You have to ask yourself---what would you do if Zimmerman was following you?

[trumad]

The facts are clearly showing that Zimmerman followed Trayvon and continued to follow him for several minutes.

No one knows for sure what brought them face to face, or what was said between the both of them.

BUT you have to ask yourself what you would do if you were in that situation. Would you run? Would you stop and stand your ground?

I see it this way---and believe me, this is only my best guess as to what happened.

I see Trayvon finally stopping and asking Zimmerman why the fuck he was following him. I know I'd do the same thing.

What Zimmerman said to him I have no idea--- but what I do know from all the stories I've read about this wanna be cop is that he most certainly thought he was some sort of bad ass, made even more confident by carrying a Kel-Tec PF-9.

I can almost guarantee that Zimmerman said something that clearly pissed off this teenager and I wouldn't doubt if it was racist in nature.

What would you do if that happened to you?

I know what I would do--- I'd tell the Son of a Bitch to go fuck himself.

I think that is what happened------and----Zimmerman did not take Trayvon's advice. Nope---he got in Trayvon's face and it turned out to be a big mistake.

Again---I have no idea who threw the first punch---no one does.... if there was an altercation and there was a brief fight, Zimmerman quickly knew he fucked up and was about to get his ass kicked. So he quickly switched to plan B.... he pulled his Kel-Tec PF-9 out and killed Trayvon Martin.

So I ask again--- what would you do if you were innocently walking home after buying a bag of Skittles and an Iced Tea and some strange man was following you?

[Pelican]

1. Maybe there was a flamethrower....

or ninjas...

As long as we are just guessing what might have happened...

[trumad]

2. Cute

[Vattel]

5. I would have told Scottie to beam me up.

Then I would have rained photon torpedoes on the whole neighborhood.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. We'll never know. Your boy, Zimmerman, assured us of that.

.

[Pelican]

14. I don't really have a dog in the race....

I do get a small measure of happy from pointing out when people are just guessing, pulling something out of their ass or reinforcing their own preconceived notions about what "must have happened."

If someone had come out and said that Martin must have referred to Zimmerman as a dumb cracker and obviously threw the first punch I would say the same thing.

[trumad]

16. Oh please---you got a dog...

I aint pulling anything out of my ass.

I simply asked what would you do if some dude was following you.....

You do know that Zimmerman was following Trayvon?

[Recursion]

19. None of us know that

There isn't a camera. Piecing together things from timelines and phone calls isn't accurate.

I believe Zimmerman followed Martin. I also believe Martin confronted and attacked him. I don't have any evidence for either of those beliefs.

And I re-iterate, it's a public sidewalk. There's no law against following someone walking on the sidewalk, and it doesn't give that person the right to attack you.

[trumad]

23. I asked what would you do if someone was following you?

What would you do?

[Recursion]

24. Call the police? Go the other direction? It depends on a lot of things

There's no one good answer to that, but it's very difficult to imagine in a subdivision that somebody could corner me in such a way that I would have to attack him to get away.

Whatever I did, the simple act of somebody's following me doesn't give me the right to hit him.

[Ellipsis]

31. Assumptive conjecture... nobody said he hit him.

[Recursion]

34. It's as unfounded a claim as the claim that Z stalked him

I believe both of those are true, but I have evidence for neither.

[yardwork]

73. No, we have Zimmerman's words on tape saying he's following Martin

The fact that Zimmerman was following Martin is a matter of record. I've heard the recordings. They were released to the public.

[trumad]

39. That's you

others react differently---yes.

I'd turn around and ask why the fuck you following me.

[Recursion]

42. So you're saying people have a right to ask why a stranger is out on the sidewalk?

Hm..

[trumad]

46. Come on now---you're being totally disingenuous...

It's very easy to know if someone is following you or not....

[Recursion]

49. No, it's not, really; that's why people need training to notice tails

A guy got off the elevator in my building with me (it's temporary housing so I don't know any of my neighbors). He walked behind me all the way down my hall. It wasn't until I got to my door that I knew for sure he wasn't following me, because he kept going. Should I have asked what he was doing?

[wercal]

60. Not a public sidewalk

Just a point of correction, which actually reinforces your point - this was not a public city sidewalk, or public ROW. This was private property, within a privately owned gated community.

We heard yesterday in court that Zimmerman did have some style of official role as a neighborhood watch volunteer.

So it is completely reasonable for a resident of the community, who has also volunteered to be a watch volunteer, to be curious about a stranger (to him) walking on the private sidewalks. And frankly, if I saw a stranger who looked suspicious to me...who then ran away after making eye contact...I would want to talk to this person and ask what he was doing there.

Here at work, the company owns multiple buildings that make up a private 'campus'. Over the weekend, I have come in to work to find skateboarders on the sidewalks. And I have absolutely approached these kids to see if they had permission to be there - and have told them to leave.

Also, I grew up on a large campus of a private high school. It was big enough to have a small lake for fishing and swimming...and the gym was often left unlocked...and there were athletic fields. All very inviting to people who didn't belong there. So, even as a teenager, I was not shy at all about approaching people in the gym, for example, and asking them who gave them permission to be there...and most people were apologetic and would pack up and leave. I never once got punched in the face.

Now I understand that from Martin's point of view, this interaction could have appeared a whole lot different. And that's what makes this such a tragedy. It turns out that Martin did have a legitimate reason to be there...yet somehow these two couldn't communicate with each other without it becoming violent. And, I of course don't know who first turned it violent.

But, I agree with you. Following somebody (especially on private property) is not an unusual behavior.

[EOTE]

80. "yet somehow these two couldn't communicate with each other without it becoming violent."

Yeah, how incredibly bizarre that it turned out that way! I mean, how the fuck could that situation turned violent? It's not like there was some racist, murderous asshole who called a kid walking home from a 7-11 a "fucking punk". It's not like he was a cop worshiping freak carrying a gun had EVER intended to get into a violent situation. I mean, people call 911 for kids wearing hoodies all the time and then subsequently start altercations with them that end in death. Christ, there are disgusting Zimmerman defenders everywhere, to see so many of them here is sick.

[wercal]

120. I think you just called me disgusting

For objectively discussing the case.

I will scratch you off the list of people with whom I can have a rational discussion.

[DainBramaged]

121. Why are you defending Zimmerman on DU?

Did you run out of people who agreed with you elsewhere?

[wercal]

123. Why on earth is it a political issue?

It sure shouldn't be.

[DainBramaged]

124. Nuk nuk nuk

Who said it's political judge judy?

[wercal]

125. Well you seem indignant that I would 'defend Zimmerman on DU'

And the TOS item that distinguishes DU from other discussion boards is one must vote Democrat.

So...it looks like YOU are the one who thinks all Democrats should line up against Zimmerman.

[DainBramaged]

126. So you found it necessary to read the TOS?

Nuk nuk nuk.........


have a nice day.

PS don't bet the horses.

[wercal]

129. You haven't read them?

I suggest you do, since at some point you clicked a box that swore you had.

[DainBramaged]

130. Actually for 11 years now..............

and I don't take advice from people who make bad bets.....


nuk nuk nuk


I'm done, you bore me.

[wercal]

133. Ah...a 'last worder'

You come to a thread and bite at my ankles.

I shoo you away.

And now you are bored with me?!??!

Well I didn't invite you to the party. You don't need to get my permission or give an explanation - you can go away and troll somewhere else whenever you want to.

[noiretextatique]

140. racist murders are political issues

as is the stupid SYG law in floriduh.

[EOTE]

122. I think you've been consistently defending a murderer.

The defenders here act SHOCKED that people here think that an asshole cop wannabe with a gun talking about "fucking punks" would get into a fight with an innocent kid. The logical contortions are sickening. You go on and have your rational discussions with people who think that the man screaming about "fucking punks" chasing a teen on his way home from a 711 and who ends up shooting him is the innocent victim here. Hearing you talk about a "rational discussion" is a hoot.

[noiretextatique]

139. observe and report...not confront and kill

that is what a neighborhood watch person is supposed to do, according to neighborhood watch. martin had legitimate reason to be there, and zimmerman had to right to stalk and kill him.

[wercal]

141. Well this trial is not about whether or not he complied with

the standards of conduct of a sanctioning body for neighborhood watches.

You have made the leap from 'follow' to 'confront'.

The prosecution will have to have proof, to make that leap.

[noiretextatique]

143. observe and report...where is "follow" in that sentence?

and of course, we no the dispatcher told him not to do that. leap...hardly. it's is a logical deduction based on the facts per the witness today. the girl who was on the phone testified that martin said zimmerman was following him. who to believe" lying murderer or dead kid? not a big dilemma for me, as it is for zimmerman apologist, like yourself.

[Voice for Peace]

150. did you listen carefully to the testimony of the friend who was on the phone?

not only did Zimmerman admit he was following Trayvon,
on his own phone call,
but it was very clear from Rachel's testimony as
well.

Trayvon was trying to lose the guy, because he
was watching Trayvon and following him in a very
creepy way.

Trayvon, almost at his father's house, told Rachel
he had lost the guy. Then Zimmerman appeared suddenly
behind him, according to what he said on the phone.

It sounds more like stalking than merely following
to observe -- my opinion.

[Pelican]

20. What would I do if I felt that someone was following me?

I would ask if I could help them with something as they seemed to be going the same direction I was...

Anything else?

[Ellipsis]

29. I always find it baffling, when posters start a controversy, get called on for missing the point...

then get a chip on their shoulder after they answer the question.


"Anything else?"

Yeah I'll give an anything else you'd turn and confront the person as would even a mouse if chased by a cat... if it gets the chance that is.

...And that is the point. HE provoked the confrontation and had a weapon on him.

[Pelican]

33. That's sort of the point...

Is walking after someone enough reason to cause them to fear for their safety and start a physical confrontation?

At what point does the weapon enter into it? The fact that Zimmerman had it on him is irrelevant until the weapon comes into play. Either through reference, display or actual use...

Honestly, it just hurts the logic part of my brain. When folks use silly appeals to emotion to try and win an argument instead of the facts.

[Ellipsis]

38. Yes it is. It's called instinct... streetwise instinct, invading one's personal space

It's provocational. Emotional? I don't live inside your brain I don't see the logic of your last sentence.

[Pelican]

44. I was referencing obvious plays to emotion...

... like referring to him as a mouse cornered by a cat.

It's not that I blame you. It's just an obvious tactic to play to the simple...

[Ellipsis]

68. Actually no... it's something I've seen. There was no emotion at all, only surprise...

It was about instinct... that a cornered animal would turn and face a predator, even a mouse facing a carnivora, but I can see how you could read emotion into, it wasn't a tactic, unfortunate you took it that way

[trumad]

67. Dude---don't get trapped into his silly reasoning...

He's clearly playing games and looking quite foolish.

[Ellipsis]

69. I know... cat and mouse as they say

...just enjoying my morning coffee.

[brush]

98. Start a physical confrontation?

Huh? Are you suggesting that Martin started the physical confrontation? We don't know that.

We also don't know that wannabe cop zimmy started it either.

We do know, however, that he was armed and knew it and didn't want to let this "fucking punk" (zimmy's own words) get away like the others.

My money is on zimmy starting the confrontation but quickly realizing that he'd bit off more than he could chew so he pulled the gun.

[Pelican]

103. I think the wannabe cop part will fail to stick...

... as the department liaison offered him a civilian equivalent volunteer job and he turned it down.

We certainly don't know who started the physical part. I haven't heard much evidence that Zimmerman did.

I will say that most of the narrative seems to be directed towards justification as to why it would be acceptable for Martin to have initiated it.

[noiretextatique]

144. no zimmerman DNA on martin's hands = zimmerman is a liar

how can zimmerman's claims be true, if his DNA was not on martin's hands? answer: he is lying.

[Kingofalldems]

32. Are you a fan of Zimmerman?

[Pelican]

36. No...

That was easy..

[brush]

94. Good answer!

[Iggo]

75. Sure, ya don't.

[EOTE]

76. You do an awful lot of defending of this murderous, racist fuck for someone without a dog in this

race.

You don't get to go around looking for a fight, instigating fights and when the tables turn, murder the victims you picked a fight with. I can understand why the racist, inbred fundies are defending Zimmerman, they want to be able to murder people who scare them with abandon. Why these miserable cretins exist on DU is well beyond me.

[Pelican]

77. If I see one, I'll be sure to point them out...

I think most of my comments regarding this case have been an attempt to cut down on the emotional bullshit and stick to what is known and what matters in court.

The closest you will get to me picking a side is that I think the prosecution overcharged with 2nd degree and I think they'll have a tough, but not impossible time, to reach that legal standard.

[EOTE]

82. I see them everywhere.

And the great majority of emotional bullshit I'm seeing around here is coming from the Zimmerman defenders.

[Kingofalldems]

111. Emotional eh?

Oddly enough that's what Rush says about Democrats.

[Pelican]

112. I'll take your word for it...

Based on your myriad of posts about the man you must be quite the avid listener.

[brush]

101. AGREED!

[uponit7771]

45. Yes we DO know, Zimmerman followed TM and shot him...that we DO know

[Pelican]

50. That's the very beginning...

... and the very end.

All of the middle part of the OP was just fantasy...

[uponit7771]

53. We also no there's NONE of Z's DNA on TMs hands....NONE!!! The PA opened with this because

...there's a slim logical chance that TM would be able to beat Z within an inch of his life and have NO ... NONE of Z's DNA on his hands.

There was Zimmerman blood found on Zimmermans gun though...

Sounds like the guy hit himself with his own gun afterwards

[Pelican]

58. I would very much like to see that come up in court...

Really....

[uponit7771]

64. It was a hinge in part of the PA's opening statement, they already have a clearer picture...Z's gun

...had Z's blood on it but not TM's hands.

That would make since now seeing that there was no blood from Z's NOSTRILS in the bloody pics and the EMT and ME said there was no blood from his nostrils..

Even his own FP said there was no blood from the nostrils but this was after Z lied to them about what the EMT said in regards to a broken nose.

To me that's gating info...

A spec of blood on TM's hoody but none on his hands...no dirt...no skin...no NOTHING but a "small abrasion" on his left ring finger....


TM was right handed

[Pelican]

65. Interesting...

I believe the claim has been made by the defense that Martin was slamming Zimmerman's head against the ground.

Did they also claim that he punched him or is it being sold as more of a wrestling/grappling sort of conflict?

[uponit7771]

70. I'll put good money on them showing Z's account to the FBI agent, in that video he says TM covered

...his mouth to keep him from screaming and was grabbing towards his gun.

What the defense might have to prove is that in most cases people's noses don't bleed after being hit 25 - 30 times (something Z didn't dispute) or even 5 times.

The defense might have to proof that there was a good possiblity that TM's hands would pic up no dirt, no blood, no dna ...no nothing after hitting a person to within an inch of their life.

Also, in the picks (most of what I'm talking about is from the daily Kos DNA report) there are 3 dots on the tip of Z's nose that looked like healed up wounds...there's no way a fist makes those marks.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/09/1214336/-DNA-Report-does-NOT-support-Zimmerman-s-claim-that-Trayvon-Martin-caused-his-injuries

IF Z's gun had a sharp tip on it, you betcha that's what he used to scar his non smeared face and head with

DK Notes there are no smears of blood on Z's face after being hit ... and there's no smears of blood on the back of his head...that the blood is running down mostly unabated as if it wasn't touched.

The PA knew what he was doing opening with the absence of blood on TM's hands

[Pelican]

71. I think...

... that they would have a tough sell on the idea that his wounds were self inflicted.

They might get traction on the fact that they were not serious and thus his life was not in danger.

In any case, thanks for reasonable conversation. It seems to be increasingly rare as the case goes on...

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. The foolishness from the defense opening statement

Zimmerman's attorney showed images of Martin at the convenience store, supposedly "towering over" the 5'10" clerk. In the very next sentence, he notes that Martin was 5'11" tall, but his "shoes" and "hooded sweatshirt clearly made him well over 6 feet tall!" And he "wasn't skinny," at 158 lbs (!!!). The lawyer noted that 158 pounds for 5'11" is "in the middle."

It was a comical display.

I was about 155-160 and 5'11'' at 17. I wouldn't have thought of myself as a physically imposing figure at that height and weight! I have to think at least one of those female jurors must have been like "Huh?...No, that's kinda skinny for a 17 year old boy..."

Point being, with all the craziness that goes on out there, Martin was actually rather brave to turn on this weirdo following him in a strange neighborhood in the dark of night. Could have been anything: killer, rapist, local gangbanger, meth head mugger, anything. And Trayvon Martin wasn't some huge kid. Of course he had every right to defend himself from a strange man stalking him in the dark.

[davidpdx]

43. Not only that

The prosecution has stated (and I'm guessing if they are doing so they must have adequate proof of it) that Zimmerman was a trained fighter. Zimmerman's defense team has gone to good lengths to make him look meek. Not only was Martin outgunned, Zimmerman probably could have done serious damage through his fighting skills.

[WCLinolVir]

4. Ol' George had an agenda. He wasn't letting reality get in the way.

I hope they put him down. It is what we do to mad dogs who harm people.

[exboyfil]

6. Add another fact

A teenage minor being accosted by an adult in the dark. If it had been a black adult in a white neighborhood (or a white adult in a white neighborhood) he would have been charged with attempted kidnapping (carrying a gun and following a minor). If he shot the child no discussion of defending yourself would happen.

What I think might happen was that Trayvon got lost looking for his dad's place (all of these houses look the same). He was being followed by some crazy guy in a SUV at night in a strange neighborhood. He may have overshot his dad's place and was trying to make it back to it when he met Zimmerman.

[alcibiades_mystery]

18. Black teenagers don't get to be children in some people's imagination: they're too "dangerous"

That's the essence of this case: an armed adult male stalked a minor, unarmed child in the dead of night, and the child ended up shot to death. But the child had the "misfortune" of being black, which means you can put nearly any offense on him you want - the imagination of white dominance will tell you that the unarmed minor child was the dangerous one, rather than the armed adult stalker. Only race politics could produce that result. Only the racial imagination of white dominance could justify some of the prevailing interpretations. An armed adult male stalked a minor, unarmed child in the dead of night, and the child ended up shot to death.

[brush]

109. Great post!

I've read many post on this case and seen heard it broken down so clearly and succinctly.

" . . . the unarmed minor child was the dangerous one, rather than the armed adult stalker."

That line says it all. Great stuff.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

147. Good point.

Remember, 17 year old Bristol Palin was just a kid who made a mistake. 17 year old Trayvon Martin was a violent thug with super human capabilities.

[uponit7771]

47. +1

[Democracyinkind]

7. I would confront him.

If it was Zimmy he would at some point pull his gun and shoot me.

I've yet heard nothing to make me think that that wasn't what happened. Oddly, some read this as putting Zimmy in the right, which I find a curious conclusion.

[ismnotwasm]

8. Well I'm a women

It would have completely creeped me out.

[JustAnotherGen]

63. +1

[murielm99]

83. I'm glad someone finally said that.

Women have a completely different reaction to being followed at night. It is scary. And if anything goes wrong, the first reaction of others is, "What were you doing there at that time of night?" Women have no right to be out and about.

Black teenaged boys and young men are certainly questioned if they are in the "wrong" neighborhood after dark. But women always have to worry about rape.

[dkf]

84. As is the entire jury.

I don't think it's going to be as obvious to a woman that there should have been a confrontation due to being followed.

[Solly Mack]

9. I would be afraid. Stressed, tense, and thinking about what actions to take to defend myself.

I might call out to the person. I might not. Don't really know.

I might hurry along. I would probably call the police if I had a cell phone handy or call home, if I was close to home. I might call a friend. Just someone to let them know what was happening.

Under such stress induced tension, and someone following me would cause a great deal of stress, there's no telling how I would react to a stranger following me.

If I had a weapon I might even use it against them.

But it's the stranger following me creating the situation, creating the circumstances. It's the stranger following me that sets into motion everything that comes after.

[trumad]

12. Ya see---that's it in a nutshell....

Evidence is clearly saying that Zimmerman followed Trayvon.

How would most humans react to that? I think a bit scared at first. White dude following a black kid makes it even more nerve wracking.

[Solly Mack]

22. I agree. Because the young man knew

what could happen to him as a black male.

[uponit7771]

48. Not really, this generation doesn't live in that reality as much IMHO

[Solly Mack]

104. We'll have to agree to disagree on that.

[brush]

110. Huh?

Unless you're you're a black teenager how can you even know that? Racism in America hasn't gone away for "this generation."

[uponit7771]

115. I know a lot of 'black teenagers"... I mean a lot... sigh... A LOT

[brush]

116. Well you must know that racism hasn't gone away

Black teenagers, especially males, are racially profiled quite often. And many of them are aware of that, in fact, many have experienced that.

[uponit7771]

117. I agree, I don't think many think that profilling could lead to death though...lol...I think we've

...made some progress in that area.

[brush]

145. Many black people think that it can lead to death . . .

. . . and it has in many "driving while black" and even "walking while black" cases. There are several fairly recent ones, like the case of the four minority teens in Jersey driving on the Jersey Turnpike, a known hotbed of racial profiling of black and brown drivers. They were pulled over and one ended up dead. There were also a couple of cases in New York where black young men were stopped by cops and ended up dead.

You should know these things if you know so many black teenagers like you said.

Racial profiling has proven to be very dangerous. Why do you think blacks and Latinos are so up in arms by the stop and frisk policy of the NYPD where the vast majority of people stopped are black and brown? And I'm sure this just doesn't happen in New York and New Jersey.

[graham4anything]

11. I would hope that the 2nd is reinterpreted and the inanity of guns/bullets will forever be silenced.

zim is a vigilante who it now is known profilled earlier times and went looking

Mr. Martin who was talking on his phone, minding his own business was shot dead in cold blood, coward style.
Of this I have no doubt.

NO, the above in the op most certainly is NOT the way it happened.

As Zim had a gun, was stalking Mr. Martin there was nothing Mr. Martin could have done.
Zim went to kill and did.

Nothing Mr. Martin did was wrong, and nothing he could have done.

Zim should be sentenced to life in prison without parole (if that is possible).

Personally, 1st degree murder should have been charged with a harsher penalty

and the esteemed AG Holder should look into a civil rights violation federal charge, because it was.

[trumad]

13. I don't think Zimmerman intended from the beginning to kill Martin...

Your statement is a bit silly in mho.

[graham4anything]

15. Sorry, I thought you asked for other opinions and I gave mine. My bad. Reinterpret the 2nd.

[trumad]

17. Yes---and my opinion of your opinion is it's silly.

I could have said its bullshit but I thought I'd take it easy on you today.

[graham4anything]

25. Yesterday's SCOTUS shows how easy it is to get a reinterpretation, and in a few years, a different

scotus, shall like Japan and Australia, remind people that militia=national guard
and not some minutemen or neighborhood watch vigilante type groups.(let alone an individual).

the days of guns & then roses tossed on top of graves are coming to an end.

All it will take is ONE vote. From 4 to 5 to 5 to 4.

[trumad]

41. LOL---snarf

You never fail to disappoint.

[graham4anything]

59. 70 years earlier in Sanford, Florida, Mr. Jackie Robinson was forced to flee when a lynch mob came

70 years earlier, same town, but Mr. Robinson escaped within inches of his life.
70 years later, Mr. Martin was walking, minding his own business, and a gun/bullet/perp looking to kill shot him dead.

Zimmerman is what jail is for, he is a danger to anyone and I IMHO do not believe for a second, that he wouldn't do this again.

In fact, based on the evidence I heard, he racially profiled before therefore this was NO self defense, this is murder.


As the prosecutor said, there was NO DNA on Mr. Martin, therefore he didn't in any way touch him or anything.

[Tom Ripley]

30. Zimmerman was like those guys who have rape fantasies, but don't intend to really rape someone...

until they find themselves doing so?
I agree with that.

I would have confronted him, and asked what the hell he wanted with me.

[Rod Walker]

81. Why not hope for unicorns farting rainbows while you're at it?

It's about as likely....

[graham4anything]

85. Heller was a reinterpretation. ONE VOTE different and Heller is history.

ONE VOTE.

2017-18, Heller will be history.

Smith Vs. Maryland 1979 was already decided and applies to today, correct?

[Rod Walker]

87. Had Heller gone 5-4 in the other direction, it wouldn't have "silenced" guns/bullets nationwide.

2017-18, Heller will be history.

That would be one year after Hilary wins with 538 EVs, correct?

[graham4anything]

89. She only needs 270. Everything after is gravy. With the 270, SCOTUS will switch 2 votes.

[Rod Walker]

93. Unless the Conservatives on the SC hang on until 2021. Unless Hilary *doesn't* win in 2016.

Unless Hilary isn't nominated in the first place.

Unless...

[dembotoz]

21. i am an older white guy i would prob be ok, if i were black i would be dead

if we assume it was Zimmerman and not some ordinary robber

[treestar]

26. I think I'd call 911

Being female. That would have been strange, since he had just called them on me. He might never have found me suspicious tough. No, he would not have. Middle aged white female.

[NCTraveler]

27. I would have gotten out of the neighborhood.

Continued walking. Never looked back or addressed the individual following me. I live in Florida. I know how dire the consequences can be in an altercation. I have never been armed. Many of the people around here are.

[66 dmhlt]

28. Zimmerman's lawyer said Trayvon was "Armed with a sidewalk"

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/06/26/george-zimmerman-is-off-to-a-rough-start-legal-experts-say.html

Clearly at least one of Zimmerman's lawyers is an IDIOT.

[KurtNYC]

35. Go toward a well lit area where you are visible to other people and call 911

but hindsight is 20/20

SOP in NYC is to go to the middle of the street. Let cars stop if they must. Make sure you have a witness(es).

[bemildred]

37. I'm white, he would not be following me. nt

[dkf]

40. Leave for a safe place ASAP.

Why would I confront some possibly crazy person?

[uponit7771]

51. How do you know he confronted Z? Because Z said so? Z's a damn liar, he lied in court to the

...judge (or withheld gating information) about finances...

I don't trust the guys word for it after that

[dkf]

54. Because he had more than enough time to have been at his destination

I would have been in the house by then.

[uponit7771]

66. TM dropped his phone after asking Z "why are you following me", it's obvious he didn't have enough

...time

There's no way a teenager just "drops" their cell phone and leaves it...

I don't beleive that for a second

[dkf]

74. "Why are you following me" is confronting a person.

Nope...not me. I'm outta there.

[uponit7771]

90. He was already running, read the GF's testimony...it's pretty telling.

[dkf]

91. GF is suspect. Two lies...problem.

[uponit7771]

92. Wingers report there are two lies, there are no official non winger sources claiming such...

...she didn't lie either she answered in context of the question asked.

The PA never said she lied unlike Zimmerman did

Either way, her lying about WHAT TIME she went to a hospital (an irrelevant question) has nothing to do with what she heard her boyfriend say at the time.

He was already running while he screamed "why are you following me"

[dkf]

96. The prosecutor admitted there were no hospital records because she wasn't at the hospital.

[uponit7771]

102. What is your source for that? PA never said she lied, she didn't lie she answered the question in...

context that was asked the PA never...said she lied.

The PA never claimed the GF lied

Either way, it was an irrelevant question and could be thrown out because it has nothing to do with anything...what time she showed up at what hospital when at some date had nothing to do with what happened that night.

It was winger meme to discredit her testimony because its gating...

Her testimony shows the last contact with TM he was not only running away from Z but that it indicates he was in danger (dropped cell phone)

[dkf]

107. Here

SANFORD — Trayvon Martin's girlfriend, the state's most important witness in the George Zimmerman murder case, was caught in a lie, it was revealed Tuesday.
It was not the first piece of misinformation tied to her, but it was the most damaging to date and left prosecutors in a very awkward position.

They had to publicly acknowledge that their star witness had lied under oath and had to answer questions about what they intend to do about it.

Reporters asked: Will you charge the 19-year-old Miami woman with perjury?

The state's lead prosecutor, Bernie de la Rionda, gave an ambiguous answer: "You can all read the law and make your own decision."

The woman had told prosecutors she was in the hospital on the day of Trayvon's funeral.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-03-05/news/os-zimmerman-witness-8-medical-records-20130305_1_george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-bernie-de-la-rionda

[uponit7771]

113. Yeah, like I said the PA never said she lied...clarifying her testimony isn't lying that's a winger

...meme to try and discredit her.

They can't even charge her with perjury because the question wasn't material to the situation at hand AND she gained nothing from telling the defense whether or not she had "checked in" to the hospital as if that's the only way a person can be seen by a doctor.

She tells the story of TM running from Z and dropping his phone in the process of getting away....

That's what is relevant to this story...

[noiretextatique]

142. according the the telephone call with his friend

he got lost. probably because he was afraid of the creepy asshole who was following him.

[MrSlayer]

52. Personally, I would have ignored him.

As long as you don't touch me I don't really care what you do. I would have just walked home. I don't owe anyone an explanation of where I'm going or what I'm doing.

[AndyA]

55. I think I would have tried to get back to the store and ask them to call 911.

Not sure if that was possible or not, but I don't think I would have confronted anyone. I would have tried to find a place with other people, then call the police.

There was a time when I probably would have told someone I suspected of following me to take a flying leap, but with access to guns being wide open, and with so many gun crazy nuts walking around today, I wouldn't confront them.

[patrice]

56. You also have to ask yourself, why Z just HAD to shoot the kid in the chest. nt

[ksoze]

57. You had me at "the facts show" and then lost me...

I see Trayvon finally stopping and asking Zimmerman why the fuck he was following him. I know I'd do the same thing.
What Zimmerman said to him I have no idea

The story you weave makes for a pretty one sided view, and does nothing to resolve what happened nor is backed up by evidence (aside from the fact Z did shoot T). Could there be another scenario that begins with Zimmerman asking him simply if he lived in the neighborhood and the teen then attacking him?

[JustAnotherGen]

61. trumad - responding to your question only - Hit first

And ask questions later.

I've twice in my life been in a space/place of physical threat and my first instinct was to fight - THEN flight.

It was how I was raised, what I've learned in self-defense classes, and the bad after taste from having been stalked for two years.

I don't think I would let some weird creepy guy follow me ALL the way home giving him access to my house and family. Nip it in the bud right there.

You asked what we would do which means you are also asking what our perception of the experience would have been.

If a creepy guy is following me - I'm assuming he's going to attack, rape, kidnap, jump, mug, etc. etc. me. I would personally proceed from there: Stranger Danger as they taught us in the early 1980s.

And it WAS an affluent neighborhood as I understand it. It shocks me that people have never thought that Trayvon thought this guy was 'casing him' to rob him. There WERE robberies in the neighborhood . What makes folks so quick to assume Trayvon didn't believe the perp was just that - a perp? Frustrated with robbing homes, and instead decides to start mugging people. Trayvon didn't know that. All he knew is creepy perp was casing him for something. . .

[sarisataka]

62. If he was following me I would wonder

Then who is that guy on TV?

If out walking and I feel a person is intentionally following me I will take one of several steps. If a well trafficked area, turn 180 and head into the largest group of people. If on the street, cross it. Make the follower give their intentions away. Look for cameras, make the security state work in my favor or at least help the investigators. Head towards and area I will have an advantage, what ever that may be. Call 911 so any encounter will be recorded.

[trumad]

72. Good moves

Personally I'd ask why the dude was following me---especially in my own neighborhood.

[sarisataka]

79. I don't like fair fights

if it should come to that, that is why I would look for some advantage first. If/when I address them, I'll start talking when they are 30 feet away. Having to shout "Why are you following me" might help attract attention.

[datasuspect]

78. ask him what his fucking problem is

and reach for my pistol.

[fried eggs]

86. To be fair, most of us are adults. He was not only a teen, but a male teen

...which in most cases equals less than ideal decisions and problem solving. That being said, I'm not sure I would have handled it any better because you never know how you'll respond when adrenaline is pumping and fight or flight survival instincts kick in.

If I were walking alone at night, and I thought someone was following me, I would tell my friend on the phone to watch out for me and call 911 on my behalf if something happened.

If I was really close to my house and had enough lead time to get to the door and unlock it without being overpowered, I would do that.

If I wasn't close to my house and the person was closing in on me, the "hopefully I'm overreacting" side of me might try to make sure I'm really being followed, which could lead to me walking in one direction and then abruptly changing course to see if the person changed course too.

If the person changed course and continued to follow me, I've read that the best thing to do is to let him know that I know he's following me, I'd get a good look at his face, and I'd yell that I posted his picture to Facebook and am calling the police. That throws most attackers off because they depend on the element of surprise and don't want to be recognized in a line up. A non threat would understand my concern about being approached by a strange man at night and hopefully back off. If he continued to approach, I'd have to get really loud to get the neighbors involved. I'd start screaming, "Rape! Help me!"

The point is, under certain circumstances, you have no choice but to confront the threat head on if you know there's no time to quickly get to safety without being attacked from behind. I wouldn't stand there waiting for him to come, I'd run while keeping my eyes on him to keep him out of my personal space.

[WinkyDink]

88. I'd be VERY SCARED! Like, WTH is this man?!

[Iggo]

95. What would I do? I don't really know.

I want to say if I was close enough to home I'd keep walking, and if not, walk to the light and call the cops.*

Or, depending on my mood swing, I might turn around and say "What the fuck?!?!?!" or "Can I help you?!?!?!"

But if I'm dead, I can't testify, so it's really fucking base if someone tries to put me on trial instead of the motherfucker that shot me.

*I'm 51, white-looking, and in Whittier, California. Mileage may vary for a black teenager in the South.

[Just Saying]

97. I'm a woman

And if I saw a guy in a truck watching me and then saw him on foot following I would run and then try to call the police if I could get far enough away.

The difference is, if Trayvon had been a white woman like me, Zimmerman would already be in prison.

I also think if Trayvon had been a bit older, Zimmerman would likely not be on trial or its more likely he would get off.

This case is absolutely about racism and fear of young black men.

[rrneck]

99. I'd call the cops today.

But I'm not a kid. When I was that age I might have run or I might have confronted him depending on what mood I was in.

Zimmerman is a coward and a bully. He no doubt followed Martin in his car with the lights on bright as long as he could. I imagine when it looked like Martin might walk away to somewhere he couldn't drive he got out and tried to stop him, prompting an ass whipping.

[riverwalker]

100. I wonder if the Zimmerman defenders

who have struck/slapped a woman (hey, YOU know who you are), would quickly reverse their "self defense" arguments if they thought women could legally blow a hole in their chest with a 9mm.

[ksoze]

106. What about the Trayvon supporter women slappers?

YOU know who YOU are. Not so sure Z supports have a women slapping majority. I think a lot of Zimmerman defenders are legal system defenders - want to see a trial and the outcome based on facts and law.

[MicaelS]

105. I would keep walking, call 911 on my phone...

And tell the police I was being followed by a suspicious person. I would not stop, and I sure as fuck wouldn't turn and confront someone. Even if I was carrying my handgun, and the SYG Law was in effect, as that could make ME the aggressor in the eyes of the law.

But then the whole thing would never have happened to me that way.

I wouldn't be walking to the store at night, I would be driving, even if it were only a few block away, and I wouldn't be carrying my handgun.

[ellie]

108. I would have run away

while calling for help on my cellphone. I am a woman and am not confident in my ability to get in a fist fight with a man. But if I was a man, I probably would have stopped and asked him what his problem was.

[Shankapotomus]

114. We don't have to know what Zimmerman said

And we really can't know.

What counts and what we do know is Zimmerman was told not to follow Trayvon Martin and he did not comply with that order.

That is what set off the unfortunate chain of events that resulted in Trayvon's death.

There is no evidence Trayvon had any idea who Zimmerman was and so he had no official guide on how to react to Zimmerman.

But Zimmerman did and chose to disregard it.

You can speculate who was misreading the situation according to their own unguided judgement but that is what we know for sure and Zimmerman was the only one given outside input from authority on what to do and he was the only one who ignored it.

[nolabear]

118. Being a girl I'd have freaked the fuck out. Called someone, gone to a door, started screaming...

I sure as hell wouldn't have been like "Lah dee dah, look at the stars, Skittles are tasty..." Because men following you at night are frightening.

[Nay]

119. As a female being followed by a well-muscled male, I would run as fast as I could, screaming

"Somebody call the police! Help! Help!" I might also bang on doors for help. Raise a ruckus.

[Gravitycollapse]

127. I would walk until he attempted to stop me. Then I would beat the shit out of him.

Then I would call the police and provide medical attention in the meantime.

[Shrek]

131. +1

This sounds about right.

[ileus]

128. I would have kept my hand on my own CC pistol.

[Myrina]

132. I'd have stopped & asked him "Can I help you with something?" "Are you lost?" "Do I know you?"

I've done it to creepy people in my neighborhood. Turns out thus far they've been lost & pulled over to check their GPS/phone or they're sales-geeks getting ready to go door to door. A few were probably scoping the 'hood because as soon as I approached them, they took off.

[SummerSnow]

134. I would do just as you posted.

[hunter]

135. Zimmerman had the gun and he pulled the trigger. Fuck him.

He can go to hell, do not pass GO, throw him in prison for a long, long time.

Older and wiser Hunter would have relieved him of his gun in some pacifist, talk-him-down, or minimally mayhemic way.

Broken fingers, asshole with a gun, these things happen... Sorry dude, you shouldn't have whipped that out.

But young man Hunter would have been VERY reactive. Someone would have got hurt. Probably Hunter without the gun.

The horror of this story is that the asshole racist Zimmerman wouldn't have shot a white guy like me. I'd have told him "fuck off, dude" and he would have slithered away like the toxic little worm he is.

[Rex]

136. I would tell him to get lost.

And then promptly get shot for giving the wrong answer. Is my best guess.

[freshwest]

137. I'd do the same as the last time it happened. Try to walk away. Tell him to back off, if it failed.

Would yell 'rape' at full volume, as well. Touch me or corner me, that's the big one. Keep your fucking hands to yourself!

If he did, I'd punch him in the jaw and give him a black eye. That's what I did.

I would not submit, and TM didn't have to submit, either. Z was stalking someone. Who knows what his intent was?

He already had charges laid on him for assaulting a policeman and beating up his girlfriend, who he pursued and bit her. Another time he injured a woman he assaulted at a block party.

Everything that happened to TM was the fault of Z, the out of control stalker.

[noiretextatique]

138. no zimmerman DNA on martin's hands = zimmerman is a liar

martin's dna is not on the gun = zimmerman is a big, fat, liar.

[johnp3907]

146. Today or 30 years ago?

Today, at 47 years of age, and living in the age of Stand Your Ground madness, I'd try to give the guy the slip. 30 years ago, at 17, I would have done what you said. I think things went down the way you describe. Take the gun out of this and the jerk (Zimmerman) gets his ass kicked.

[Voice for Peace]

148. on the phone, Trayvon said (when he was at the area where he was shot)

"oh shit that nigger is behind me" or something very close.
Trayvon told his friend he had lost the guy -- then Zimmerman
suddenly appeared behind him. That's what it sounded like
happened, according to her testimony.

At that point Trayvon stands his ground and the phone
goes dead.

[Voice for Peace]

149. I personally would have gone to the nearest house with a light on and knocked at their door

and asked for assistance, if I was sure I was being followed

[Owl]

151. Commence farting.

[clm0805]

152. I'm not sure

I would be scared and would probably fight for my life thinking that he was going to abduct me and that's what I've told my daughters to do (they are both teenagers). I told them since seeing the Carlie Brurcia abduction video years ago that if anyone tried to take them to fight and scream. Do not let anyone take you anywhere. It's reasonable to think that Trayvon being only 17 was probably scared of an unknown person following him. I've also always thought that Zimmermans's story only made sense if Trayvon was there to rob the place. It makes no sense that Trayvon would be the aggressor if he was just walking home. And even though we may never know for sure who was screaming on the tape I find it hard to believe a grown man with a loaded gun would be screaming like that. It is possible, but I don't think it's likely. Obviously Zimmerman wasn't afraid going into the situation or he wouldn't have followed Trayvon in the first place. Also, I haven't heard anything about this, but did Zimmerman have any of Trayvon's blood on him. If he shot Trayvon while he was on top of him wouldn't there be blood spatter on Zimmerman's clothes. It will be interesting to see the dna and forensic evidence like what was the position they were most likely in when the shot was fired and how close were they to one another.