No one ever said he was.
But whether he as bad or not is irrelevant, Martin wasnt on trial.
And what conservatives either fail or refuse to understand is that the troubling aspect of the case was Zimmermans decision to pursue Martin when instructed not to do so by the police. The only logical inference as to Zimmermans motive was racial profiling.
Did Martin, because he was bad, at some point confront Zimmerman, attack him, beat him, compelling the former to lawfully kill the teenager in self-defense? According to Florida law, yes; Martin is alone responsible for his death, a consequence of his immaturity or poor decision-making or both.
Moreover, private citizens have the right to be racist, they have the right to racially profile young black men and presume theyre predisposed to violent crime, and they have the right to pursue them armed and kill them in self-defense with impunity if warranted.
No one is disputing these facts of law, and the verdict is perceived as just and appropriate.
However lawful Zimmermans actions, still not addressed is the initial troubling question as to why he simply didnt heed the admonishment of the dispatcher, and allow the police to investigate the matter. Had Zimmerman only followed these simple instructions, Martin would be alive, and Zimmerman would not have lost over a year of this life caught up in this tragedy.
It is also perfectly appropriate for African-Americans to contemplate the same troubling question, the role racism played in the incident, and why Zimmerman simply didnt stay in his car or just go home, because at that point he was in no danger of serious injury or death. Indeed, its also perfectly appropriate to question as to why Zimmerman felt the need to leave a safe, secure location to confront a dangerous, crime-prone young black male, as human nature tends toward avoiding danger and risk, not seeking it out.
Needless to say this question will never be addressed, not in the context of the racial, emotional, and partisan maelstrom that engulfs the controversy
