Professional Documents
Culture Documents
15july13 4umf15 July 13 - Current Events - Current News - Entertainment News Daily News
15july13 4umf15 July 13 - Current Events - Current News - Entertainment News Daily News
For Trayvon Martin Feds Look To Charge Zimmerman Mark OMara: If George Zimmerman Were Black Video President Obama Releases A Statement On Verdict Heartbreaking Tweets From Martins Father 40 Killed In Iraq Blast Allen Iverson Avoids Arrest Lil Wayne Apologizes To Emmett Till Family VIDEO Young Jeezy Its A Cold World Trayvon Tribute Jay Z Justin Timberlake Holy Grail Live In London
Hundreds of people gathered in New Yorks Union Square Sunday afternoon to protest the acquittal of George Zimmerman, who was exonerated by a jury Saturday night of all criminal charges in connection with the shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin last year in Sanford, Fla. The diverse crowd came together to speak out against what they overwhelmingly saw as a miscarriage of justice in the Zimmerman case, while calling for action and changes to the criminal-justice system and racial understanding in the U.S. The rally, organized by a grassroots coalition of civil-rights groups, ordinary citizens and political leaders, was an opportunity for people upset about the outcome of the trial to express their views and plan for the future. The event, featuring two separate protests, remained peaceful throughout the afternoon despite the high tensions over the verdict, in clear defiance of vocal observers, police officials and politicians who had predicted widespread violent protests in the event Zimmerman were acquitted. The central protest featured a lineup of prominent civil-rights leaders and politicians who spoke effusively about the need to organize in the wake of the trial to improve the state of American race relations and their intersection with the nations legal system.
The U.S. Justice of Department is now investigating the shooting death of Trayvon Martin meaning, if slapped with federal charges, George Zimmerman could face jail time even after his not guilty verdict. The DOJ issued a statement Sunday revealing they are looking into the case, evaluating the evidence (including testimony from the State trial) and will determine whether or not federal prosecutors should file criminal civil rights charges against Zimmerman. Heres why its important Zimmerman was found not guilty on Saturday of both second-degree murder and manslaughter when tried by the State of Florida and is technically a free man. But since the news broke civil-rights activists have been up in arms, like Al Sharpton and the NAACP who are clamoring for the DOJ to bring civil rights charges against Zimmerman. If the Feds decide to go through with new criminal charges then a jail sentence is back on the table. Although, according to legal experts, it will be an uphill battle to prove in court that Zimmerman was motivated solely by race.
In the hours following the George Zimmerman trial verdict being released, both the defense and prosecuting attorneys answered questions about the trial and their reactions to the jurys decision. As expected the defense team had some questionable things to say, especially attorney Mark OMara. Although being advised to leave race out of this entire ordeal, O Mara remarked that if his client were black, he never wouldve been charged with a crime. He continues: It seems as though what happened was an event that was being looked into by the Sanford Police Department, and quite honestly, as we now know, looked into quite well. I have taken advantage of police departments who have not gone a good investigation of crimes because thats what I do for a living. When I looked into Sanford Police Department investigation they had done quite a good job. OMara adds: This became a focus for a civil rights event which again is a wonderful event to have. But they decided that George Zimmerman would the person who they were to blame and use as a creation of a civil rights violation, none of which was borne out by the facts. The facts that night was not borne out that he acted in a racial way. His history is a non racist.
The White House released a statement on Sunday afternoon from POTUS in response to the jurys decision. Read it in full below: The death of Trayvon Martin was a tragedy. Not just for his family, or for any one community, but for America. I know this case has elicited strong passions. And in the wake of the verdict, I know those passions may be running even higher. But we are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken. I now ask every American to respect the call for calm reflection from two parents who lost their young son. And as we do, we should ask ourselves if were doing all we can to widen the circle of compassion and understanding in our own communities. We should ask ourselves if were doing all we can to stem the tide of gun violence that claims too many lives across this country on a daily basis. We should ask ourselves, as individuals and as a society, how we can prevent future tragedies like this. As citizens, thats a job for all of us. Thats the way to honor Trayvon Martin.
A few minutes after George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the death of Trayvon Martin Saturday night, the dead teenagers father tweeted his emotional reaction to the verdict. Read his tweets below:
Wanna get Allen Iverson to pay his child support bill? Threaten jail because the ex-NBA star finally coughed up the $40,000 he owed his ex wife narrowly escaping time in the slammer. TMZ broke the story Iversons ex, Tawanna, has been trying to collect child support from the b-baller since their divorce was finalized in February, but no cigar. Then, last month she asked a judge to throw him in jail, if he continued to dodge the bill: $8,000 / month for the last 5 months. In new court docs filed last month in Fulton County, GA Iverson said he never paid the money because he was led to believe he and Tawanna would reconcile. Taking a hard stance a judge ordered Iverson pony up the cash within 72 hours or be arrested. The threat apparently worked, Iversons lawyer tells TMZ Allen has complied with the order and met every term for which he was required. Also hes not in jail.