Word On The Street

Thoughts & Opinions from My Personal Perspective

Exclusive to WCBM AM 680, Baltimore, MD

Submitted by Steve Smith, Contributing Columnist

Not necessarily the opinions of WCBM 680 or WCBM.COM

(but they SHOULD be!)

~/~

April 1, 2012, Ferndale, MD

 George Zimmerman --

The Real Victim

(Since my original publication, Zimmerman has VOLUNTARILY surrendered to authorities, and is now facing a 2nd Degree Murder charge, and lesser chages as a 'catch-all' to cover the prosecution's options.  In my opinion, the basic premise still stands, namely that Martin, the aggressor, chose to pick a victim who had a concealed weapon, and paid the ultimate price.  Hopefully, the court proceedings will bring these facts to light, and result in an acquittal.  THEN, look to the race-baiters to forment riots in the streets!    --- Ever notice that the "White Community" doesn't engage in riots or civil disruption?  Flash back to the OJ trial...  I rest my case. ---

For too long we have listened to the media circus -- yes CIRCUS -- over the shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman. The establishment media has turned this case into a public lynching on paper, tried and convicted Mr. Zimmerman without benefit of due process, and is inciting racial tension at every turn, all in the name of the holy dollar -- “if it bleeds it reads!”

Trayvon Martin was 17, a few short months away from being an adult. In fact, he WOULD be considered an adult if found guilty of a violent crime, such as aggravated assault, manslaughter or murder, and would stand trial and face punishment AS AN ADULT. He was also reported to be over 6 ft tall, and a player on the school football team, certainly NOT a 98 pound weakling!

Let me get into the facts as I know them to date:

George Zimmerman was acting in a Neighborhood Watch position when he observed Trayvon Martin, followed him through the neighborhood, and had the presence of mind to contact 9-1-1 regarding his concerns. He disregarded the instructions of the 9-1-1 operator and continued to follow Martin, which IS NOT A CRIME, and could be interpreted as a dedication to his efforts as a Watch member, not wanting Martin to get out of sight until the police arrived.

An altercation occurred. We know Zimmerman had injuries to the back of his head, grass stains on the back of his clothing, and sustained injuries to his nose, all consistent with his statements to the police immediately afterward (not hours, days or weeks later).

A witness that came forward immediately was interviewed by police, and stated that Zimmerman, wearing a red outer garment, was on the ground being beaten by Martin, who was on top of him and wearing a grey “hoodie”. This witness turned away from the fighting to call 9-1-1, and when he looked again, Trayvon Martin had been shot.

The police conducted an investigation, and found no reason to arrest Zimmerman at the time. He was, however, brought in for further questioning, and released.

Since then, the tapes of the 9-1-1 call have been released, in which there is a call for help from someone. Doubts as to whether it was Zimmerman, Martin, or even another voice cannot be reconciled.

Just this past week, we have a witness coming forward, almost 4 weeks after the fact, who refutes the on-site witness statements.

On Saturday, March 31^st, a protest march was held, organized by (naturally) the NAACP, and led by such upstanding citizens as Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton.

Statements were made that “civil disobedience” would be ongoing and accelerated until Zimmerman is arrested.

The New Black Panthers have plced a bounty on the head of Zimmerman, DEAD OR ALIVE, without benefit of trial, or due process of law, yet NO criminal charges have been brought against them for their actions.

Democrats have held rallies, selling “hoodies”, and registering voters at the same time.

A “rapper” has called for riots, and burning a house with everyone in it.

A prominent member of the AFL-CIO makes the statement “conservative right-wing policies (traditionally White persons) are to blame for Trayvon’s death.”

A United States Congressman (Rep. Bobby Rush, D-IL) addresses the House wearing a “hoodie” and had to be forcibly removed. A CONGRESSMAN!

And to top it off -- Obama, acting in his official capacity, weighs in and throws gas on the racial fire by stating “If I had a son he would look like Trayvon.”

MY OBSERVATIONS

Do you see where this is going? Do you feel the hate being exhibited?

Do you understand that the media has made matters so much worse by sensationalizing the incident and the follow-up protests, and in fact are inflaming matters even more, just to garner the profits and keep the momentum going?

The race baiters are calling Trayvon Martin a child, when in fact his was a fully grown young man, only a child in the eyes of the law in certain circumstances by a few short months. They make him out to be a victim, when in reality -- according to the police reports, evidence, and at least one on-site witness -- he was the aggressor who happened to pick a fight with the one guy that he shouldn’t have, AN ARMED CITIZEN.

Trayvon chose to take exception to being followed in this gated community. WHY? If he had nothing hide and wasn’t doing anything wrong, SO WHAT if he was being followed? What else would you expect in a gated community but a very real concern by residents for safety and security? He had foreknowledge of the security issues simply because it WAS a gated community, and he could reasonably expect to be under surveillance at any time while visiting there.

As for the right or wrong of Zimmerman being armed during his patrols, he was legally permitted to carry a weapon. In this instance, I would say his choice to be armed is the only thing that saved his life.

The media has grabbed onto this story simply because Zimmerman was a White Hispanic, and Martin was Black. Would we hear of this story, or have so much made over it, if the races were reversed? Undoubtedly not. In fact, the story would be intentionally buried by the establishment media because it reflects negatively on Blacks as a whole, which doesn’t sell papers. And to keep the bucks rolling in, they inflame the situation beyond all responsible reporting and give a forum to race haters like Sharpton and Jackson. Pictures of a younger, clean-cut Trayvon Martin, wording of the headlines and biased syntax of the stories have convicted George Zimmerman long before he even steps into a court room.

Else, if it were even covered, only local residents would have read about Zimmerman being “mugged & beaten to death” as a small story buried near the back of the paper, never to be reported in the national press.

Consider the reporting had Trayvon Martin been subdued at the scene by Zimmerman, or with the help of residents or the police… what sympathy for Zimmerman would have been shown by the race baiters? While Zimmerman recovered in a hospital from being nearly beaten to death, with the following months of therapy and mounting medical bills, his life to never be the same, what headlines would you see? Do you think the NAACP, Sharpton or Jackson would offer to pay Zimmerman’s medical bills? I rest my case.

And what of Trayvon Martin? He would possibly have done a few months in a juvenile detention facility (being under 18). There he would nurture his aggressive tendencies and feeling, make contacts with other criminals, and then would be released back into society to maim or kill the next poor guy who he felt was looking at him the wrong way.

A Grand Jury is currently reviewing the facts and evidence in the case and will render a decision whether to indict Zimmerman or not.

I, for one, would like to see this case go to trial, if only to bring to light every fact available, and put this to rest once and for all.

For the sake of a civilized society we must have a review of the incident, if only to assure that the rights of Trayvon Martin were not violated in any way, REGARDLESS OF HIS RACE, or even BECAUSE of his race.

If Zimmerman is found to have been the aggressor, then he should face the full consequences of his actions.

If not, he should be completely exonerated and vindicated in his self defense and consistent with Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law.

I would even go so far as to suggest Zimmerman take legal action against the Martin family, the NAACP, the New Black Panthers, Sharpton & Jackson, and any others who have furthered the lynch mob actions against him.

Should Trayvon Martin have been killed out of hand for his alleged beating of George Zimmerman nearly to death? Obviously not. It would have been much better for Zimmerman to have subdued Martin, but while having his head beat repeatedly on the concrete that was not an option.

Should Zimmerman have shot to wound, as opposed to a shot to the chest? That only happens in the movies. The use of a hand gun in ANY circumstance must be tempered with the knowledge that death may occur, not a hope that you only wound the assailant.

But as any police officer will attest, if you feel your life to be in danger, and the use of deadly force to prevent your own death is the only option, then you must take the actions necessary to remove the threat.

From the facts thus far presented, Mr. Zimmerman found himself in just that situation, and acted accordingly & appropriately.