APRIL 29, 1992- THE L.A. South Central Riots begin following a jury’s acquittal of four Los Angeles police officers for Assault and Excessive Force against Rodney King. The background to the story read as follows in Wikipedia:
On March 3, 1991, Rodney King and two passengers were driving west on the Foothill Freeway (I-210) through the Lake View Terrace neighborhood of Los Angeles. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) attempted to initiate a traffic stop. A high-speed pursuit ensued with speeds estimated at up to 115 mph first over freeways and then through residential neighborhoods. When King came to a stop, CHP Officer Timothy Singer and his wife, CHP Officer Melanie Singer, ordered the occupants under arrest.[5]
After two passengers were placed in the patrol car, five white Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers (Stacey Koon, Laurence Powell, Timothy Wind, Theodore Briseno, and Rolando Solano) attempted to subdue King, who came out of the car last. In a departure from the usual procedure, which is to tackle and cuff a suspect[citation needed], King was tasered, kicked in the head, beaten with PR-24 batons for over one minute, then tackled and cuffed.
The video of the beating can be seen here in an ABC News report from the time:
Fifty-three people were killed in the riots that followed the jury’s verdict. The riots were spurred on by outrage in the black community over the exclusively white jury’s verdict. They were the worst riots in the United States since the 1960s, and worst in terms of death toll since the New York riots of 1863 (as depicted in Martin Scorsese film The Gangs of New York).
I’m afraid it might happen again.
George Zimmerman
The murder trial of George Zimmerman is the most racially polarizing event in this country since that time. We don’t know what the jury’s verdict will be at the time of this writing; but even the most liberal news sources have reported nightly for the past three weeks that the Prosecution’s case is not going well. From what I’ve seen, that’s an understatement. The prosecution’s very own witnesses have testified that the 17 year old victim was on top of Zimmerman beating him in what they termed a “MMA style ground and pound”. A forensic expert testified that the gunshot wounds and powder on Martin’s clothes were consistent with Zimmerman’s claim that he shot the young man in self defense, and that Martin was on top of him leaning forward. Not a single witness has testified seeing Zimmerman initiate the fight between the two. And a police officer said that in interviewing Trayvon Martin’s father, the father acknowledged that the voice screaming for help in the background of 9-1-1 audio tapes was not his son. Numerous witnesses testified that the voice was that of George Zimmerman. In fairness, Martin’s brother and mother both testified that the voice was that of Trayvon. But what else would you expect them to say? And I’m sure the jury will see it this same way.
In spite of this seemingly overwhelming evidence which should exonerate Zimmerman, Black America wants a conviction. The people I’ve spoken with and those I’ve read about and seen on TV see Zimmerman as the aggressor since he got out of his car and followed the teen who was walking home in the rain, in the dark, in a neighborhood in which he was merely visiting, carrying only a soda and some Skittles candy. In part because of the repeated televised pictures of a very young (maybe 10 year old) Trayvon Martin in March 2012 they see the victim as an innocent young child who died because of racial profiling. They don’t see the 6-foot tall 17-year-old who was staying at his Aunt’s home because he had been suspended from school. Or the one who’s phone’s text messages seem to indicate that he had been in repeated fights and was looking to buy a gun. 
Let me be clear: None of what we’ve just written is reason enough for this boy to die. His death is tragic. But according to the evidence it was justified, at least in the mind of George Zimmerman. And legally speaking, that’s all that matters. Zimmerman felt this larger “man” who was beating him and smashing his head into concrete was threatening his life. Zimmerman even claims that upon seeing his gun in his waist band Martin said, “You’re going to die tonight!” and tried reaching for it. And there is zero testimony or evidence to refute this claim.
But thanks to Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and apparently according to new news reports, President Obama’s Justice Department the public was whipped into a frenzy over this case. Remember, the Sanford, Florida police chose not to arrest Zimmerman, and Prosecutors failed to charge him, choosing to believe his story and the evidence that supported it. This isn’t the first time Sharpton, in particular, whipped black people in this country into a frenzy over a perceived injustice done to a young black person by whites.
Tawana Brawley at a press conference in 1987. Standing next to her is Al Sharpton.
Remember Tawana Brawley? In 1987 Sharpton was the primary civil agitator when the 15 year old Brawley falsely accused 6 New York City white men of rape.
My fears this time may be unwarranted. I hope they are. But at the risk of the hateful retribution I may receive, I say this appears to be another instance of false claims of black victimization. Racism exists and its insidious. Those with hateful thoughts and actions directed at black people need to be punished when their thoughts and actions create victims. But it’s also a damned shame there is no punishment for those who have made careers and wealth out of crying wolf, lying, exaggerating and fomenting a sense in the black community that they are held back by the evil white race that wants nothing more than to stalk their children and kill them.
Peace! Please.
Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.
Hateful comments are not.
Related articles
- Trayvon Martin’s Mom Stands Her Ground (momocrats.com)
- Rumblings of ‘lynchings’ over Trayvon verdict (wnd.com)
- Obama and Trayvon Martin, Part II (whitehousedossier.com)
- There Won’t Be Rioting Over the Zimmerman Verdict, Because Good People Still Hold Sway (pjmedia.com)
- Alan Dershowitz: I Would Find Zimmerman ‘Not Guilty’ (givemeliberty01.com)
- Will Trayvon Martin Verdict cause Riots? (planet.infowars.com)
- Zimmerman, a failed morality play (politico.com)
- Police Kindly Ask That You Don’t Riot When Zimmerman Trial Ends (theatlanticwire.com)
- If George Zimmerman Is Found Not Guilty, Can The American People Handle It? (stateofglobe.com)
- Zimmerman trial proves that race-baiting only gets you so far in the nation’s justice system (redalertpolitics.com)
3 Comments
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M Schuett blah blah blah 
Hateful comments are not welcomed? This is total irony since this blog is littered with hate. You remind me of my uncle, a former Black Panther, who spits the same sort of hateful rhetoric that he couches in “intellectual discourse”. But, his conversation, much like yours lacks intellect. He too, is in an is interracial marriage and seems to believe that this fact somehow inoculates him from the criticism of being racist, but, of course, it doesn’t. Nor, does it shield you from being exposed as numb to an unbias view of issues that disproportionately affect Black people like poverty, access and even justice.
It’s pathetic of you to suggest in the same breath that Martin’s death is a travesty, but allude to race baiting as the ONLY reason for the trial. Your “disclaimer” is weak and disengenious. Its dismissive and lacks humanity. The Martin family deserves a trial and Zimmerman deserves to be tried in a court of law.
The fact of the matter is Martin had a right to defend himself as much as Zimmerman. Zimmerman deserves to be judged by his peers. Police investigate crimes. They do not determine guilt or innocence. This is what our courts are for. The problematic underlying message in your post suggests that Black life does not warrant due process. No matter which side you support, you cannot deny that this trial has given the legal system an opportunity to once again prove itself worthy of our civic ideals.
Oh, and evidence? By Zimmerman’s own admission the black 9mm was holstered under his jacked practically behind his back in the dark while raining. Hmmm. How exactly did Martin see that gun? Perhaps Sanford PD didn’t do such a good job. Further, it’s pretty clear Zimmerman went looking for him. So much for being in fear of his life. And, who screams violently for help when they have a firearm. And, why do the screams immediately stop after the gun shot? Further, there’s no conclusive evidence on who’s voice is heard on the 911 call. Yeah, I don’t know about you but those are enough questions to warrant a deeper inquiry.
You don’t like Sharpton, so what! He’s intentionally polarizing to bring attention to issues he believes deserves the spotlight. There are people like that in both races. But, no matter what you feel about Sharpton, it shouldn’t cloud the notion that we all, as Americans, deserve equal (and equitable) access to our legal system.
And, only a person of privilege would think that being a victim of racism is analogous to being accused of racism. Sort of like the slave owners that killed themselves after emancipation, because life without slaves would be far harder on them than the slavery endured by newly freed people.
Get a grip, Charlie Brown!
Thank you for your comment. I usually don’t allow critical comments from those who don’t have the courage to put their name behind their statements. But I’m making an exception.
Obviously I knew not everyone would like my blog. But you seem to either think at least half this country is hateful and racist or think a huge majority agree your your own interpretation. Neither of which is true.
As to “race baiting” (your words not mine). One has to have supreme bias or lack of intellect to think politics didn’t play a huge part in this indictment. It certainly did. No charges were going to be filed until headline and money grabbing fools like Sharpton got involved.
The problem you and others like you seem to always forget is that following someone is not against the law, as stated in testimony during this trial. I understand the black perspective that profiling can be wrong and can be done exclusively because of racial bias. Obviously I oppose such actions. But no evidence exists here that Zimmerman was so motivated. And how you came to the conclusion that I somehow believe “black life” does not warrant due process is absurd and again reflects the bias you bring to this and I presume other judgements. I wrote about this single case and only this single case, where justice isn’t being afforded Mr. Zimmerman in the eyes of many. Not referring to any other instance. Unless you want to defend the indefensible actions of Sharpton and others in the Tawana Brawley case.
The gun was holstered and how did Martin see it (as you wrote). Well, you’ve obviously (for this reason and many) not paid attention to the testimony/evidence in this case and have never been in a fight that ended up with you or someone else on the ground. Testimony from Zimmerman (the only witness) is that in the struggle while on the ground his shirt/jacket rose up exposing the gun, at which point Martin saw it and reached for it.
As to the screaming, I think it goes without much conjecture that a person who felt threatened and was calling for help who has just shot another person no longer feels threatened or a need for personal aide once they’ve shot and killed their assailant. Your point here is ludicrous.
I agree there is no conclusive evidence as to who’s voice is heard on the tape screaming for help, but there is a preponderance of evidence. And thank God in this country a man is innocent until proven guilty. With credible and multiple witness statements, plus forensic evidence supporting the statement that Martin was on top of Zimmerman going MMA on him its illogical to conclude that Martin was screaming for help while on top of and beating up someone.
A person of privilege? Boy are you assuming a lot there. Racism sucks. So does being falsely accused of racism. And in this case and others it is analogous. If Zimmerman’s story is true, and evidence suggests that it is, then who can say he’s deserved the hell with which he’s been put through over the past 17 months? The threat of going to jail for decades, the death threats, the complete and total disruption of his life cannot be dismissed as trivial.
Lastly, Zimmerman’s defense attorney in closing arguments made their best argument, which I’d not heard anything about prior (Maybe you did). There was a four minute span when Martin was away from Zimmerman, in the neighborhood in which he was staying, and not under any direct threat. Why didn’t he go home? The confrontation is a direct result of that poor decision not of Zimmerman’s decision, which was admittedly questionable with hindsight, to follow an unknown character in his neighborhood where he was performing a public good by being a neighborhood watch commander.
Obviously you’re entitled to your opinion but as is always the case with some you start out your argument with personal attacks on someone else for their opinion, thereby demonstrating your weak argument, intellect, and character. Peace.
Your response highlights your unfortunate bias. Of course this is after the verdict, but to accept Zimmerman’s account is to accept that Martin was solely a suspect about to commit a crime and not someone being followed by a creepy ass cracker. Is it possible he did not go home because he was being followed and did not want to lead this unknown man back to his home where his 12 year old step brother was alone waiting for him to return? I think it is possible.
You also fail to acknowledge that Martin was minding his business returning home from the store. So, he had as much right to be in that community as did Zimmerman. But, because he talked about guns and smoked weed he some how got what he deserved because he chose to confront someone who was following him. Like you or a loved one never experimented with drugs or alcohol as a minor. Yes, it’s not against the law to follow someone, but to consider Zimmerman’s actions reasonable is ridiculous. He clearly exacerbated the situation.
I think I can accept the assessment I heard on Fox where the pundit suggested this was a case where it appears two individuals used horrible communication skills to perhaps diffuse what might otherwise been a harmless event. At the very least, it should have been a fight. Not a homicide. And you keep holding onto the idea that you can see a black matted gun in the dark, oh yeah…while its raining.
It’s interesting that nowhere in your writings do you question Zimmerman’s judgement. Why did he not ask Martin if he was lost, ok, or in trouble? Why? Because he assumed the worst of a black male in a hoodie. What did he call him? Asshole? Punk? How could it never occur to him that Martin lived there? Zimmerman was reckless and snuffed out the life of a 17 year old kid because he used poor judgement.
Anyway, thanks to this verdict, the criminilization of Black skin appears to have been reinforced. But thankfully, people across racial lines see the verdict as an American injustice.
But, I know according to the world written by you, white’s always right and brown needs to get out of town. You’ll concede that there is racism, but it’s never the incidents that are deemed racist by Black people. Funny how a white guy knows what’s racist and what isn’t. And Black folk seem to always get it wrong. (See Tawana Brawley case as clear evidence racism doesnt exist). Well, you be sure to let us know when racism occurs. We’ll keep the light on…
A piece of peace (would be wonderful).
By the way, white privilege is real even if its only in the mind. You’re writings are stink with it. FYI – telling your Black son to walk away nowadays may get him shot … in the back. Oscar Grant.