Washington – U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on Monday called the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin “unnecessary,” raising questions about whether he believed the shooter, George Zimmerman, acted in self-defense.
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A jury in Sanford, Florida, found Zimmerman not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter after a three-week trial in which defense lawyers argued that Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, shot Martin in self-defense.
Zimmerman, 29, has gone into hiding since the verdict. Friends, family and defense lawyers have said he will need time to put his life back together and was considering entering law school to help people wrongly accused of crimes.
The attorney general did not indicate whether he intended to bring a federal case, but by referring to the “tragic, unnecessary shooting death of Trayvon Martin,” Holder raised the question of whether he believed Zimmerman acted in self-defense.
Ben Crump, a lawyer for Martin’s divorced parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, said the family would weigh its options regarding a wrongful death civil lawsuit against Zimmerman but for now was still “devastated” by the verdict.
“She cried, she prayed to God, and then she cried some more,” Crump said of Fulton. “She said, ‘I will not let this verdict define Trayvon. We will define our son Trayvon’s legacy.’ It was real inspiring.”
The verdict triggered protests across the United States from disappointed and angry people who said Zimmerman racially profiled Martin, 17, as a possible criminal and pursued him while armed with a fully loaded 9mm pistol.
Immediately following the verdict, civil rights leaders began calling for federal charges, saying the trial in Florida failed to serve justice.
Then on Sunday the Justice Department said it would reopen its investigation into the case, saying experienced prosecutors would determine whether any of the “limited” applicable civil rights laws had been violated, and whether the case met guidelines for bringing a federal case after a matter has already been decided in state court.
By finding Zimmerman not guilty of second-degree murder, the Seminole County jury rejected the charge that Zimmerman acted with ill will, spite or hatred.
The remarks by Holder, the chief U.S. prosecutor and an appointee of President Barack Obama, came on Monday as he addressed a convention of Delta Sigma Theta, a black sorority.
“The Justice Department shares your concern. I share your concern,” Holder said, triggering an enthusiastic response from some 14,000 sorority members at a Washington convention center.
The U.S. Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 would require the government to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman, who is white and Hispanic, shot Martin because of race.
ONLINE PETITION
More than 800,000 people signed an online petition of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) asking Holder to file civil rights charges against Zimmerman, the association said on Monday.
Martin’s family, which has already received a confidential settlement from the homeowners’ association in the gated community where the shooting took place, was also considering a civil suit against Zimmerman.
For now Crump was turning his attention to the federal government, contending it was a civil rights violation for Zimmerman to profile Martin as criminal based on race.
“Does this (verdict) mean anybody packing a gun can come up and chase our children? And then when our children defend themselves, they can be killed and this is allowed?” Crump said.
The verdict weighed heavily on the NAACP, which was holding its annual convention in Orlando, a few miles from Sanford.
The NAACP would work to help overturn self-defense laws like those in Florida that helped Zimmerman’s defense, and to promote anti-profiling laws, the group’s president, Benjamin Jealous, said.
“Just like the battle against lynching, the battle against urban street violence, the battle against the bad guys killing our kids and the good guys killing our kids is one that we have to prepare to be a generational battle,” Jealous said.
“The reality is in this country, the world’s greatest democracy, it should not be the case that any child has to fear both the robbers and the cops. Both the bad guys and the good guys,” Jealous said.
I have one ultra simple question for “the chief U.S. prosecutor” and for all people who share his opinion: Do you believe in the way our justice system (Jurors Etc,) operates, YES? or NO? You think there’s a better ways & techniqes for our justice system, fine no prob, voice your opinion – have debates – But how in heavens sake does the word “Race” get here? If it was self defense then so be it! If it wasn’t then so be it too! But all the other rubbish just doesn’t add up! How liberal has this country become? Scary!
I am impressed with how low a high ranking federal official can stoop. Let’s examine a few facts:
1. The FBI (an agency under the direction of Department of Justice – Eric Holder) conducted an extensive investigation with many interviews. It concluded that there was no bias or bigotry involved.
2. The court ruled that the shooting was in self defense and that Zimmerman was not guilty. This is the justice system. The entire trial reeked of unfairness, with the prosecution being given the edge all the time.
3. The Special Prosecutor departed severely from current law in skipping grand jury, and in filing charges against the advice of many others, all for political reasons.
4. The prosecution, in effort to get a conviction without the evidence, tried many tricks to sway the public opinion via the media, and through the veiled threats of backlash from the black community.
Now, someone tell me how Eric Holder can refute the law of the land for which he holds the highest position in the federal government. There is nothing here except that a black is uninterested in true justice, just in punishing non-blacks. I’m embarrassed of him and his boss.
eric holder isn’t unnecessary. he’s evil.
They should sue holder for defamation and libel.
How does he know? Was he there?
Every killing is unnecessary!!! This debate is crazy…the justice system worked but people wanted a different outcome! O.J. killed two people, got away with it and the black community was thrilled….he had killed two white people…no riots for that!! Why? Because for O. J. the justice system worked……Why aren’t there protests for the innocent killing of babies and children by random shootings in black communities all over!! Those killings are senseless and unnecessary. The heartache is the same for the parents of killed children. Also, the pictures we see of Trayvon Martin is that of a 12(or so) year old…at 17 he did not look like the pictures they’re showing..he was bigger and older than we’re meant to believe. Therefore, stronger as well! You can’t choose which outcome of a trial is fair or unfair if the rules and laws were followed.
A purely idiotic statement by someone who is supposed to be the epitome and the cornerstone of the judicial system. If our own A.G isn’t supportive and doesn’t advocate for American values then what message does it send for the rest of the country.
There is one disturbing fact regarding this case which I have not yet seen mentioned: I did not pay much attention to the trial so I cannot say much about the outcome. But here is where I see racism: for some reason white people by a large margin assume that Zimmerman is innocent and African Americans by a large margin assume that Zimmerman is guilty. I can see no reason for this other than racism.
Obviously, there is plenty of racism in our society.
A tragedy occurred for sure but whose blood is more red? Is Holder saying Zimmermans death was necessary so he had neither need nor right to self defense? Obama administration has become totally irresponsible in speech, obama having attempted to prejudice the trial with remark about Martin looking like his son, as well.
Amazing all of sudden people believe in the justice system and say accept the verdict. Of course when a did gets convicted the system is a joke
Interesting
To #9 -Daniel Barbaz- I agree with you that our society is rampant with racism; however, the racism emanates from the Black community. How many times during past riots have we heard the term “Get Whitey”. I heard that term personally, when I was on the subway, and some Black teenager shouted to me loudly (in the presence of his friends), “HEY WHITEY”. How many of us have been spoken down to like a dog by Black clerks at motor vehicle offices, social security offices, grocery stores, or other retail outlets? FBI statistics over the years have substantiated that there is a disproportionate amount of inter-racial violent crime (homicide, robbery, felonious assault, rape, etc.), emanating from Blacks against Whites. However, judging from the various media reports the last few days, one would assume that Whites are on the hunt for Blacks. In reality, it is the other way around. However, the ongoing serious issue of Black vs. White crime, NEVER, is ever raised in the media by anyone-either by politicians, or by members of the media. The race hucksters have used the Zimmerman case to further their own corrupt agenda.
Where was his (and his boss’s) public statement regarding the unnecessary death of Brian Terry, those killed in Benghazi and the unnecessary deaths of approximately 11000+ other deaths of blacks by other blacks since the Trayvon Marton shooing?
Eric holder. And Obama. And sharpton are one voice
The voice of race war.
They are biggest bigots. And racists
While I would agree that AG Holder’s comments are just pandering and ill advised, perhaps he should have clarified. Mr. Martin’s death was “unnecessary” because the situation should have never escalated to the point that Mr. Zimmerman would need to (legally?) invoke self-defense.
Hold on, this is not about race, this is about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ “Martin’s family, which has already received a confidential settlement from the homeowners’ association in the gated community where the shooting took place”
For your information I have watched the entire trial and Btw, we all have the same CLUES & FACTS Because we weren’t there as this tragedy occurred so it all boils down to each to there own common sense!
At the trial it was pointed out that Martin waited for Zimmerman at an intersection and stated “Do you have a problem, (expletive deleted);” at that point, Zimmerman stated, “No man, I don’t have any problem”. Then, Trayvon punched Zimmerman in the nose, causing him to fall. Afterwards, Martin began beating Zimmerman, viciously picking up his head, and continuously slamming it into the concrete. Noted forensic pathologist, Dr. Vincent Di Maio substantiated Zimmerman’s story, after reviewing the forensic evidence. Trayvon Martin was not unarmed; the use of concrete to assault someone, is tantamount (legally) to using a deadly weapon. Also, Trayvon was trained in mixed martial arts. He was not a “child” or a “skinny kid” by any means. If Zimmerman would not have employed deadly force, he would have either been dead, or would have been rendered a vegetable, because of brain injuries. Incidentally, there is no law against following a person, and inquiring what they are
doing!