I just watched a video in which a person claims he'd worked with Zimmerman in the past in the neighborhood watch program. Granted their program wasn't registered nationally, and that in itself may be problematic because there should be one set of rules in place for all such watch programs, but here is what I have a problem with.
SYG implies to me when under attack only. Initially, Zimmerman wasn't being attacked, wasn't threatened with an attack. He pursued Martin. Who is to say Martin wasn't standing his ground as best he could? I believe he was. Neither male was defending a residence or a vehicle or any other personal property. Any history Martin may have had for any kind of illegal activities should not suggest he was up to no good that particular evening as he had nothing on his person to suggest such that I've read.
It seems to me, Martin, had just as much right to stand his ground, actually even more so than Zimmerman as he, Martin, was the one being pursued for unknown reasons.
If Zimmerman could determine that Martin was black, could describe what he was wearing, then it is likely than Martin could tell Zimmerman was on his cell phone talking to unknown persons. For all we know, Martin may have thought there might be a second person in cahoots with Zimmerman.
Martin had every right to ask why Zimmerman was following him. Did Zimmerman stop, and announce to Martin he was on a neighborhood watch team when Martin asked why he was following him? No. He should have. In fact, it is conversation that could have made both man and teen more comfortable, and averted a teenager losing his life, but even so, it could well have depended on the teen's attitude towards being confronted by an unknown adult.
I listened to the tape. I heard the racial slur, the curse words, and it appears to me, Zimmerman had a preconceived notion about Martin from the get-go. Zimmerman was, IMO, a cop wanna be, looking for a showdown. He got it, and I, too, think he needs to be arrested.
I am a white, female gun owner. It's my belief that no one who has any kind of record for violence should be allowed to participate in any neighborhood watch program of any kind nor should such a person be allowed a CCL.
Error #1. We have a situation in which the elder Zimmerman held some minor authority in the neighborhood, and shouldn't have by virtue of his own background.
Error #2. Zimmerman was armed, and shouldn't have been. He held a CCL, and shouldn't have. He also shouldn't have been packing while participating in a neighborhood watch program as that made him a danger to any other watch participants in the dark, if any that night.
Error #3. Zimmerman appears to have been working alone that night. A team member might have brought some much needed cool-headed thinking to the situation, and Martin's life may have been spared. This is why watches should be carried out by at least two people working together.
Error #4. Zimmerman avoided conversation with Martin which may have resolved the issue in short order. This left both Zimmerman and Martin to assume a me vs him attitude. It was Zimmerman's place to clarify what he was doing since he was the one pursuing Martin.
As much as I wish this was an open/shut case it isn't. I think at least negligent homicide charges are in order.
What I can't understand is why Martin, being followed would have pulled his hoodie up over his head. That would make it harder for him to watch his own back and see what Zimmerman was up to, and it certainly didn't offer Martin any protection.
Only one thought comes to my mind, and that's that while Martin's activities that night may have been purely innocent, he may also have been the one doing the robberies in the neighborhood, and didn't want to be identified or have his face match any sketches that may have already been done of a robbery suspect or suspects.
The truth is Zimmerman was not behaving in a responsible manner. If he could have put himself in Martin's shoes, Martin might still be alive.
