Dia on 16/7/2013 at 13:08

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I found this interview of one of the jurors interesting.

(http://news.yahoo.com/-juror-says-zimmerman-went--above-and-beyond--but-that-race-was-not-an-issue--010659567.html)

I'd wondered, during the trial, if Zimmerman would've behaved in the same manner regardless of the race of the young man wearing the hoodie. I just keep wishing he wouldn't have left his vehicle to follow the young man - wishing he would've stayed put (or whatever the exact wording was) as he was instructed to do by the police dispatcher. I know, too late now.

arandomgamer02 on 16/7/2013 at 14:45

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In Florida, 12 jurors are used for capital cases (and land condemnation) and 6 for everything else.

To me, the most significant part of this case was the media coverage. Remember back in February 2012, the first night it was pretty much a nonstory? Then as the days/weeks went by it just grew and grew for some reason. And in retrospect, how much of a miscalculation was the President Obama remark "If I had a son he'd look like Trayvon?" Fairly innocent thing to say by itself IMO but when the POTUS addresses something, it elevates it to a whole other level in the eyes of the public and it just fanned the flames.

I thought the media was disgraceful on Saturday night. I flipped between CNN and MSNBC and it sounded like somebody died. And having immediate reactions from Al Sharpton and Melissa Harris-Perry, is that really the smartest thing to do? And Sharpton was DIRECTLY INVOLVED in the case, and he's talking about it on TV for a network? FOX was on the ball, saying all night "given the evidence, the jury had no choice." MSNBC (and to a lesser degree CNN), it seemed, was trying to play to their demographic, more overtly than usual. At least that's what I thought.

The continued media coverage to me, the fact that it's STILL going on at this level is unreal. I mean, Sean Hannity talked it up for the entire first hour of his radio program yesterday. CNN is all over it today still. When will the hashing and rehashing end?

It's different being close to all of these high profile trials. Back in 2008 in Orlando, our area went through the Casey Anthony stuff on a local basis, and now this. All you need to know is, haven't seen a single shirt or opinion expressed on the matter here in St Augustine (at least publicly). I was in Orlando just yesterday, and 0 thoughts from the people I was in contact with, in certainly not the most pristine part of O-town (not anywhere near the dumps or anything though). The people in Sanford were peaceful and just wanted to go to church. And we have people a world away in California breaking windows because of this. What does that tell you?

faetal on 16/7/2013 at 15:49

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Yes, it seems a young man was shot and killed during a scuffle.

SubJeff on 16/7/2013 at 20:35

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Yes yes. But in context it's slightly different.

The uni I went to was in an Asian neighbourhood that has its fair share of gang violence, stabbings mostly - Asian gangs vs other Asian gangs. Gang members are pretty noticeable by the way they dress and the way they behave in groups. If I'm alone on the street at night and see a couple of guys who look like they might be gang members is it not better for me to treat them as such in my behaviour (avoidance!) than to not?

catbarf on 17/7/2013 at 03:39

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You know, we can discuss whether or not it was racially motivated, but considering Martin had been found with stolen jewelry in his possession in the past and had THC in his system at the time it seems like his assessment of Martin was right on the money.

Personally I'd be suspicious of someone strolling around front yards in the rain, wearing dark clothes late at night in a neighborhood that had had recent break-ins, regardless of their race. I think people alleging that it was racially motivated are grasping at straws, especially when even if Zimmerman were the most blatant racist in the world it was Martin that attacked him and provoked the use of force.