ABC, CBS Distort History to Mark 10th Anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s Death

CBS and ABC both ran reports on Trayvon Martin, a black Florida teen, being killed by George Zimmerman 10 years ago. Both networks misinformed viewers. ABC also imitated that mistaken NBC News made 10 years back.

Incorrectly, both networks referred to Florida’s Stand Your Ground law as making it easier for Zimmerman not to be punished. ABC News reporter Zachary Kiesch used audio from Zimmerman’s 911 call. It sounds like Martin, a neighborhood watch volunteer, told him that Martin looked suspicious partly because he is black.

When NBC’s TodayNBC News made the exact same edit 10 years back. The deceit brought about widespread condemnation. Jon Stewart was even forced to criticize NBC News.

Also, both networks did not inform viewers Zimmerman suffered serious injuries (including a broken nose) that supported his claim of having been attacked by Martin. He then shot the teenager to save himself.

He informed viewers Zimmernan had been acquitted and then lamented it. The doctored audio made Zimmernan sound racist was played.

ZACHARY KIESCH – The killing was justified by six women of color, which critics claimed said more about us that the man who pulled it.

GEORGE ZIMMERMAN (audio call 911): He looks like he is up to no good. His face looks dark — he wears a black hoodie.

Full audio shows that Zimmerman claimed Martin looked like he was “up to nothing good.” The dispatcher then asked “This guy? Is he Hispanic, white, or black?” The dispatcher replied that Martin looked black.

Kiesch concluded the report by alluding to the police-involved shootings of black suspects that the media have been fixated on for the last eight years: “Trayvon Martin’s death This marked not the end of the drumbeat of unarmed African Americans being killed, but the beginning of something new.”

CBS News released a special of one hour featuring reporting from Gayle King and Mark Strassmann as well as Jericka Duncan. King spoke to Eric Holder, former Attorney General about Zimmerman’s conviction and portrayed it as a failure.

And, as Strassmann recounted the shooting, he did not explicitly mention Zimmerman’s injuries, such as the broken nose, and instead just briefly included images of what he looked like without elaboration.

Even though Dan Abrams (an ABC News legal analyst) pointed out in 2014 that Zimmerman did not use “stand your Ground”, the report made big of the fact that the law was to blame for Zimmerman being unable to be found guilty.

Duncan interviewed rapper Fat Joe and liberal activist Fat Joe. He said that the law made it easier for Zimmerman not to be punished.

ABC’s World News TonightAllstate was partially responsible for their poor reporting. The link to their contact information provides more details.

You can find transcripts here:

CBS Reports: Trayvon Martin, 10 Years Later

February 26, 2022

VALERIE JARRETT, FORMER OBAMA ADVISOR: This was just a young man walking down the street. George Zimmerman was not the one he was arguing with. He was not doing anything.

(…)

CARMEN PEREZ LIBERAL ACTIVIST : George Zimmerman is guilty of a crime that no one should be guilty.

MICHAEL ERIC DYSON GEORGETOWN : Trayvon Woods, Emmet Till and Ahmaud Archery — Black people doing everyday things, but being attacked for and then losing their lives without any good reason.

(…)

GAYLE KING: What makes justice so difficult in these cases? after time again?

ERIC HOLDER, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL; Well, I think our criminal justice system is not yet as finely tuned to these kinds of matters as it ought to be.

KING. Eric Holder is the first Black Attorney General to serve under the First African President of the United States. When Trayvon Martin’s death in 2012 occurred, Eric Holder was still in office.

(…)

HOLDER – What worries me the most, is that we are not in the right place for our criminal justice system. The decision-making process is still influenced by race.With racial backgrounds and the nation is not yet in the right place. A black history speech I made in 2009 was one of my many. We are a nation made up of cowards, I claimed.

HOLDER (date 2009): Americans don’t talk enough about racial issues.

HOLDER : It is understandable that you are reluctant to take this step. This is an extremely difficult topic. This is a difficult topic that can divide us. However, we have to be strong and have the courage to discuss racial issues if we are to see racial progress.

SYBRINA FLUTTON, MOTHER TO TRAYVON MARTIN – Trayvon’s sole crime was his skin color.

(…)

MARK STRASSMANN. A volunteer from the neighborhood called 911 to report suspicious behavior.

ZIMMERMAN (audio recording 911): It looks like this guy is up to no good.

STRASSMANN : This was Trayvon Martin (17 years old) returning from a convenience. He did nothing wrong.

911 DISPATCHER (audio recording 911) Do you want to follow him?

ZIMMERMAN: Yeah.

911 DISPATCHER

STRASSMANN: Martin, however, was confronted nonetheless by George Zimmerman — the volunteer for neighborhood watch.Police later saw him show police how they fought.

ZIMMERMAN: From 2012, he just kept on slamming.

STRASSMANN – After losing the fight he killed the teenager.

(…)

STRASSMANN – You can trace a straight line from Trayvon Martin up to where you are now.

BENJAMIN CRUMP, CIVIL RESPECTS ATTORNEY (CRUMP): The killing of young black Americans in America has not had this profound an effect since Emmett till.

(…)

FAT JOE RAPPER – Here is a boy who hears me talking positive things but still gets out to kill people.

UNIDENTIFIED JUROR : The jury convicts George Zimmerman.

JERICKA Duncan: Think about when we found out that George Zimmerman had been acquitted.

FAT JOE: It was obvious that he would not be sent to jail. You get the idea. It’s my duty to stand firm. Because the law states that if someone has scared you, you may legally kill them. This is the law.

CARMEN PEREZ LIBERAL ACTIVIST. George Zimmerman’s ability to get away like this is not justice. There is still the possibility of something similar happening, though there isn’t any accountability.

DUNCAN: Do you believe that there might be another Trayvon Martin 10 years from now?

PEREZ, Yes. If we continue to ignore these policies, if it doesn’t make sense to reexamine the definition of public safety, then we will see more such things.

PHILLIP ALNEW, LIBERAL LIBERAL ACTIVIST – We know that the phrase “stand your Ground” is still relevant, but we still believe it’s a long fight to win.

(…)

ABC’s World News Tonight

February 26, 2022

JOHNSON, WHIT JOHNSON. We are now approaching a sad anniversary — 10 years after Trayvon Martin was killed. This 17-year old black teen was fatally shot while returning from a convenience-store. This killing sparked a worldwide movement that raised awareness about justice and race. This is ABC’s Zachary Kiesch.

ZACHARY KIESCH

BARACK OBAMA – FORMER PRESIDENT

KIESCH – Tonight his mother’s pain remains raw.

SYBRINA FULTON MOTHER OF TRAYVON MARTIN : I will not let my son’s death separate me from my love for him.

DAVID MUR, ABC NEWS HOST: Zimmerman was found not guilty of the murder Trayvon Martin.

FULTON – My heart breaks, but even more when I realize that we still haven’t gotten justice.

KIESCH. The killing was justified by six women of color, which critics claimed said more about the jury than the man responsible.

GEORGE ZIMMERMAN – Audio from 911 Call: The guy seems to be up to no good. He is wearing a dark hoodie and looks very black.

OBAMA: From 2012

KIESCH: Trayvon’s death was a turning point in America’s history and the lives of everyday Americans trying to separate themselves from America’s racism. The young man was a mirror of them. Trayvon Martin’s death was in some ways tragic. This marked not only the beginning but also the end of a continuous drumbeat of unarmed African Americans being killed.Florida’s “stand your ground” laws are now in place in 38 US states. One analysis shows that in these states, when a white person shoots and kills a victim of color, the shootings can be deemed justified five times more than when both roles are reversed. Whit?

WHIT JOHNSON. Zachary Kiesch. We are very grateful for you.