Twitter reactions to George Zimmerman's 'not guilty' verdict
Twitter reactions to George Zimmerman's 'not guilty' verdict have been swift and are full of the intense feeling that has characterized the trial for many.
Twitter reactions to George Zimmerman’s ‘not guilty’ verdict have been swift and are full of the intense feeling that has characterized the trial for many.
Following on the heels of the announcement that the six jurors in his second-degree case have found him not guilty of any charges, not even the lesser offense of manslaughter, a groundswell of disbelief has erupted over this social media engine.
“Why did Trayvon get the death penalty? #RIP,” stated a user with the handle @VeronicaDLCruz.
“Tomorrow, my middle boy turns 15. My oldest is 17,” wrote Twitter user @D_v_Ewr. “I can’t begin to wrap my mind around this.”
Many thinkers and social commentators have weighed in on the verdict, which was reached in the second day of jury deliberations. Jurors convened Saturday morning at 9 a.m., taking only a one hour lunch and one hour dinner break before issuing the not guilty verdict at roughly 10 p.m.
But is the emotional declarations over everyday people, which have since flooded the Twittersphere, that might be the most poignant expressions of outrage.
“…I have a 14-year old who lives in a community just like Trayvon walked through. And someone can kill him,” @alpha1906 lamented about what the verdict may mean personally for a loved one.
Some broadened their ruminations to include what such an outcome says of the way America views and values — or devalues — the lives of black men.
“You mean to tell me that Michael Vick gets two years for killing dogs and George Zimmerman kills a young, black man and gets no time at all,” observed @CWmsWrites.
@ReaganGomez agrees. “Understand, this confirms what we already knew. The lives of black men are worthless. Just. Worthless,” the actress lamented.
Sardonic humor also prevailed during a time of communal commiseration.
“One thing we know now… they really did find a jury of Zimmerman’s peers,” @jdvanlaningham observed.
Yet, overwhelmingly, the collective response for many who are shocked that the jury did not return a guilty charge for manslaughter, is a sense that there is not real justice for African-Americans in America — especially for young black men.
“It’s legal to shoot black kids, America,” @marabout40 concluded.
More tweets:
Do not let Trayvon Martin die in vain. Sabrina can NOT have lost her son in vain. We need to get up and ACT. This cannot keep happening.
— Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) July 14, 2013
Wow!!! Stunned!!! Saddened as a father!!! Some1 make sense of this verdict for me right now please!!! Don’t worry I’ll wait…
— THREE (@DwyaneWade) July 14, 2013
How do I explain this to my young boys????
— THREE (@DwyaneWade) July 14, 2013
It’s not a race thing 4 me, it’s the fact I have 2 sons and I couldn’t imagine 1 of them losing their life that way! Could’ve been avoided.
— Isaiah Thomas (@Isaiah_Thomas2) July 14, 2013
THIS —> RT @DETHMA0326: @CapehartJ Shoot a ceiling get 20 yrs. Shoot and kill Trayvon Martin get aquitted. Where is the justice?
— Jonathan Capehart (@CapehartJ) July 14, 2013
It could have been me. It could have been my son. We’ve got to protect them from the #Zimmermans of the world and their helpers.#Trayvon
— Vanessa Robinson (@Vrob125) July 14, 2013
Prayers go out to the Trayvon Martin family #riptrayvonmartin http://t.co/KJYUxiIytg
— DJ KHALED (@djkhaled) July 14, 2013
I hope everyone can see the BIGGER picture if this trial … his story was heard, his voice was heard RIP Trayvon Benjamin Martin
— Da’Quan Bowers (@DaQuanBowers91) July 14, 2013
Had a gun-toting Trayvon Martin stalked an unarmed George Zimmerman, and then shot him to death… DO I EVEN NEED TO COMPLETE THIS SENTENCE?
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) July 14, 2013
In memory of Trayvon Martin, America must never allow for young black men to be hunted again. My thoughts… http://t.co/tWYDGoVqfX PLS RT!
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) July 14, 2013
Stand your ground laws should be abolished….in every state.
— VALEISHA (@valeisha) July 14, 2013
My 13 year old daughter just said… I don’t feel safe now. What do I tell her? ANSWER ME AMERICA!!!!
— Andrea Morgan (@AndreaDMorgan) July 14, 2013
Today’s acquittal in the Trayvon Martin case is a shocking insult to his family and everyone seeking justice for Trayvon
— Christine C. Quinn (@ChrisCQuinn) July 14, 2013
As a lawyer, I believe in the system and accept the jury’s verdict. I do think Justice failed Trayvon Martin. Justice took the day off.
— Sunny Hostin (@SunnyHostin) July 14, 2013
@TheReidReport only in America can a young black man go on trial for his own murder…. (and be found guilty)
— Christine (@Christinetlc) July 14, 2013
I wasn’t crying until I read this tweet. RT @MartinOtis4: @Toure Emmett Till please give Trayvon Martin a hug tonight… No justice today
— Imani ABL (@AngryBlackLady) July 14, 2013
Defense Atty:”if George Zimmerman were black, he never would have been charged with a crime” Is he high?
— Michael Steele (@Steele_Michael) July 14, 2013
Don’t tear the city up. Zimmerman will get his sooner or later God don’t make mistakes or miss a beat
— Austin Trout (@NoDoubtTrout) July 14, 2013
Also as mad as a lot of people are over the verdict…trying to take out Zimmerman isn’t the answer neither
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) July 14, 2013
I feel sick. Prayin for the Martin family. Prayin God gives them peace b/c they will find none in this broken system.
— jurnee smollett (@jurneesmollett) July 14, 2013
I’ve given my life to teaching this history, so when this kind of ugliness happens, we know what to call it. @lauradeethomp
— Blair LM Kelley (@profblmkelley) July 14, 2013
Sad day in America. It’s clear, you can “stand your ground” unless you’re a Black male.
— Tavis Smiley (@tavissmiley) July 14, 2013
Zimmer’s lawyer just said if Zimmerman were black he wouldn’t have been arrested. No, he would have been shot. This is Florida.
— Wylie Jones (@Wylieknowords) July 14, 2013
Can’t even gather words to express my hurt for Trayvon’s family. Devastated
— Trey Songz (@TreySongz) July 14, 2013
No. My heart is with Sybrina Fulton, Rachel Jeantel, everyone who loved Trayvon and has been sent the message that his life didn’t matter.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) July 14, 2013
So much irony in folks telling black people not to “overreact” after a person’s just got off scott free for doing just that.
— Jeremy Jewitt (@jeremyjewitt) July 14, 2013
IN MEMORY OF TRAYVON MARTIN!!! REST IN PEACE YOUNG KING!!! ANY DEATH OF A KID IS A TRAGEDY!! WAKE UP!! http://t.co/mm1fAC2HPz
— Diddy (@iamdiddy) July 14, 2013
Prayers to Trayvon Martin’s family, to this country, to this world. We’ve got to do better, for the children to come.
— Kevin Powell (@kevin_powell) July 14, 2013
Prayers & love to @Btraymartin9 & @SybrinaFulton for the loss of your son #TrayvonMartin. My heart cries out for God’s healing #peace #jesus
— Sherri Shepherd (@SherriEShepherd) July 14, 2013
Please support the work of family of #TrayvonMartin in his memory http://t.co/qUtXFRKBv9 #JusticeForTrayvon
— Occupy Wall Street (@OccupyWallStNYC) July 14, 2013
Patti LaBelle just dedicated “Walk Around Heaven” to Trayvon Martin. I type this with tears on my iPhone screen. #DST100
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) July 14, 2013
“@KellyPrice4Real: Fear Kills. Love Heals. http://t.co/zWjq4GkuIX @BorisKodjoe @ChakaKhan #TrayvonMartin”
— Boris Kodjoe (@BorisKodjoe) July 14, 2013
We can move from anger to action. Ask the DOJ to pursue federal civil rights charges: http://t.co/WRe5o2SEC1 #TrayvonMartin
— Ben Jealous (@BenJealous) July 14, 2013
God Bless the Family of #TrayvonMartin ? Prayers are in order! Lets lift them up and ask God to keep… http://t.co/a9cGToo2ld
— ❤Porsha (@PorshaDStewart) July 14, 2013
My heart is with trayvon martins family tonight,so my focus on them. No one else really matters
— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) July 14, 2013
A child was gunned down for no reason! And nothing about that sounds like murder? My baby brother is… http://t.co/VX5DVzcYcN
— Rihanna (@rihanna) July 14, 2013
May God console the Martins at this time; as well as every other family that’s gone through this type of injustice.
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) July 14, 2013
this might be in bad taste but in light of this verdict? i really INSIST you people see Fruitvale Station not now but RIGHT NOW
— Questlove Jenkins (@questlove) July 14, 2013
Nobody knows what really happened except trayvon and Zimmerman. The justice system relies on reasonable doubt not our emotions.
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) July 14, 2013
Reminder: none of the jurors had ever heard of Zimmerman / Trayvon before the trial. they were selected because they are literally morons
— lawblob (@lawblob) July 14, 2013
I cannot believe this is the America I live in right now
— Michael B Jordan (@michaelb4jordan) July 14, 2013
Follow Alexis Garrett Stodghill on Twitter @lexisb.
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