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DemocratSinceBirth

(101,840 posts) Tue Jul 2, 2013, 01:02 PM Jul 2013

If Zimmerman walks what message is sent to African Americans [View all]

And specifically African Americans with teen age boys.

I have one friend who works in the entertainment industry and lives in affluent Redondo beach. He's so concerned that he's considering getting a concealed carry permit lest some yahoo mistake him for a criminal.

I have another friend, white, who is raising his two adopted African American sons. He teaches his kids to be respectful, look people in the eyes, and conduct themselves properly, but he's still concerned.

107 replies

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If Zimmerman walks what message is sent to African Americans [View all] DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2013 OP

It tells us nothing JustAnotherGen Jul 2013 #1

It says open season on them if you live in Florida. geek tragedy Jul 2013 #2

I don't think this is a matter of "sent to," as much as it is "recieved from." ZombieHorde Jul 2013 #3

Whatever the verdict, the message for me is that we need gun control. Nye Bevan Jul 2013 #4

I tend to agree with you Just Saying Jul 2013 #77

Prisons aren't to send messages, but to punish criminals. n/t lumberjack_jeff Jul 2013 #5

And when criminals walk, a message is sent n/t DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2013 #7

A criminal who walks isn't a criminal. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2013 #28

There is a difference between innocent and not guilty. DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2013 #35

Exactly. Just Saying Jul 2013 #78

You said: "A CRIMINAL who walks isn't a criminal". Now repeat that several times. Liberal_Stalwart71 Jul 2013 #55

That might be useful advice if I weren't quoting you. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2013 #75

So Casey was innocent in your opinion? Just Saying Jul 2013 #80

My opinion is immaterial. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2013 #82

I agree with you that a jury can't consider that. Just Saying Jul 2013 #87

I never suggested the jury should consider the societal impact of their decision DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2013 #91

Uh, that's not what you wrote (Post #28). Maybe you should go back and correct it... Liberal_Stalwart71 Jul 2013 #86

Perhaps Zimmerman shouldn't have rushed to judgement. Just Saying Jul 2013 #79

Failing that, the defendant is assumed not guilty by the court gollygee Jul 2013 #81

Not exactly true. Jackpine Radical Jul 2013 #53

The penalty for committing a crime is the deterrent, and the message. Verdicts are not. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2013 #64

That's entirely possible. Jackpine Radical Jul 2013 #70

Fully agreed. nt lumberjack_jeff Jul 2013 #76

Prisons are a private enterprise. Prison is business.nt Maximumnegro Jul 2013 #60

Same one that was sent when the cops who beat Rodney King walked KamaAina Jul 2013 #6

This time though, they have new and improved riot control they want to practice with siligut Jul 2013 #20

But, NOLALady Jul 2013 #104

Same thing as what happened in Miami in the '80s. RebelOne Jul 2013 #30

I hope there is no Liberty City Riot ll DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2013 #44

There is no message. You can't generalize anything from a specific case that hangs on nitty gritty dkf Jul 2013 #8

You should post this JustAnotherGen Jul 2013 #9

Please feel free to re-post it DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2013 #13

Nooo JustAnotherGen Jul 2013 #22

Done DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2013 #24

It will prove (again) that not everyone avebury Jul 2013 #10

Probably the same message pipi_k Jul 2013 #11

It tells them to stay out of Florida. Cleita Jul 2013 #12

If you are unarmed in Florida, HockeyMom Jul 2013 #14

So gun violence has increased in Florida? nt hack89 Jul 2013 #19

Justifiable homicides HockeyMom Jul 2013 #23

Are you aware of the actual criteria for reporting a killing as a Justifiable Homicide? hack89 Jul 2013 #27

BS HockeyMom Jul 2013 #31

That is the official Florida manual on crime reports hack89 Jul 2013 #33

Thank you that at least you didn't question my stats HockeyMom Jul 2013 #37

You are missing my point hack89 Jul 2013 #41

I will never get out of my car in Florida HockeyMom Jul 2013 #48

There are 40 "shall issue" states hack89 Jul 2013 #54

Most of us don't study that crap because we don't carry guns and Hoyt Jul 2013 #63

I understand that laws, data and statistics are beneath you hack89 Jul 2013 #71

Hack, the only people who care are those who arm up and train to shoot people. Hoyt Jul 2013 #73

Ah Hoyt - please don't ever change. hack89 Jul 2013 #74

It will tell them their children are worthless. And living in Florida "good luck with that". Tikki Jul 2013 #15

Nothing other than what we already know. (n/t) Iggo Jul 2013 #16

White makes right? immoderate Jul 2013 #17

Individual cases aren't tried in order to send a message Bake Jul 2013 #18

Nothing they don't already know. Brickbat Jul 2013 #21

That WWB (Walking While Black) is dangerous ... frazzled Jul 2013 #25

Individual trials are horrible ways to "send a message" Recursion Jul 2013 #26

Your children aren't safe HockeyMom Jul 2013 #29

That six women in Florida didn't agree with the DA. cherokeeprogressive Jul 2013 #32

And I'll just bet pipi_k Jul 2013 #36

Sanford where the trial occurred is thirty percent African American DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2013 #43

Prosecution looks incompetent to me. woolldog Jul 2013 #66

They probably used all their peremptory challenges and this jury was what's left. DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2013 #72

No clue... pipi_k Jul 2013 #96

Striking a juror because of his of her race violates the 14th Amendment DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2013 #100

If I am... pipi_k Jul 2013 #102

If DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2013 #103

Yup. n/t cherokeeprogressive Jul 2013 #67

It says the Prosecution did not prove its case. badtoworse Jul 2013 #34

Despite the meme, we don't live in "post-racial america" RedCappedBandit Jul 2013 #38

the message is: nothing has changed noiretextatique Jul 2013 #39

Message: If you don't like the way an AA person looks, shoot them. CakeGrrl Jul 2013 #40

I agree. HappyMe Jul 2013 #46

We are not looking for a message.... BronxBoy Jul 2013 #42

One message that is sent: In Florida a guilty verdict requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Vattel Jul 2013 #45

You last sentence holds true for me HockeyMom Jul 2013 #50

Don't buy Skittles... truebrit71 Jul 2013 #47

+1, but in this case your screwed if your AA and buy skittles uponit7771 Jul 2013 #49

OPEN SEASON!!!!! WovenGems Jul 2013 #51

Get Gun and Stand My Ground ... Cigar11 Jul 2013 #52

The message will be: "It's open season" FiveGoodMen Jul 2013 #56

The indictment demonstrated that not to be true jberryhill Jul 2013 #59

The message is that suspected crimes are subject to trial jberryhill Jul 2013 #57

The message was sent way before the trial. Scootaloo Jul 2013 #58

Message to black Americans: Your lives don't mean shit! We can shoot you on the spot for no reason.. Liberal_Stalwart71 Jul 2013 #61

I'd guess the same message that was sen to Jewish-Americans. .. egduj Jul 2013 #62

You think OJ's killings were motivated by anti-semitism? FiveGoodMen Jul 2013 #94

I suppose that most of White America Shankapotomus Jul 2013 #65

What message? Shoot first and then claim you were standing your ground. 1-Old-Man Jul 2013 #68

i wonder about that too. HiPointDem Jul 2013 #69

when you teach kids about strangers who follow you , exceptions have to be made for black boys JI7 Jul 2013 #83

It wouldn't send a great message to white people, either. aquart Jul 2013 #84

the message is the fear and racism of gun humpers trumps all Skittles Jul 2013 #85

The same message that is sent daily in Chicago, that life is cheap. Beacool Jul 2013 #88

I have heard this argument many times. I don't get it DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2013 #92

No, but the far more frequent issue is not being addressed. Beacool Jul 2013 #98

I think it will simply reinforce the pre-existing message that... LanternWaste Jul 2013 #89

As a black man, it'll tell me that any paranoid yahoo with a gun can shoot Apophis Jul 2013 #90

The message is the Prosecution in this case failed to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt lawwolf Jul 2013 #93

That ship already sailed. zwannabe got to go home ecstatic Jul 2013 #95

I'm hoping your Redondo Beach friend reconsiders. surrealAmerican Jul 2013 #97

What message? Orsino Jul 2013 #99

If you're African-American, living in Florida, and SYG is still in effect, you're screwed. no_hypocrisy Jul 2013 #101

Stand your Ground has nothing to do with this. nt. naaman fletcher Jul 2013 #106

What message are you trying to send? hfojvt Jul 2013 #105

That the prosecutors in his trial are rivaling OJ Simpson's prosecutors in terms of ineptitude? Arkana Jul 2013 #107