#TrayvonMartinProsecuteAsHateCrime?

The tragic case of Trayvon Martin has been getting more attention by the day.  Celebrities and new outlets are bringing attention to this story.  Users on Facebook and Twitter have been reposting stories and news updates on the case of the unarmed 17-year-old black teen that was shot by a self appointed neighborhood watch leader.  A lot of people are looking at the case from a racial point of view.  Black teen wearing a hoodie, jeans, and sneakers is shot down by a white man.  Of course, there must have been a racial motive.  But the fact is that this was not a white man but a Hispanic man who shot this young man.  And as his father told reporters that he [George Zimmerman] is not a racist because he grew up in a multicultural family and apparently mentors black youth in his neighborhood.  And that is why I feel the prosecution should not focus on racism but focus that this man’s careless, irrational actions are the cause of the death of Trayvon Martin.

After being told by 911 not to follow the young man, Zimmerman left the safety of his vehicle to follow Martin.  Zimmerman did not have any reasonable cause or authority to confront Martin.  Zimmerman is not even a part of the national organization for Neighborhood Watch which in their bylaws has specified that watch leaders are not to carry weapons.  Trayvon was not in any way on Zimmerman’s personal property.  This information alone should debunk Zimmerman’s self defense claim.  Not to mention the fact that Martin is 140 pounds and Zimmerman is 250 pounds.  When the police arrived, all that was found on Martin was a bag of Skittles and a bottle of ice tea.  There was no need for this type of deadly force to be used by Zimmerman.

On the 911 calls you can hear Martin yelling for help.  Anybody who is attacking someone and possibly winning is not yelling for help.  After the cries for help you hear gun shots on the 911 calls.  Trayvon was also on the phone moments before he was shot and describing to the caller that he was being followed.  It is obvious that Martin knew he was in trouble and not trying to attack anyone but maybe was trying to defend his self.  Martin had the reputation of being a cheerful A and B honor roll student and did not have a history of getting in trouble with the law.  I do not suppose that he chose this night to engage in a life of crime. 

I feel the prosecution can build a better case by focusing on the fact that an innocent young man was murdered by an overly zealous vigilante.  All the evidence is there: calls, witnesses, and past histories (Zimmerman has called 911 46 times since January 2012).  Do not get me wrong, I do believe that this man is a very ignorant man and it is possible he thought Martin looked “suspicious” because he was black, but when it comes to this particular case race should not be the focus.  All in all, I hope justice is served.