17 yo Trayvon Martin Shot to Death by Neighborhood Watch Captain #19

[songline]

There is a "bad" significance to "grills", yes. Fashions often communicate something. For example, the "preppie" look of the late 80's communicated I am part of the conservative establishment and want to be rich, those little baby hair barettes high school girls used to wear communicate I'm a really cute little girl, and grills are considered "tough". Like a rebel flag decal on the back of a pick up truck. They're a warning.

I agree totaly.

Just as the pants down to the knees with underpants showing Also known as saggy low riders represent the prisoners,
making the statement "I am a tough guy".
Gold teeth signify freedom from slavery. Well known in the hip hop market and have been banned in many schools.,
while some kids seem to think it is cool, I wish the schools would ban all those things.

 

[LambChop]

I've never heard the dad say he was being "punished", and I don't fault him for not "punishing" Trayvon. He was a boy who had that year pretty much lost his way for whatever reason, and i'm not a big punisher. The dad was clear that he took him to Sanford to dissociate him from his friends and try to get him back on track.

One of the things he was doing, it appears, to get him back on track was to supervise him very well and not let him leave the house. But Trayvon finally wore his dad down and came up with an innocent enough sounding ruse to leave, and he did. I think we all get that.

It's when he never returned, that this all kind of falls apart and you realize he wasn't being well supervised at all - when he failed to ever return, the dad turned his phone off and went to bed, having no idea whatsoever where his son was. Without a car, without friends in the area, his son was gone and no attempt whatsoever was made to find him until 8 am the next morning.

I never read he was being punished I was referring to the post only. I might imagine Mr. Martin would have been in Sanford regardless of the suspension and my understanding was they planned to return to Miami the following day. Did Mr. Martin state TM had "worn him down"....I did not hear that either. What I heard Mr. Martin say was that they had discussed earlier TM going to the movies with his cousin and when Mr. Martin came home he tried to reach TM by phone with a couple of calls. When TM didn't call him back Mr. Martin assumed he was in the theater as the cousin did not return his call either. I think that assumption is fair as I would believe that as well. The fact that Mr. Martin went to bed does not indicate he did not care about TM but more so he trusted that his son would be home after the movie.

Mr. Martin and TM's mother have never given the appearance that they were anything but responsible parents. There is no proof, none, zero that TM jumped GZ, only GZ's word on it. GZ in his own words tried to blame a police officer for their encounter when GZ shoved him. How ironic. This officer drops the charges to help GZ by letting him attend anger management classes instead of arresting him and GZ turns it around to it all being the officer's fault. Same with the DV complaints.....all her fault.

I think the issue is was TM on his way to break into one of the condos on his way home because that was GZ's suspicion. Is there any proof that this is what he was up to that night and did GZ have a right to stop and detain him. GZ did not know who TM was. TM did not know who GZ was. Who had the greater incentive to encounter the other? Since it was GZ who was following it is not a stretch to believe he did not want TM to get away. jmo

 

[raeann]

Since you don't see wall street bankers wearing them, or people on yachts, or the folks in the audience at the Kentucky Derby, or surgeons wearing them, or the children in the royal family, they don't simply communicate opulence. So yes, it's something else about the people wearing them (and I don't mean race. Certainly both white and black young men wear grills. It's not a racial thing, it's an attitude thing) that goes along with the symbol of grills that makes them a symbol of tough attitude.

Again....please note the link below....NOT a young man, NOT an "attitude thing"

it IS a bling thing.... now...off to search for pictures of the princesses of England with similar bling....

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/ill-grills-celebrity-teeth-makeovers-gallery-1.29709?pmSlide=0

 

[angelmom]

Yes, it does. But from what I understand the family withheld permission to view the contents of the phone until LE got a court order.

I also read an article posted on this site that the girlfriend's account of the phone calls doesn't match the evidence. Whatever that means, I don't know, but I wonder if it means she in fact was not on the phone with him at the time of the physical encounter. IMO only, I don't want to go search for the link.

how would that have stopped LE from looking through his phone immediately when they still didn't know who he was? LE do this ALL THE TIME to determine who to notify; my local PD has sent out numerous updates that include the recommendation to have an ICE (in case of emergency) listing in your contacts so that first responders can notify your family.

Also, the info about the girlfriend's phone records not matching up needs a link. Someone else mentioned it and at least three posters have asked for a link with no response. I went looking and could find NO statement about the phone records not matching up.

 

[songline]

Since you don't see wall street bankers wearing them, or people on yachts, or the folks in the audience at the Kentucky Derby, or surgeons wearing them, or the children in the royal family, they don't simply communicate opulence. So yes, it's something else about the people wearing them (and I don't mean race. Certainly both white and black young men wear grills. It's not a racial thing, it's an attitude thing) that goes along with the symbol of grills that makes them a symbol of tough attitude.

GRIDS:
In some cultures it is a sign of wealth. (not many cultures)
When black people wore them early on it was a sign of freedom.

 

[daisy7]

No, I don't agree. Fob watches and large diamond studs aren't "tough". They're edgy, and very youthful, but not "tough". Nurses wear fob watches, so . .

How does one define a fashion fad as being "tough"? Is it because grills are associated with hip hop or is there something else I'm missing?

 

[ThoughtFox]

Since you don't see wall street bankers wearing them, or people on yachts, or the folks in the audience at the Kentucky Derby, or surgeons wearing them, or the children in the royal family, they don't simply communicate opulence. So yes, it's something else about the people wearing them (and I don't mean race. Certainly both white and black young men wear grills. It's not a racial thing, it's an attitude thing) that goes along with the symbol of grills that makes them a symbol of tough attitude.

The royal family wears stupid hats to weddings, so they must be insulting our intelligence?

Surgeons wear masks over their faces, so they must be about to rob a bank? :what:

People at the Kentucky Derby drink bourbon - shame on them! (well, not really that's my favorite drink)

Wall Street Bankers ruined the economy and are no better than thugs, no matter what they look like. I wish they would get arrested yesterday. (*hears sound of applause from most of the country*)

People on yachts remind me of Mitt Romney - no comment.

I can see that all those people have attitudes I might not like. Can I walk up to them and make a citizens arrest for it? That would be no.

 

[TonyGatto]

GRIDS:
In some cultures it is a sign of wealth. (not many cultures)
When black people wore them early on it was a sign of freedom.

TM's history with grills. One photo. By himself. In his room.

 

[Isabelle]

Since you don't see wall street bankers wearing them, or people on yachts, or the folks in the audience at the Kentucky Derby, or surgeons wearing them, or the children in the royal family, they don't simply communicate opulence. So yes, it's something else about the people wearing them (and I don't mean race. Certainly both white and black young men wear grills. It's not a racial thing, it's an attitude thing) that goes along with the symbol of grills that makes them a symbol of tough attitude.

Those people of a much higher economic status place value on other things. Wouldn't be the same as a 17 year old. And quite a few people of a much higher economic status can afford the much more expensive recreational pharmaceuticals.

 

[songline]

Does it make you uncomfortable that police never checked TM's phone and therefore were unaware that he was on the phone just seconds before he was shot to death by GZ?

It very much bothers me that the police did not check his phone.
But I do not know about anything at all that happened seconds before he got shot.
NOR am I clear of her account of things as she told it and when she told it.

 

[TonyGatto]

how would that have stopped LE from looking through his phone immediately when they still didn't know who he was? LE do this ALL THE TIME to determine who to notify; my local PD has sent out numerous updates that include the recommendation to have an ICE (in case of emergency) listing in your contacts so that first responders can notify your family.

Also, the info about the girlfriend's phone records not matching up needs a link. Someone else mentioned it and at least three posters have asked for a link with no response. I went looking and could find NO statement about the phone records not matching up.

Just slapping IMO at the end of an unsubstantiated charge just doesn't work for me. IMO

 

[francie]

From article: Trayvon Martin Case Spotlights Florida Town's History Of 'Sloppy' Police Work

Martin’s killing has sparked national outrage. But it is not the first criminal investigation to upset Sanford’s black community, whose leaders say police have repeatedly failed to properly investigate crimes involving black victims. A string of recent scandals involving department personnel has added to community anger. In the past three years, officers have been caught demanding bribes from motorists, fabricating evidence and drawing weapons unlawfully.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/09/trayvon-martin-cops-botched-investigation_n_1409277.html

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Wow. Police were caught fabricating evidence, like maybe adding untrue statements & info on a police report after the fact? jmo. And caught drawing weapons unlawfully, no wonder they decided Zimmerman didn’t do anything wrong?! JMO

And demanding bribes from motorists??

 

[Isabelle]

I agree totaly.

Just as the pants down to the knees with underpants showing Also known as saggy low riders represent the prisoners,
making the statement "I am a tough guy".
Gold teeth signify freedom from slavery. Well known in the hip hop market and have been banned in many schools.,
while some kids seem to think it is cool, I wish the schools would ban all those things.

I didn't know gold teeth signified freedom from slavery. Do you have a reference for that. I'm interested. BTW: Gold crowns on teeth prevent sensitivity to heat and cold and the sensation from a metallic touch. Did you know that?

 

[octobermoon]

Was Trayvon wearing a grill when he was shot? I don't think I have heard that anywhere.

This is only my opinion as far as grills go, I always think they look like "fancy" braces. I never thought about them sending a message at all. Kind of a way to look cool in that awkward stage of life. Had no idea it meant tough cookie.

 

[LambChop]

Has anyone considered the possibility that TM was just walking back to the condo with those Skittles and ice tea he had in his pocket and really not up to anything other than getting back out of the rain?

 

[daisy7]

April 9, 2012 at 9:27 am

Allen Park road sign hacked to show racial slur against Trayvon Martin
By Tom Greenwood
The Detroit News

Allen Park — The Michigan Department of Transportation is working with police to determine who hacked into a road sign and posted a racial slur along a freeway seen early Monday morning.

The portable electronic sign contained a reference to Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African-American who died Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla., after being shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer.

The Michigan State Police began receiving calls about the sign at about 1 a.m., according to Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman Rob Morosi...

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120409/METRO01/204090381#ixzz1rYOiAYO9

I am continually amazed by what some people will do to spread a message of racism and hate. How horrible!!

 

[Emeralgem]

The manager at the Sonic close to my house wears a grill.. IMHO.. She has never presented herself as having a tough bad*** attitude. She also appears to be in her later 40's or early 50's.

BTW.. O/T Do grills straighten teeth, are they like a retainer? Are ALL grills gold in color? My granddaughter has been wearing a retainer for over four years now and she still has a tooth that moves IF she forgets to wear it on a regular basis? I want her orthodontist to put in a permanent retainer on the backside of her teeth but he refuses to do so.. JMHO

 

[songline]

From article: Trayvon Martin Case Spotlights Florida Town's History Of 'Sloppy' Police Work

Martin’s killing has sparked national outrage. But it is not the first criminal investigation to upset Sanford’s black community, whose leaders say police have repeatedly failed to properly investigate crimes involving black victims. A string of recent scandals involving department personnel has added to community anger. In the past three years, officers have been caught demanding bribes from motorists, fabricating evidence and drawing weapons unlawfully.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/09/trayvon-martin-cops-botched-investigation_n_1409277.html

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow. Police were caught fabricating evidence, like maybe adding untrue statements & info on a police report after the fact? jmo. And caught drawing weapons unlawfully, no wonder they decided Zimmerman didn’t do anything wrong?! JMO

And demanding bribes from motorists??

THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE. :maddening:
I have been angry at the police in this case from the start.

 

[Isabelle]

Wouldn't be surprised if the manufacturer of the gun GZ used is sued!

 

[LambChop]

I am continually amazed by what some people will do to spread a message of racism and hate. How horrible!!

We've come a long way but not far enough for sure. Maybe this has to play out the way it is right now so that those who still hold hate in their hearts will be able to recognize how foolish they have acted when the facts come out. I do think TM did not die in vain and may have a special message for us all. jmo