“…GZ called 911 because as he said on the tape, there is a man walking in the rain rather slowly and/or acting weird…”

In short, Zimmerman starts his 911 call with the “He does not belong here” defense.  The “slowly and/or acting weird” is open for interpretation.  Zimmerman does not – at any time – describe a crime in progress OR a known criminal OR a person of interest from a previous crime.

Zimmerman’s call bases this, apparently, on what he believes are “Furtive Movements.”  Is he about to assault someone?  Steal a car?  Break into a house? Cause vandalism?  Zimmerman NEVER SAYS what “acting weird” means.

He never describes Trayvon’s “Furtive Movements.”  Even after trailing Trayvon, he does not describe them.

“He looks like he MIGHT…” does not stand up in any jurisdiction. 

“He does not belong here” is not a valid reason to request a police presence.

Even looking at this “Without Racial Bias,” Zimmerman’s reasoning to place his call to 911, as well has his trailing a Black Youth (not involved in criminal activity), THEN CONFRONTING HIM WITH A FIREARM, is both irresponsible AND criminal.  Removing “Race” from the equation, Zimmerman is a danger to himself AND the community around him.

Zimmerman had no interest in justice.  Nor, as his own run-ins with the law suggest, was he ever interested in serving the public trust or protecting the innocent.  That he would ignore the instructions of the 911 operator (which rises to the level of “Ignoring Instructions of a Law Enforcement Officer”) to initiate his own confrontation with someone who is otherwise innocent of any criminal behavior is proof enough of that.

“…There are at least two cases of children – children of color – being
missing for days upon days without even as much as an issue of an Amber
Alert….”

And none of these instances involve the APD or the surrounding area.  Scott Henson was not identified as a Person of Interest, a known suspect in a kidnapping, OR a convicted sex offender.  I will say this AGAIN:

“…how does being ripped from her Grandfather help Ty?  How is seeing her Grandfather cuffed for no reason in Ty’s best interest?”

Once again, the INITIAL encounter with the police DID NOT produce any evidence whatsoever of the Kidnapping the Anonymous 911 caller described.  Ty’s best interest WAS NOT SERVED by the inappropriate follow-up response whatsoever.  There was no probable cause; no immediate threat to life and safety of the child; and no signs of a kidnapping.

You’re still arguing Goose and Gander.  You’ve never explained how Ty was best served by ripping her from her Grandfather’s side AND watching him being handcuffed over an Anonymous 911 call.  That witness, BTW, would make for lousy testimony in a court of law.

“…Did the police or even the 911 caller know that Henson was Ty’s grandfather? Hell no they didn’t…”

But the APD DID before they sent 10 cruisers in an attempt to provide the local media with “Exciting Footage” of a Rescue..before ending up with Egg on the Face.

And also, an Anonymous 911 caller who states, “I don’t know what’s going on” has more standing than the alleged victim stating, “He’s my grandfather” while holding on to his leg?  Really?

Finally:

“…But, I suppose that such a call to 911 should be ignored, right? Now seriously, think about just how ridiculous that sounds…”

So, my choices are A) Ignore the call completely, or B) send TWO WAVES OF OFFICERS and causing a ruckus worthy of a final scene of a Police Procedural?  Really?  That’s all you’re giving me to work with?

I’ll stick with Choice C – an officer responds to the call and asks questions.  With no actual evidence of a kidnapping, the parties involved head their separate ways.  WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED HERE.  Once the Constable’s questioning ended with no arrest or attempt to lawfully detain Scott Henson and Ty, this should have been the end of the Law Enforcement Encounter.

However, I’d like to see you explain that Choice B was the right choice to Ty herself.  Explain to her that it was in her best interest to have 10 police cruisers swoop in, have her grandfather ripped from her and handcuffed AFTER she tells the police that the man was indeed her grandfather.

That is even more ridiculous.  But yet, that ALSO HAPPENED.

Thus, in attempting to argue that police were acting in the best interests of the child, you have also argued that the words and actions of the alleged victim in this case are not good enough to diffuse the situation.  That her words hold less standing than those of an Anonymous caller who even admits not to knowing what the particulars in what she saw were.

And that is a scary proposition.  And serves the interests of no one.

GZ called 911 because as he said on the tape, there is a man walking in the rain rather slowly and/or acting weird. Now, given the 911 call as you and I (and everyone) has heard it. Is it beyond reasonable doubt that he dialed 911 because TM was black? Yeah, try that one out in court and see how it turns out.

What you’re failing to do, is to look at the scenario without the lens of race or racial bias. The history of racial bias in undeniable. However, when looking at the evidence as presented, in the interest of justice — true justice — it would behoove us to do so objectively.

Now, if you can produce evidence to suggest that or show that GZ motivation for calling was the fact that TM was Black, then I’d say you may have a point. Was there another person walking slowly in the rain wearing a hoodie who was overlooked by GZ because they were white? We don’t know that. But like I said, in court it;’s all about what you can prove. That said, I’d love to see you prove GZ’s motivation behind the 911 call to one filled with contempt for Black folks.

Do remember, he never mentioned the race of TM until he was asked and even then he wasn’t very sure. If what you say is true, I doubt the Feds would be going door to door as they have in the last few days to attempt to establish (or secure) evidence (or testimony from neighborhood residents) that suggests that GZ was in fact motivated by race. Why would they do that when they already have the tapes which in your opinion establishes that fact?

Now, on to Henson:

Did the police or even the 911 caller know that Henson was Ty’s grandfather? Hell no they didn’t. But, I suppose that such a call to 911 should be ignored, right? Now seriously, think about just how ridiculous that sounds.

To suggest that the police never acted in the interest of the safety and well being of the child is egregious. And that was my point. We as people of color DO complain time and time again about the little value placed on our lives when it comes to the appropriate response or priority we have often been placed in the eyes of law enforcement when we are victims.

In that instance, the police acted appropriately, and I’m glad that they did because again, we’re talking about the safety and well being of a child. As I’ve written before on this very site. There are at least two cases of children – children of color – being missing for days upon days without even as much as an issue of an Amber Alert.

First:

“First: how did you arrive at the conclusion that Zimmerman actions were
motivated by Trayvon’s race? Could it be that with all the talk of
hoodies, Skittles, and ice tea that you missed the bigger picture, my
friend?”

Fact as introduced by Zimmerman’s supporters:  Zimmerman called 911 to report about Trayvon Martin’s supposed criminality.  The report is that Trayvon is “acting suspiciously.”

The suspicious activity WHICH LEAD TO THE 911 CALL in question (by Zimmerman), however, is not documented.  Not by the police report, nor Zimmerman’s statement, nor supported by followup statements by Zimmerman’s attorney or public supporters.  The reason why Zimmerman and the Sanford PD have focused like a laser on the “altercation” between Zimmerman and Martin (which occurs afterwards) is because both parties (GZimmerman and Sanford PD) have concluded there is NO legal leg for Zimmerman to stand on with regards to his initial 911 call.

Trayvon Martin was NOT involved in any criminal activity at the time of Zimmerman’s call.  Nor was Trayvon Martin wanted for any outstanding criminal conduct.  Trayvon Martin was not recognized as a Criminal or a Person of Interest by Zimmerman at the time of the call.  All of this is backed up by lack of disclosure of any of these facts by Zimmerman, his attorney, his supporters, the local DA’s office, or the Sanford PD.

Given this, where else to you want to send a goose chase before admitting that Trayvon’s race is a major factor?

Next:

“…do you know or are aware of the crime statistics for the gated community in question?”

Two important points about this question.

First, as I have said earlier, this is the same BS framing that White Privilege and White Supremacy use when Black Men and Black Women are shot and killed by the Police for nothing more than being Black While (Fill in the Blank).  This kind of question was deployed against Rodney King.  And Amadou Diallo.  And Sean Bell.  And Oscar Grant.  And, yes, even Trayvon Martin.

Second, in a court of law worth its weight in lead, that question is irrelevant.  Victim Trayvon Martin was not a criminal AND has not been tied to ANY criminal activity in the vicinity within or without the gated community AND Zimmerman (does not) and cannot personally claim eyewitness to alleged criminal activity by Trayvon, nor can Zimmerman (or the Sanford PD) produce witnesses or factual evidence of such.  AND this evidence, if it ever existed, had to be made available to Zimmerman BEFORE his initial encounter with Trayvon prior to his 911 call.  It had not, and none exists.

And now:

“We bitch about the value placed on missing Black children (and women),
but when the police acts in the interest of safety and concern for a
Black child, they’re wrong? Sorry, but I don’t get that.”

The problem is that the police DID NOT act in the interest of safety of the Black Child.  Ty was in the active custody of her GRANDFATHER.  The 911 call was made by someone who ASSUMED that her Grandfather was a CRIMINAL.  The initial encounter with Police corroborates Ty being with a trusted Guardian, and that should have been the end of it.

Given that, how does being ripped from her Grandfather help Ty?  How is seeing her Grandfather cuffed for no reason in Ty’s best interest?  Where you see “a white man running and grabbing a Black child,” Ty HERSELF sees something very different:  Her family.

And you deny that from her because you ASSUME he is not.

That’s the angle I’m not seeing you talk about.

And that is what is missing from your commentary.

That second point about the 911 caller feeling threatened is egregious. She never called because she felt threatened. She called because she felt the life of a child who happens to be Black was in danger. And as for Zimmerman: do you know or are aware of the crime statistics for the gated community in question? I’m only asking because without it, it’s easy to assume without any objectivity as to the reason for GZ being suspicious.

Again, I believe you have totally missed the point. We bitch about the value placed on missing Black children (and women), but when the police acts in the interest of safety and concern for a Black child, they’re wrong? Sorry, but I don’t get that.

Zimmerman assumed criminality because of Trayvon’s race.  For that, I’ve raked him, his supporters, and the Sanford police over the coals for this.  Whether Zimmerman’s vigilance lead to good acts in the past does not AND CANNOT excuse his behavior at all.  “The Good Cop” defense is often deployed in when Innocent Men and Women of color are falsely arrested, charged, convicted, and executed.  Some of them, like Zimmerman, were given the “Good Cop” defense, too.  It does not change the facts of the case in front of us.

Second:

“…the father of four girls in me would be just as suspicious as the 911 caller and I would be compelled to act…”

Compelled in acting to what?  Compelled to act based on what?

Just as Zimmerman acted against a Black child that he never knew, the 911 caller acted against BOTH a White man she did not know AND a Black child that she “assumed to know.”  Because “The Caller” did not feel safe.  The Caller “observed” a few seconds and decided that Kidnapping could be the ONLY logical explanation based on the events which she had seen.  How is this different from Zimmerman seeing Trayvon walking and deciding that Criminal is the only logical explanation based on what he had seen?

Secondly, your example here:

“…I’ve known of situations where a Black man is beating the shit out of a
Black woman in public where there are many witnesses and nobody lifts a
finger…”

Is the same kind of BS reasoning Zimmerman defenders have been using against Trayvon from DAY ONE.  That has nothing to do with Scott Henson and his granddaughter walking down the street whatsoever.

The police account of the first encounter with Scott Henson is telling, because they do not present any signs of ACTUAL kidnapping.  There are no additional or subsequent calls of a kidnapped/missing child.  There were no signs or signals that Ty did not know Scott and vice-versa.  There was no crime in progress.  Henson’s terseness with the police is as defensible as Skip Gates’; he is being accused of a crime where none exists – and when the facts on the ground contradict the charges, the matter should have been closed.

In other words, nothing.

There was NO reason for the subsequent 10 cruiser response, especially after the first police on the scene had no evidence of any actual kidnapping, abduction, or unlawful contact with a minor.  When Hanson was not charged with ANY crime and was allowed to leave, that should have been the end of it.  But it was not.

It seems, that like Zimmerman with Trayvon, there is no consideration that Henson was doing as most parents do with children to keep them safe from other perceivable dangers (like the possibility of running out into the street) from you.  The fact that Henson is White does not change the fact that this kind of thinking is dangerous.  This is the kind of thinking that tears families apart.  This kind of thinking is Security Theatre at its finest.

And, most important of all, this kind of thinking does not even begin to look at the source of the problem.  How is sending a sizable police force to accost a Grandparent looking after his grandchild going to help other Black kids who are kidnapped/abused/murdered receive their justice?

Goose and Gander treatment does not cut it.  Especially when it is used to justify Police State response.

Oh I understand what you’re saying. But I don’t think it’s a matter of geography as in it being a byproduct of where my mother lives. I just think that she, like most people, are influenced or form opinions based on stereotypes reinforced by dominant culture. 

Now, as it relates to Henson, I stand by my opinion that it was in fact a good idea for someone to dial 911 after seeing what she thought she saw. I’ve known of situations where a Black man is beating the shit out of a Black woman in public where there are many witnesses and nobody lifts a finger. As a matter of fact, a television network did an expose on something like this in NYC a few years ago. And you’d be surprised as I was to see how many people ignored what was happening in broad daylight. 

So, we can assume what would have happened had Sanford PD showed up before he was killed. But the truth is, we could only hope that the matter would have been resolved much in the same way Henson’s was. I’m sorry, but if I saw a white man running and grabbing a Black child, the father of four girls in me would be just as suspicious as the 911 caller and I would be compelled to act.

I actually had a reply to this that I was typing (along the same lines as this one), but I deleted about halfway when I came to a startling realization about this.

Sadly, your argument concerning Scott Henson is specious.

Here’s why:

“…Like many of the people with whom I share the same skin color, I often
complain about the lack of media coverage placed on missing Black
children. I also complain about a similar lack of attention given to
missing women of color – it’s a sad reality, and it’s all too real.
Having said that, I can’t be mad at the woman who called 911 to report
what she thought she saw…”

Would you have felt the same way about the Sanford Police with regard to Trayvon Martin had Zimmerman not killed him?  Because police were being dispatched on the “suspicion” of Trayvon’s possible criminality – that does not exist – at this point.  Trayvon, with nothing more than Skittles and Ice Tea, would have been accosted by officers, detained and (hopefully) remanded to police custody…until his parents could (again, hopefully) get him released.

All because Zimmerman, like the 911 caller, was being “vigilant.”  But vigilant about what, exactly?  Grabbing a running child by the hood of her jacket is not reason enough to call the police, especially since it is a common tactic used by parents/guardians/older caretakers/siblings to slow down fast running kids before they get too far away.

The APD’s second encounter was disproportionate, over-the-top, and most importantly unnecessary.  Lost in this is the fact that when the first officer encountered Scott Henson, AFTER Ty had identified Scott her grandfather AND ran over to him and grabbed his leg (something that most children do when scared), was that once there was no signs of an ACTUAL kidnapping, whatever happened after that, like Scott Henson asserting his Fourth Amendment rights, is immaterial.  There was no need for the 9 or 10 cruisers.  No need for the police taking away the child.  No need for the detainment.  None.  Complaining about the lack attention Black Women and Black Children get in kidnapping and murder cases (as victims) get does not justify this.  Not now.  Not ever.

Also, the fact that the APD chief felt necessary to make mention of “his fear” about bad press over a “Possible Missing Black Child” should send up a red flag.

Now about your mother and boys who look like Trayvon, I can understand considering where she lives.  Where I live, boys who look like Trayvon, look like my son and his friends.  I have no problem correcting them when I see them do wrong in public.  I have no problem giving them words of encouragement when I see they need them.  When I see those boys, I don’t consider them a threat or suspicious.  They are common teenagers who are usually looking for a good football game or basketball game with other boys like them in the neighborhood.

I’m just saying.