Was Zimmerman ‘Profiling’?

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Patterico has a long post today rebutting claims that George Zimmerman was engaged in “racial profiling.” The simple facts of the situation were this: Black teenage boys were committing burglaries at the townhouse community, Zimmerman had been appointed captain of the neighborhood watch, and this resulted in him making a number of 911 calls reporting suspicious activity by black teenage boys.

As with so much else in this story, the truth was actually known — or at least, it was knowable, if anyone cared to look it up — because the press  reported it. Reuters, April 25, 2012:

[O]ne black neighbor of the Zimmermans said recent history should be taken into account.
“Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. I’m black, OK?” the woman said, declining to be identified because she anticipated backlash due to her race. She leaned in to look a reporter directly in the eyes. “There were black boys robbing houses in this neighborhood,” she said. “That’s why George was suspicious of Trayvon Martin.”

This may or may not change anyone’s basic opinion of the situation, but there is no excuse for accusations based on ignorance. If black teenagers are committing crimes in your neighborhood, and you report suspected crimes to the cops, this is not “racial profiling.”

UPDATE: The pointless “debate” I bemoaned Sunday — “How Much of a Damn Should I Give?” — continues unabated. Sean Hannity reacted to President Obama’s speech Friday by referring to Obama’s admitted youthful drug use. Joe Scarborough reacted this morning:

 

Neither of these comments were especially helpful, but Scarborough’s pious scolding was probably less helpful.

UPDATE I: Aaron Worthing rebuts another false claim, that Zimmerman “profiled” a 7-year-old boy. I’m reminded of what Ronald Reagan once said: “The problem with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, it’s that they know so much that isn’t true.”

 

40 comments

  1. Considering TSA and other organizations within our national government can consider religion and ethnicity when pursuing Muslim terrorists – remember all those little old ladies and small girls getting fondled by TSA agents who couldn’t search muslims – I’m not surprised the national government’s propaganda organs are pushing the Zimmerman-as-racial-profiler meme.

    Lesson to thugs (paraphrased Ace): Bernie Madoff stole 50 billion dollars (that we know of) dressing in a suit and tie, not in wife-beaters and bad ink.

  2. My friend’s name is Ali Akbar. You think he doesn’t get special attention at the airport TSA checkpoint? But he understands why this happens and isn’t running around claiming victimhood.

  6. I would note that many of the calls made by Zimmerman were to the non-emergency number (not 911) of the PD. That also puts it in a different light.

    I suppose calling the tip line with information about the suspects might be profiling to some.

  7. “Profiling” works.
    The TSA is a colossal and dismal failure because they don’t profile.

  9. It may be Ali Akbar’s political persuasion.

    My name is not Ali Akbar, and for every flight for 6 months following 911, I was subjected to strip searches and extra inspections.

    And I was in the Army and Army National Guard at the time. For my deployment to Afghanistan I was waived into the special place before a TSA supervisor waived me through.

  10. Shorter Ace o’ Spades: Bernie Madoff stole 50 billion dollars (that we know of) dressing in a suit and tie, not in wife-beaters and bad ink. How one dresses and how one behaves are the keys.

  11. Sadly at PuffHo they’re making that claim in all seriousness.

    It’s so hard to parody liberals because they’re so damn ridiculous.

  12. I’m stealing this because I found it that funny:

    George Zimmerman only comes out of hiding to save someone. Clearly, George Zimmerman is Batman.

  14. I’d be interested in whether or not Zimmerman made ANY 911 calls “reporting suspicious activity by black teenage boys.”

    He made no 911 call regarding Trayvon Martin. He made a call to the non-emergency police dispatch number.

  19. Our new hero, zim was ordered by the court into an alcohol program when he was 20 in exchange for getting felony charges of slugging a cop lowered. But we won’t mention that. It could tarnish his image worse than his restraining order against him for domestic violence… ooops did I say that out load? Why no coverage on zim being a little punk in his youth?

  22. You forgot to mention that it was an undercover cop who was roughing up Zimmerman’s companion outside of a club – without identifying himself as a cop. Zimmerman was helping out a friend who looked like he was being assaulted. But as usual, you Traybots don’t let facts get in the way of a good smear.

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