Hat tip??? to Daily Beast
Hat tip to PJ Media
Mansfield Frazier (whoever he is) has written an outrageous post in the Daily Beast with his take on the Trayvon Martin case. He thinks George Zimmerman's lawyer, Mark O'Mara, should convince Zimmerman to take a plea deal-to save the country from riots.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/18/trial-of-george-zimmerman-could-trigger-another-rodney-king.html
Apparently, Mr Frazier has very little grasp of the law, neither in letter nor spirit. In addition, Mr Frazier, himself an African-American, seems confident that African-Americans will riot if Zimmerman is not convicted. That is a damning indictment upon a people as a group that I would not engage in. Frazier, of course, can get away with it, but it is still a hurtful generalization, whether a riot would come to pass or not.
But the real issue here is that George Zimmerman deserves his day in court, and there seems to be considerable exculpatory evidence on his side. No need to repeat it all here; anyone who is following the case knows what it is. Surely, the DA must have something else, but based on what has been released to the public, it is quite reasonable to assume that a fair-minded and objective jury may well acquit Zimmerman. If Zimmerman's account of the incident is true, there is no reason for him to plead guilty. Indeed, it will be the prosecution's task to refute Zimmerman's statements beyond a reasonable doubt. What responsible lawyer would advise such a client to plead guilty simply to prevent civil unrest? That would be succumbing to mob rule, and we can never do that.
I am glad to see Mr. Frazier referred to the New Black Panther Party as "the three stooges", but I fear he underestimates this group, just as Eric Holder and his corrupt Justice Department have ignored them (for the second time). If we were talking about the KKK of fifty or sixty years ago making similar statements about a black defendant, I guarantee you something would have been done. (Granted, the NBPP has not yet killed anyone-that I am aware of.)
But what about these neo-Nazis we have heard about? Frazier also refers to them in his piece. I have heard Sean Hannity refer to reports of their presence in Florida and assumed that it was a fact. But is it? I had not seen any photos of them on the streets or heard them making statements, but I assumed that was because I wasn't making an effort to research their supposed involvement. PJ Media has linked this article by Legal Insurrection that calls the whole thing into question.
http://legalinsurrection.com/2012/04/sanford-fl-police-deny-any-indication-of-neo-nazis-patrolling/
Here is the point: If white supremists are jumping into this explosive matter, they are to be condemned, just as Hannity has condemned them, but what is the truth here? The reports talk about "heavily-armed, goose-stepping neo Nazis marching" around Sanford. Where are the photos? We have some loon named Jeff Schoep telling news outlets that his Detroit-based group is patrolling Sanford, but all I see is two photos showing a man and a woman standing in front of two Sanford landmarks. Is the news media exaggerating this to provide equity with the news about the NBPP?
At this point, Zimmerman is now out on bail and at an undisclosed location. All we can hope for is a fair trial, a just outcome, and that we will not let the extremists on either side take us back into an era we don't wan't to go back to.
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8 comments:
I know a threat when I hear it. He is attempting to put the blacks in the same category as Muslims.... excitable, irrational, violent, and quick to riot in the streets, regardless of the circumstances. Due process is not a consideration as long as one of their own is involved.
I'm sure he feels he would be helping his cause but he is degrading his people.
You are right on the money about mob rule. Mr. Frazier may (if he is conversant with American history) recall that not too many decades ago, lawyers pleaded black defendants guilty to avert similar threats, including lynching an acquitted defendant. Cf. the Dreyfuss case, from the days when conservatives hated Jews.
I suspect (and not seeing all the evidence, it is only a suspicion) that Zimmerman is guilty of something less than second degree murder, something not premeditated, like reckless or negligent homicide. But that is for a jury to decide.
The reason the "New" "Black Panthers" are akin to the three stooges, rather than to the KKK, is that they are a handful of kooks, NOT a vast right wing conspiracy fielding parades of uniformed adherents miles long, nor reaching into substantial portions of government and business. The KKK once dominated the politics of several states, including Indiana.
Siarlys,
Correct to a point. The KKK was once powerful, now they are a collection of kooks.
When Zimmerman is found Not Guilty there will be riots in the streets of many cities. But to find him Guilty or for him to take a plea to prevent a riot is wrong.
I suggest that every city start to acquire this. It is non-violent and will disperse a crowd in minutes.
True, and the KKK is not terribly dangerous either. Occasionally, a handful will commit a murder, but they no longer have friends in high places (or high places themselves), and generally get arrested, prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced for it. They seem to be better armed than the NBP. I suspect the NBP lack the drive and determination, or even the taste for risk, to actually commit a murder or battery... which is why they occasionally dart out in public muttering ego-boosting nonsense that has frightened nobody.
Siarlys,
It seems that NBPP does have friends in high places, like Eric Holder and his corrupt Justice Dept.
They frighten me, and all I was scared of previously was fear itself and green kryptonite.
Aside from your own paranoid fantasies, Gary, what evidence have you that Eric Holder is a friend of the NBP? Because he didn't rush to investigate a minor criminal matter that local authorities were perfectly competent to deal with?
And elwood, my sometimes sensible friend, who would probably be a perfectly congenial neighbor, have you ever even met one of the NBP characters? What exactly are you afraid of?
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