<p>zoose- one, it’s not relevant. Second, I am a white Hispanic. When people say “Hispanic” people instantly think of dark skinned Latinos/Latinas. There are those of us from Spain who are still Hispanic but are not Latino/Latina. In other words we are Hispanic, but we’re also “white”, not “brown”.</p>
<p>I think it was said because there were reports that it couldn’t have possibly been racism because two minorities were involved <em>gag</em>. The white Hispanic was to clarify that he wasn’t a “brown” Hispanic.</p>
<p>NYMomof2, I’m glad you said it first because I was speculating the same thing about Oliver (by the way, I misspoke earlier, his name is Joe Oliver).</p>
<p>Stories from about three days ago stated that he knows Zimmerman because Mrs. Oliver is friendly with Zimmerman’s mother-in-law. I agree that Joe Oliver’s statements today seem too convenient and polished. Doesen’t mean he’s lying but by his own admission he is trying to spin public opinion (and yet he says there are things he can’t reveal).</p>
<p>This sad affair has become so cloudy that I fear there will be no reasonable opportunity for a jury to sort it all out, meaning that Zimmerman will essentially be cleared. If an objective jury says he was justified, I won’t be happy but I’ll live with it and hope that the inane ‘Stand Your Ground Law’ will be revised if not repealed. But the bungling or outright malice by the Sanford Police may very well result in no judicial review at all.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>It goes to the black/white divide even in the Hispanic community…not to say US society as a whole. Saw plenty of that in my old Latino dominated NYC neighborhood during the '80s…and more of it in rural Ohio during my undergrad years in the mid-late '90s. </p></li>
<li><p>Underscored the phenomenon of the Black-White divide in these types of incidents…especially considering that they now have to be more specific because there are Black Hispanics, Chinese/Asian Hispanics, etc. </p></li>
<li><p>In the incident, media reporting, and reactions…Zimmerman has been perceived as White by both supporters and critics. </p></li>
<li><p>Race is a major factor in this and other similar incidents…as much as some of us would desire to ignore it.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Also, whether an incident is racism related is not dependent on the race of the people involved. There are even people who are racist against their own race, so an incident between two people of the same race could be racism related, although this is relatively uncommon compared to racism between people of different races.</p>
<p>Perhaps it will take something like a boycott of Florida tourism to create change in the law. Some people will listen only when it affects their pocketbooks.</p>
<p>He seems to have been in very bad shape, judging from the huffing and puffing on the 911 tapes. This may work in his favor if it helps people believe that Trayvon was capable of overpowering him, despite his weight advantage. The highest weight estimate I’ve seen for Trayvon was 160 pounds, which means that at 6’ he was skinny. He could have been strong and agile, though, from playing sports. </p>
<p>I agree that it is terrible that people of different colors are treated so differently, mini. It has been difficult to hear one person of color after another describe “the talk” that they have with their black children, boys especially. Besides the real risks, it can’t be good for people to have to constantly be on guard against racial profiling, to monitor their behavior to meet a standard that white people don’t have to meet. I have one son who dresses “preppy” and another who dresses like a slob. If we were black, I’d have to urge the sloppy one to change his ways. It must be very hard to deal with both situations in the same family, to have one child with more freedom than the other.</p>
<p>Incidentally, Spike Lee is a self-absorbed fool. He’s no rightful arbiter of justice. Posting Zimmerman’s address was pointless.</p>
<p>The New Black Panthers and other knuckleheads are silly fools (yes, a superfluous description) whose primary concern is themselves. No one of merit believes them to be credible on any issue.</p>
<p>I sincerely hope that there is some way to punish Spike Lee if the person at that address is assaulted or even (fates forbid) killed.</p>
<p>I doubt it’s something that could be proven though. But he will have blood on his hands if anything happens to anyone at that address. Not that I think he’ll particularly care.</p>
<p>I was appalled at the Black Panthers’ bounty on Zimmerman. Trayvon’s parents and the vast majority of their supporters are demanding justice, not reverse vigilantism.</p>
<p>Why don’t the zealons understand the damage they cause to the bigger cause? I thought the Miami Heat picture was powerful and didn’t resort to posting addresses or making threats.</p>
<p>But Zimmerman’s statement is (so far) the only official account of the incident. Would Z have had any reason to say that it was Trayvon who was yelling for help, if that were the case? We have ONLY Z’s word for it.</p>
<p>It then begs the question…then why did Zimmerman opt to ignore the dispatcher’s instructions to not follow Treyvon when he opted to do so…especially armed and on foot? </p>
<p>From a common-sense perspective…his behavior matches that more of someone looking to provoke some trouble rather than acting as neighborhood watch…especially considering his actions contradict standard neighborhood watch guidelines.</p>
<p>I’m tempted to say something about reverse racism, except, what I think, these days, is that unless you are, or have been, a young black man in our culture, you just have no clue what it does to you to be a bright, young black man in our culture. </p>
<p>As a white woman, I just feel mostly embarrased by what has happened in this police department, frankly. I can speak only from that experience.</p>
<p>I agree, poetgrl. I remember the Charles Stuart case years ago in Boston. Charles Stuart shot his pregnant wife to death in an iffy neighborhood of Boston right after leaving a birthing class. He also shot himself in the stomach, and he told the police that a young black man had gotten into the car and shot them both. For several days until his story fell apart, there was a manhunt. I remember being shocked to read that middle-aged black men, well dressed and driving expensive cars, who bore no resemblance to Stuart’s description, were stopped and searched.</p>
<p>When Barack Obama was running for president, Michelle was asked about her fears for his safety. She replied that, as a black man, he was always in danger. Another shocking moment - no matter how successful and accomplished a black man is, he can never become immune to racial profiling.</p>
<p>It’s something that, as white women, we can only glimpse and not fully comprehend. It is making me sick that some of my sons’ friends, who are black, are probably living with this. If they aren’t yet, then their parents are.</p>
<p>The New Black Panther Party - to be differentiated from The Black Panthers - is a hate group. They need to be ostracized and shunned like any other hate group. </p>
<p>Zimmerman has his supporters. Comments on some reports on certain news outlet websites are full of “atta boys.”</p>
<p>Yes, there was the Charles Stuart case in Boston. Let’s not forget another dreadful affair in Boston, wherein the police fatally shot an entirely innocent and exceedingly ordinary Black citizen who was minding his own business. They covered it up, and when the very slow wheels of justice finally declared the police department accountable, the police department and a succession of Boston civic “leaders” (until Mayor Ray Flynn) just ignored the decision.</p>
<p>And what about the quite terrible saga of Susan Smith of South Carolina? For days she had an entire state looking for the ficticious “black stranger” who kidnapped her toddler children. Very few people thought to question a tearful mother when she said a black man accosted her. Susan Smith knew enough about stereotypes and collective anxiety to believe that her story would fly with the police and the public, no matter how improbable.</p>
This also means that psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health providers could not ask a potentially dangerous individual if they own a weapon. </p>
<p>Florida doctors pushed back, filing suit [Florida</a> Doctors Defend Right To Ask Patients About Guns | TPMMuckraker](<a href=“Category: Muckraker - TPM – Talking Points Memo”>Category: Muckraker - TPM – Talking Points Memo) Anyone know the status of that litigation? So not only does the great state of Fla have rather loose stand your ground/ self protection with deadly force laws, but a patient, or parent of a small child cannot be asked if they own a weapon. Holy moley.</p>
<p>Thank you Catera for pointing out the distinction. The Irrelevant “New” Black Panther Party has no authentic connection to the 1960s equal justice organizations of the same name.</p>