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Following the English translation, please find the Spanish transcript of the interview. If you have any questions, please contact Jose a!ora" #ose$a!ora%univision.net.
UNIVISION NEWS TRANSCRIPT Program: Content: Air Date: ey I!" GZ" I#ia !a#der$n George Zimmerman Aqu y Ahora Interview with George Zimmerman Sunday, February 16, 2014
George, than% you very mu&h 'or a&&e(ting thi) interview with *nivi)ion+ ,e## u) what your #i'e wa) #i%e be'ore February o' 2012+ -orma#+ .hat were you doing/ I wa) wor%ing+ I wa) em(#oyed, you &now, norma##y 40 hour)+ I wa) )tudying to be a #awyer00or a (o#i&e o''i&er or a 1udge+ And I wa) a#)o, um, )(ending a #ot o' time in the gym to #o)e weight+ 2y other, um, (a)time wa) having the %id) I wa) mentoring+ So that i) what I wa) doing wee% to wee%+ .hen did you de&ide to vo#unteer a) a wat&hman 'or your neighborhood/ I didn3t want to be what i) &a##ed in 4ng#i)h the -eighborhood .at&h+ .hat ha((ened wa) that the neighbor had an in&ident where they entered her hou)e, um, to rob her, and )he had her nine0month0o#d )on in the hou)e+ 2y wi'e at the time, um, )he )aw the (eo(#e who had done the robbery running in our, um, yard+
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And )he got rea##y )&ared and wanted to move+ And I to#d her, 56e'ore we move,7 be&au)e we didn3t have the, uh, 'inan&ia# mean) to move whenever we wanted, I to#d her, 58ur a))o&iation ha) a, uh, -eighborhood .at&h 9rogram+ So #et me ta#% with the :8A, with the;a## the owner), and #et3) )ee what &an be done to )tart, uh, um, being more, um007 I!" GZ" 2ore (roa&tive in the &ommunity/ 2ore (roa&tive, ye), e<a&t#y, and get together and at #ea)t get the (hone number) o', you %now, a## the neighbor) and everything #i%e that+ ,hen they to#d me that they did have the (rogram in e''e&t, but un'ortunate#y, they didn3t have time to00 nobody had time to rea##y be, um, a &oordinator+ ,hen I )aid that i' nobody wa) going to do it, um, a&tua##y, they to#d me, 5I' nobody i) going to do it and you3re worried, why don3t you do it/7 And, having, a) I to#d you, to wor%, to go to )&hoo# and everything, I )aid, 58%ay+ I have to do )omething, )o+++)o that my wi'e wi## 'ee# better+7 It wa) a#)o a way to get to %now my neighbor)+ ,he (ro)e&ution de)&ribed you a) )omeone who wa) 'ru)trated be&au)e you wanted to be a (o#i&e o''i&er, and you 1u)t to#d me that at one (oint in your #i'e you wanted to be a (o#i&e o''i&er+ I) that de)&ri(tion rea#/ .a) there )ome 'ru)tration in your heart be&au)e you &ou#dn3t be a (o#i&e o''i&er or be&au)e you weren3t a (o#i&e o''i&er at that (oint/ -o+ I had wanted to be a (o#i&e o''i&er )in&e I wa) a %id, and I thought that wa) the be)t way to he#( young (eo(#e in the &ommunity+ 6ut wor%ing with &hi#dren in the (rogram a) a mentor, I )aw that when you3re00on&e they get to the (oint where the (o#i&e need to intervene, it3) too #ate, un'ortunate#y+ And that wa) the (oint where I &ho)e to either be a #awyer or to &ontinue on and be a 1udge+ So I wa) never 'ru)trated about that+ I a#way) %new00I %new what I thought I &ou#d be at )ome (oint, but I00I wanted to have an im(a&t on young (eo(#e+ .hat did you ta#% about with tho)e %id), with that grou( o' %id) that00that you had/ 4verything+ 4verything in the wor#d+ For e<am(#e, what )ub1e&t) did you di)&u))/ .hat advi&e did you give them/ Advi&e, um, the (rogram he#(ed u) a #ot with, um, (rogram), or, um, 'or e<am(#e, on&e a wee%00on&e a month, )orry, they had, um, they too% u) a## to (#ay, um, ba)%etba##, or to )ome %ind o' )how+ 6ut in the (rogram I wa) in, every00men are with ma#e), and women are with 'ema#e)+ So, um, my %id) a#way) wanted to ta#% to me about whatever, the00the %id), you %now, 'rom 1= to 16 year) o' age , um, they want to %now what %ind o' &ar) I #i%e; A#)o, when they had (rob#em), the (arent) wou#d &a## me and a)% me, you %now, 5!an you &ome over/ !an you ta#% to them/7 *m, and 1u)t )(end )ome time with them+ And a#)o00what wa) more
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im(ortant than anything wa) to #i)ten to them, be&au)e they have a #ot to )ay, and it3)00 I!" GZ" I!" GZ" I!" GZ" I!" GZ" I!" GZ" >ou be&ame a big brother o' )ort) to tho)e %id)+ 4<a&t#y+ A &oun)e#or+ 4<a&t#y, ye)+ :ave you )(o%en any more with tho)e %id)/ 8h, ye)+ Ab)o#ute#y+ ,hat3) good+ >e)+ I 1u)t )aw them over !hri)tma)+ ?et3) move on, George, to the night o' the in&ident+ ,e## me what ha((ened that night+ *n'ortunate#y, the 9re)ident ordered the @u)ti&e Ae(artment to &ondu&t an inve)tigation to )ee i' I had vio#ated anybody3) &ivi# right)+ And whi#e that inve)tigation i) going on, I &an3t )ay anything more about e<a&t#y what ha((ened Bother than what ha) a#ready been )aid+ Any more than what we a#ready %now ha((ened+ >e), ma3am+ 6ut I want to a)% you, a'ter a## o' that ha((ened, when did you rea#iCe that the young man that you )hot wa) dead/ At the o''i&e o' the (o#i&e, at the (o#i&e )tation+ And I )aid that on &amera+ .hen you )hot him, what wa) your 'ir)t rea&tion/ .hat did you do/ Fir)t I tho00um, I wa) a'raid it had gone through hi) &#othe) and that it wa) going to go di)00get #o)t, and, um, you %now, go into a hou)e and00be&au)e the young man wa) )ti## ta#%ing to me, a) I have )aid+ So I thought that it hadn3t;a''e&ted him, and I got worried, and I )aid, 5I ho(e that it ha)n3t00that the bu##et ha)n3t hit a neighbor+7 6ut I on#y %new that the atta&% )to((ed+ Immediate#y+ >ou &a##ed an ambu#an&e/ Aid you a)% 'or he#(/
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And )e&ond) a'ter that ha((ened, a man arrived with a '#a)h#ight, and he00I had a#ready &a##ed the (o#i&e, a) everyone %now), and I %new that the (o#i&e were nearby+ ,hat wa) one o' the rea)on) that I &ontinued, ah, ye##ing, 5:e#(, he#(, he#(,7 be&au)e I thought the (o#i&e were nearby and were 1u)t #oo%ing 'or u)+ ,hen, when the man &ame with the '#a)h#ight, I thought he wa) a (o#i&e o''i&er, )o there wa) no00there wa)n3t even time to &a## the (o#i&e+ >ou a)% 'or he#(+ Aoe) he a#)o a)% 'or he#(/ -o+ :e doe)n3t )ay a word/ *m, he %ee() te##ing me to )hut u(, to )hut my mouth, in 4ng#i)h, (ro'anity+ And at the end, that he3) going to %i## me+ :i) (arent) a##ege that the voi&e heard a)%ing 'or he#( wa) that o' their )on and not your)+ DSha%ing hi) head to )ay noE .ho)e voi&e wa) it/ 2ine+ Ab)o#ute#y+ :ow mu&h time (a))ed 'rom the )hooting in&ident unti# the (o#i&e arrived/ Ah;I wou#d )ay that it wa) #e)) than a minute, I imagine+ :one)t#y, it )eemed #i%e an eternity+ At )ome (oint did you )it down to thin% and )ay to your)e#', 5I )hou#d have waited 'or the (o#i&e to arrive+ I )hou#d have %e(t 'ighting him hand0to0hand+ I )hou#dn3t have )hot him7/ A## the time he wa) atta&%ing me, I wa), um, a)%ing him, begging him to )to( )o that it wou#dn3t have to e)&a#ate to the (oint he e)&a#ated it to+ 6ut didn3t you 'ee# at )ome (oint, 5I )hou#d have waited7/ 00a'ter, be'ore, during the atta&%;I don3t under)tand, e<&u)e me+ A'ter you )hot him, the (o#i&e arrived, you didn3t 'ee# at )ome (oint that, maybe in )u&h a )hort time that )eemed to you #i%e an eternity, a) you to#d me, you &ou#d have waited and %e(t 'ighting him hand0to0hand in)tead o' )hooting him/
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-o, he )aw my gun and he to#d me he wa) going to %i## me, and I rea#iCed that he wa) te##ing the truth+ I mean, he wa)n3t (#aying around+ .hy do you )ay that he wa) te##ing the truth/ 6e&au)e I a)%ed him to )to(, he obviou)#y %new I wa) hurt and the neighbor, uh, @ohn Good, to#d him to )to( and that he wa) &a##ing the (o#i&e and the young man didn3t &are, he %e(t atta&%ing+ So, I %new that he wa)n3t going to )to( even though he %new that )omebody had )een and that the (o#i&e were &oming, he didn3t &are+ .ho did you &a## 'ir)t/ 2y wi'e+ And what did you te## her/ ,hat I had been in a, um, that they were (utting me00+ :one)t#y, I don3t remember e<a&t#y, but my, my goa# wa) to te## her that I wa) not the one who wa), uh, that had been )hot and that i' )he heard thing) or )aw thing) that )he )hou#dn3t worry, thin%ing that I had been )hot+ At any (oint did you 'ee# that maybe you )hou#d have gone into your hou)e, not )tay out there, you had a#ready &a##ed the (o#i&e, wait )a'e#y in)ide your hou)e with your wi'e, and not be out there 'o##owing him/ Again, that3) one o' tho)e que)tion) that I &an3t an)wer right now, with the 9re)ident, in the )ituation that the 9re)ident ha) (ut u) in, um, and the @u)ti&e Ae(artment &ondu&ting the inve)tigation+ Aid you go to the, to the (o#i&e )tation that night/ >e), ma3am+ >ou remained 'ree/ *h, te&hni&a##y the ne<t morning, a'ter00 ,he ne<t day/ >e), ma3am+ .hen you remained 'ree, did they give you ba&% your gun/ -o+ -o+ .here did you go a'ter being #e't 'ree/
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*h, that day, right then, we )tayed at the home o' )ome 'riend)+ 2y wi'e had a#ready brought &#othe) and a toothbru)h, uh, (er)ona# &are )tu'', 'or two or three day)+ 6ut right then, we went to )ome 'riend)3 home, my 'riend 2ar% 8)terman who )(o%e, who wa) a witne)) in &ourt 'or me, and Sandra, hi) wi'e, who a#)o )(o%e+ .hy did you de&ide to go to )ome 'riend)3 home and not to your own home/ Fir)t o' a##, I didn3t have a &ar, )o, I didn3t have a way to go to my, to return to my home, but;the )ho&% i) )o great that you go with whatever (eo(#e te## you, where they te## you to go+ So, uh, and hone)t#y, I 'e#t more #i%e my 'riend 2ar% 8)terman i) a, uh, Federa# Air 2ar)ha#, and I 'e#t )a'er in hi) hou)e+ And not 1u)t be&au)e o' )a'ety, but be&au)e, you %now, you %now, I %new they had 'ood there, that I had 'riend), (eo(#e, and to he#( me )(iritua##y to have a great 'riend, and at that (oint I 'e#t that that00 >ou needed emotiona# he#( at that (oint/ :ow wa) the )ho&% o' %nowing that++ Ab)o#ute#y; ,hat you had )hot and %i##ed )omeone+ >e)+ :ow did George Zimmerman 'ee# at that moment/ *h, )ad, very )ad+ *h, with a #ot o' que)tion) and no an)wer)+ And I didn3t have the an)wer) 'or anything+ So+ ,here3) a (oint where you di)a((ear+ >e), )evera#+ .here did you go/ Ae(end) whi&h one)+ 6e'ore turning your)e#' in+ 6e'ore I turned my)e#' in I went to, &#o)e to where, um, I wa) born and rai)ed, in the A+!+ area, -orthern Firginia, (art o' Firginia and 2ary#and, &#o)e to there, and I )tayed there 'or a#mo)t a month+ .ith whom/ .ere you in &onta&t with your 'ami#y/
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>e), but the re&e(tion on my &e## (hone wa)n3t good, there wa) no Internet, there wa) no &ab#e and, uh, &ommuni&ation wa) very #imited+ *h, but in, now, #oo%ing ba&%, I rea#iCe that that wa) more o' a b#e))ing, that I didn3t have &ab#e, that I didn3t have Internet, that I didn3t )ee everything that (eo(#e were )aying+ So, uh, we were )a'e 'or hour), )o+ Aid you 'ee# )a'e/ >e)+ .hat were you thin%ing/ .hat wa) going through your mind when you remembered what had ha((ened that night/ *h, I 'e#t )a'e, to &#ari'y, uh, I 'e#t )a'e when I wa) with other (eo(#e+ And when 'ami#y member) &ame to vi)it me or to, but at night or when nobody wa) around, it wa) terri'ying be&au)e that wa), it wa) at that time when they (ut a bounty, uh, they o''ered G10,000 to %i## me, whi&h at one (oint the 9re)ident &ho)e not to re&ogniCe+ And at that time I00there were )&anda#) that (eo(#e had )aid that there wa), it wa) G100,000 or G1,000,000 to %i## me+ .ho to#d you that they had o''ered a reward/ -o, it wa) done (ub#i&#y+ ,hey had demon)tration) and they had, um, (a(er) with my 'a&e and my name on them, and they )aid, in 4ng#i)h, 5Heward, dead or a#ive, wanted G10,000+7 And even though the (o#i&e had the name) o' the (eo(#e who had tho)e (a(er) and who wanted to %i## me, they &ho)e to, not to any o' them+ So, at that time, when I rea#iCed the gravity o' the )ituation and when my 'ami#y began to re&eive threat), at that time I be&ame rea##y terri'ied+ From one minute to the ne<t, your 'a&e be&ame notoriou), the who#e &ountry and the wor#d %new who George Zimmerman wa), and your (hoto wa) everywhere+ :ow did you dea# with that notoriety/ *h, that i) a que)tion that ha) )o many an)wer) 'or me be&au)e, hone)t#y, not the wor#d, not the nation, nobody %new who George Zimmerman wa)+ *h, the wor#d %new who, uh, te#evi)ion, the, how the new) )tation) had de)&ribed me+ 6ut they didn3t %now me a) a (er)on+ *h, )o, to an)wer you, rea##y;+it3) a &hange that I am )ti##, uh, trying to ad1u)t to every day+ *h, there3) no good an)wer but, uh, it3) a radi&a# &hange in your #i'e+ :ow ha) your #i'e &hanged/ *h, I &an3t do anything that (eo(#e, uh, who are not re&ogniCed &an do+ *h, I &an3t go to a re)taurant and )it down at a tab#e and not have to worry about, you %now, )omebody trying to murder me or00
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In other word), how do you 'ee# when you go out on the )treet/ >ou go to the )u(ermar%et, you go to a re)taurant, you go to a (ar%+ :ow doe) George Zimmerman 'ee#/ .e were ta#%ing about how your #i'e &hanged be&au)e o' the in&ident o' February o' 2012, um, be&au)e your 'a&e be&ame notoriou)+ .hat i) George Zimmerman3) #i'e #i%e today/
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I3m )ti## )&ared, obviou)#y+ ,here are )ti## threat) again)t me and my 'ami#y+ *h, I )ti## have, a) I to#d you, the inve)tigation by the F6I or the *+S+ @u)ti&e Ae(artment++++ I never %now what3) going to ha((en, but, uh, I than% God 'or every day and I try to #ive my #i'e a) mu&h a) I &an+ *h, I don3t want to mi)) tho)e moment) with my 'ami#y that, uh, that thi) (ro&e)) ha) a#ready )to#en 'rom me+ .hat ha((ened that day ha) generated a #ot o' 'ee#ing) among, among the (ub#i& in genera#+ It ha) generated 'ee#ing) o' hatred, it ha) generated 'ee#ing) o' revenge, a), um, you to#d me 1u)t now, there are other (eo(#e who )u((ort what you did and who be#ieve that you, um, did what you had to do at that moment+ 8vera##, o(inion) are very, very &on'#i&ting+ 6ut that (art you have to#d me about, about how they re&ogniCe you, about how you don3t 'ee# good, about how you 'ear 'or your #i'e, don3t you thin% it3) a &on)equen&e o' what ha((ened in February o' 2012+ It3) a &on)equen&e o' what the (re)) did with the in&ident in 2012, in February+ >ou don3t thin% it3) be&au)e o' the 'a&t that you 'ired gun/ !orre&t+ -o, obviou)#y not+ .hy do you b#ame the (re)) 'or what i) ha((ening to you/ 6e&au)e o' the way they (ortrayed the )tory, the way that they wanted to (ortray it to ma%e it more )en)ationa#+ *m, )o, to an)wer you, I don3t thin% that that wa) a &on)equen&e o' what ha((ened that night be&au)e obviou)#y the, uh, you &an )ee the, uh, number) in the )tati)00 Stati)ti&)+ 00>e), ma3am+ :ow many time) doe) that ha((en in the *nited State), and how many time) it goe) without new) &overage #i%e mine+ .hat do you thin% ha((ened in thi) &a)e, then/ In; In your &a)e with ,rayvon 2artin+
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.hat wa) the di''eren&e00 .hat ha((ened/ .hat i) the di''eren&e 'rom the other &a)e) that you )ay ha((en/ I don3t %now, I hone)t#y &an3t an)wer 'or the 1ourna#i)t)+ >ou wou#d have to a)% them+ 9re)ident 8bama )(o%e about thi) &a)e and, and he )aid that 5he &ou#d have been ,rayvon 2artin =I year) ago,7 and he a#)o )aid that 5it &ou#d be hi) own )on,7 and he &a##ed to end di)&rimination, )o to )(ea%, o' A'ri&an0Ameri&an)+ .hat did you thin% when you heard 9re)ident 8bama3) word) about thi) &a)e, in whi&h you are invo#ved/ *()et, )ad, di)a((ointed+ .hy/ I wa) a, uh, huge )u((orter o', o' 9re)ident 8bama+ *h, and a## my 'riend), my 'ami#y %new it, they %new it, and when everything 'ir)t &ame out and (eo(#e )tarted to )end (etition) to the .hite :ou)e, uh, the )(o%e)man, @ay !arney, )aid that thi) i) a )tate &a)e, we aren3t going to do, the *nited State) and the 'edera# government have no bu)ine)) &ommenting about thi), about thi) inve)tigation+ *m, and then )udden#y the 9re)ident, with the e#e&tion a#mo)t here, de&ided to ma%e a &omment that )eemed to me, that )eemed un'air to me, e)(e&ia##y, a'ter )aying that they weren3t going to &omment+ >ou mention the e#e&tion+ >ou thin% that 9re)ident 8bama mentioned thi) &a)e be&au)e he wanted to gain more )u((orter), he wanted to win more vote)/ ,hat3) it, ab)o#ute#y+ ,hat3) what you be#ieve+ :e )aw it a) an o((ortunity+ George, you te## me that the (re)) ha) twi)ted what ha((ened, and ha) )aid whatever it wanted to )ay, but you haven3t to#d your ver)ion o' what ha((ened, either+ So, when are we going to hear your ver)ion, why don3t you te## it to me now/ .hi&h o', o', e<a&t#y00 >ou )ay that the (re)) twi)ted around what ha((ened that night in February o' 2012+ ,e## me what ha((ened/
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8h, ye)+ *h, a) I )aid to you, again, I &an3t di)00)(ea% about the detai#) be&au)e o' the inve)tigation that the *nited State) ha), but about the 'a&t that what ha((ened; He(orter) made a&&u)ation) that, with no ba)i)+ For e<am(#e/ ,hat I wa) ra&i)t+ And are you ra&i)t/ Ab)o#ute#y not+ Aid you e)tab#i)h a (ro'i#e to, to de)&ribe ,rayvon 2artin that night/ ,hat i), did you (ro'i#e him a) a (o))ib#e &rimina# in your neighborhood/ -o, I an)wered the que)tion) that I wa) being a)%ed, on the te#e(hone+ ,he 'ir)t thing you )aid during the J11 &a## i) that a #ot o' robberie) had ha((ened and that they were brea%ing in to hou)e) in your neighborhood and that you 'e#t a'raid be&au)e you were )eeing )omething )u)(i&iou)+ I) that true or not/ >e), ab)o#ute#y+ I' ,rayvon 2artin had been wearing a 1a&%et and tie, or i' he had been a white or @ewi)h youth wearing a hoodie, wou#d you have 'e#t the )ame 'ear/ *h, the inve)tigator a)%ed me that the 'ir)t night or the )e&ond day, and I to#d him e<a&t#y how I 'ee#, and ye), I wou#d have 'e#t the )ame way+ Any (er)on wa#%ing through your neighborhood on that rainy night wou#d have made you 'ee# a'raid/ I don3t %now, it wa)n3t )im(#y be&au)e he wa) wa#%ing in the neighborhood+ :e wa) at, a#mo)t in the midd#e o' the hou)e) and he wa) wa#%ing ;very )#ow, uh, #ight#y, and #oo%ing at the hou)e) in a way that I thought wa) )trange+ *h, )o, no, it wa)n3t )im(#y that he wa) a (er)on wa#%ing though the, the rain+ I' I )aw )omebody in a &oat and tie wa#%ing #ight#y, I wou#d thin% )omething i) )u)(i&iou), that a (er)on doe)n3t mind being out in the rain+ I have read arti&#e) about A'ri&an0Ameri&an mother) who have #o)t their &hi#dren be&au)e o' gun vio#en&e, and they are tired o' )eeing their inno&ent or unarmed &hi#dren die, be&au)e o' the way they dre)) or the way they a&t or the mu)i& they #i)ten to+ .hat me))age do you have 'or tho)e mother)/ .hat do you thin% o' them/ ,hey are tired o' burying their &hi#dren+
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8bviou)#y, 'or any A'ri&an0Ameri&an, 2e<i&an, Ameri&an, 9eruvian, ma#e or 'ema#e, nobody want) to bury their &hi#d, and I under)tand that 100 (er&ent+ 6ut, uh, we have to )ee the root o' the (rob#em and try to )o#ve it be'ore a )ituation #i%e what ha((ened with me ha((en) again+ And what do you thin% i) the root o' the (rob#em/ *h, 'rom what I3ve )een with the, um, my wor% with my %id), )ometime) (eo(#e 1u)t #et them (a)) by, they 'orget, um, about the %id) who don3t )how an e<traordinary ta#ent in, )ay, )(ort), or who don3t have a 4+0 in )&hoo#+ And I thin% a## &hi#dren need, uh, (o)itive (eo(#e in their #ive), mother, 'ather, or the two, and a) they )ay, 5 it ta%e) a vi##age,7 a#mo)t the who#e &ity to ma%e )ure that %id) have )omething (o)itive to %ee( them entertained, rather than doing thing) that are, um, not )o (o)itive+ 8%ay, but we rea##y don3t %now i' ,rayvon 2artin wa) doing anything negative that night+ :e wa)n3t armed, either+ :e wa)00 .hen did you rea#iCe that he wa)n3t armed/ I never did, be&au)e the way he wa) hitting me, the way he wa) throwing my head into the &on&rete, I thought he &ou#d be armed+ Aid he threaten you/ Aid he )ay anything to you/ Aid he te## you he had a wea(on/ Aid he ma%e a ge)ture with hi) hand, (ut it in hi) (o&%et or )omething #i%e that, that made you thin% that your #i'e wa) rea##y in danger/ Ab)o#ute#y+ .hen he )aw my handgun and #oo%ed at it and to#d me that he wa) going to %i## me that night, uh, that wa) enough o' a threat a'ter the way he had atta&%ed me+ So, I 'e#t hi) hand going 'or my wea(on+ Aid you 'ee# that he wanted to grab your wea(on/ Ab)o#ute#y+ And there i) no que)tion in my mind+ Are you )ure about what you did that night/ 100 (er&ent+ Ao you thin% it wa) the right thing to do/ I thin% that i) going to )tay in my mind and between God and me, but, um, I %now that i' I didn3t a&t, a&t the way I did, um, I wou#dn3t be here+ So+
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Ao you thin% he wou#d have %i##ed you/ I %now that 'or )ure, ye)+ 6y hitting you/ 8r with my (i)to#+ 8ne way or another+ >ou #i%ed to bo<, and you wor%ed out in the gym+ So you weren3t a wea% man+ >ou were a )trong man+ .hy didn3t you de&ide to %ee( 'ighting and batt#ing with him in)tead o' getting to the (oint o' having to u)e the gun/ ,hat3) a very good que)tion+ *m, and; there i) a di''eren&e between bo<ing when00and a )ituation that i) &ontro##ed, with at #ea)t a re'eree, um, and a00dra)00 dra)ti& di''eren&e 'rom )omebody who throw) a (un&h at your no)e and brea%) your no)e, at a moment when you3re not e<(e&ting that they3re going to (un&h you+ *m, and I3m giving you the e<am(#e o' bo<ing and the &ontro#00the &ontro##ed &ondition)00but in 'a&t, a) my trainer )aid in &ourt, I wa)n3t training 'or bo<ing+ I wa) training to #o)e weight+ !ou#dn3t you get him o'' o' you/ -o+ .a) he that )trong/ Again, when you have your head being hit re(eated#y again)t &on&rete, you have a bro%en no)e, your eye) 'u## o' b#ood and tear), you3re not in a (o)ition to do mu&h o' anything+ :ow did George Zimmerman de&ide to turn him)e#' in to the authoritie)/ .hen, and what3) it #i%e, ma%ing that de&i)ion to turn your)e#' in and 'a&e 1u)ti&e/ *m, o%ay+ ,o &#ari'y, I turned my)e#' in twi&e+ *h, and it wa) hard to )ay goodbye to my 'ami#y, and to my dog, but the de&i)ion wa) ea)y+ I (rayed, uh, I a)%ed God, and I did what I thought wa) right+ I a#way), uh, wanted to &oo(erate with the (o#i&e and, uh, I to#d them )evera# time), you %now, 5I' you need me, &ome get me+ .e don3t have to ma%e a )how o' it+7 2y 'ami#y wa) with me )evera# time), and I )aid, 5I don3t want them to be invo#ved+ I3## turn my)e#' in+7 And I didn3t 1u)t )ay, 5:ere I amK &ome ta%e me to 1ai#+7 I drove 'rom where I wa) in Firginia to F#orida to turn my)e#' in, uh, and both time) I turned my)e#' in+ And, a) I to#d you, the harde)t thing wa) )aying goodbye, but the de&i)ion it)e#' wa) )im(#e+ It wa) )im(#e+ .hat wa) your bigge)t 'ear when you were in &u)tody/
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,hat )omething might ha((en to my 'ami#y and I wa) not going to be ab#e to he#( them in any way+ .hat wa) your #i'e #i%e on the in)ide/ *h, )trange#y, it brought me &#o)er to God+ *h, I had (#enty o' time to )tudy the 6ib#e and (ray+ *h, the00 :ave you a#way) been a be#iever/ >e)+ Ao you thin% thi) in&ident brought you &#o)er to God/ -o, ma3am+ It wa) a#way), uh, even when I wa) I &hi#d I wa) an a#tar boy, um, a #i'e#ong !atho#i&+ *h, but in 1ai#, the mo)t )ur(ri)ing thing wa) that everybody )u((orted me, 'rom the guard) to the (eo(#e who were in 1ai#+ .hat did they )ay to you/ *h, 5%ee( your head u(K7 the (eo(#e who were in 1ai#, uh, to#d me, you %now, 5have 'aith, God doe) everything 'or a rea)on,7 uh, and the guard) a#way) treated me #i%e anybody e#)e, uh, who wa) in 1ai#+ ,hey treated me with re)(e&t, tremendou)#y, 1u)t #i%e they treat everybody+ >ou te## me that you are a )trong be#iever, that you have a#way) been very &#o)e to God+ .hat i) it #i%e 'or a (er)on #i%e that to dea# with the 'a&t o' having ta%en another (er)on3) #i'e in a tragi& event/ I %now that :e i) the on#y 1udge, and that )omeday :e wi## te## me how :e 'ee#), and I #eave it in the hand) o' the ?ord+ .hen the 1ury began to de#iberate, what wa) going through George Zimmerman3) head/ It too% about 16 hour) over two day)+ .hat were you thin%ing about during tho)e day)/ .a) it 1u)t 16 hour)/ 8ver two day), the time they were wor%ing+ .e##, at the beginning, um, we thought it wou#d be more or #e)) 'a)t, and, and #ater, a) time went by and time went by, a) my attorney at the time, 2ar% 8mara, to#d me, it3) #i%e having a, um, 'ami#y, a 'ather or a mother in )urgery and waiting 'or the )urgeon to )ay i' they3re going to #ive or not+ ,hat3) the be)t way I &an e<(#ain it, and00
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And what wa) going through George Zimmerman3) mind at that (oint, over the two day)/ I tried to %ee( my)e#' o&&u(ied, uh, (#anning 'or my 'ami#y and my wi'e, 'or their )a'ety, 1u)t in &a)e+ And I a#)o wanted than% everyone who had he#(ed me+ So, I wa) )igning a #ot o' than% you &ard), be&au)e I didn3t %now i' I wou#d be ab#e to do that a'ter that+ Aid you thin% you might end u( in 1ai# 'or the re)t o' your #i'e/ >e), ab)o#ute#y+ And how did you view your )ituation there/ In 1ai#/ *m, #i%e00 For the re)t o' your #i'e+ >e), #i%e I to#d you, I turned everything over to the ?ord and to#d him, 5Ao with me what >ou wi##+7 @u)ti&e )aid that you were not gui#ty o' what ha((ened that day, but thing) ended in a tragedy, with the death o' a young man who wa) unarmed+ Ao you have any regret) about what ha((ened that night/ Again, that3) a que)tion that I &an3t an)wer right now be&au)e o' the inve)tigation that the, the @u)ti&e Ae(artment ha) going on+ 6ut a) a (er)on+ A) a (er)on who the @u)ti&e Ae(artment i) inve)tigating, I &an3t an)wer+ >ou &an3t even te## me how you 'e#t, how you wou#d have 'e#t+ 8%ay, I3ve a#ready an)wered that )evera# time) in, with the (o#i&e and in interview) (reviou)#y and, uh, now that there3) the inve)tigation that ha) )tarted they obviou)#y )ent their inve)tigator) and they &ondu&ted their inve)tigation, they &#o)ed the inve)tigation by )aying that that there wa) no one who &an )ay that I wa) ra&i)t+ And a'ter they de&#ared me inno&ent, now they have )tarted another inve)tigation+ So, a) I )aid, that i)n3t )omething I &an (#ay withK I &an3t an)wer+ And in any &a)e, it &an &ome ba&% to hurt me+ I' you &ou#d go ba&% to that night, what wou#d you &hange/ *h, I wou#d have )tayed home, I wou#dn3t have gone out )ho(00)ho((ing+
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:ave you been in &onta&t with ,rayvon 2artin3) (arent)/ :ave you a((roa&hed them/ ,he on#y time wa) when 2r+ ,ra&y 2artin, uh, he )aid to my 'riend, um, he &a##ed him a bad word in &ourt, uh, be&au)e he had, um, hi) )ign that )aid he wa) 'ami#y, and that wa) the on#y time we had any+ And a#)o in the, in what3) &a##ed in 4ng#i)h the bond hearing, uh, e<&u)e me be&au)e I didn3t %now, be&au)e the mother had a)%ed i' I %now her )on3) age and I to#d her no, a) I had to#d the, the J11 o(erator+ And beyond that, with 2r)+ Fu#ton, I haven3t had any &ommuni&ation with her, and )he ha)n3t had any with u)+ 2r+ 2artin, uh, 1u)t that e<&hange with my 'ami#y+ Sin&e you were de&#ared not gui#ty, and )in&e you thin% that you did the right thing, a) you to#d me ear#ier, and 1u)ti&e )ay) that you weren3t gui#ty+ .ou#dn3t (erha() a(o#ogy be the right thing to do, and )ay to the (arent), 5I3m )orry about what ha((ened/7 I to#d them that in the bond hearing; :ow did they ta%e it/ *m, hone)t#y, I don3t %now+ >ou wou#d have to a)% them+ I don3t %now what they were thin%ing+ ,rayvon 2artin3) 'ather )aid that he want) to ma%e )omething good &ome out o' a negative e<(erien&e+ ,he mother, 2r)+ Fu#ton, ha) been ta#%ing with young (eo(#e about the vio#en&e generated by &arrying gun)+ .hat i) George Zimmerman doing 'or )o&iety a'ter what ha((ened/ I wou#d #ove to do the )ame thing, but un'ortunate#y, a) you %now and a) you a)%ed me, um, ear#ier, I &an3t do the thing) that I wa) doing be'ore+ And I wa) doing, um, a #ot, um, the (rogram that, that I wa), uh, mentoring, wa)n3t a (rogram that (aid anything+ ,hat wa) time that I, that I too% out o' my #i'e, and o''ered to tho)e young (eo(#e, be'ore anything ha((ened+ And I thin% Heverend Shar(ton and Heverend @e))e @a&%)on Sr+ ought to thin% about whether what they did wa) right, be&au)e they too% away a mentor who wa) trying to he#( &hi#dren, um, A'ri&an0Ameri&an 'or the mo)t (art, and wa)n3t 1u)t he#(ing 'rom a di)tan&e+ I wa) there (#aying ba)%etba## on the00 Are there A'ri&an0Ameri&an &hi#dren in your grou(/ Ab)o#ute00a##00ba)i&a##y00100 (er&ent are+ And, um, I wa) in their &hur&he) and I wa), um, wa)hing &ar) with them, and, and they too% away a (er)on who had that #ove 'or he#(ing (eo(#e, and they too% away 'rom me that abi#ity to he#( be&au)e o' what they did+ .ou#d you #i%e to do )omething 'or young (eo(#e today/
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*h, I3m )ti##, um, in &onta&t with my young (eo(#e, and I )ti## ma%e (romi)e) to them, #i%e, ah, I (romi)ed one young man that i' he (a))ed eighth grade I wou#d ta%e him and introdu&e him to Awight :oward o' the 8r#ando 2agi&, and it ha((ened and I too% him+ And I )ti## ma%e them, I ma%e (romi)e) #i%e that to them, and I try to he#( them a) mu&h a) (o))ib#e+ :ow do you thin% the A'ri&an0Ameri&an &ommunity view) you/ *m, tho)e who %now me #ove me+ ,hey have a#way) #oved me and they wi## a#way) #ove me+ Ah, the who#e &ommunity 'rom there and in A(o(%a where I wa), um, they #ove me, unti# today, um, tho)e who don3t %now me, I don3t %now how00 what they thin% o' me, )o I don3t %now i' they are going to &hange or I &ou#dn3t an)wer 'or them+ .hen a## o' thi) ha((ened in February o' 2012, you to#d me that your 'ami#y re&eived threat)+ >e)+ .hat %ind o' threat) did your 'ami#y re&eive/ ,hat they were going to )#it my )i)ter3) throat and %i## her and throw her out onto the )treet )o that everybody &ou#d )ee, um, that it wa) an eye 'or an eye+ ,hey were going to %i## my )i<0year0o#d ne(hew, who wa) 'ive at the time+ *m, they were going to %i## my mother, my grandmother+ ,hey were going to throw e<(#o)ive) at the hou)e, um, a## that )tu''+ 8bviou)#y, they (ut00o''ered 10,000 do##ar) to %i## them, my 'ami#y, and o' &our)e, me, )o+++ Are you ready to )trugg#e with thi) 'or the re)t o' your #i'e/ 2aybe thi) i) )omething that (eo(#e aren3t going to 'orget+ 9eo(#e may remember your 'a&e and you may have to )trugg#e with thi) 'or many year)+ Are you (re(ared 'or that/ :ow do you (#an to #ive your #i'e/ A) God dire&t) me to+ 6ut are you (re(ared/ >e)+ .hat3) going to ha((en/ >e)+ I a#)o re&ogniCe that (erha() that3) not, hum, the mo)t )eriou) thing he ha) 'or me+ ,here might00there might be )omething in the 'uture 'or me that i) a#)o going to, um, you %now, my (arent) may get )i&% and, um, you %now, die
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tomorrow, and that &an a''e&t me in a di''erent way, and I, I %now 'or )ure that :e wi## give me the )trength to go on+ I!" >our e<0wi'e, She##ie )u((orted you throughout the tria#K )he even (#eaded gui#ty to #ying about your 'inan&e), and a## o' it to )u((ort you+ .hy did you )e(arate/ .hat ha((ened a'ter that/ ,hat3) what right now we are00)he3) not my e<0wi'e yet+ She3) my wi'e+ .e3re )e(arating+ ,hat3) )omething that, )in&e the #awyer) are )ti## ta#%ing, that, um, I &an3t &omment on+ .hat I &an te## you i) that I a((re&iate what )he did 'or me, um+ I a#)o tried to he#( her a) mu&h a) (o))ib#e and, un'ortunate#y, thi) i) a )ituation that I don3t %now, I00many, many married (eo(#e, many &ou(#e) that have been ab#e to )urvive, or their marriage ha) been ab#e to )urvive, thi) )ituation+ So it3), it3) a#)o a tragedy in that )en)e+ In an interview )he )aid )he didn3t00that it )eemed #i%e )he didn3t %now who )he3d married, who )he3d been married to 'or )even year), and )he )aid it wa) a di''erent (er)on, that )he didn3t re&ogniCe, and that it )eemed #i%e )omething or )omeone had bro%en hi) )(irit+ Aid George Zimmerman &hange/ And in what way), given everything that ha((ened/ *m, I haven3t )een any interview, um, )he did+ 6ut a&&ording to what you3re )aying00 She )(o%e with atie !ouri&+ 8%ay+ A&&ording to what you3re te##ing me, um, I don3t thin% I &hanged+ I' I did &hange, um, my 'aith ha) grown+ I have ah, I thin% I give (eo(#e what in 4ng#i)h i) &a##ed the bene'it o' the doubt, um, a #ot more to00 ,he bene'it o' the doubt+ ,he bene'it o' the doubt, be&au)e I )ee how they a&&u)ed me and the ba)e#e)) thing) they )aid about me+ So, um, that3) the on#y way that I, I )ee that I3ve &hanged+ 8bviou)#y, there3) that great 'ear that I may be )hot i' I go to a re)taurant, um, and )ometime) that i)00that a''e&t), um, the additiona# )tre)) )omeone ha)+ *m, having to go out with a bu##et0(roo' ve)t, um+ It ta%e) a #ot #onger to get ready and &oordinate everything, everything i) )tre)), the )tre)) in&rea)e), 'or her a) we## a) me+ 9erha() more 'or her, a) a wi'e, worrying about me+ *m, I %now that even though I wa) )tre))ed, the )tre)) i) di''erent 'rom what )omeone ha) with00due to the re#ation)hi(+ For e<am(#e, I &an3t imagine my mom3) )tre)) a) a mother, how )he 'ee#) about her )on+ So I &an3t an)wer 'or She##ie+ *m, but I &an te## you that it3) a very )ad )ituation, that )evera# (eo(#e, um, &reated 'or their own bene'it, and a #ot o' (eo(#e have )u''ered, and it3) too bad+
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6ut, George, be'ore thi) in&ident too% (#a&e in February o' 2012, had you had (rob#em) with the #aw/ I had an in&ident in 200I+ It wa)n3t a (rob#em, rea##y+ ,hey arre)00 .hat ha((ened/ ,hey arre)ted me+ A 'riend o' mine wa), um, underage00he wa) 1J year) o#d and we were at a bar and, um, there were (#ain&#othe) agent), um, &ondu&ting what in 4ng#i)h i) &a##ed an under&over )ting+ ,hey were dre))ed a) &ivi#ian)+ A) &ivi#ian)+ And that agent grabbed my 'riend by the ne&%+ :e wa) (utting him again)t the wa##+ .e00he3d never identi'ied him)e#'+ *m, and I a)%ed him what wa) ha((ening+ :e to#d me to go, um, he )wore at me, and when I %e(t wa#%ing, um, toward him, )aying, 5-o, an)wer me+ .hat00why do you have my 'riend again)t the wa##/7, he grabbed me and hit me and when that ha((ened, the other, um, agent) who were dre))ed a) &ivi#ian) arre)ted me, and, um, a month and a ha#', two month) a'ter that ha((ened00that ha((ened, um, that )ame divi)ion that wa) a&ting a) &ivi#ian) out)ide o' the;the um, (o#i&e )tandard)+ An agent wa) %i##ed at a um, *!F, *niver)ity o' !entra# F#orida game, um, be&au)e he too% out hi) gun and 'ired into the air and never identi'ied him)e#'+ And a (o#i&eman who wa) in uni'orm )aw it, )aw a man )hooting into the air with a gun and %i##ed him ;un'ortunate#y+ ,hat (o#i&eman00died, and when the )tate )aw that that divi)ion wa) not, um, re00were not identi'ying them)e#ve) the way they )hou#d have, the &harge) again)t me were dro((ed+ A'ter the February, 2012 in&ident, you3ve had other in&ident) with the (o#i&e" )(eeding, a (rob#em with She##ie and with her 'ather, a (rob#em with your gir#'riend in whi&h )he #ater )he dro((ed the &harge)+ *m, She##ie a#)o dro((ed the &harge) and )he, in that interview I mentioned, )he )aid )he dro((ed them be&au)e )he &ou#d have a#)o been arre)ted, and )he wa) on (robation )o )he didn3t want to ta%e the ri)%+ 6ut it )eem) #i%e the #i'e o' George Zimmerman turned turbu#ent a'ter everything the in&ident too% (#a&e+ .hat3) ha((ening/ *m00 .hat ha((ened to George Zimmerman/ .ere you #i%e that be'ore/ :one)t#y, ye), I3ve gotten ti&%et) 'or )(eeding+ 6ut it never made the new)+ Ah, I don3t under)tand why 1ourna#i)t) &are )o mu&h, um, i' I get a )(eeding ti&%et+ It wa) the 'ir)t time that a ti&%et, um, made internationa# new)+ *m, a#)o, #i%e the, um, web)ite that 2r+ :o#der &reated, um, 'or (eo(#e to be ab#e to give, um, i' they thought I wa) ra&i)t they &ou#d )end, um, e<am(#e) or in'ormation about me being ra&i)t+ ,hat wa) the 'ir)t time in, in, uh, hi)tory that that ha) been done+ I don3t
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%now why tho)e thing) ma%e, um, 1ourna#i)t) want to re(ort )u&h thing)+ I %now )evera# (eo(#e who get ti&%et) 'or )(eeding00 I!" GZ" I!" GZ" I!" GZ" I!" GZ" .hat about the other in&ident)/ >e)+ ,he other in&ident), um, again, anything that3) a))o&iated with my name, um, be'ore00 ,hi) wa)n3t 1u)t anything+ ,hat i), a dome)ti& 'ight00 >e)+ -o, I under)tand+ A dome)ti& 'ight i)n3t the )ame a) )(eeding+ ,hey3re two very di''erent thing)+ Ab)o#ute#y+ .hat3) ha((ening/ Ao you have troub#e &ontro##ing your tem(er/ Ao you e)&a#ate ea)i#y/ -o+ *m, obviou)#y I wa)n3t &harged with any o' that+ *m, I thin% (eo(#e )ti## want to %now about my #i'e+ 6e'ore there were00be'ore the (o#i&e )u(ervi)or) got there, there were three (re)) he#i&o(ter) above my hou)e in that 'ir)t in&ident with She##ie+ So be'ore they %new what ha((ened, they a#ready wanted to re(ort it+ *m, )o that i) a que)tion that (erha() you &an an)wer better than I &an+ I don3t %now what3) with thi) intere)t about my #i'e+ I have a#ready been, um, de&#ared inno&ent by a 1ury, a) our !on)titution )ay), )o I3d #ove to %now, but it3) my #i'e and I %ee( on #iving it+ >our 'a&e i) a#ready we## %nown, and you be&ame we## %nown a) a re)u#t o' that &a)e+ .ou#dn3t it be a good time to have a quieter #i'e, a #ower (ro'i#e, to try to not have troub#e with the #aw/ .hy do we %ee( hearing about (rob#em) with the #aw/ 6e&au)e the (re)) %ee() re(orting+ 8r, be&au)ethey &ontinue ha((en/ ,hey3re ha((ening but00tho)e &a)e) ha((en dai#y, )evera# time) a, dai#y, and they3re not re(orting them+ >e), but they3re not George Zimmerman+ >e), but in a## hone)ty, I3d #ove to #ive a quiet #i'e without being in the (re))+ I3d #ove to, #i%e any other Ameri&an &itiCen, to get a )(eeding ti&%et or to have an argu00argument with my wi'e and i' the (o#i&e &ome, 'or the who#e wor#d not to 'ind out about it+ 6ut that, a) I to#d you, i) my #i'e, and I don3t under)tand why it3) that way, but I go on with my #i'e a) I3ve a#way) #ived it+
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George, there are re(ort) that )ay that you owe 2+I mi##ion do##ar)+ .ho do you owe it to/ *m, tho)e re(ort) are 'a&tua#, I want to &#ari'y, be&au)e there are many that aren3t+ 6ut that re(ort &ame 'rom me+ *m, and I owe my #awyer), 2ar% 832ara and Aon .e)t+ :ow do you (#an to get that money to (ay them/ Ao you have a 1ob/ .hat i) George Zimmerman #iving on/ -o, I don3t have a 1ob and hone)t#y I don3t00I3m not &o##e&ting unem(#oyment or 8bama&are or any ty(e o'00be&au)e that3) )omething that (eo(#e a#way) )ay, 58h, now he3) retired, #iving o'' we#'are, )o&ia# )e&urity,7 whatever+ I3m not getting any o' that+ Hight now there i) a &ivi# &a)e again)t a (re)) organiCation that made a, um, )eriou) mi)ta%e, and I ho(e that wi## he#( (ay 'or a (ortion o', at #ea)t, what I owe+ I )aid 'rom the beginning, to 2ar% and Aon, i' I have to wor% at a re)taurant a) a &oo%, I3## (ay them be&au)e what they did wa) a tremendou) 1ob, a 1ob, um, I &an3t imagine how they did what they did with the #itt#e we had+ 6ut I to#d them I wi## (ay them, )o that3) that+ And the money 'rom the donation) you re&eived 'rom the web (age you o(ened during the tria#/ >e), it3)00that wa) the money we u)ed 'or the de'en)e, the de'en)e+ I' it hadn3t been 'or tho)e (eo(#e, um, and one thing I a#)o wanted to &#ear u( wa) that tho)e were not 1,000 donation) 'rom ea&h (er)on, 10,000 donation) 'rom ea&h (er)on+ ,hey were I, 10, 20 do##ar donation)+ And to tho)e (eo(#e I owe my 'reedom be&au)e without then, we &ou#d not, um, have had the e<(ert) we did+ .e wou#d not have been ab#e to (ay 'or the do&ument) we needed, um, )o I owe them, um, tremendou)#y and+++ :ow mu&h 'und) did you rai)e through your )ite/ .ith00in tota#/ :ow mu&h money did you manage to rai)e on that )ite/ Ah, I thin% it wa) =I0,000, I be#ieve+ And hone)t#y, um, by the time my #awyer 2ar% 832ara, um, wa), um, went00)tarted to re(re)ent me, it wa) he who had &ontro#, and 'or me not to have &ontro#, there wa) a )e(arate tru)t+ So un'ortunate#y, I don3t have the e<a&t 'a&t), but I be#ieve it wa) about =00,000 or =I0,000+ ,here wa) a &ontrover)y regarding )ome (ainting) you were )e##ing+
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>e)+ .hy the &ontrover)y/ .hy did they )ay you3d ta%en a )%et&h that you had not authored and that you3d made a (ainting o' it and you3d )o#d it/ I) it true/ -o+ ,ho)e are thing) that, 1u)t a) I &hoo)e not to de'end my)e#', I &hoo)e not to, um, re)(ond to tho)e a&&u)ation), in the )ame way that I wi## not de'end my)e#' again)t, um, being ra&i)t or being, um, a humb#e (er)on or00 ,he)e a&&u)ation) are ba)e#e)) a&&u)ation) 'rom (eo(#e who want to in&#ude me in a new) re(ort, that3) a##+ And who don3t under)tand that, um, the #aw), o' &our)e, and the arti)ti& 'orm+ So, um, I3ve a#way) #i%ed that and everyone ha) )een thatBand I3m doing an interview 1u)t about me with 2r+ :annity, and I don3t00I don3t give them the time o' day, a) they )ay in 4ng#i)h, um, be&au)e there i)n3t enough time in the day to re)(ond to a## tho)e a&&u)ation)+ In that interview with Fo< -ew), you )aid that you3d #i%e the (eo(#e who (ortrayed you a) ra&i)t to a(o#ogiCe to you+ >e), I )aid, i' I3d done the )ame thing, I3d a(o#ogiCe to the (er)on I3d a&&u)ed+ .ere they 'a#)e a&&u)ation)/ Ah, 100 (er&ent+ ?et3) ta#% about the 'ight, thi) 'ight that wa) being organiCed, and in whi&h they announ&ed you a) a &e#ebrity 'ight+ .hy a &e#ebrity 'ight/ Ao you &on)ider your)e#' a &e#ebrity/ -ot at a##+ ,hat00 .hy wa) it announ&ed a) a &e#ebrity 'ight/ I imagine and, I3m a #itt#e a'raid o' an)wering that be&au)e I, um, I don3t #i%e to an)wer 'or the (er)on, be&au)e we a## thin% di''erent#y, but I wou#d imagine that the man who i) (romoting it thought that that wou#d ma%e the new) and generate more intere)t, and in )ome way, ma%e more money again+ 6ut that00that wa) &an&e##ed, um, a wee% a'ter it wa) announ&ed by me+ *m, I )tarted to00 .hy did you de&ide to &an&e#/ 6e&au)e I )tarted to00it )tarted a) a good way to, um, give 'und) to a &harity+ .hi&h &harity/ 4h, I3d rather not )ay the name be&au)e any name I )ay, any bu)ine)) I )ay, um, )tart) to get threat), but it wa) a, ah+++
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>e), but i' you don3t )ay it, (eo(#e &ou#d thin% that you are going to %ee( the money+ ,here are a #ot o' (eo(#e who thought, a) a re)u#t o' the 'ight, that you were ma%ing money a) a re)u#t o' ,rayvon 2artin3) death, be&au)e you3d be&ome notoriou) a) a re)u#t o' that &a)e, and )o now you want to organiCe a 'ight to ma%e money 'or your)e#'+ .hy not revea# the name o' the 'oundation to whi&h you were going to donate the money/ ,hey %now it and I %now it and the ?ord %now) it+ ,ho)e are a## that matter+ 9eo(#e who want to a&&u)e me are a#way) going to a&&u)e me, even i' I &#ari'y a hundred thou)and time), they are going to &ontinue with the )ame a&&u)ation+ *m, )o again, it3) not00I don3t give them the time o' day+ *m, but un'ortunate#y the (rom00the man who i) (romoting it, um, &ho)e, um, in)tead o' it being a 'ight that it wa), um, going to be a (er)on )e#e&ted tota##y without %nowing, um, #i%e00 a#mo)t #i%e a #ottery+ And the money wa) going to go to a &harity+ :e )tarted to get, um, #ot), um, o' emai#) 'rom (eo(#e who wanted to %i## me, (eo(#e who wanted, um, there were a #ot00I thin% they are ra((er) or00 A2L i) a ra((er who )u((o)ed#y had agreed to 'ight with you+ 8n&e again, a) I to#d you, that 'ight wa) &an&e##ed be'ore he )aid anything about my name+ ,hat i), you didn3t agree to 'ight with A2L+ 6y that time you had a#ready ta#%ed with the (romoter to &an&e# the 'ight/ 2y #awyer had ta#%ed to him+ .hy did the (romoter &ontinue to (romote a &e#ebrity 'ight, a 'ight with A2L, who i) a ra((er who3) had (rob#em) with the #aw, who i) A'ri&an0Ameri&an/ It de'initive#y rai)e) many que)tion) and, o' &our)e, more &ontrover)y+ 6ut did you agreed to 'ight A2L/ -o+ -ever+ At what (oint did you &an&e# the 'ight/ It wa) a wee% a'ter I announ&ed it, ba)i&a##y+ *m, my #awyer, I )ent him the &ontra&t that he had )ent me+ I thin% it wa) three day) a'ter, um, they &onta&ted me+ I )ent it to my #awyer+ :e )aw it and, um, )aw everything they were )aying about me, um, the new) and )o&ia# media+ And he )aid that00no, that thi) i) not00 thi) ha) tran)'ormed into )omething that i) not right+ :e announ&ed the 'ight (re&i)e#y the day ,rayvon 2artin wou#d have had hi) birthday+ Aon3t you thin% that generate) a #itt#e more animo)ity/
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:one)t#y, I don3t %now why he did what he did when he did it, um+ I had no &ontro# over that, )o I &an3t00I &an3t ta%e time to, um, have, um, )e&ond thought) about that+ I mean, that3) )omething that ha((ened out o' my &ontro# and I have to #ive with what that man did again+ .hat3) a regu#ar day #i%e in the #i'e o' George Zimmerman/ ,here3) no norma# #i'e+ I &an te## you, you %now, i' I need medi&a# attention, I wait unti# I have to go to the 4mergen&y Hoom be&au)e I &an3t go to )ee my do&tor regu#ar#y #i%e I &ou#d be'ore+ .hy/ *m, I need bodyguard)+ ,here3) no 'und) 'or bodyguard)+ *m, and my do&tor ha) a (o#i&y that, you %now, be'ore they wou#d #et me go in through the ba&% door, not anymore+ And, um;+ it3) due to the attention and the 'ear that )omeone might re&ogniCe me and might try to, um, )ome ty(e o' revenge+ *m, a) I )aid, I go out with my bu##et0(roo', um00 Ao you wear a bu##et0(roo' ve)t/ >e)+ >e)+ A## the time/ *h, ye), ma3am+ Hight now00 At thi) time+ I &an3t go, um, to (#ay )o&&er with my ne(hew+ I &an3t go to hi) ba)%etba## game); I &an3t go out to eat+ I &an3t go out to &at&h a &ab i' I need to go )omewhere+ *m, I a#way) have that 'ear that i' )omeone re&ogniCe) me00what3) more, hone)t#y it3)00'ran%#y, 'ear 'or my #oved one)+ I don3t want anyone to harm them, and, and that3) why I have to )tay 'ar away 'rom them+ And that, um, i) a #one#y #i'e, um, but again, I )(end a #ot o' time with my 6ib#e and the ?ord, and I try to #ive my #i'e00a) norma# a) I &an, but the 'a&t i) that I &an3t+ For e<am(#e, do you go to the gro&ery )tore/ I do+ I try to go+ And what ha((en) at the gro&ery )tore/ -orma##y, nothing+ *m, there wa)00an o&&a)ion in whi&h I wa) re&ogniCed and, um, I wa) at, um, at a de#i+ ,hey were ma%ing a )andwi&h 'or me, and they de&ided not to ma%e me the )andwi&h+ And, um, but norma#00norma##y (eo(#e00
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be&au)e I move00 I move 'rom )tate to )tate, and mo)t o' the time (eo(#e don3t re&og00re&ogniCe me, but they thin%, 5:e ha) no rea)on to be it thi) )tate, in thi) &ity+7 And by the time they rea#iCe it, I3ve a#ready #e't+ I!" GZ" I!" GZ" I!" GZ" I!" GZ" So you don3t have a hou)e to #ive in/ -o+ >ou %ee( going 'rom )tate to )tate+ >e), ma3am+ I3m tota##y home#e))+ :ow do you )ee your 'uture/ .ith 'aith in God+ :ow do you envi)ion the ne<t 'ew year)/ .hat wou#d you #i%e your #i'e to be #i%e/ ,here i) a )aying in 4ng#i)h that 52an (#an) and God #augh)+7 So I #earned, um, )in&e thi) in&ident in February o' 2012, not to ma%e (#an), to #ive my #i'e in the mo)t !hri)tian way I &an, um, and #et my)e#' be guided and try to he#( every human being and #ive my #i'e in the mo)t (o)itive way I &an+ .ho i) George Zimmerman, rea##y/ I thin% I3m a good brother, a good )on, a good grand)on, um, a good 'riend, but I thin% we a## want to thin% that o' our)e#ve), but, um, I3m )omeone who3) a#way) tried to #ive a norma# #i'e+ I3ve tried to he#( (eo(#e, a#though, um, (utting my)e#' #a)t+ *m, the &ar that00the a&&ident a'ter the verdi&t, um, &ou#d have ea)i#y bro%en u( on me and %i##ed me+ It wa) on 'ire, too, and I didn3t thin% o' my)e#'+ I a#way) want to he#(00other)+ :ow did thi) who#e )ituation &hange you/ Aid George Zimmerman &hange a'ter what ha((ened in February o' 2012/ Again, I thin% )omething00it3) )omething that my ()y&ho#ogi)t &an an)wer 'or you, obviou)#y+ I haveB)u''ered be&au)e o'00 Aid your #i'e &hange in any way/ I )u''er 'rom 9,SA+ 9o)t0traumati& )tre))+
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>e), I3m )orry+ *m, and I try to be, a) I )aid, to give everyone the bene'it o' the doubt+ I tried to give it to mo)t (eo(#e, but I 'ound my)e#' a #ot o' the time, um, be#ieving what the new) )aid or be#ieving what00)omeone who %new )omeone I didn3t %now )aid+ And )in&e that day, I don3t00I give everyone the bene'it o' the doubt+ It3) not u( to me to 1udge anyone+ .ou#d you &hange )omething in your (a)t/ -o+ 2y (a)t #i'e00 >ou3d #ive everything e<a&t#y the )ame way+ .ith a## the e<(erien&e) you3ve #ived through+ Ab)o#ute#y+ In&#uding February o' 2012/ Again, that i) a que)tion I &annot an)wer right now+ 9erha() a'ter00how wou#d you )ay it/00the @u)ti&e Ae(artment 'ini)he) it) )e&ond inve)tigation, we3## be ab#e to ta#%+ .hy did you de&ide to ta#% to *nivi)ion a'ter )o mu&h time in )i#en&e/ Ah, *nivi)ion wa) very, um, re)(on)ib#e with it) 1ourna#i)t) and the new) they broad&a)t, um, a## the00the (re)), obviou)#y, they tried to )u((ort my (arent) and me 'or their00the )tory or the interview+ 6ut *nivi)ion wa) a00the &hanne# that, uh, I )aw that treated my mother and my00my brother, um, with a #ot o' integrity+ And that i) a## I a)%, that they re)(e&t my mother, my grandmother, and I3m ha((y+ *m, and in 'a&t, um, ye), ever )in&e I wa) very )ma##, I wa) born00I wa) rai)ed with *nivi)ion+ I mean, my grandmother rai)ed u)+ 2y mother, my 'ather wor%ed, um, and )he doe)n3t )(ea% 4ng#i)h, )o it wa) a#way) *nivi)ion+ And, um, it wa) a &hoi&e I made, thin%ing more o' my youth and, a) I )aid, be&au)e you treated my 'ami#y with re)(e&t+ And you didn3t do what many, um, Ameri&an 1ourna#i)t) did+
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Ae)&ribe 'or me what George Zimmerman i) #i%e and what how the (re)) di)torted your image+ GZ" ,he way they )e#e&ted, um, )evera# )tation), did di''erent thing) and, #i%e I )aid, there are, um, (ending &ivi# &a)e), um, but everyone %now) what, um, -6! did+ ,hey &hanged the, um, a que)tion that the J11 o(erator a)%ed me and they (ainted me in a #ight that wa) a#mo)t 100 (er&ent ra&i)t+ And it wa) nowhere near what ha((ened, um, )o,00they (ainted me a) ra&i)t,00they )aid that I )aid word) on the ta(e that I have never )aid in my #i'e+ Ah, and they %new the truth, um, they did interview) with (eo(#e who %new me, um, 'riend), A'ri&an0Ameri&an 'ami#y, and they &ho)e not to air that on ,F+ So, that i)00the be)t way I &an e<(#ain it to you+ ,hey (ainted me a) ra&i)t, a) a, um, vigi#ante o'00o'00the, um, neighborhood and it wa)n3t #i%e that+
George, you to#d me that you don3t re&eive money 'rom the government 'rom the government3) unem(#oyment in)uran&e, you don3t have any government bene'it)+ -or 8bama !are+ >ou don3t have a 1ob/ -o+ :ow do you )urvive/ Ah, my 'ami#y he#() me a #ot, obviou)#y+ Sin&e I don3t have a hou)e, I don3t have, um, a mortgage, I don3t (ay, um, rent, um, )o, it3) di''i&u#t but it3), um, I do it00 thou)and) o' Ameri&an) do the )ame+ It i), a) I to#d you, di''i&u#t to owe my #i'e and, ah; A) I3ve a#way) )aid, it3) the &ro)) that the ?ord gave me and I bear it humb#y+ So, um, no00I won3t00)it here and #ie and )ay, you %now, I3m 100 (er&ent ha((y, I don3t need money, et&, et&+ 8bviou)#y I owe mi##ion) o' do##ar), but that i) )omething that right now I &an3t 'i<+ And I give it a## to God and I have 'aith that )omehow, :e wi##00he#( me+ .hat wa) the moment that you3d de)&ribe a) the mo)t di''i&u#t one during your tria#/ .hen I )aw 2r)+ Ha&he# @eante#, when I )aw her te)timony and that00a#though I %new 'rom the, um, the interview) )he3d done, um, more or #e)) what )he wa) going to )ay00 that wa) a )tri%ing moment be&au)e, i' you remember, the &ity o' San'ord, the &ity o' San'ord (o#i&e )aid it wa) )e#'0de'en)e and that there wa) no &rime+ It wa) a#)o e)&a#ated to00to the &ounty where it ha((ened in Semino#e !ounty (ro)e&utor)00 9ro)e&utor)+ >e), o' Semino#e !ounty, and they )aid there wa) no &rime+ And the on#y di''erent thing that the (ro)e&utor) o' Auva# !ounty, 2r)+ !orey, had di''erent than the &ity o' San'ord and Semino#e !ounty had, wa) the te)timony o' that #ady, Ha&he# @eante#+ And when I )aw it, I wa) very )ad be&au)e I )aw that, um, a## o' them; Ange#a !orey, 6ernie Ae ?a Hionda and a## tho)e (ro)e&utor) ba)ed thi) &a)e 'irm#y on the te)timony o' that #ady+ And they u)ed her a) i' )he were, um, I don3t %now how to )ay it in S(ani)h, )orry, a (u((et+ A (u((et+ A (u((et, and )he wa) a young #ady who didn3t want to be there+ And the )adde)t thing i) that )he i) te##ing the truth, )he i) te##ing the truth and )he &ou#dn3t win+ She &ou#dn3t ma%e, um, the )tate ha((y and )he wa)n3t there to he#( the de'en)e+ 6ut when I )aw that00that te)timony wa) the %ey that wa) u)ed by the, um, (eo(#e
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in Auva# !ounty in F#orida, um, that made me very )ad and that wa) the moment, hone)t#y, that I00that00that &om(#ete#y &hanged my thin%ing+ I got home, )aw my ne(hew and &ried 'or #i%e a 1I minute) with him be&au)e he &ou#dn3t be#ieve that, um, Gov+ Hi&% S&ott had a((ointed hi) 'riend, um, or had a)%ed hi) 'riend 9am 6ondi to (ut 2r)+ !orey a) (ro)e&utor, 1u)t ba)ed on00ba)ed on thi) te)timony that I had 1u)t )een that day and that te)timony didn3t )ay anything, but &#ari'ied what I had )aid a## a#ong+ So, it wa) very )ad+ .hat wa) going through George Zimmerman3) mind when he wa) waiting 'or the 1ury to render it) verdi&t/ *m, everybody a)%) me that be&au)e they )ay00I haven3t )een the video, but they te## me that I had no e<(re))ion what)oever+ *m, and the an)wer i) ea)y+ I a#way) had in my hand) what I a#way) &arry with me+ .hat i) it/ A ro)ary, and I wa) (raying with my ro)ary in my hand, and, um, I handed it over to00to 2r+ .e)t a'ter they de&#ared me inno&ent, and the who#e time that the 1udge, my #awyer), the 1ury were ta#%ing, I wa) 1u)t (raying, and I wa)n3t ab#e to hear+ I &ou#d obviou)#y hear+ 6ut I de&ided to #i)ten on#y to my (rayer) and to the ?ord+ So, um, I wa)n3t thin%ing mu&h+ ,hey were my (rayer) that a#way)00that my grandmother had taught me )in&e I wa) a &hi#d+ *m, and it didn3t hit me unti# they &ut o'' the G9S monitor and I wa) tru#y 'ree+ And I thin% that did, um, e<&u)e me, but to go ba&% a bit, um, ye), I do have a (rob#em with )(eeding but00and it3) my 'au#t+ I have (aid the 'ine) a) I )hou#d+ *m, but it3) ea)y to )(eed when you have had a monitor on your body 24 hour) a day 'or more than a year, a year and a ha#', te##ing you where you &ou#d and &ou#dn3t go+ And when they &ut it o'' me, I 'e#t )u&h 'reedom, and I &ou#d go anywhere I wanted, whenever I wanted+ I didn3t have to announ&e it or a)% (ermi))ion to go to another &ounty, )o, um, but it wa) when they &ut it o'' me that day in &ourt that I wa) 'ina##y ab#e to rea&t emotiona##y+ George, i)n3t it &ontradi&tory that you te## me that you a#way) &arried the ro)ary but you a#)o &arried a wea(on/ -ot in &ourt+ -ot in &ourt but you did out)ide+ 4h, no, not that00 ,he night o' the in&ident you were &arrying the ro)ary and a#)o &arrying the gun/ I wa) &arrying the wea(on+ I don3t remember what I had in my (o&%et be&au)e when the young man hit me, everything went out '#ying, um, but I &an te## you that I on#y had my #i&en)e00I wa)n3t ab#e to get a #i&en)e to &arry a um, &on&ea#ed
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wea(on, um, unti# you3re 21 year) o#d in the )tate o' F#orida, I be#ieve, but )in&e I wa) a &hi#d I3ve been re#igiou), I3ve had, um, )&a(u#ar) that my grandmother wou#d (ut on me, um, )o, that i) not00I don3t, don3t under)tand the &orre#ation between the two+ I' you are )aying to me that I had a ro)ary to de'end me 'rom the evi#) o' the wor#d, ye), I (rayed every time, I (rayed when I had te)t) at )&hoo#+ I (rayed when I thought that, you %now, uh, in any )ituation in whi&h I wanted the ?ord to guide me, but that3) 1u)t the truth+ I!" GZ" I!" GZ" :ow doe) George Zimmerman (#an to &#o)e thi) &ha(ter o' hi) #i'e and )tart a new #i'e/ I thin% we3re )tarting now+ I thin% we3re )tarting+ Ao you have a (rob#em &ontro##ing your tem(er/ 8bviou)#y I be#ieve that the00the00the &ourt video) )how my tem(er when the (ro)e&utor) are ye##ing in my 'a&e that I %i##ed a boy+ *m, my tem(er i) the )ame+ I3m a#way), um, the way I3m ta#%ing to you, the way I )(o%e in &ourt when I too% the )tand to )ay, um, the 2artin Fu#ton 'ami#y the que)tion) they wou#d have a)%ed me+ I don3t be#ieve I have a (rob#em with my tem(er+ Ao you be#ieve that now, month) a'ter you were de&#ared inno&ent in &ourt, that you are trying to return to your #i'e, that ,rayvon 2artin3) (arent) are a#)o trying to dea# with that grie' o' #o)ing a &hi#d, a#though #o)ing a &hi#d i) )omething that you &an never over&ome, that (erha() thi) i) a good o((ortunity to )end them a me))age under &ir&um)tan&e) that are di''erent 'rom )(ea%ing during a tria#/ Ab)o#ute#y not+ Again, with 9re)ident 8bama ma%ing the &omment) he did and the inve)tigation that he, eh, ordered again)t me, I &annot have any &ommuni&ation with them+ 6ut &an3t you )end them a me))age on &amera either/ I3ve a#ready )een, um, that anything I )ay &an be u)ed again)t me+ And, um, I &an3t )end any me))age), nor wou#d I imagine (#a&ing my)e#' in a )ituation that &ou#d give them )omething that they &an00be&au)e I have )een that out o' nothing, they &an ma%e a00a who#e &a)e+ So I don3t want to )end any me))age to anybody that may be mi)inter(reted and )end me ba&% to 1ai#+ I' that wor%) it)e#' out )ome day, wou#d you #i%e to be ab#e to get &#o)e to them/ I3m o(en to anything+ .hat doe) George Zimmerman want to do in the 'uture/ 9ro'e))iona##y/
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And (er)ona##y+ 6oth+ 9ro'e))iona##y, I wou#d #i%e to &ontinue my edu&ation and be a #awyer+ *m, I3d #i%e to, um, ma%e )ure that what ha((ened to me, the in1u)ti&e that ha((ened to me doe)n3t ha((en again to anyone+ >ou &on)ider that you )u''ered an in1u)ti&e/ Ab)o#ute#y+ *m, and (er)ona##y my goa# i) )im(#y to #ive my #i'e a) mu&h a) I &an #i%e !hri)t+ Ao you have a wea(on today/ .ith me, here/ -ot right at thi) moment, but do you have a wea(on with you at home/ I have a wea(on, ye)+ ,hey returned a## my wea(on) to me+ And are you aware that the )ame thing that ha((ened that day o' February o' 2012 &an ha((en again/ And I thin% it3) more o' a (o))ibi#ity given the threat) that have been made again)t me+ I don3t thin% that, um, they3re going to atta&% me with 'i)t) or &on&rete+ ,hey %now I have a wea(on and they3re very vo&a# in )aying that they are going to )hoot me in the head the minute they )ee me+ *m, )o to an)wer you, ye), I be#ieve that it3) more (o))ib#e00today than be'ore+ ,he in&ident that we )(o%e about be'ore when you he#(ed )ome (eo(#e who had had a &ar a&&ident+ .hy did you de&ide to get out o' the &ar and he#( tho)e (eo(#e/ *m, 'ir)t o' a##, you re(orted the a&&ident and00.hat I did, Fo< -ew) re(orted+ ,he other), I don3t %now i' they re(orted it, and i' they re(orted it, )ometime) they made it )ound #i%e my #awyer) and I made a #ot o' noi)e+ *m, )o in your de'en)e, ye), you re(orted it and, um, # a((re&iate it+ >ou re(orted it 'a&tua##y+ *m, the de&i)ion wa) a de&i)ion I made in an in)tant+ *m, I )aw the &ar, um, that had00that wa) on it) )ide+ It wa)n3t u()ide down+ And I thought that it wa) an a&&ident that had ta%en (#a&e the (reviou) day be&au)e there wa) nobody there+ *m, and than%) 'or a)%ing be&au)e that3) a good e<am(#e when you a)%ed me i' (eo(#e o' di''erent ra&e) or the Amer00A'ri&an0Ameri&an ra&e, what they thin% o' me+ *m, there wa) a man who wa) A'ri&an0Ameri&an, and a## o' thi) that I3m te##ing you %now, o' &our)e, ha((ened in a matter o' )e&ond) be&au)e he wa) driving00)(eeding, I3m )ure+ And, um, the Semino#e !ounty Sheri'' had to#d me )evera# time), 5.hen thi) i) over, di)a((ear+ Aon3t be in (ub#i&+ Aon3t )to( 'or dire&tion), ga), anything+ ee( going+ Go where you want to go+7 And I )aw thi)
I!"
GZ"
A'ri&an0Ameri&an man trying to o(en the door o' thi) &ar, u)ing tremendou) )trength, and that3) when I rea#iCed that )omeone wa) tra((ed in the &ar+ *m, it wa)n3t that I made the de&i)ion to )to(+ It3) that I 1u)t &ou#dn3t %ee( driving, um, and than% God, everything turned out a#right+ *m, the A'ri&an0Ameri&an man who wa) there wa) the 'ir)t one to get there+ :e %e(t the &ar door o(en whi#e I tried to get the 'ami#y out, and the man wa) ne<t to me a## the time, and that ha((ened in San'ord+ And at the end, eh, when00the (o#i&e arrived and the, um, 'iremen, (aramedi&), I wa) wa#%ing to my &ar and the man tried to get my attention, and 'or a )e&ond I )aid, 5@u)t %ee( going+ ,he (o#i&e are here+7 And the man to#d me, 5:ey, George,7 and I #oo%ed at him and00)ee, ye), than%), )ir+ And he to#d me, 5I %now who you are, and I want to )ay to you God b#e)) you, and #eave be'ore other) re&ogniCe you+7 ,he A'ri&an0Ameri&an man, I %now00I thin% that that man (erha() had an o(inion about who I wa), but when he )aw me wor%, he00ne<t to me, arm to arm00 I!" GZ" >ou thought that he wa) o' the o(inion that you were ra&i)t/ .hatever hi) o(inion wa), and I %now that he &hanged hi) mind be&au)e he )aid to me, 5I %now who you are+ God b#e)) you+7 And that wa) a'ter00that wa) ha#' an hour a'ter initia# in&ident00be&au)e the man, at 'ir)t the man who wa) tra((ed in hi) &ar )aid he &ou#dn3t get hi) )eatbe#t o''+ And00and I a)%ed the A'ri&an0 Ameri&an man i' he &ou#d00i' he had a %ni'e, and he to#d me, 5-o+7 And he #oo%ed at my 'a&e and re&ogniCed me+ So be&au)e o' hi) rea&tion, I %now that he re&ogniCed me and wa) in a bit o' a )ho&%+ 6ut what matter) at the end i) what he )aid, 5God b#e)) you,7 and that he wa) &on&erned 'or me and to#d me, 5?eave be'ore other) re&ogniCe you7 and00 .hat ha((ened with the)e (eo(#e/ Aid the two (eo(#e who were in the &ar re&ogniCe you/ ,here were 'our+ ,here were00 Four (eo(#e+ 00mother, 'ather, daughter and )on, and ye), the 'ather re&ogniCed me+ *m, the other), uh00 .hat did the man te## you/ I3d imagine00I never been00I3ve never been in an a&&ident #i%e that+ I don3t have &hi#dren )o I don3t %now what %ind o' )ho&% or trauma the man had, but when I 'ina##y he#(ed him )tart to get the &hi#dren out, he to#d me, 5>ou3re him+ >ou3re George Zimmerman+7 And everything that wa) going through my head, my mind, wa) that the &ar i)00i) going to 'a##+ it wa) raining and I wanted to get the %id) out+ ,he &hi#dren were )&reaming, 5:e#(, he#(+ Get me out, get me out+7 I to#d the man, 5Sir, that doe)n3t matter+ @u)t (a)) the %id) over to me+7 And un'ortunate#y,
they, the 'ami#y, wanted, um, and i' I &an )end a me))age to tho)e who are wat&hing that interview, the 'our o' them were wearing their )eat00)eatbe#t+ And, um, the #itt#e gir# wa) nine year) o#d, I thin%, and )he wa) &rying, &rying be&au)e, we##, a##00a## the trauma, and I to#d her, 5>ou %now what/ ,he on#y thing that matter) i) that a## 'our o' you are a#ive be&au)e he had your )eatbe#t on+7 ,hat i) )omething I3d #i%e to )ee more, that (eo(#e ta%e that a) a (riority, um, and )he hugged me and than%ed me, and I )aid, 5>ou don3t have to than% me, but (romi)e me007 6e&au)e her brother wa) younger, I )aid to her, 59romi)e me that you3re a#way) going to wear your )eatbe#t and are a#way) going to ma%e )ure that your #itt#e brother a#)o doe)+7 And the mother to#d me, 5?u&%y, huh/ ?u&%y that we were a## wearing our )eatbe#t and )urvived+7 And I an)wered her )im(#y, 5It3) not #u&%, ma3am+ It3) God+ And the #ady )tarted to &ry and hugged me, and I thin% that the hu)band had to#d her who I wa) and had a#ready rea#iCed it at that time+ ,hey went (ub#i&, they wanted to )ay what had ha((ened and than% me+ 6ut un'ortunate#y, they re&eived a #ot o' threat) and de&ided at the #a)t minute not to grant an interview, not to )how their 'a&e) in (ub#i&+ And, um, I, um, I than% them 'or doing what i) in the be)t intere)t o' the 'ami#y be&au)e I have )een 'ir)t o' a## how threat) and a## that a''e&t you+ And I don3t b#ame them 'or not wanting to go (ub#i& and, and )aying what ha((ened and how they rea##y )urvived be&au)e the tru&% wa) on 'ire and, um, and I %now what ha((ened+ ,hey %now what ha((ened+ ,he A'ri&an0Ameri&an man who wa) there a#)o %now) what ha((ened and the ?ord %now), and I3m ha((y with that+ A#way), no matter i' they &ome out and )ay, 5>ou %now what/ George turned the &ar over and got u) out,7 and there wi## a#way) be that (er00(er&entage o' (eo(#e who )ay, #i%e you )aid be'ore, that wi## have their o(inion and wi## try to 'a#)e#y a&&u)e me o' thing)+ And with them going (ub#i& to de'end me or e<(#00e<(#ain what ha((ened that won3t &hange that (er&entage o' (eo(#e who a#ready have their mind made u(+ I!" GZ" Ao you be#ieve that )omeday you wi## be ab#e to have a norma# #i'e or do you be#ieve that thi) gho)t wi## &ha)e you your who#e #i'e/ I be#ieve that they wi## &ha)e me my who#e #i'e, but I have 'aith that human being) are, um, want to give the bene'it o' the doubt #i%e I do, and want to 'orgive, want to go on with their own #ive)+ And I thin% that it wi## de&rea)e but, um, that i) what I want, but I have00o' &our)e, I %now00I3m (re(ared 'or the wor)t, and the wor)t (art i) that thi) &ou#d go on 'or my who#e #i'e+ 6ut I3m ho(e'u# that it wi## )tart to de&rea)e+ .e##, George, than% you very mu&h+ ,han% you+ ,han% you very mu&h, George+