I understand that in the past and continuing into the present that many people have had their civil right violated. That includes people of all shades or colors, even white people denied entrance to colleges when they had a higher gpa and better qualifications than some who got in while schools attempted to meet their quota of minorities. Gays have been denied the right to marry (be careful what you ask for, divorce is a bummer).
However, in the Zimmerman case, the evidence indicates that he was attacked, he was on the ground being beaten, with his head slamming against a concrete sidewalk. He was armed but his gun was not drawn prior to the attach (at least no one has stated or testified that it was). Yeah...the unfortunate kid was 17, unarmed and had skittles in his pocket. But all the evidence says Zimmerman was attacked for simply following the "kid", without warning, and suckerpunched in the face (causing a broken nose) knocking him to the ground and dazing him making it impossible to fight back. I have known 17 year olds who could fight, and know how to beat the crap out of you. The jury heard the evidence and decided on a verdict of not guilty. Where now does the issue of civil rights violations on Travon Martin come from. Did not Zimmerman have a duty to monitor his neighborhood, to monitor stangers he did not recognize as from his neighborhood. He mentored other black kids in his neighborhood. Many people who know him have stated he is not a race bigot. It is unfortunate that Travon is dead. But he is not dead just because Zimmerman followed him as part of his duty to monitor his neighborhood. Z had every right to follow him regardless of what some civilian dispatcher with no police experience said. I think it is just a shame they are probably going the charge him with violating TM's civil rights and continue to try in put the guy in prison for defending himself. How many times was he supposed to get hit in the face, how many times was he supposed to allow his head to be slammed into the sidewalk before he could defend himself with deadly force. The kid was younger, stronger, taller, and an adult in all but his age. Z will never recover financially, emotionally and never be the same person he was before the killed TM. His life expectancy may be short cause someone is likely to go after him. He needs to move to North Dakota or something, change his name, and hope they don't find him. I think the government should leave him alone, enough is enough.