Washington, D.C. – It is distressing that George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the tragic killing of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager who was gunned down last year by a man who saw him as a threat, not because he posed a threat, but because of the color of his skin. We join the NAACP and others in calling on the Department of Justice to act on the violation of Trayvon Martin’s civil rights. There is no more fundamental right than the right to live.

Trayvon Martin is America’s son. He represents the precariousness of life as a young Black man in America today. Black men are routinely racially profiled whether by a neighborhood watchman, store security or police. New York City is a case in point on racial profiling by police of both Black and Latino men. In 2012, The New York Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policy led to almost 533,000 stops , in which a staggering 87% of those stopped were Black or Latino; 88% of those stopped were innocent. All across the country, young black men continue to be the victims of police killings by officers who are then rarely held accountable for their actions:

In March of this year, 16 year old unarmed Kimani Gray was shot seven times, including three times in his back by New York City police as he left his friend’s birthday party. An unarmed 19 year old college student Kendrec McDade was shot and killed by officers in March 2012 in Pasadena, California. In Las Vegas, 28 year old Orlando Barlow was surrendering on his knees when officers fatally shot him in 2003. And four years ago, 22 year old Oscar Grant was killed by Oakland transit police, who said they accidentally used a gun instead of a taser. All of these young men were unarmed and in almost all of the cases the officers were exonerated and returned to the beat. In the case of Grant, despite video showing the young man being shot as he was handcuffed and laying face down on the platform, the officer was convicted of manslaughter and served less than one year. Sadly, the saga of police killings and beatings of unarmed black youth is as story that forms a part of the fabric of the everyday life of most American black men.

Young men of color are also victimized by schools’ zero-tolerance policies that result in the arrest, suspension , and expulsion of students for minor infractions. Black and Latino students represent more than 70% of those involved in school-related arrests or referrals to law enforcement mostly for violating minor school rules like the dress code, carrying a cell phone, or talking back to a teacher.

The statistics paint a portrait of racial inequity. African Americans make up two-fifths and Hispanics one-fifth of all confined youth today. Black men represent 7.9% of 18- 24 year olds in America, but only 2.8% of undergraduates at public flagship universities. The jobless rate among poor black teens without a high school diploma is an alarming 95%, according to Northeastern University.

The disparities, unfortunately, do not end there. According to Human Rights Watch, people of color are no more likely to use or sell illegal drugs than whites, but they have higher rate of arrests. African Americans comprise 14% of regular drug users but are 37% of those arrested for drug offenses. From 1980 to 2007, about one in three of the 25.4 million adults arrested for drugs was African American.

Upon conviction, black offenders often receive longer sentences compared to white offenders. The U.S. Sentencing Commission stated that in the federal system black offenders receive sentences that are 10% longer than white offenders for the same crimes. The Sentencing Project reports that African Americans are 21% more likely to receive mandatory-minimum sentences than white defendants and are 20% more like to be sentenced to prison.

The killing of Trayvon Martin is a clarion call for our nation to finally grapple with the issue of racial injustice, especially with regard to young black men. The response of millions to the injustice of failing to arrest and try Trayvon’s killer is a testament to the power and effectiveness of grassroots movements. The movement must not stop with this verdict but continue on not only until each and every young man of color in America can walk the streets in any of our nation’s neighborhoods unafraid, knowing not only that he is safe, but also that as a nation we no longer tolerate the unfairness facing them but will ensure opportunities to thrive.

just because blacks are arrested at higher rates, that does not prove they did not do the crimes for which they were arrested.

I didn’t see her show any proof of this. If there’s nothing there how do all the charges stick? Reality may be that black men commit more crimes than other racial categories. To expect all racial categories to somehow have to do the same percentages of crimes is actually ridiculous. Or that because one group does more crimes and is arrested for them, that’s somehow wrong. If they are caught doing the crimes one way or another, that’s not bias, that’s because they did the crimes.

Let’s go even with the assumption they are beign targeted unfairly and too many black criminals are being caught. MAybe the conclusion again may not be bias, but maybe the conclusion should be is that black criminals on the whole are more stupid than other racial groups and because of their own stupidity, get caught at a higher rate than other groups.

But if it’s one thing I think we can all see is that liberal blacks do not want to deal with reality, they want to pass off their problems on other people, because if they can’t, that will mean their problems are SELF INFLICTED and that THEY HAVE TO OWN THEIR OWN MESS.

ANd they can’t handle that. They have to keep on denying reality, that broken black families are pumping out the Jenteals and the Trayvons, the baby making uneducated black women having kids out of wedlock, and the feral youth full of sizzurp, gangsta rap, hatred, and anger at the world. But it’s all because of THEIR OWN CHOICES. They choose to give up on their own education. They choose to waste their time on stuff that will not help them get ahead, get good jobs, be productive, have a stable life, that’s enjoyable, and raise kids in a marriage that’s solid. THEIR OWN CHOICES.

Instead they accomplish little to nothing. Public school lets them pass when they can’t read or write or do basic math because they graduate and then they aren’t the school’s problem anymore. they are told how great they are and think they ought to make lots of money and have a big job, whenthey have no skills to do a basic job. They believe “that’s racist” that they are denied the job or the promotion they think they should get. Anything they want but are denied automatically goes into the “racist” pile.

Martin Luther King would bitterly weep at what’s become of the black culture, and be so upset at how his own people are ducking their own personal responsibility and just chalking anything that doesn’t go their way, personally, culturally, whatever, as racist - so they don’t have to ever ask themselves an honest question of “could it really be my own fault?”

The fact they go crazy over a guy defending himself against a black gangsta thug who was going to teach someone a lesson for following him around, and never do the same against their own who are killing other blacks 93% of the time, is proof of this racist denial mentality that predominates the current black culture in America.

Zimmerman found not guilty

From USA Today

SANFORD, Fla.--George Zimmerman, the man accused of murdering Trayvon Martin, was found not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter on Saturday.

The verdict is the culmination of a case that captured the nation's attention and will undoubtedly be imprinted in America's history. For Zimmerman, it means trying to recapture his life after he was at the center of a national maelstrom over racial profiling, state gun laws and what constitutes self-defense.

The not guilty verdict means the jury of six women found that Zimmerman justifiably used deadly force and reasonably believed that such force was "necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm" to himself — Florida's definition of self-defense.

Zimmerman showed no emotion as the verdict was read. After the verdict was read, he smiled slightly and shook hands with one of his lawyers.

The unidentified jurors decided Zimmerman didn't "intentionally commit an act or acts that caused death" or demonstrate a "depraved mind without regard for human life" --Florida's definitions of manslaughter and second degree murder, respectively.

In a press conference after the verdict, Zimmerman attorney Mark O'Mara said his client will now need to get on with his life.

"I think he's going to be great. I think he is still worried. Hopefully everyone will respect the jury's verdict," O'Mara said.

He offered his sympathies to Trayvon's parents for the loss of their son. But he said despite the national protests that erupted after the shooting, the case had nothing to do with civil rights.

Zimmerman's brother, Robert, told CNN's Piers Morgan that his brother was processing the reality that he is free.

"He has some decompressing to do," he said. "Our family was emotional. We are exonerated as a family and George is exonerated as a defendant. It's going to take us some time to heal."

For all the euphoria on Zimmerman's team, prosecutors and Trayvon's family faced a huge letdown. Trayvon's parents were not in the courtroom when the verdict was read.

Trayvon's father Tracy posted on Twitter, "Even though I am broken-hearted, my faith is unshattered. I will always love my baby Tray ... even in his death I know my baby proud of the FIGHT we along with all of you put up for him."

The family's attorney Benjamin Crump thanked all the protesters nationwide who "put their hoodies up and to everybody who said, 'I am Trayvon.' " He urged supporters to remain peaceful, despite the verdict.

Lead prosecutor Bernie De la Rionda said, "I am disappointed in the verdict but I respect it. We accept the jury's verdict."

My own feeling is this. I have followed the trial closely...each day. The Jury clearly looked at the evidence, which was overwhelming for the defense and Zimmerman.

Zimmerman's nose was broken and his face was bruised and bloodied after the confrontation. He had cuts and bruises on the back of his head. He had grass stains on the back of his shirt and pants. Treyvon had no injuries from the fight, except the gunshot wound. There were scrapes on his knuckles. And he had grass stains on his knees. All of this was supported by the forensic evidence and was not challenged.

It is clear who was delivering a beating, and who was receiving it. An eye witness indicated Treyvon was on top of Zimmerman and hitting him. Clearly, the one who was screaming histerically, and terrified for help, was the one being beaten, not the one on top doing the beating.

In almost all cases, the prosecution witnesses, under cross examination, gave testimony that ended up supporting Zimmerman's story.

It is tragic that things happened like they did. But neither person had broken any laws, or committed any crime, and could have walked away from this up until the time one of them decided to sucker punch the other in the face, break his nose and knock him down. Even then Treyvon could have walked away and had very little long term personal consequence. But when he began beating Zimmerman on the ground as he did, he took a path that led to his death. Zimmerman finally shot, and the forensic evidence showed that Treyvon was shot at close range, with the bullet traveling upward through his body (and his heart) while Zimmerman was on the ground.

There simply was not evidence of any hate crimes. There was simply no evidence of murder or negligence. The jury decided that Zimmerman was defending himself.

We know now that Zimmerman, an Hispanic male, mentored young black kids in his spare time. No racist there at all.

No, it is tragic that a 17 year old young man was killed. He was not a "little" kid. He was 6' 2" tall, 170 lbs, and was quite muscular and fit as a high school football player. Zimmerman was 5'9", also weighed around 170 lbs, but was not in good shape and over weight. And Treyvon was not angelic...far from it. His facebook page and tweets make that clear enough, as does his own record...all of which the jury could not hear...and in the end, did not need to.

Would Zimmerman have died that night? We will never know. But he clearly thought he was in great danger, and he was definitely being beat up. So he finally pulled his gun and shot in self defense.

I pray the country can move on from this. This case was trumped up by politicians, the Media, and those seeking a racial cause. The local police had already pretty much determined what this jury found and that is why Zimmerman was released after being taken to the police station that night. These types of things happen fairly often in this nation of 350 million.

For example, shortly before this event, a black man, who was being stalked by 4-5 white thugs, was at home one night when these thugs came to his house and began calling him names, and throwing rocks at his home from his drive way. He was safe in his home. It was secure and he was armed. He did not have to go out. But they were on his property and he decided to go out and confront them. There was an argument. One of the young men, about 19 years old, charged the man yelling that he was going to hurt him. The man shot...and the 19 year old died.

That man was not tried. He was not arrested for murder or manslaughter. Everyone knew these kids were on his property and up to no good. He could have stayed inside, but he decided to confront the evil on his property and when attacked, he defended himself. I have no problem with it...and believe more Americans should send such messages to criminals when they are threatened. 911 takes on average 9 minutes for anyone to get there. Usually by that time, it is over.

That above case happened in Florida by the way...and there was no outcry, no demands to punish that man for killing the much younger man. It was clearly self defense...as was this case with Zimmerman.

"Wrong. Martin most definitely was a threat. Or would the author like for me to knock him down, break his nose, pound his head into the concrete and tell him he is going to die tonight?

People have died from a punch:

MURRAY, Utah (AP) — A 46-year-old soccer referee who was punched by a teenage player during a game and later slipped into a coma has died, police said.

Ricardo Portillo of Salt Lake City passed away at the hospital, where he was being treated following the assault last weekend, Unified police spokesman Justin Hoyal said Saturday night.

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PUYALLUP, Washington —A 21-year-old Puyallup man is in a coma after prosecutors said he was punched twice for making a comment about the rims on another man's car.

James Foster remains in Tacoma General Hospital on life support with severe head injuries.

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PROVIDENCE -A 21-year-old New Bedford man has died after police said he was punched in the head in a parking lot behind a Providence nightclub.

Witnesses said a man who was not even involved in the argument sucker punched Bettencourt in the back of his head. Police said Bettencourt hit his head on the concrete.

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An 18-year-old New Jersey man is facing murder charges after cops say he killed an aging Vietnam vet with one punch during a traffic dust-up.

Allen Briscoe, 66, suffered a brain aneurysm caused by blunt force trauma and died at a south Jersey hospital on Monday night after falling and hitting his head during the confrontation Aleem Mayes, NBC Philadelphia reported.

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A Lake Township man has died a week after he was punched while in the parking lot of a South Toledo strip club.

The death of John R. White, 38, was reported Saturday to the Lucas County coroner's office, said Dr. Diane Barnett, a deputy coroner.

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Mr. White was punched about 2:55 a.m. Sept. 29 outside Deja Vu, 135 S. Byrne Rd., where he worked security, by a man who had been asked to leave the club, according to a Toledo police report.

Mr. White fell backward and hit the pavement, Dr. Barnett said. He suffered a skull fracture, according to an affidavit Toledo police filed in Toledo Municipal Court.

Mr. White was taken to University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio, where he died.

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FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Police said Nathan Engle, 24, died on Monday after he was punched in the face by 24-year-old Terance Dejuan Wilson at about 1:40 a.m. Saturday.

Engle’s uncle was with him when it happened and says there was no confrontation between his nephew and Wilson – his nephew just happened to walk between Wilson and another man. When he did, Wilson turned and delivered a sucker punch to Engle’s face causing him to fall and strike his head on the pavement.

Engle, the father of three children, would last two days before dying from blunt force head injuries. Wilson was initially charged with assault, but the charges will more than likely be upgraded now that the coroner has determined Engle’s death was a homicide.

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Travon delivered a sucker punch to kill Zimmerman.

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