| Blog THE VICTIMIZATION OF GEORGE ZIMMERMAN
In March, 2012 I wrote about “Today’s Race Baiters.” I derive no joy from saying “I told you so,” but every word of that blog hit the bull’s-eye. The media and influential members of the Black community, because of their unmistakable prejudice, comprised a virtual lynch mob, self-righteously howling for vengeance and demanding retribution against George Zimmerman. Yes, it was “prejudice;” they pre-judged his case. Even the President of the United States improvidently commented upon it so as to jeopardize Zimmerman’s civil rights. Attorney General Eric Holder, as it turns out, conspired with Al Sharpton to engender popular support in Florida against Zimmerman. There is a word that describes all their actions -- “shameful.” 
George Zimmerman was not a villain. He was a community-minded young man interested in law enforcement, who desired to protect his neighborhood against predators. He was schooled in criminal justice and licensed to carry a firearm. There's nothing illegal or morally wrong about either. Yet please don’t mistake my meaning here. I’m not nominating the man for sainthood. Human nature is fallen. Most of what motivates a person is corrupted by the selfishness of his ego. Zimmerman is undoubtedly no exception. But a demented, wild-eyed murderer he never was.
One evening while guarding his gated community, he noticed a person within its confines whom any perceptive observer would deem suspicious, or "a person of interest." “Oh, no!” you scream, “Zimmerman was ‘profiling!’” And what is that, I ask? “Profiling” is nothing more than an inflammatory and politically correct term for the exercise of common sense in making distinctions between people. Here’s an example: if you observed three Saudis, who were obviously Muslims, creating a disturbance on an airplane, you might be, indeed should be, more defensive and bothered by that than if you noticed three Israelis involved in an animated discussion on an ocean liner. The cast of characters and circumstances differ in each case, and there are important distinctions between the two. The Saudis would justifiably evoke the threat of terror in you, whereas the Israelis would not. This is obviously profiling. Is it unreasonable? Of course not.
Trayvon Martin was a seventeen year-old black male, wearing a hoodie at night, walking through a gated, predominately white community, which had been burglarized by persons who looked and dressed like himself. While it certainly does not follow from these facts alone that he was a criminal, his appearance in such circumstances raised questions. For one to argue otherwise suggests that he’s simply not in touch with the underside of American social life.
Zimmerman followed Martin at a distance, but he ceased doing so upon instruction from the police dispatcher. He then walked back to his vehicle. His keeping an eye on Martin was not an illegal, aggressive, or racist act, much less a criminal one. He had every right to do that and could have continued doing so even after the dispatcher advised him to cease and desist.
What happened thereafter is especially clouded in doubt. We cannot be sure. Yet eye-witness testimony and the nature of Zimmerman’s injuries, as well as his own accounts of what occurred, support the view that Martin assaulted him. Such an encounter may unfold in seconds. When it does, it's easy to feel one is fighting for his survival. A hesitant decision is often the difference between life and death. Zimmerman decided to act with deadly force. He shot and killed Martin.
Before any fact could be presented in court, the left-wing media pummelled Zimmerman harder than Martin had. The reportage, if one can call it that, all but convicted and sentenced him. The narrative was of a “white neighborhood vigilante,” a crazed pistol-toting “wannabe cop,” who killed a child in cold blood, as if his victim were "a rabid dog." Under enormous political pressure, the governor of Florida acceded to appointing a special prosecutor, who investigated the occurrence and subsequently charged Zimmerman with second-degree murder, i.e., with intentionally setting out in spite to kill someone.
Fearing for his and his family’s safety, Zimmerman went into seclusion, while continuing to be put through the rigors of the damned by the media and the state’s prosecutorial team. Attorneys with many notches on their belts as prosecutors were tapped to present the case for the state. It was a David and Goliath scenario from beginning to end. Florida threw everything it had at Zimmerman. To make matters worse, the prosecutor’s office sought to hide evidence from the defense.
When after deliberating for sixteen hours the six female jurors returned their verdict, Zimmerman was – never mind the forgotten presumption of innocence that is to be credited to a defendant—finally acquitted of second-degree murder and of manslaughter. He was awarded his freedom at last.
The prosecutorial team and the personal legal representatives of the Martin family expressed disappointment with the verdict while continuing to speak of Trayvon Martin and his family as victims. One of the Martins’ attorneys even compared their son’s legacy to that of Medgar Evers and Emmett Till. News commentator, Juan Williams, illogically insisted that, because Trayvon was unarmed and was killed, Zimmerman’s prosecution was altogether necessary and proper. Hogwash!
The primary victim here was George Zimmerman. He was exonerated in a court of law, but his reputation was destroyed for no better reason than that he defended himself against an assault. No matter where he goes – and I hope that he leaves the State of Florida – he will be stigmatized. His life will remain in peril for a long time to come. In addition, he likely owes a hefty sum of money to lawyers and expert witnesses. Future proceedings may follow if the NAACP convinces Eric Holder to file a federal action against Zimmerman. Don’t be fooled -- justice in this country is not only political, but also expensive. This fact often results in no justice at all. Who better than the beleaguered, often mistreated Black community to realize this sad fact?
The media demonstrated a mob mentality. Elements of the African-American community showcased their paranoia and thuggery. The President and his Attorney General acted imprudently, even dishonorably. The state’s prosecutors bowed to public pressure, overcharged the case, and secreted evidence. The trial judge herself appeared an adversary to the defense at times. It was literally Zimmerman and his attorneys against the world.
If and when you say a prayer for someone in the future, remember George Zimmerman and his family, and say one for them. They have been deeply wounded by the sting of injustice and are the primary victims in this terribly tragic episode. Also, say a prayer for our nation, the institutions of which are faltering, as demonstrated by this ill-advised, politically inspired and based prosecution.
July 15, 2013
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Replies
we need to ask why the Obama administration working so hard to make Zimmerman guilty? the continued distractions to keep people from looking behind the curtain and his involvement with Benghazi and other fiasco's world wide that involve the Muslim Brotherhood and Obama's administration.
Good article Mr. Harry Riley!
Mutantone, you are right. Since WHEN does an administration get involved in a trial such as this?! The media and this admin has put more energy and SLANT on this trial than the fiasco's that Holder and the ENTIRE administration are guilty of so far. As much as I do no like a particular reporter for a local Dallas news cast.....I have to agree with him, when he commented - This IS NOT about Stand Your Ground as it has been reported!!! It has NOTHING to do with Stand Your Ground!!! It was nothing but SELF DEFENSE!! It was the media that brought up Stand Your Ground from the start! Stand Your Ground was NEVER mentioned by Zimmerman OR his attornies. Stand Your Ground was NEVER brought up during the trial either!!! The ONLY thing that was brought up was SELF DEFENSE!! There is a difference!!!! Again, I do not like this reporter......but he sure knocked it out of the park with that commentary!!!!!!!!! So......why in the world would Holder stand before NAACP and say the nation has to change it's Stand Your Ground laws?!!!!!. What the heck business is it of his anyway?!!!!! He's a stinken, crappy criminal himself!!!!!!!!!!!
. . . it's called "Smoke and Mirrors." Bait and switch if you will. It is their game plan and we know it. However, the dumbed down will never get it!
It is going to happen sooner or later, might as well be now.
This really is "Garbage", Zimmerman didn't do anything wrong by the rule of Law and was acquitted of all charges. People that support this stuff had better watch out when we start taking the trash out, that they themselves don't become part of the trash.
I pray for those neighborhoods that warrant Neighborhood Watch programs.What good is a watch that no-one will protect? Evidence that was proven in Court includes suggestion that George Z. cared enough about the community to act.That he had trained for the Neighborhood Watch-- that he was working with/and was supervised ( conversations with the watch dispatcher) Evidence was produced in Court-that he had been attacked--and a reasonable observer could agree that there would be reason for him to fear for his life as a result. In my opinion Any neighborhood that warrants a Neighborhood Watch program is a dangerous neighborhood.In such neighborhoods it would be reasonable to carry a weapon for ones defense especially if one was in a position of risk--i.e. a neighborhood watch.No police officer-- nor any agent of the State would be denied the right to defend themselves .Mr.Zimmerman was charged--and was found Not guilty.My children are less safe today because the Black Panthers-- the Black Muslims-- the Eric Holders--and Al Sharptons-- and Jesse Jacksons-- and Juan Williams and Everyone else wanting to play the Race card--fomenting divisions and Racial Hatred instead of bringing us together.So I pray for those neighborhoods made less safe because of the actions of those who profit by dividing this nation.
Amen Robert, I was looking for a paragraph to send a message today to ` Mr. Issa, my Rep. and will add the rate of criminals being let out makes my city real--less safe.. Thank You
Could not have said it better! Thank you for your courage in putting (your feelings on this subject) in writting, amen.
Voters of the USA, you must vote these miscreants out of office post-hast! We cannot afford them any more if you want a Nation of freemen and liberty; are you hearing me? If not good luck w/the rest of your miserable lives, amen.
Obama and crew are committing hate speech. They are inciting racial rioting. What a good example for the world to watch!!!!!!