Family of Trayvon Martin says 911 tapes disprove self-defense claim
theGRIO REPORT - The family of a black teenager killed by a neighborhood watch captain say the 911 tapes of the incident, released on Friday, prove George Zimmerman did not act in self-defense...
The family of a black teenager killed by a neighborhood watch captain says the 911 tapes of the incident, released on Friday, prove George Zimmerman did not act in self-defense.
On one of the tapes, Zimmerman is heard telling dispatchers he sees a suspicious person who appears to be “up to no good” and “on drugs or something.”
“These a**holes always get away,” he adds.
Zimmerman is asked by the dispatcher if he is following the person, and when he indicates that he is, the dispatcher says “we don’t need you to do that.”
LISTEN: Trayvon Martin 911 tapes uncut (Warning: Contains adult language)
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On subsequent tapes, a neighbor can be heard telling the dispatcher he sees people “wrestling on the ground” outside and that he heard gunshots. On another, a voice can be heard screaming for help as a neighbor describes the scuffling outside to the dispatcher.
The 17-year-old from Miami was returning to his father’s fiancee’s home in Sanford, Florida, from the store, carrying an ice tea and candy, when the confrontation took place. Zimmerman told police Martin was the aggressor, and that he feared for his life before he fatally shot the teen in the chest.
So far, Sanford police have declined to arrest Zimmerman, saying witness accounts corroborate his story. But Martin’s family and a growing number of observers are demanding an arrest, saying Martin was a victim of racial profiling. Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee has disputed that, and earlier this week told the Miami Herald the 911 tapes would prove that race played no factor in the shooting, since when asked by the dispatcher to describe the race of the person he was following, Zimmerman said he didn’t know. In fact, the tapes show he told the dispatcher the person he was pursuing “looks black.”
Related: Ta Nehisi Coates on Florida’s Self-Defense Laws and the Killing of Trayvon Martin>
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Tracy Martin, of the Martin family, told the Associated Press that the tapes prove Zimmerman’s story is false, and that he can be heard chasing their son on the tapes. He also told reporters that the fact that two shots can be heard on the tapes differs from the one shot they were told about by police.
“How can you claim self-defense and you are the aggressor?” Tracy Martin said at a press conference Saturday.
And Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s mother, told the AP the tapes confirm that her son was afraid, and running away from a stranger who was chasing him.At least three witnesses have come forward to dispute police claims that the 911 calls by neighbors support Zimmerman’s claim of self-defense, saying they heard cries for help that they believe came from the boy, not from Zimmerman.
ABC News uncovered potential “correction” of witness testimony by police.
Meanwhile, Zimmerman’s father, in a letter to the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday, said is son is being misrepresented as racist in the media, and that Zimmerman, 28, has had to move out of his home after receiving death threats.
The statement gives no details about the February 26 shooting, but states that Zimmerman’s portrayal in news reports is wrong and that “he would be the last to discriminate.” From the statement:
The portrayal of George Zimmerman in the media, as well as the series of events that led to the tragic shooting, are false, and extremely misleading. Unfortunately, some individuals and organizations have used this tragedy to further their own causes and agendas.
George is a Spanish speaking minority with many black family members and friends. He would be the last to discriminate for any reason whatsoever. One black neighbor recently interviewed said she knew everything in the media was untrue and that she would trust George with her life. Another black neighbor said that George was the only one, black or white, who came and welcomed her to the community, offering any assistance he could provide. Recently, I met two black children George invited to a social event. I asked where they met George. They responded that he was their mentor. They said George visited them routinely, took them places, helped them, and taught them things and that they really loved George. The media portrayal of George as a racist could not be further from the truth.
The Martin family has called on the FBI to look into the case. Sanford police have said the department welcomes federal involvement, and that they have already been in touch with the Justice Department.
And a petition calling for Zimmerman’s arrest has garnered more than 272,000 signatures online, while the case has attracted national attention, including from Russell Simmons, and Rev. Al Sharpton (an MSNBC contributor.)
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