OPINION
11
APRIL 6, 2012
Zimmerman committed a crime, but not a hate crime
Some argue that George Zimmerman, the 28-year-old
neighborhood watch captain who fatally shot 17-year-old
Trayvon Martin on Feb. 26 in the central Florida town of
Sanford, committed a racially motivated crime. At this
juncture, I disagree.
Before you tell me I've gone stark mad and dismiss my
thoughts, I urge you to read on. Zimmerman undoubtedly
overstepped his bounds, and someone died.
Be that as it may, I think it's best to wait for the evidence
to speak for itself before we accuse the man of committing
a hate crime. Zimmerman might be guilty of many things.
Flowever, calling this a hate crime without hearing the
bona fide facts is wrong, even if the subject matter has
mobilized our nation.
According to the Christian Science Monitor, "The
U.S. Justice Department could bring a hate crime charge
against the shooter in the killing if there is sufficient
evidence the slaying was motivated by racial bias and not
simply a fight that spiraled out of control, legal experts
and former prosecutors say."
A U.S. Department of Justice attorney and friend told
me by phone that there are too many unknown factors at
this point to pass judgment.
"You have to look at all the facts," this attorney told
The Guilfordian. "With the demonstrations, there is
pressure on the judicial system to do something about
what happened. Until all the facts are known, it's
anyone's guess as to what the crime was, if there was a
crime at all."
In the highly sensationalized, much politicized,
wildfire debate regarding the Martin case there are three
truths: Zimmerman's truth, the public's truth and the
Outrage, protests and mounting pressure
on those in power to hold Zimmerman
accountable for taking a life is an
understandable reaction. We need real
truths, not immediate gratification by way of
labeling an act without fully understanding
what took place.
truth which we've yet to hear in completeness.
If the crime was racially motivated, Zimmerman
deserves punishment to the full extent of the law.
However, at this juncture it's not appropriate to say
what motivated this unfortunate event until the case is
presented to the grand jury.
We need facts, not rhetoric, even when the subject
matter involves racism and laws like Florida's "stand
your ground" rule that kept Zimmerman out of jail, as it
condones deadly force in a self-defense scenario.
Here's what we do know: a neighborhood watch
captain — a "wannabe" cop — gunned down a black
teen. Also, 911 tapes reveal Martin being identified as a
"black" male.
We're also aware that Martin was unarmed and that
the police dispatcher clearly directed Zimmerman to
step down and allow the police to handle the situation.
Reports also indicate Zimmerman sustained injuries
during the altercation.
Zimmerman allegedly uttered a racial slur during his
911 call, though this has not been confirmed. Attempts
to decipher the mumbling produced by the recordings
with the ease of sandpaper may, in the end, be considered
unreliable evidence.
What the media has yet to address is the larger issue
at play, an ember that I hope will not diminish after
Martin'S'death is just a memory to the public eye: we are
still a very racist society.
Outrage, protests and mounting pressure on those in
power to hold Zimmerman accountable for taking a life
is an understandable reaction. We need real truths, not
immediate gratification by way of labeling an act without
fully understanding what took place.
A young black teen being killed reminds some that,
where race and perception is concerned, we've still a long
way to go.
Until the complete facts are examined in Zimmerman's
case, I refuse to allow all the media analysis and
scapegoating techniques to affect my judgment one way
or another. Until those true facts are presented to a grand
jury. I'm staying tuned.
\« Playback: how do
you feel about the \J.S.
presidential campaign?
STUDENTS AND STAFF OFFER THEIR OPINIONS
ABOUT THE DRAMA SWIRLING AROUND THE 2012
ELECTIONS, WHICH ARE JUST SEVEN MONTHS AWAY
"I feel that the GOP candidates are
dragging out the primary race too
long. At this point, they're just digging
themselves a hole.
Mitt Romney is probably the best
candidate they have, but he's too
much of a flip-flopper. Rick Santorum
is an idiot, and Ron Paul is still crazy.
I didn't even know Newt was still in
it. I'm not the biggest Barack Obama
fan, but I guess he is the lesser of the
two evils."
Elijah DaCosta, senior
"I generally feel like the candidates
are too far apart on the spectra of their
issues, and they lack leadership skills.
Overall, they're too extreme in one
direction or the other to successfully
lead a country the size of the United
States."
Caroline Oldfield, senior
"The current campaign is a perfect
example as to why women should just
be put in charge of EVERYTHING."
Susie Williams, CCE senior
"When I'm at home I keep up with
the news, but when I'm at Guilford I
don't really follow the campaign at
all."
Nora Cooke, sophomore
"I don't follow it much because it's so
depressing. The things the candidates
say about each other and the economy
makes you feel depressed, especially if
you realize it actually works."
Sara Besmertnik, sophomore
"Americans live under the mistaken
impression that our elections
still matter. Warlords give way to
monarchs give way to nations give
way to corporations. Power wears a
different mask for each time and / or
culture, but remains where it always
has: in the hands of the few. A gross
oversimplification of empire, but true
nonetheless."
Phillip Arthur, CCE senior
Compiled by Aaron Hall
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