Trayvon Martin was a 17 year-old boy, whose only sin was a love of Skittles and sweet tea. Martin, at 140 pounds and unarmed, was gunned down by a 250 pound man with a history of calling 911 every time an African American dared walk through his gated community. Martin lost his life that night. His family lost their beloved son. The man, George Zimmerman, was not arrested. Zimmerman’s gun was not tested. Zimmerman was not tested for drugs or alcohol, yet Martin’s dead body was. On ABC’s Good Morning America, Zimmerman’s PR junket began. Zimmerman is a victim, his friend Joe Oliver said to host George Stephanopoulos. He has “lost his life too.”
OLIVER: This is a horrible, horrible happening, where someone who thought he was doing the right thing has virtually lost his life now.
STEPHANOPOULOS: What would he say to Trayvon Martin’s family?
OLIVER: That he’s very, very sorry. That he’s very, very sorry. Because in many ways, George has lost his life too.
Here’s the video:
Oliver also claims that the racial slur reportedly used by Zimmerman in his 911 call was in fact the word, “goons,” a term of endearment, according to Oliver.
In related news, the GOP has learned nothing from Martin’s death. 29 Senate Republicans are pushing a bill that would force states to honor concealed carry permits from any other state. Should this bill pass, men like George Zimmerman, who has a violent arrest record, will be free to pass from state to state, guns hidden.
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I saw this interview and was skeptical of who, exactly, this “friend of Zimmerman” is. He seemed just a little too polished, measured, and well-spoken to be some random friend. I suspect he’s actually some sort of PR agent hired to modify the public perception of Zimmerman in preparation for a possible civil suit.