Thinkprogress posted:

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um on Mar 26, 2012 at 6:59 pm

Trayvon Martin, as he appeared on his actual Facebook page
Over the last 48 hours, there has been a sustained effort to smear Trayvon Martin, the 17-year old African-American who was shot dead by George Zimmerman a month ago. Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, said, “They killed my son, now they’re trying to kill his reputation.”

Thus far these attacks have fallen into two categories: false and irrelevant. Much of this leaked information seems intended to play into stereotypes about young African-American males. Here’s what everyone should know:

1. Prominent conservative websites published fake photos of Martin. Twitchy, a new website run by prominent conservative blogger Michelle Malkin, promoted a photo — purportedly from Martin’s Facebook page — that shows Martin in saggy pants and flipping the bird. The photo, which spread quickly on conservative websites and Twitter, is intended to paint Martin as a thug. As Twitchy later acknowledged, it is not a photo of Trayvon Martin. [Examiner]

2. The Sanford Police selectively leaked irrelevant, negative information about Martin. The authorities told the Orlando Sentinel this morning that Trayvon was suspended from school for ten days “after being found with an empty marijuana baggie.” There is no evidence that Martin was under the influence of drugs at the time of his death, nor would prior possession of marijuana be a reason for killing him. It’s unclear what the relevance of the leak was, other than to smear Martin. [Orlando Sentinel]

3. On Fox News, Geraldo said that Martin was dressed “like a wannabe gangster.” Bill O’Reilly agreed with him. The sole evidence is that Martin was wearing a hoodie. Geraldo added that “everyone that ever stuck up a convenience store” was wearing a hoodie. [ThinkProgress; The Blaze]

4. Without any evidence, prominent right-wing bloggers suggested that Martin was a drug dealer. Right-wing blogger Dan Riehl advances the theory, also advanced in a widely linked peice on a site called Wagist. There does not appear to be any evidence to support this claim whatsoever. [Riehl World View]

5. Without any evidence, a right-wing columnist alleged that Martin assaulted a bus driver. Unlike Zimmerman, Trayvon has no documented history of violence. This allegation continues to be advanced by a blogger on the Examiner even after the real reason was leaked to the police and confirmed by the family. [Miami Herald; Examiner]

6. Zimmerman’s friend says Martin was to blame because he was disrespectful to Zimmerman. Zimmerman’s friend Joe Oliver said that Martin would not have been shot to death if Trayvon had just said “I’m staying with my parents.” Of course, Zimmerman was not a police officer, and Trayvon had no duty to tell him who he was or where he was going. [NBC News]

The final part of the effort to smear Trayvon Martin is to link him and his supporters to irresponsible fringe groups like the New Black Panthers and marginal provocateurs like Louis Farrakhan. Threats by these groups are serious and should be investigated, but they have nothing to do with Martin or his supporters. The leader of the effort to associate Martin with these groups is Matt Drudge. You can see how he is framing the story today here.

Ultimately, whether Martin was a perfect person is irrelevant to whether Zimmerman’s conduct that night was justified. Clearly, there are two different versions of the events that transpired on February 26, the night Trayvon was killed. There are conflicting statements by witnesses and conflicting evidence as to who was the aggressor. Zimmerman has the right to tell his side of the story. But his opportunity to do this will come in a court of law after he is charged and arrested. In the meantime, Zimmerman’s supporters should stop trying to smear the reputation of a dead, 17-year-old boy.

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theredkay1 posted:

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Sad.

This seems like a giant step back in time.

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Brother_Tempus posted:

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Yup, back in the days being armed was as normal as going to work

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Remnant_OBrien posted:

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Also was ilmyrin always a huge racist?

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Moe_Nox posted:

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Go back and read the thread and save yourself some arglebargle you morAn. His wasn't a moral judgement, it was scientific probability for continuation of the species.
Ask your defense attorney or someone else that has finished university already, next time you are arrested for pissing on a police vehicle.

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Remnant_OBrien posted:

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Pretending race isn't an issue while racism still exists just lets the racists get away with their bullshit.

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Remnant_OBrien posted:

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Actually its not so much this thread as Ilmyrin's recent thread against "race mixing" and other assorted highlights.

But also generally if you're if you're using the construct "If he was white..." you have issues with race too.

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DemonicXH posted:

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Remnant_OBrien posted:

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Pretending race isn't an issue while racism still exists just lets the racists get away with their bullshit.

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It becomes an issue if you let it.

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Moe_Nox posted:

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You mean like the racism of putting a bounty on the head of someone you describe as a 'white hispanic'?

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Remnant_OBrien posted:

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Moe_Nox posted:

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You mean like the racism of putting a bounty on the head of someone you describe as a 'white hispanic'?

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Oh snap, are you trying to tell me the black panthers are awful people looking for a semi-literal racewar? Bold stand asshat.

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illmyrin posted:

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Remnant_OBrien posted:

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Actually its not so much this thread as Ilmyrin's recent thread against "race mixing" and other assorted highlights.

But also generally if you're if you're using the construct "If he was white..." you have issues with race too.

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I don't believe in racism the same way you might. I'm well aware of it's effects on people and I think I understand the cause on more than one level. Stereotype racist Bubbah Joe Redneck who hates blackies and little miss housewife in the city for the first time nervous on the subway are two different things with different causes. But if the subject is race, and we're being entirely honest in our conversation, I have no moral problems suggesting that there is an instinctual element involved in racial relations that is evidenced throughout history and across all species. The confusion of modern day racial debates doesn't explore important overlapping issues that I'm willing to consider. The outsider effect for example. If I stuck you in a tribe of Kenyans would you be uncomfortable because they are black or because you've entered into an entire different culture? A whole lot of cultural uncomfort is confused with racism. I also think the concept of RACISM has become socially weaponized by the same people behind true oppression and their paradigm is served by the politicizing of racial tensions. But hey, anyone who's thought about race relations as much as I have must just be a racist right? Why waste valuable time thinking about what someone says if you can spot an open door to accusations?

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the_great_intex posted:

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I think it is more of a response against the media and other public figures attempting to incite a mob against Zimmerman when the evidence hasn't even been completely investigated yet nor has there been a single day in court

Not saying Zimmerman did any nothing wrong

Just because a white guy killed a black guy doesn't automatically mean it was a hate crime or that Zimmerman is even racist. Apparently, from listening to the 911 calls, he called 911 before he knew exactly what race Trayvon even was so its not like he calls the cops on every black guy he sees

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Moe_Nox posted:

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Who cares that a black child is dead with racial animus porbably playing a role. Everyone should be focusing on the black people who could incite violence later!

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Remnant_OBrien posted:

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the_great_intex posted:

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I think it is more of a response against the media and other public figures attempting to incite a mob against Zimmerman when the evidence hasn't even been completely investigated yet nor has there been a single day in court

Not saying Zimmerman did any nothing wrong

Just because a white guy killed a black guy doesn't automatically mean it was a hate crime or that Zimmerman is even racist. Apparently, from listening to the 911 calls, he called 911 before he knew exactly what race Trayvon even was so its not like he calls the cops on every black guy he sees

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There wouldn't have ever been a full investigation or a single day in court without media and public figures making a fuss.

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Moe_Nox posted:

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Speaking of racial animus, how very zionist of you to proclaim that because the shot attacker was black that the police would have shirked their duty to fully investigate the incident without the divine intervention of the arglebargling left.

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cabbyman posted:

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The only law that was broke was when one party physically attacked the other party.

Everything else is just each "side" protecting "their own".

Plenty of racism to go around with this one!

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SirGarth posted:

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calling him a zionist that way really helps your case

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the_great_intex posted:

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I get that part. But clearly the media and public officials have already made up their mind on what happened, as with a great many of Outposters. What if, and I mean hypothetically cause of course this could never happen, Zimmerman did nothing wrong and truly was just defending himself? Would kind of make a lot of people look like a bunch of clowns, wouldn't it? Granted I think we're past the point where if Zimmerman isn't found guilty of something there will be public outcry no matter what, even if he was doing nothing but in self-defense

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Remnant_OBrien posted:

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DemonicXH posted:

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Remnant_OBrien posted:

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Pretending race isn't an issue while racism still exists just lets the racists get away with their bullshit.

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It becomes an issue if you let it.

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Yeah for me.. because i'm white. I have the privilege of not having it thrown in my face everyday.

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Remnant_OBrien posted:

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the_great_intex posted:

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I get that part. But clearly the media and public officials have already made up their mind on what happened, as with a great many of Outposters. What if, and I mean hypothetically cause of course this could never happen, Zimmerman did nothing wrong and truly was just defending himself? Would kind of make a lot of people look like a bunch of clowns, wouldn't it? Granted I think we're past the point where if Zimmerman isn't found guilty of something there will be public outcry no matter what, even if he was doing nothing but in self-defense

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Public officials haven't.. The advocates have. And yes a lot of outposters have a pretty firm opinion, and that goes both ways. If Zimmerman did nothing wrong, he'll be vindicated in both the criminal investigation/trial. He'll have his life. And a lot of people will still believe he did wrong.

IMO, he will not be convicted of a criminal offense, but will be found to have done something wrong in a civil trial.


But here's the question. You are essentially arguing that people shouldn't be so worked up over the kid getting killed are you not? That they're being inconsiderate of Zimmerman? He killed a kid, why should he be entitled to nobody thinking he did wrong?

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the_great_intex posted:

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Um the "kid" was a 6'2" 17 year old... how is that even a kid? Why should Zimmerman be entitled to anyone thinking he did anything wrong either?

I'm the one who isn't placing blame on anyone, yet, you clearly are one of the gifted few who knew exactly what happened

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cabbyman posted:

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The only law that was broke was when one party physically attacked the other party.

Everything else is just each "side" protecting "their own".

Plenty of racism to go around with this one!

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