Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
From my local news, re: Trayvon Martin
Apparently, Zimmerman has a history of calling police to report suspicious black men in the neighborhood:
http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/sanford-police-release-new-calls-george-zimmerman/nLXs9/
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. ?
The outcry over the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin has prompted a federal investigation. And calls made by George Zimmerman to Sanford police in the months before he shot and killed Martin were released.
ABC News talked to a 16-year-old girl who was on the phone with Trayvon Martin when he was confronted by George Zimmerman. She said he told her he saw someone watching him and tried to get away.
?He said this man was watching him? so he put his hoodie on. 'What are you following me for?' The man says 'what you doing around here'? then the man like, like pushed Trayvon cause his headset like fell," the girl told ABC News.
The girl said after that the phone went dead and when she called back, Trayvon never answered.
The girl's parents didn't want her identified and would only allow an attorney for Martin's family to ask questions.
Sanford's
mayor, Jeff Triplett and Congresswoman Corrine Brown are headed to
Washington, DC Tuesday morning to meet with Attorney General Eric Holder
about the case.
People have been showing up all across central Florida to protest the shooting in Sanford.
Now, their cries for justice seem to be picking up traction.
The U.S. Justice Department announced Monday night that it will review
the investigation into the events that resulted in the teenager's death.
The U.S. attorney's office and the FBI are also opening investigations
into the killing.
It's been three weeks since Martin was killed by Zimmerman and the outrage across the country is still raw.
Zimmerman told police he shot Martin in self-defense after calling 911
to report that the boy was acting suspiciously. Martin was walking home
from a nearby store and only had a bag of Skittles and an iced tea.
Sanford police released six of the 46 calls Zimmerman routinely made to
police during the months leading up to the night he shot and killed
Martin.
Zimmerman placed approximately 10 percent of all the calls from his neighborhood to the Sanford Police last year.
Four of the six calls Zimmerman made to police start exactly the same way: He calls to report suspicious black men in his gated community.
Zimmerman told one of the emergency operators that his neighborhood had been 'plagued" by a rash of break-ins.
In a call reporting the break-ins, Zimmerman told the operator he thought he'd found the suspects: "Two African American males."
In
the calls, Zimmerman even reported things that are normal in
neighborhoods, like an open garage door and kids playing in the street.
WFTV also found out the 28-year-old has a history of not just reporting
people to the police, but also following them, like he did with Martin.
Eight years ago, Zimmerman followed some people who stole from
a supermarket. Another time Zimmerman followed a driver who he accused
of spitting on him from car to car after he had already reported the
driver to the police.
Authorities said those are the only calls available because recordings are deleted after seven months.
On Monday, more than 75 students, mostly from Florida A&M University, rallied outside the Seminole County courthouse demanding that the state attorney's office file charges against Zimmerman.
"Why is Seminole County the only county in the U.S. where a pack of Skittles is equivalent to a 9-millimeter?" asked protester Jason Reed.
Students met with Pat Whitaker from the State's
Attorney's office who told them they're considering manslaughter
charges, but that it could take weeks before a decision is made.
The White House is also talking about the case. The president's press
secretary was asked about the investigation during a press briefing on
Monday.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Trayvon Martin's
family. But obviously we're not going to wade into a local law
enforcement matter," said Press Secretary Jay Carney.
He said the White House was aware of what happened, but would let local and national investigators handle the case.
WFTV?s legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said if Zimmerman is never charged criminally, he could be a target for a civil case.
Sheaffer said Martin's family could also go after the homeowner's association since Zimmerman claims he was acting as a neighborhood watchman.
But he believes that would be tough to win.
"Unless we learn that the HOA either sanctioned the carrying of the gun or had some other input that led to the shooting the likelihood of recovery I believe is remote,? said Sheaffer.
Sheaffer said it appears Zimmerman was acting on his own when he decided to follow Martin while he was armed.The Justice Department released the following statement Monday night on the death of Trayvon Martin:
"The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, and the FBI opened an investigation into the facts and circumstances of the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. The department will conduct a thorough and independent review of all of the evidence and take appropriate action at the conclusion of the investigation. The department also is providing assistance to and cooperating with the state officials in their investigation into the incident. With all federal civil rights crimes, the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person acted intentionally and with the specific intent to do something which the law forbids ? the highest level of intent in criminal law. Negligence, recklessness, mistakes and accidents are not prosecutable under the federal criminal civil rights laws.
The Community Relations Service will be in Sanford, Fla., this week to meet with civil rights leaders, community leaders, and local law enforcement to address tension in the community."
Re: From my local news, re: Trayvon Martin
Hmm...I wonder if we're going to find out that this was an unwritten agreement between he and the department.
Told you...tin-foil hat
I'm wearing a hat too with this one. There is something weird about this case - besides what actually happened, which is horrible, the way it is being handled is just kind of bizarre. I think starlily was the one who was talking in another thread about how all this stuff about self-defense and the like would be just that - a defense - to become an issue after he was arrested. (he = zimmerman.)
And now all these 911 calls? I think if anything they weaken Zimmerman's whole story, because there was nothing about Martin to indicate that he was a threat, the same way there is nothing about children playing in the street that warrants a call to 911, etc.
edited to fix names
Zuma Zoom
I really wish I would un-hear those calls.....
This could have been my husband. He wears hoodies from time to time. It is so incredibly scary and sad that he could walk down the block and just be shot. It literally brings me to tears at the injustice.
Zuma Zoom
I listened to the 911 calls on a local radio station yesterday and was bawling when Trayvon was yelling for someone to help him. I am tearing up right now just thinking about it.
It is horrific that this stuff is still happening and so many people just turn their heads the other way.
If what was an unwritten agreement? I'm not following.
I hadn't heard about the phone call to the 16 year old girl. Trayvon's father had mentioned that he might have had his headphones on and been in his own world when Zimmerman first followed him but this version kind of makes me see where Zimmerman might have thought "Somethings wrong with him, I think he's on drugs" if he saw him talking or gesturing to himself and didn't see the blue tooth.
I'm not convinced that Zimmerman was just a racist looking to kill a black man. I think he's a very troubled person, with both an inordinate fear of crime and a superman complex.
I'm more worried about the racism of a police system that would slam the door shut on charges being pressed, that would fail to alert the family of the dead boy, even though HE HAD A CELL PHONE IN HIS POCKET!
I agree. I guess I completely don't understand the "self defense" thing from a legal perspective. I get that if you are homeowner and own a gun, and somebody breaks-in - you can shoot them. That is self-defense. I also think it's pretty clear that if you are lisenced to carry a gun, and somebody attacks you with a weapon and you shoot - that would be self-defense. However I don't get the claim in this case at all. The boy had skittles and snapple. The police said they didn't arrest the boy's murderer immediately because he claimed self-defense. Couldn't anyone do that - how can that be legal? I can be outside walking my dog and some over-zealous neighborhood azzclown is walking around my hood' with a knife, doesn't recognize me, and stabs me claiming self-defense and all I have on me is a pooper-scooper and my 8 pound pomeranian and that's legal - they just don't get arrested? I need to look into what constitutes self-defense a bit more. I would love to hear legal ladies technical input. This whole story is mind-blowing.
My heart breaks for the family
. I am always terrified for my husband and now my son. There are no words to help me explain how angry I am at the injustice. Actually, stories like this make me want to drive over there and beat somebody.
I don't know what to say except to spread the word for change.Be a constant voice of reason. Squash any sort of racism that you encounter. Be a positive role model.
It's a completely wretched state that America is in that we have to train, or spread awareness to our minority children to watch what they wear, or how they walk, or what they say because they might get gunned down by some crazy man.
And please, don't buy skittles. Maybe the bumpies are right, just wrong about the reasoning. It's a matter of life or death. I wish I was kidding.
Zuma Zoom
I feel so sheltered and ashamed that I never really thought about my nephew. I am sitting here just dumbfounded that he could be hurt because of his color or his personal life.
How do I even approach him about this? My sister and her husband have not even told him that he is adopted, even though it is very apparent.
As sad as I am for Trayvon's family, I hope the family is finding comfort that everyone wants justice for Trayvon (except for the local police).
Does anyone know if Zimmerman worked? I remember reading that he had a CJ degree. Did he apply to the PD, but fail the psych exams? I'm so pissed that the police keep protecting him- there has to be a reason why.
I'm not sure he needs to be approached. He isn't the problem. It's the bigoted racist a-holes that are. If anything, just share the article with the family.
People (not you copz) wonder why black people have such high blood pressure. It's because we have to watch our backs going to the damn store. We have to worry about our children because they're black walking home from school after track practice in a hoodie.
I can't take that this is so severely racist. It's white privilege at its worst. If Zimmerman was Abdul instead, if he was Jackson, Martinez, whatever else, there would have been an arrest. If it was an Abdul and he happened to be Muslim, and Trayvon was Travis, this would have made national news as soon as this broke. Effing insanity.
Zuma Zoom
From my understanding, it's not even that clear cut that if someone breaks in, you can automatically shoot them.
If the person who broke in, then turns to run out and you shoot them in the back, then you can't claim self defense because if they were running away they weren't a threat.
At least there was a case like that in my old state in which someone broke into a car and then was running away and was shot and killed and the shooter was charged with and convicted of murder.
So like everyone else is saying, why isn't Zimmerman in jail and then self defense can be used as his defense and a jury can decide if that's what happened or not?
Say what now? Tell me I am reading this wrong. Your sisters husband is black right? Tell me two white people did not adopt a black child and are not covering up the fact he is adopted? If I jumped to the wrong conclusion please set me straight.
nope, you are not reading it wrong. I have tried Mer, I tried so hard in fact that my sister cut me out of her life and his life for several years. Add to the fact that nine years after they adopted my nephew they actually had a biological child (my sister suffered for 12 plus years with IF) who is blond and blue eyed
Oh my, well how black is he? Choose one :
between 2 and three...if you go to my facebook pictures you will be able to figure out...I have an album of both my nephews from football season
It makes me so sick that people have to feel this anxiety about clothing. It's a f*cking hoodie. It's a staple of every teenage and twenty-something male's closet. White or black. I hate that we live in a world that can stereotype an item of clothing. (To be clear, I understand why the pps are worried. I hate that there are enough racist people in the world to cause you to worry.)
I'm probably also approaching tin foil hat territory based on this crime. It's sickening that this guy could just claim self defense and not get arrested. It makes absolutely no sense for me. I can't even begin to imagine what his family is going through. They must be terrified and grief stricken.
For that to be the case you would have to think that he would have pursued the same actions if a young white boy had been walking through the neighborhood. I doubt he would have perceived a threat in that scenario.
Copz, how old is your nephew? I would be very shocked if he hadn't figured it out already and is just staying quiet about it.
As far as how to make him aware, I would definitely share this article with him and your sister. I don't even know what advice to give you besides more exposure to minorities. I witnessed what my DH went through in college and beyond and it was eye opening. It is heartbreaking and it happens anywhere, not just in the Deep South.
Jersey #24? He looks like me extra tan. haha. I'd say more between 1-2, IMO.
That is interesting that they didn't tell him. Did they give a reason?
Zuma Zoom
Damn you Mere for making me swoon. I love me some Boris. Is that D'Angelo as #3? ::fans self::
Yea, that is him and the redhead is my nephew as well. Thank you for your take, Mer had me on the hot seat
No reason, none. I think they fear that telling him would make him feel less their son. It hasn't been done maliciously and they waited so long for a child that I think they think telling him will make him love them less.
he is 14, almost 15..there is no way he doesn't know. I have always been upset that they didn't tell him and help him embrace who he is
I believe this is heavily dependent upon state laws. For example, in Mass you can't shoot someone in the back like that, but I believe in some states, that would be legal as long as they were still in your house/on your property.
Trains Across America
Would you like to buy my condo in Salem?
I hadn't heard he was on the phone with a friend. My heart hurts for her. This whole thing makes me SO MAD and I have all this anger and no where to direct it and no way to help make it right. It's very frustrating.
Copz, your nephew is at least 9, right? He has to have at least an inkling he's adopted by now, right?