week...
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