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| George Zimmerman accuses Barack Obama of fuelling racial tensions with comments following Trayvon Martin shooting | George Zimmerman accuses Barack Obama of fuelling racial tensions with comments following Trayvon Martin shooting |
| (3 days later) | |
| George Zimmerman, the man acquitted of murder following the fatal Florida shooting of African-American teen Trayvon Martin in 2012, has spoken out against Barack Obama saying his comments following the incident were “dereliction of duty” and “pitted Americans against each other solely based on race” | George Zimmerman, the man acquitted of murder following the fatal Florida shooting of African-American teen Trayvon Martin in 2012, has spoken out against Barack Obama saying his comments following the incident were “dereliction of duty” and “pitted Americans against each other solely based on race” |
| Speaking yesterday in a 13-minute clip released on the website of his lawyer Howard Iken, Zimmerman, 21, said that Obama’s comments following the death of 17-year-old Martin were “racially charged” and “unfair”. | Speaking yesterday in a 13-minute clip released on the website of his lawyer Howard Iken, Zimmerman, 21, said that Obama’s comments following the death of 17-year-old Martin were “racially charged” and “unfair”. |
| In 2012, while Martin’s murder was still being investigated, Barack Obama remarked during a Rose Garden Speech at the White House that if he had a son, “he’d look like Trayvon.” Zimmerman claimed that Obama should not have got involved in a “clear self-defence matter” and alleged that his comments had “broke the law in certain aspects.” | In 2012, while Martin’s murder was still being investigated, Barack Obama remarked during a Rose Garden Speech at the White House that if he had a son, “he’d look like Trayvon.” Zimmerman claimed that Obama should not have got involved in a “clear self-defence matter” and alleged that his comments had “broke the law in certain aspects.” |
| He said: “I think that throughout the process the president should done when he said he was going to do and not interject himself in a local law enforcement matter or a state matter and waited until the facts came out, instead of rushing to judgment, making racially charged comments and pitting American against American. | He said: “I think that throughout the process the president should done when he said he was going to do and not interject himself in a local law enforcement matter or a state matter and waited until the facts came out, instead of rushing to judgment, making racially charged comments and pitting American against American. |
| “I believe that he should of taken the higher road given his position and, been an example, been a leader as the president should be and say let's not rush to judgment.” President Barack Obama speaks about the verdict in the Trayvon Martin case The clip also saw Zimmerman maintain his innocence and admit that he felt “no guilt” for shooting Martin because in his view his action had been necessary in order to survive. | “I believe that he should of taken the higher road given his position and, been an example, been a leader as the president should be and say let's not rush to judgment.” President Barack Obama speaks about the verdict in the Trayvon Martin case The clip also saw Zimmerman maintain his innocence and admit that he felt “no guilt” for shooting Martin because in his view his action had been necessary in order to survive. |
| “Had I had a fraction of the thought that I could have done something differently, acted differently so that both of us … survived, then I would have heavier weight on my shoulders,” said Zimmerman. “In all fairness, you cannot as a human feel guilty for living, for surviving.” | “Had I had a fraction of the thought that I could have done something differently, acted differently so that both of us … survived, then I would have heavier weight on my shoulders,” said Zimmerman. “In all fairness, you cannot as a human feel guilty for living, for surviving.” |
| Activists carrying Trayvon Martin’s image protest in New York against the acquittal When asked by Iken if he was the same man as he was five years ago, Zimmerman said “Absolutely not”, and compared his journey to that of Holocaust victim Anne Frank. | |
| ”I have to have my guard up significantly. … I still believe that people are truly good at heart, as Anne Frank has said, and I will put myself in any position to help another human in any way I can.“ | ”I have to have my guard up significantly. … I still believe that people are truly good at heart, as Anne Frank has said, and I will put myself in any position to help another human in any way I can.“ |