The leak of George Zimmerman's statement to police have shed new
light on the Trayvon Martin case, along with accusations of bias against
the media and public.
Until Tuesday, the case had been framed from Martin's standpoint, which is certainly understandable to a point, as he was unarmed when he was shot and killed.
However, Zimmerman’s defense depicts Trayvon not as an innocent youngster pursued by an armed vigilante, but as a violent aggressor who left him no choice.
Some commentators point to Zimmerman’s story as evidence that the media and public have been too quick to lay blame in a case that has gripped the nation.
Zimmerman’s claim that he was jumped and beaten by Martin to the
point where he shot him in self-defense seems dubious, but he hasn't
been charged with a crime.
You wouldn't know it by his mug shot, taken after a previously arrest, circulated by the media for the last month - most times, next to a five-year-old photo of Martin.
The contrast of the above images has indirectly but significantly shaped the way the sensationalized case is framed, turning the 17-year-old into an innocent martyr.
Martin's tragic death has sparked important public debate over racial profiling, gun laws and other broad social issues. Yet the media tends to sell a single narrative.
Consider how the following photos might portray the case instead:
Do a smiling Zimmerman in a suit and tie, or a current photo of
Martin with fake gold teeth change your perception of either party
involved? Probably at least a little.
Stories such as President Obama's remarks or the "Million Hoodie March" get enormous attention and make the public fall in love with the idealized version of Martin.
The fact of the matter is, though, they have nothing to do with the case.
Police in Sanford, Fla., deserve to be under scrutiny for their decision not to arrest Zimmerman, but the April 10 grand jury investigation also needs to play itself out.
The truth, as is so often the case, won't be found easily. It almost unavoidably lies among a thousand shades of grey in a case of great complexity and magnitude.
By oversimplifying it and/or turning into an entertainment form, the media and public fail to honor both the deceased's memory and the accused's right to due process.
Until Tuesday, the case had been framed from Martin's standpoint, which is certainly understandable to a point, as he was unarmed when he was shot and killed.
However, Zimmerman’s defense depicts Trayvon not as an innocent youngster pursued by an armed vigilante, but as a violent aggressor who left him no choice.
Some commentators point to Zimmerman’s story as evidence that the media and public have been too quick to lay blame in a case that has gripped the nation.
You wouldn't know it by his mug shot, taken after a previously arrest, circulated by the media for the last month - most times, next to a five-year-old photo of Martin.
The contrast of the above images has indirectly but significantly shaped the way the sensationalized case is framed, turning the 17-year-old into an innocent martyr.
Martin's tragic death has sparked important public debate over racial profiling, gun laws and other broad social issues. Yet the media tends to sell a single narrative.
Consider how the following photos might portray the case instead:
Stories such as President Obama's remarks or the "Million Hoodie March" get enormous attention and make the public fall in love with the idealized version of Martin.
The fact of the matter is, though, they have nothing to do with the case.
Police in Sanford, Fla., deserve to be under scrutiny for their decision not to arrest Zimmerman, but the April 10 grand jury investigation also needs to play itself out.
The truth, as is so often the case, won't be found easily. It almost unavoidably lies among a thousand shades of grey in a case of great complexity and magnitude.
By oversimplifying it and/or turning into an entertainment form, the media and public fail to honor both the deceased's memory and the accused's right to due process.
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