G-81 with MOM:
Recaps news stations. Watches Channel 9 in the morning. No particular programs on CNN. Watched the Ed Show on MSNBC and O'Reilly on FNC. Saw one program on Zimmerman.
Saw coverage on Yahoo search bar.
What stood out was the incident itself, SYG coverage and the rallies.
Saw stories about the altercation and the SYG controversy. Thought the stories discussed the fact that the shooting might be wrongly justified under SYG. Gut reaction was that is was a tragedy. Someone lost a life and someone would have to endure media and possible trial.
First heard about rallies from MSNBC. First reaction that people thought an injustice was done and people were speaking out about that injustice. He once again asserts he was on the fence. Recalls Rev. Al Sharpton's relationship with rallies. Watched the reverend's show during elections. Thinks that AS thought this was an injustice done to Trayvon and there should be, at minimum a trial.
Hope Zimmerman's research team is taking notes.
Most of family is out-of-town. Discussed what was happening in Sanford. He is from Miami area. Family doesn't have plans to attend trial. Family thinks it sad that young man lost his life and sad that a media circus ensued.
Thought that a black man being shot by a non-black raised issues. First attributed that opinion to him and his family then walks it back to his family alone. Took family to park across street from incident. Lives close to area, within 1/2 mile.
Says family doesn't attach fault, just thinks it tragic that "someone close to them" got shot. He attributes this to race as well as other factors.
Thinks racial divide was exposed by incident instead of media created. Thinks the media portrayed blacks in Sanford as untrustworthy of other races.
Works in education.
On to photos. Saw Martin in red Hollister shirt, smiling. Says Martins seems 14 or 15 in photo.
Saw Zimmerman "mugshot" in orange jumper. Has not seen other images of Zimmerman.
Early on he saw a video of the grounds where the altercation and shooting took place. Does not remember if Zimmerman was in that video.
Thinks people bring their own perspective to color perceptions of events. Lived enough to know that when a person lost his life it is tragic. Changes your life.
Ever since the time of slavery and Jim Crow are killed at a much higher rate than others. It is typical that African-American loses life through violence.
Does not use Twitter. Uses Facebook with brother and sister. Never posted about case on Facebook. Never read blogs about Zimmerman. No social clubs or organizations that have talked about incident.
"The media reacted because something big happened." The even was Feb. 26, did not hear about it until March. The fact that the news media covered this story but the killings in Chicago were unreported makes this case different than other stories in the black community. At first it was portrayed by media as different in the fact that Zimmerman wasn't arrested.
Expresses no concern about Zimmerman's involvement in NW program. Expresses no concern about Martin's background.
Sidebar.
