Rev. Al: 9-year-old Trayvon pulled Dad out of burning house, dialed 911

[Shirley0401]

28. simple answer

He's white. The issue isn't JUST race, but it's got to be mostly race. The authorities were inclined, just as he was, to imagine all-too-easily how this boy could have been some sort of threat. I'm sure most of them don't actually believe, if you asked them, that all black people are criminals. But it's a question of assumption.
Since it blew up in their faces, they're going to do all they can to throw other explanations at the wall until something sticks. Their only other option is to publicly admit that they just assumed the white adult was telling the truth and that the black kid must have been up to no good.