Trayvon Martin Case is Escalating, FBI Wants To Charge Zimmerman With Hate Crime

May 15th, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

Source: IBtimes.com

A new breakthrough in the Trayvon Martin case could be a positive indication that George Zimmerman won’t get off for killing the teen boy as many suspect. As you know, the FBI has been conducting their own investigation into the shooting death that occurred Feb. 26, and ABC reports that the bureau plans to pursue a hate crime charge against the neighborhood watchman.

Zimmerman has already been charged with second-degree murder which could garner a maximum sentence up to life in prison if he’s convicted. With the hate crime charge, his sentence could be escalated to the death penalty. That is, if the prosecution can prove he intentionally went after Trayvon and shot and killed him because he is black.

Calls to 911 and the last conversation Trayvon had before being killed have already proven to much of America that Trayvon was followed and gunned down out of racial prejudice, but Zimmerman stands by his story that he shot the teen in self defense, after he punched, kicked, and knocked him to the ground. According to the Orlando Sentinel, there is a wealth of new evidence in the case against Zimmerman, including a data download with more than 60 CDs, Zimmerman’s phone records, and dozens of witness statements and interviews, 18 of which are from Sanford Police officers. There is also video from the 7-eleven store where Trayvon reportedly purchased Skittles and Arizona iced tea and from a clubhouse in retreat at Twin Lakes, the townhouse complex where the teen was killed.

To combat the hate crime charge, we can expect Zimmerman’s defense to harp on a photograph that recently surfaced which is reportedly Zimmerman’s mother in the arms of her grandfather, who is black. His mother also testified at a bond hearing that Zimmerman once risked his own personal safety to mentor a black child in a dangerous neighborhood because he didn’t want to abandon him. Essentially, it’s the “but I have a black friend” defense.

Do you think the FBI will successfully charge Zimmerman with a hate crime?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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  • http://www.therapyiseffinexpensive.wordpress.com Zan

    I don’t believe in the death penalty, but I do believe that GZ should get life in prison for what he did…he should have stayed his azz in the car. Plain and simple. If he was so scared, he should havve stayed in the car and let the police (the REAL police) come and do their job. It was not his job to pursue Trayvon. Plain and simple.

  • Lakiagreen41

    I believe what the bible saids and that is you shall reap what you’ve sowed into this world so if god has found him guilty because he knows the heart then he will guide the minds of the fbi to find all that they need so that justice is giving for god is just:)

  • Momma79

    I wonder if you were in the same situation would your views be the same. No one was there and how can you say that he pursued Trayvon because of what has accured in there community. Regardless of what we all believe this young man still lost his live and his parents will never see him again. No marriage, grandchildren and no getting old.

  • Miss B

    This is refreshing to see and I agree with you! I don’t know about 20 years though :/…it’s a bit excessive. We have good people in jail who made extremely stupid decisions that may or may not have taken a life. He deserves jail time and maybe even take some anger management classes…

  • http://twitter.com/prfectisshe myprfectimprfections

    fry his a** and be done with it !!!

  • Hazon

    GZ will be brough to justice

  • Hazon

    GZ will be brough to justice

  • Miss B

    If this man gets the death penalty, it will be a real shame. I don’t agree with what he did, nor do I believe he is completely innocent but, a hate crime? The death penalty? We’re taking drastic measures, in my opinion, to make an example out of him.

    • Myrical12

      From Ms. K. Nothing is eva said whn BLACKS is made an example of, so why should’nt zimmerman b made an example of, just sayn :/

      • Ona2684

        No one should be made an example, white or black. That’s not justice. Thats nothing more than 2 wrongs NOT making a right.

      • Ona2684

        No one should be made an example, white or black. That’s not justice. Thats nothing more than 2 wrongs NOT making a right.

      • Miss B

        Simply because he’s a human being and he has the right to live. & (although I will never know for sure) I honestly don’t believe this was a hate crime. I believe the media and everyday people added fuel to the fire. It should never be an eye for an eye, we need to stop viewing things that way.

        You made me think of something else…black people as a whole play the race card way too much (at times I’ve been guilty too). We are so caught up on whether or not something was racially motivated (understandably so) that we’ve lost compassion, understanding, patience, love…we’re letting this race thing eat us up & distract us. Yes, racism exists but, are we truly doing anything to make an honest attempt at overcoming it? Or are we finding every excuse to drag this thing out?

    • Myrical12

      From Ms. K. Nothing is eva said whn BLACKS is made an example of, so why should’nt zimmerman b made an example of, just sayn :/

    • Momma79

      I agree with you 100%, but we have been made examples of for centuries. So please let me know what the difference is.

      • Miss B

        I don’t know if I understand your question so I apologize if I am not going to answer it directly.

        In my opinion, one of the reasons racism and prejudice thrive, is because of the mentality of those who think they are or could be a target. I’m not neglecting how black people were and still are being treated but, I am saying that our past and even present situation shouldn’t replace our (as human beings) morality. Just because it was done to us, doesn’t mean we have to do it to “them” it only causes more hate and lack of understanding between races. We need more understanding because making “examples” out of one another does nothing but further divide us.

  • Miss B

    If this man gets the death penalty, it will be a real shame. I don’t agree with what he did, nor do I believe he is completely innocent but, a hate crime? The death penalty? We’re taking drastic measures, in my opinion, to make an example out of him.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000017108478 Deborah Cutchins

    Blow it up some more why don’t you? Change some more of the original story next time you update. Sheesh. This stuff isn’t new It’s just what they already had. It is new to Mr. O’Mara and the public.

  • 2manykidz

    I hope this is true; because so far everything that has been done has been disheartening and discouraging. From the lame press announcement from the Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and her slow response to do anything to the ridiculous decision for the judges to grant a bail of $150,000 in a murder case. I am hopeful and trying to be optimistic but it is really difficult. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=684365765 Toni ToniToni

    Please, her granddad isn’t BLACK. Them Latinos be dark as heck cause it’s so hot down there. A lot of them down there are darker than me most times. He’s just a darker Latino.They need to stop using those excuses. But my Great great grandmama is BLACK! Ugh. he killed a kid and he had the nerve to be racist when his tail is a daggone minority. NO race or nationality is better than the next, period! We are all human!

    • Birdi29

      It is a fact that more slaves were dropped off in south america than north america so they do have an african heritage. However  most do not claim it until it is necessary such as  Zimmerman and Geraldo when he was in trouble then pictures of black grandparents appear magically.  Hell I can show pictures of white ancestors but Im still black as hell.  I dont think that think that Zimmerman ever seen himself as as black until now ( how convient).  I  think that he sees himself as being white and  above everything.  Even if he is black  the prejudice was still there when he approached Trayvon.  Its hate no matter what his color ancestors were

  • mrskellyno2

    FEDERAL INVOLVED…..OH HE IN TROUBLE NOW

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/ILL72JYZ53TYKQQBBOTOCDAK24 Jupiter

    I don’t think they’ll be able to prove a hate crime, but he will go down for some type of murder.  

  • Eternanda

    I think while things are quite and the real investigation is working out…they will see clearly he is guilty and convict him…all this other fluff is just media hype. He can use watever defesne he wants but it wont change his complete and utter guilt in this situation

  • Springtime55

    White folk have been using this defense for ages…….Phaleez, not this time. My boss once told me in defense of being called a racist said that his niece was dating a black guy…..how could he be considered a racist if he could sit across from his niece and her black boyfriend at family gathering.