The Ghost of Trayvon Martin Takes a Knee

Halloween is approaching and the stores are filling with candy, skeletons, and not a few ghosts. One specter once again raising its ugly head, is the ghost of Trayvon Martin.
In addition to the Take a Knee controversy, or complementary to it, four NFL players have submitted a ten page memo...manifesto, if you will, to Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner. to address

the silence following our individual and collective demonstrations around the national anthem to raise awareness to racial inequality and issues surrounding criminal justice reform has been met with inconsistencies in press coverage and perceived lack of support.

(emphasis mine)"The silence". That means, we not only want to disrespect the flag, the anthem and the US, but we want you to endorse us for doing so. "Criminal justice reform"?  Are they suggesting better communication between NFL players and their parole officers? There most certainly is racial inequality in the NFL. The percentage of black players far surpasses the percentage of blacks in the general population. Is that what they're talking about??

But, let's examine the basis for their call for a month dedicated to their particular vision of social justice awareness..."like breast cancer"! Oh, and pony up some dough to make this kabuki theater work.
You have to admire the chutzpah of a bunch of millionaires going hat in hand to NFL management to finance those things they feel deeply about, just not deeply enough to pay for it out of their own pockets.
But, what sparked the outrage?

Since 2016, police have shot over 300 men and women in this country. Some of the names and stories are familiar...Trayvon Martin...

Uh, excuse me, but Trayvon wasn't shot by a police officer, despite how often his ghost pops up in conversations about Black Lives Mattering.

We have some newer statistics, via the Washington Post:

721 fatal police shootings in U S so far in 2017
32 unarmed - 4.4%
9 unarmed black men - 1.2%

For the math impaired (and you liberals know who you are), 721 is greater than 300.  As to the myth that police regular shoot unarmed black men, it appears that sightly over 1% of fatal police shootings involve unarmed black men, and unarmed men other than black, are shot three times as often.

But the memo goes on to detail many "reforms" they want to see in many of arrests and bail. Could they have a vested interest in the matter? According to NFLarrest.com, an NFL player is arrested on an average of every seven days. Granted this is lower than the US arrest rate for men of their demographic, but still quite a lot. Enough to make me wonder just how altruistic this "movement" is. "DUI's" seem to be most prevalent, and if they occurred at at once, NFL players with DUIs could fill a small stadium all by themselves!

But back to Trayvon, and the Left's fixation on him. You remember Trayvon?? Twelve year old choir boy with a twinkle in his eye? Well, somewhere between the cherubic twelve year old and the thuggish, 5'11" seventeen year old, something went terribly wrong.

In October 2011, after a video surveillance camera caught Martin writing graffiti on a door, MDSPD Office Darryl Dunn searched Martin’s backpack, looking for the marker he had used. Officer Dunn found 12 pieces of women’s jewelry and a man’s watch, along with a flathead screwdriver the officer described as a “burglary tool.” The jewelry and watch, which Martin claimed he had gotten from a friend he refused to name, matched a description of items stolen during the October 2011 burglary of a house... about a half-mile from the school.

Now why, you may ask , am I dredging up this young thug's sordid history? Can't we just let sleeping, er, dead dogs lie?

Apparently not. The name of Trayvon Martin, who was definitely not shot by a white cop or a black cop, or any cop at all, is repeatedly evoked at the top of the list of victimhood by Black Lives Matter types, along with the brutal bully who was shot resisting arrest, Michael Brown.

It is the modus operandi of the Left, that whenever they want to exaggerate how bad a problem is, they pad their statistics to make it look worse. The NFL players include Trayvon in their list of grievances, because if they limited themselves to actual grievances or even current grievances (Trayvon was killed in 2012), their evidence would be pretty thin.

I suspect the ghost of Travon will be with us for a long time, so long as intellectually dishonest race baiters struggle for ways to justify their left of center agendas. This includes the 'Take a Knee' crowd.

Share a Coke With...

...Trayvon?



With all the talk of Hillary's drink koozies... Too soon?

Separated at Birth?

Since his name has been coming up a lot lately:

"Curious George and the Man in the Big Yellow Hoodie"

A companion piece to "Curious Trayvon and the Man in the Big Yellow Pickup".

Trayvon Martin, Then and Now

I have from the very beginning off this sordid affair, complained of the journalistic malpractice of the MSM in continually trying to portray Trayvon Martin as the most innocent of youths. The government joined in this fiction, as well. Throughout the trial, the prosecution referred to Trayvon as a "child", a "boy on his way home", etc.

While the early pictures of Trayvon as a young teen, almost a choir boy in appearance, may have been excusable in the first day or two of the incident, when information and resources can be quite sketchy, and perhaps none others were available, it is inexcusable in continually referring to Martin as anything other than a young man, which, indeed he was. While I was the youngest child in my family, it is perfectly acceptable for my Mother to refer to me as her "baby", but if the NYT does so in a news story, it would be journalistic malpractice.

Compare the picture of Trayvon used on People magazine to the one Trayvon himself posted on social media:


At what point does it become incumbent on the news media to provide current photos to illustrate their stories?

It is shameful to try to play upon people's emotions by trying to portray Trayvon as a helpless child. Were Trayvon alive to hear it, he would no doubt be indignant over it. Perhaps, even become belligerent over it! Trayvon's supporters do him no honor in pretending he was something other than he was. Can't a seventeen year old "child" even join the military if he has his parents' permission? Can seventeen year old "children" be tried as adults when they commit adult crimes? Get real.

Time to end the fiction. Trayvon was a young adult, one who may or may not have may some bad choices in his life. Regardless of George Zimmerman's guilt or innocence, Trayvon Martin was no choir boy. It is dishonest to imply otherwise.

Verdict is In in Zimmerman Murder Trial - developing- Not Guilty!

Fox News has announced that the verdict is in in the George Zimmerman murder trail...awaiting announcement. Drum roll please!

Judge is not extending Zimmerman's 10 PM East Coast time curfew. Maybe he won't need it any more?

Judge still not back in the courtroom 6:56 PDT

Murder two off the table - verdict is manslaughter or acquittal.

Judge has entered the courtroom...6:57

Court finds George Zimmerman not guilty.

Jury being polled - unanimous.

Judge instructs jurors of their right not to discuss their deliberations.

Trayvon Martin's Hoodie and Skittles Back in the News

Since Trayvon Martin's Hoodie and Skittles are back in the news, here's the dramatic recreation of said evidence originally presented on Proof Positive:

Update: Here is the full post from March 30, 2012, "Don't Bring Skittles® to a Gunfight", for those whose clicking fingers might be sprained:


Too soon? Given the media circus surrounding this shooting, it's hard to tell. Did you know that there were 14,748 murders in the U S in 2010? The vast majority were either blacks killing blacks or whites killing whites. Whether or not the Martin shooting was justifiable in any way shape or form, the carnival like atmosphere that has surrounded the Trayvon Martin/ George Zimmerman incident is highly regrettable.

First, the reporting is abysmal. How many times were we shown a five year old photo of Trayvon Martin, looking like a fresh faced schoolboy of twelve. Once might have been because of a rush to get the story out. Continually showing the picture of an innocent 12 year old, was done to manipulate people's emotions...as if no one could be outraged over a seventeen year old being shot. Every time that five year old picture was shown, it was a lie of omission. All that was missing was a choir robe and a halo.

And the politics were shameful as well. Democrat congressmen wearing hoodies on the House floor, accusing Republicans of playing politics with the shooting. All the anti-second amendment types are trying to find some way to turn this to their advantage, and a President who doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut, meddling again in a local police matter where he doesn't have all the facts. Seems to be a habit with this one. "Hoodie rallies" filled with people who do not possess all the facts, "making a statement".

Trayvon's mother, who should be able to grieve over the loss of her son in peace, is beset by race hustlers and lawyers. I won't speculate what or who may have prompted her to try to trademark her son's name, but I can't say that greed on someone's part doesn't come to mind.

Then, there are the Spike Lee's and New Black Panthers of the world, calling for vigilante justice, offering bounties, without a single word of censure from the President, Attorney General, or the MSM in general.

There's no way this ought to have been a partisan issue. For what it's worth, Zimmerman is a registered Democrat. But it wasn't his party affiliation that pulled the trigger. It's first a question of whether or not a Hispanic man with a German name was justified in shooting a seventeen year old black youth and secondly, is there enough evidence to prosecute him? The President should have learned from his "the police acted stupidly" remarks, not to make any local crime a national issue.

But, obviously, this is a tragedy. I can only imagine what these parents are going through. And when I think about this boy, I think about my own kids. And, you know, I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this and that everybody pulls together -- federal, state and local -- to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened.

Every parent in America? Every aspect of an incident where we may never know all the facts? What makes this shooting different from thousands of others? What makes it different from the shooting of two young British tourists, whose parents sought a comment from the White House? The fact that that one was black on white violence? What's the matter, Mr. President? Did it not fit the narrative?

"federal, state and local -- to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened"

At the risk of being cynical, is it because this is an election year, and the president doesn't have a record to run on?Is it because the facts may never be known for certain, so that race baiting opportunists can shape the narrative to fit their agenda?

So I'm glad that not only is the Justice Department looking into it, I understand now that the governor of the state of Florida has formed a task force to investigate what's taking place. I think all of us have to do some soul-searching to figure out how does something like this happen. And that means that we examine the laws and the context for what happened, as well as the specifics of the incident. But my main message is to the parents of Trayvon Martin. You know, if I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon. And, you know, I think they are right to expect that all of us, as Americans, are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves and that we're going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened

And after promising to be the post racial president, Obama tells us we need to "search our souls"? pardon me, but there is no soul searching required. Either the shooting was justified and all the race hustlers are seeking to persecute George Zimmerman solely on the basis of race, which they accuse him of, or the shooting was not justified and the local authorities should prosecute Zimmerman if they have the evidence to do so. And if the local authorities have need of state and federal resources, they should by all means ask for them. But, this should not be driven by a national agenda. Allowing local authorities to handle local crimes might free up federal authorities to investigate obvious voter intimidation at polling places or the murder of border patrol agents with guns provided to the drug cartels by agents of the US government?

Maybe President Obama should call the parents of the dead British tourists and the parents of the dead border patrol agent and call on all Americans to take that shooting "with the seriousness it deserves and...get to the bottom of exactly what happened", or do the victims simply don't look enough like they could be his son?

And while I hope that the Martin family finds some measure of peace and that justice may be both impartial and just, may I ask what ought to be a rather obvious question: Is there any reason why Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman should be judged on the color of their skin and not the content of their character? I didn't think so.



Update II:"take this with the seriousness it deserves" Apparently one more thing the President believes we need to "take seriously".

Cross posted at LCR.

"Don't Bring Skittles® to a Gunfight"

Too soon? Given the media circus surrounding this shooting, it's hard to tell. Did you know that there were 14,748 murders in the U S in 2010? The vast majority were either blacks killing blacks or whites killing whites. Whether or not the Martin shooting was justifiable in any way shape or form, the carnival like atmosphere that has surrounded the Trayvon Martin/ George Zimmerman incident is highly regrettable.

First, the reporting is abysmal. How many times were we shown a five year old photo of Trayvon Martin, looking like a fresh faced schoolboy of twelve. Once might have been because of a rush to get the story out. Continually showing the picture of an innocent 12 year old, was done to manipulate people's emotions...as if no one could be outraged over a seventeen year old being shot. Every time that five year old picture was shown, it was a lie of omission. All that was missing was a choir robe and a halo.

And the politics were shameful as well. Democrat congressmen wearing hoodies on the House floor, accusing Republicans of playing politics with the shooting. All the anti-second amendment types are trying to find some way to turn this to their advantage, and a President who doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut, meddling again in a local police matter where he doesn't have all the facts. Seems to be a habit with this one. "Hoodie rallies" filled with people who do not possess all the facts, "making a statement".

Trayvon's mother, who should be able to grieve over the loss of her son in peace, is beset by race hustlers and lawyers. I won't speculate what or who may have prompted her to try to trademark her son's name, but I can't say that greed on someone's part doesn't come to mind.

Then, there are the Spike Lee's and New Black Panthers of the world, calling for vigilante justice, offering bounties, without a single word of censure from the President, Attorney General, or the MSM in general.

There's no way this ought to have been a partisan issue. For what it's worth, Zimmerman is a registered Democrat. But it wasn't his party affiliation that pulled the trigger. It's first a question of whether or not a Hispanic man with a German name was justified in shooting a seventeen year old black youth and secondly, is there enough evidence to prosecute him? The President should have learned from his "the police acted stupidly" remarks, not to make any local crime a national issue.

But, obviously, this is a tragedy. I can only imagine what these parents are going through. And when I think about this boy, I think about my own kids. And, you know, I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this and that everybody pulls together -- federal, state and local -- to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened.

Every parent in America? Every aspect of an incident where we may never know all the facts? What makes this shooting different from thousands of others? What makes it different from the shooting of two young British tourists, whose parents sought a comment from the White House? The fact that that one was black on white violence? What's the matter, Mr. President? Did it not fit the narrative?

"federal, state and local -- to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened"

At the risk of being cynical, is it because this is an election year, and the president doesn't have a record to run on?Is it because the facts may never be known for certain, so that race baiting opportunists can shape the narrative to fit their agenda?

So I'm glad that not only is the Justice Department looking into it, I understand now that the governor of the state of Florida has formed a task force to investigate what's taking place. I think all of us have to do some soul-searching to figure out how does something like this happen. And that means that we examine the laws and the context for what happened, as well as the specifics of the incident. But my main message is to the parents of Trayvon Martin. You know, if I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon. And, you know, I think they are right to expect that all of us, as Americans, are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves and that we're going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened

And after promising to be the post racial president, Obama tells us we need to "search our souls"? pardon me, but there is no soul searching required. Either the shooting was justified and all the race hustlers are seeking to persecute George Zimmerman solely on the basis of race, which they accuse him of, or the shooting was not justified and the local authorities should prosecute Zimmerman if they have the evidence to do so. And if the local authorities have need of state and federal resources, they should by all means ask for them. But, this should not be driven by a national agenda. Allowing local authorities to handle local crimes might free up federal authorities to investigate obvious voter intimidation at polling places or the murder of border patrol agents with guns provided to the drug cartels by agents of the US government?

Maybe President Obama should call the parents of the dead British tourists and the parents of the dead border patrol agent and call on all Americans to take that shooting "with the seriousness it deserves and...get to the bottom of exactly what happened", or do the victims simply don't look enough like they could be his son?

And while I hope that the Martin family finds some measure of peace and that justice may be both impartial and just, may I ask what ought to be a rather obvious question: Is there any reason why Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman should be judged on the color of their skin and not the content of their character? I didn't think so.