The burglary rate had recently gone way up in Zimmerman's neighborhood. He was trying to help his community.

I didn't read or hear anything about Mr. Martin that made me think he was a thug.

Zimmerman made a bad decision when he decided to follow Martin on foot. I doubt Zimmerman thought he could whip Martin in a street fight. It was not illegal for Zimmerman to follow Martin, bad judgement, but not illegal. If, as Zimmerman contends, Martin jumped him and then started beating him then Martin committed a crime. At that point Zimmerman was legally allowed to defend himself as the law doesn't require him to lay there and be beaten.


I am glad to be here.