Trayvon Martin Updates

[Content Note: Violence; racism; victim-blaming.]

Three new news items to share:

1. Orlando Sentinel—Encounter between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin 'avoidable,' cops said in report: "Sanford police believed the encounter between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin was 'ultimately avoidable' if Zimmerman had 'remained in his vehicle and awaited the arrival of law enforcement'." In their coverage of the same item, USA Today reports the police document also notes: "Zimmerman had reported 'suspicious persons, all young black males' to police on three previous occasions in 2011."

2. MSNBC—Trayvon Martin killed by single gunshot fired from 'intermediate range,' autopsy shows: "Florida teenager Trayvon Martin died from a single gunshot wound to the chest fired from 'intermediate range,' according to an autopsy report reviewed Wednesday by NBC News." That conflicts with previous reports saying the gun was pressed against Martin's chest when fired, which are based on a conclusion drawn by a Florida Department of Law Enforcement firearms expert from the presence of powder burns on Martin's hoodie and shirt.

3. New York Daily News—Trayvon Martin had marijuana in system the night he was gunned down: "Trayvon Martin had marijuana in his system the night he was gunned down in a Florida condo complex, according to a medical report released Thursday. Martin's autopsy report shows he had traces of THC, the active ingredient in pot, in his blood and urine."

Guess which one of these is getting the most attention?

If you guessed "Trayvon Martin was HIGH!" give yourself 1,000 points, then please donate them to the Center for Constitutional Rights.

Apparently, in the US in the year 2012, you still need to say out loud that even if someone uses weed, that is not a justification for killing them.

And, you know, during the fully one million times I have smoked weed in my life and then walked down a street, no one has called the cops on me and/or tried to murder me. That's not a coincidence. That's evidence of racism which privileges my high white ass.

UPDATE: Think Progress also has an item today about Zimmerman being a racist bully at work. And eventually getting fired for incessant complaints to HR about his colleagues.