Tag Archives: Trayvon Martin

Sanford Florida Police Will Arrest Journalists

  By Greg Laden | April 2, 2012 - 4:30 pm | Bad Cops
6 Comments

who “stalk” city employees. But, apparently, they will not arrest yahoos who gun down innocent kids with skittles.

Media Advisory

For Immediate Release, March 28, 2012
For Further Information Contact: PIO@sanfordfl.gov

Sanford, Fla – March 28, 2012 — The City of Sanford kindly requests that members of the media refrain from approaching, phoning or emailing city employees when they are in their roles as private citizens. It has come to light that there have been a few incidents where city staff were followed and approached at their home or in settings outside of working hours.

Law enforcement officials will not hesitate to make an arrest for stalking….

Source

Sanford Police Chief Steps Down!

  By Greg Laden | March 22, 2012 - 4:03 pm | Bad Cops, Trayvon Martin
4 Comments

Bill Lee, the chief of the Sanford, Florida police department, has stepped down temporariness. You will remember that Sanford is where George Zimmerman, of the Neighborhood Watch, murdered Trayvon Martin on February 26th.

Lee stepped down because, he says, he had become a “distraction” to the investigation.

There have been a number of rallies protesting the fact that Zimmerman has not been arrested or, appreciably, even brought in for questioning after killing the 17 year old who’s only crime was “Walking While Black” after going to the local store to buy an iced tea and a bag of Skittles.

Yesterday, the Sanford City Commissioners gave the police chief a “no confidence” vote.

In a statement reported by the Washington Post, Lee said:

“I must temporarily remove myself from the position as police chief for the city of Sanford. I do this in the hopes of restoring some semblance of calm to a city which has been in turmoil for several weeks. It is my hope that the investigation will move forward swiftly and appropriately through the justice system and that a final determination in this case is reached.”

Trayvon Martin: Final Phone Call, Grand Jury

  By Greg Laden | March 20, 2012 - 1:45 pm | Bad Cops, Race and racism, Trayvon Martin
10 Comments

Trayvon Martin was on the phone to his girlfriend just prior to the incident in which he was summarily executed by a Neighborhood Watch Volunteer, based on a report from ABC news. According to her, “He said this man was watching him, so he put his hoodie on.” He was then cornered by the man, at which time Trayvon said “What are you following me for? … then the man said ‘what you doing around here?’ … Then somebody pushed Trayvon ’cause the headset just fell.” Then the line went dead. Based on the timing of call logs, this happend just seconds before George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon in the chest.

Meanwhile, the reports that came early this morning that the Justice Department will investigate Trayvon’s murder have further developed: According to some reports (via radio to this blogger) a Grand Jury will convene on April 10th.

US Justice Department Will Investigate Murder of Trayvon Martin

  By Greg Laden | March 20, 2012 - 9:25 am | Gun Ownership, Race and racism, Trayvon Martin
9 Comments

I’m sure you’ve heard by now, but the US Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have opened an official investigation into the killing of 17 year old Trayvon Martin by a vigilante “Neighborhood Watch” member George Zimmerman. Zimmerman pursued, confronted, then shot to death Trayvon Martin who was on his way home from the convenience store having picked up a bag of Skittles. Local police, apparently caught like deer in the headlights of an idiotic recently enacted Florida Law stating, according to some, that you can kill anyone you want as long as you can later say that they made you feel icky, have refuses to even bring Zimmerman in for questioning.

There have been protests, a lot of noise from the Liberal Blogosphere, and even a write in campaign using the Sanford Police’s own web site (click here to get in on that!), and limited criticism from the press.

(The 911 calls related to this case are very damning of Zimmerman, and you can listen to them here.)

Stand Your Ground, Racism, and the Second Amendment

  By Greg Laden | March 19, 2012 - 6:43 pm | Race and racism, Trayvon Martin
29 Comments

I want you to do a little thought experiment. Don’t worry, if you have had a long day and your brain is tired, it won’t be too hard. If you’re a Teabagger and are not very smart, it won’t be too hard. If you’re a middle class white person with concerns about brown people moving into your sleepy suburb and all your wealth and privilege came to you more or less by accident and your morality, such as it is, comes to you mainly by default, it won’t be … well actually, for you this might be hard but I’m sure you can do it. (more…)

Zimmerman Not Arrested Yet for Murder of Trayvon Martin

  By Greg Laden | March 19, 2012 - 8:56 am | Race and racism, Trayvon Martin
2 Comments

A protest is scheduled for today:

On Monday, March 19th, 2012 at 9AM, some students from FAMU and FSU will be gathering on the Set at FAMU’s campus to rally for Justice in the murder of 17 year old Trayvon Martin. Students will be gathering to spread awareness on the case, but also demand Gov. Scott take lead to make sure justice is served in this state for the family of Trayvon Martin.

Trayvon Martin 911 Tapes Shed Light

  By Greg Laden | March 17, 2012 - 8:43 pm | Bad Cops, Trayvon Martin
31 Comments

Blank spaces during these recordings are addresses or other data blanked out. Not work safe.

Zimmerman’s call to the police:
[audio:http://freethoughtblogs.com/xblog/files/2012/03/George-Zimmerman-Treyvon-Martin-911-Call.mp3|titles=George-Zimmerman-Treyvon-Martin-911-Call]

Reports of screaming, gunshots:
[audio:http://freethoughtblogs.com/xblog/files/2012/03/Treyvon-Martin-George-Zimmerman-Neighbor-911-Call-Screaming-Gunshots-Heard.mp3|titles=Treyvon-Martin-George-Zimmerman-Neighbor-911-Call-Screaming-Gunshots-Heard]

Report of seeing Zimmerman:
[audio:http://freethoughtblogs.com/xblog/files/2012/03/Treyvon-Martin-George-Zimmerman-Young-Female-Neighbor-Sees-Zimmerman.mp3|titles=Treyvon-Martin-George-Zimmerman-Young-Female-Neighbor-Sees-Zimmerman]

Report of wrestling:
[audio:http://freethoughtblogs.com/xblog/files/2012/03/Treyvon-Martin-George-Zimmerman-Male-Neighbor-Reports-Wrestling.mp3|titles=Treyvon-Martin-George-Zimmerman-Male-Neighbor-Reports-Wrestling]

Report of seeing Tayvon and Zimmerman:
[audio:http://freethoughtblogs.com/xblog/files/2012/03/Treyvon-Martin-George-Zimmerman-911-call-Female-Neighbor-Sees-Tayvon-and-Zimmerman-1.mp3|titles=Treyvon-Martin-George-Zimmerman-911-call-Female-Neighbor-Sees-Tayvon-and-Zimmerman (1)]

I heard a loud noise and the screaming stopped:
[audio:http://freethoughtblogs.com/xblog/files/2012/03/Treyvon-Martin-George-Zimmerman-Neighbor-911-Call-Sister-and-Brother-Walking-Dog.mp3|titles=Treyvon-Martin-George-Zimmerman-Neighbor-911-Call-Sister-and-Brother-Walking-Dog]

Two doors down, heard screaming, shot:
[audio:http://freethoughtblogs.com/xblog/files/2012/03/Treyvon-Martin-George-Zimmerman-Neighbor-911-Call-Female-Neighbor-2-doors-down-hears-screaming-and-shot.mp3|titles=Treyvon-Martin-George-Zimmerman-Neighbor-911-Call-Female-Neighbor-2-doors-down-hears-screaming-and-shot]

Long report (Part 1):
[audio:http://freethoughtblogs.com/xblog/files/2012/03/Lonely-Distraught-Woman-After-Zimmerman-Murdered-Trayvon_01.mp3|titles=Lonely-Distraught-Woman-After-Zimmerman-Murdered-Trayvon_01]

Long report (Part 2):
[audio:http://freethoughtblogs.com/xblog/files/2012/03/Lonely-Distraught-Woman-After-Zimmerman-Murdered-Trayvon_02.mp3|titles=Lonely-Distraught-Woman-After-Zimmerman-Murdered-Trayvon_02]

CBS consultant notes that the case reeks of racial bias: (more…)

Developments in Trayvon Martin Case

  By Greg Laden | March 15, 2012 - 4:00 pm | Race and racism, Trayvon Martin
9 Comments

The investigation of the killing of Trayvon Martin by a “neighborhood watch” vigilante (noted here) has taken a new turn as the state has taken over the investigation, and we note that the local police may have been doing it wrong. From Huffington Post:

“State Attorney Norm Wolfinger recognizes that Trayvon Martin and his family, interested persons, and the public-at-large are entitled to no less than a thorough, deliberate and just review of the information provided, along with any other evidence that may or may not be developed in the course of the review process,” a statement released from the State Attorney’s Offices Tuesday evening said. “We intend to honor that commitment.”
The shift from local to state officials comes amid suspicion about the department’s investigating techniques, according to reports.

See also this report from ABC: (more…)