Child killed by Neighborhood Watch captain while walking home

[Anonymous]

My mixed-race Latina MIL thinks black people are more criminal, despite me being black and her being partially black (although she denies that).

She regards the black young men who live in her neighborhood with suspicion, and she also thinks Dominicans of any race are more criminal.

I say all this to say that people can be prejudiced against a race even if they have beloved family and friends of that race, and even if they are partially of that race themselves. They can also be prejudiced against people with with whom they share an ethnicity.

[Anonymous]

10:43 - I know this to be true. There are spanish speaking people who think another spanish speaking person is "below them", depending on what country and/or continent they are from. There are definitely some who think they are "better" than others. How insane.

[Anonymous]

Just look at the southwest- the tension between Mexicans and African Americans is high

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is the ABC story that details the appalling police mishandling.

Just horrifying. Now, in addition to Zimmerman's arrest, I'd like to see a few police officers fired, possibly arrested themselves.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/neighborhood-watch-shooting-trayvon-martin-probe-reveals-questionable/story?id=15907136#.T2Fm2JiseMN

http://www.usaonwatch.org/service/faq.aspx? - from the National Neighborhood Watch website.

Q: Who Trains Neighborhood watch volunteers?
A: A crime prevention officer assigned by your local police department or sheriff's office supplies initial training of volunteers. In addition, you will find all of the materials you will need on starting and operating a Neighborhood Watch on this website.

If the police had trained the Zimmerman - then I guess they are responsible for him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10:43 - I know this to be true. There are spanish speaking people who think another spanish speaking person is "below them", depending on what country and/or continent they are from. There are definitely some who think they are "better" than others. How insane.

Yeah,how insane! I agree with you, but that also happens with English speaking people... Like most people here on DCUrbanMom (and the north in general), think less of southerns or people of lesser means socio and economically (calling them red necks, white trash, ghetto, etc).

[Anonymous]

This is fascinating and also scary as hell. Why Trayvon's killer hasn't been arrested-- Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law-- this is effed up.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/crime/2012/03/why_george_zimmerman_trayvon_martin_s_killer_hasn_t_been_prosecuted_.html

[Anonymous]

Neighborhood Watch volunteers in my experience are people who are nosy (but not effective) at seeing what is going on in the neighborhood. When there is an actual crisis, I have yet to see a neighborhood watch person there to see it. If on the other hand you do something they do not like, well now that is different. This guy reminds me of the ones I mention. And he too, has guns (like the ones I mention).

I know not all neighborhood watch people have their own interests in mind, but the ones I know do, as did this guy. Calling the police as many times in as short a time span as he? Something is not right with him. He clearly has his own interests in mind. No one can dispute that. If we all behaved this way, how on earth is it helping the community? Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

17:11- you sound defensive and silly.

[Anonymous]

Federal investigation being opened now. DH is a former police officer and investigator. He thinks Zimmerman will end up being charged with manslaughter. I listened to the 911 calls this morning and though this rarely happens, I cried over them. The poor kid screaming for help and saying "No no no" and then you hear a gunshot. Callers were saying he was already on the ground before that shot. There was no threat to Zimmerman.

[Anonymous]

I read this thread with tears in my eyes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:17:11- you sound defensive and silly.

How so? I agree with 17:11.

[Anonymous]

The tape of that boy screaming in disbelief and probably pain is one of the most horrific and angering things I have heard. White mother speaking here. I feel such anguish about this. I cannot even imagine the anguish however, of Trayvon's parents.

[Anonymous]

theres a report saying the guy wasnt part of the neighborhood watch

and removing race from the equation for one second this entire episode is still messed up because an unarmed teenager was basically shot for wearing a hoodie and carrying skittles and iced tea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The tape of that boy screaming in disbelief and probably pain is one of the most horrific and angering things I have heard. White mother speaking here. I feel such anguish about this. I cannot even imagine the anguish however, of Trayvon's parents.

I am PP a few places up with the DH who is former law enforcement. I have a teenage stepson and it broke my heart to think of this happening to him. Unfair and cruel. I hope Zimmerman gets time in prison. He most definitely was not acting in self defense. I think he got overexcited about his "job" as neighborhood watch captain and went too far. He got out of his car with a loaded weapon; the kid had no weapon. It was never about self defense. It was about being a vigilante because he thought the kid might have been the one breaking into homes in the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

zimmerman sounded drunk or on something.

i dont know if he was or not but he didnt sound like someone who was alert and fully aware and processing information. from jump he sounded like he was going to do something