Protesters gathered at the Criminal Justice Building in Sanford March 19. (Photo: Flickr.)
By Howard Goodman
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
Editor’s note: This item contains offensive language, which the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting believes is necessary to include in order to discuss accurately and fairly reports that George Zimmerman used a racial slur when he called 911.
With careful listening, and technically enhanced replays, it has become clearer that George Zimmerman uttered a racial slur during the 911 phone call in which he reported seeing a “suspicious … black male in his late teens” in his Sanford gated community — minutes before he shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin dead.
One of the strongest indications comes from CNN, which asked an audio expert to closely examine a crucial 1.6 seconds of the recording.
In talking to a police dispatcher about the person he was watching on the night of Feb. 26, Zimmerman evidently muttered “fucking coons.”
The dialogue sounds like this:
Zimmerman: Shit, he’s running.
911: He’s running? Which way is he running?
Zimmerman: Down towards the other entrance of the neighborhood.
911: Which entrance is that that he’s heading towards?
Zimmerman: The back entrance. [pause] Fucking coons.
It was easy to miss the slur when the recordings were released last weekend. The words were mumbled and obscured by background noise, and easily taken for a heavy breath. What stood out, on first listen, was Zimmerman describing “a real suspicious guy” who “looks like he’s up to no good,” and adding, “These assholes, they always get away.” Also commanding attention was the dispatcher’s telling Zimmerman not to follow the man.
But after The Young Turks played tapes on the Internet video show on Monday, listeners contacted them to say, “You missed something.” Host Cent Uygur credited his viewers for the catch: “You put up anything on YouTube, they will dissect it, second by second.”
On Tuesday, the show followed up with a segment strongly suggesting the mumbled sounds were the words “fucking coons.” The angle gained traction when blogger ZappoDave on the Daily Kos also began writing about it on Tuesday, and cable TV talk shows soon began broaching the subject.
Last night on MSNBC, Jasmine Rand, an attorney for the Martin family, said that the words were not audible on the version of the tapes that Sanford police provided to the family. “So at this time, until the family can verify that that was an official version from the Sanford Police Department, the family cannot stand by those terms,” Rand said.
But the words do appear to be present on the tapes released over the weekend and published Monday by the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting. They can be heard, however indistinctly, at the 2:21 mark of Zimmerman’s 911 call:
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If Zimmerman indeed made the racist remark, the legal consequences could be severe. As legal writer Jeffrey Toobin pointed out, homicide is not a federal crime. But a homicide motivated by racial animus — that is a federal hate crime, and it could result in very serious charges (listen here at the 4:40 mark).
This twist in the case is another example of the power of Internet media — blogs, Twitter, YouTube — to bring an important story to light and to do the work that was once almost exclusively the province of journalists. It was a blogger for the Huffington Post, Trymaine Lee, whose repeated reports on the case beginning March 8 pushed the story into public consciousness. Now it’s followers of an obscure news show seen on YouTube who uncovered what appears to be a crucial element in the events leading to the death of a black teenager who was simply walking to his father’s house after a stroll to the local 7-Eleven.
Racial slurs?? Hate crime?? Should every black guy who has shot at a white person that uses the term “Whiteboy” be charged with hate crime? If I called a black man “Boy” I would be considered racist.
Please hold yourselves as accountable as you hold everyone else.
If there were more folks like George Zimmerman there would be less crime everywhere. People in the hood (which unfortunatly is usually black) will not snitch on one another even if they know who broke into their niegbors house. Hold yourselves to the same standards.
Now I do agree that Neigborhood Watch should be better identified so people aren’t afraid of being followed.
He says “punks.” People are hearing what they want to hear.
People aren’t hearing what they want to hear you must be a George supporter I assume!! I even heard him whisper f coon how could u even miss that
This is a response to Whiteboy’s comment. You say that if more people were like George Zimmerman(a man who chased down and killed another human being, for looking suspicious) the world would be a safer place. Am I understanding you correctly?
That’s exactly what he is saying
That’s exactly what he said which is very ignorant to state especially considering what Zimmerman has done. All races should be upset because at the end of the day a teen has been killed for no reason at all. Zimmerman was clearly a “wannabe” cop who found the perfect time & the perfect victim to harass. And to respond to the statement that the hood basically consists of black people I beg to differ. Where I am from I see all races in the “hood”, visiting as well as living there. Not only would I consider the hood to be projects but the hood could also be trailer parks as well. I’m one of MANY who has been fortunate enough to not have to ever live in neither. I pray for Trayvon’s family as well as people who find what Zimmerman did to be ok because it is not. #JusticeforTrayvon
I’ve listened to the clip over and over and all I hear is punks.
Yes, it’s most definite. the f word and the c word. So, there is the racist connection to the murder. Some will not want to say they hear it,many for racist reasons . I understand that someone in the media may not want to prejudice the case using their influence re the media. But the truth is a racial epithet was made by Zimmerman, and so the Feds have what they need to go after Zimmerman for a “hate” crime. The Police are involved in a cover up, so more investigation not just the shooter. The President has just said that there will be a full investigation of everything, and everybody. No choice really. 2 problems still out there. One is Zimmerman with a gun and he has left his residence. Two is the problem of someone getting hurt over this. In no way did the Police do the right thing, and now these 2 problems could cause more harm to citizens. Sharpton and others are telling everyone to remain calm. Hopefully no one else will be injured or killed. There is no guarantee Zimmerman will come back when asked to do so. He may try to disappear and flee. Racism rears its ugly head again, and it’s like suddenly being dropped back into the 50s with the death of another black man, and a cover-up by the racist Police. This is another reason People are so confused. How can History repeat itself like this..it’s just a eerie feeling. We have media that now supports racism as in Fox, and we have a black President which has caused racists to really be upset. So, we have to work extra hard to keep this racism from hurting and killing People as it has in the past, because there is no way with free speech the likes of Fox can be shut down, and there is no way a racist can be rehabilitated. See Geraldo and Hoodies.
Agree with morty62..He says “punks” not “coons”.
He says “f*** it’s cold”. The sound is an “ol” sound not an “oo” sound. He’s in his truck (which he mentions he has @ about 3:20), he gets out or opens his door after he says “he’s running” (door alarm is ringing in the back ground), it’s raining (apparently, as he says @ about 0:22). Observed precipitation was .17 inch with a low of 52′ F (per weather.com). Consider all the facts, analyze the whole recording, and not just what you want to hear/focus on. Does this mean Zimmerman’s justified? No. I’m not saying that, but he’s not saying the “racial slur” people are claiming.
If anybody claims to have heard Punks which sound notbing like the F’in Coons he whispered, you are such liars or you need to get your ears checked. It is so loud n clear even when he put the bass back on it. C’mon now, …Punks??? Really???, what else do you think we are from the hood and dumb??. and to Mr. Whiteboy, you sure gotta lot to say here..But wouldn’t dare run off at the mouth in a group with even 1 black guy there. Now who’s the punk? P* U* N* K*!! All that talk about more folks should do what Zimmerman did, Why? He was right to murder him? Treyvon was A Thug ur sayin’? Tell me how any human being deserves that and did nothing wrong??…and if he did something wrong, a vigilante is still acting above the law. THINK before you speak and stop generalizing the situation, Zimmerman was Hispanic , not all white #1 and Boyz in The Hood is a movie, not on every street corner. There are more Hispanics and whiteboyz from the hood involved in the same criminal activities you are generalizing for Black youth, so don’t even go there!!
@Whiteboy. How ignorant are you? Do you honestly think that the majority of people in the hood are black? Really? There are no more black people in the hood than there are Rednecks & hillbillies that are in the country. Where do you get your statistics? And, what does any of that have to do with what happened? That just shows your ignorance all the more. You state that if there were more people like zimmerman there would be less crime, was this little boy committing a crime? I never knew it was a crime to walk from the store/talking on the phone,minding your own business. He was following this child and instigated the situation. I bet if that had of been a black man following a little white girl, you would be ready to string him up in a tree, huh? This should not be about black, white, green, blue or purple. This child was gunned down for no reason at all. Zimmerman’s job was to be eyes and ears for the police not take the law into his own hands. You said that black people will not snitch on one another when a crime is committed in their neighbors house, but what about how white people cover up and lie when they committ a crime against a black person because you don’t think that their life is worth anything? The bottom line is this kid had every right to be where he was, doing what he was doing, without some kindergartin wanna be cop deliberately following him. I can guarantee you he would not want some grown man creeping behind his child in a car. This child ran because he was scared. I would have ran. Even though the battery on a police officer charges were dropped against zimmerman, in my opinion that gives you some idea of the mindset of this dude.
I don’t understand why those who are in support of Zimmerman are not seeing the big picture. This was a teenager, someone’s child. He did not have any weapons on him, unless skittles and ice tea are now considered dangerous.It was raining SO HE HAD HIS DAMN HOODIE ON… It is also ridiculous that Trayvon would even have to answer to some random man about why he is walking in a neighborhood…Zimmerman was obviously looking for a conflict, he decided to go after this child with a gun. Trayvon was not a threat to Zimmerman, That fool just had a gun and an itchy finger. Please stop being so niave Zimmerman did not say “punks” it is VERY VERY clear what he said. The problem is some people refuse to acknowledge this man is wrong, Sanford’s police department were wrong. THIS IS VERY MUCH A RACIAL CRIME.
@Madison world citizen,
My black friends and I have had debates about this unfortunate event. I really do feel for the family and maybe Florida law should be evaluated . However I don’t think this its in no 100% the fault of Mr Zimmerman. He was doing what grew though was right and I commend him for that. If the 50,000 that showed up to try and have this guy lynched acted more like a community for positive issues the world would be a much better place. I agree with all who said “what was free doing with a gun?” But hey, i’m not patrolling the streets looking for bad guys either. If more people stood up for their community we wouldn’t have guys as extreme as him patrolling the streets cause the people would govern themselves.
I’m sorry – it’s just not enough to say one way or another. It’s not definate what he says beyond a resonable doubt. Again, sorry that’s what we have to go by. It’s a tragedy either way. I don’t think Zimmerman ever had to right to shoot him. And yes, I do believe he was acting as a vigilante. He should face jail time for manslaughter but not a hate crime…
I cannot believe anyone can listen to that recording and not hear what was clearly stated. BTW You don’t have to be black to hear the word “coons” on that recording. Those who claim Zimmerman said ‘punks’ are truely hearing what they want to hear. Denial is not just a river in Africa. It truly exists and it’s running rampant through America and obviously this thread!
It is clear he muttered “f@+*&ing coons” under his breath. He had no business following Trayvon when he was told not to. This looks like Zimmerman, carrying a concealed weapon wanted to confront TM. Sad!
Its actually very said that a innocent teenager got killed I also think that its sad when a minority pulls the racist card. I am not 100% sure what was said in the recording but that is why I am not an investigator. I agree with all of you he had no business following Trayvon when he was told not to. I agree with cnote, Zimmerman should be charged with manslaughter but this is defiantly not a hate crime.
Again..He says “punks” not “coons”. If he would have said “coons” I would say “yup, that Zimmerman is just another racist jack@ss.” I’m not defending Zimmerman…but I am not going to let myself be fooled by sensationalism by the media. You shouldn’t either. Zimmerman was an over zealous dummy who I’m sure had fantasies of getting the chance to use his gun on some bad guys. Being an idiot, doesn’t make you a racist. Reality got blurred and he saw a hoodlum instead of a 17 year old kid trying to go back home. They got into a fight and Zimmerman shot. A police officer would have done the same thing. Again, Zimmerman was an over zealous idiot trying to be big bad officer. He effed up and he’s going to be dealing with the consequences the rest of his life.
But the question still remains, was he truly “technically” defending himself even though he was a complete effing moron for putting himself in that situation????? NONE OF US KNOW…YET
If you already have the verdict in your head, then you’re guilty of the same stupidity as George Zimmerman..Because that’s exactly the mistake he made.
Merely by printing the words “fucking coons” CNN tilts the listener’s perception in a manipulative, deceitful manner.
“Fooking Prawns”
It could be anything. If he is taken into custody and a trial begins, I’d actually advise the prosecution not to use this for any part of the case. It’s too hard to confirm. Reasonable doubt is there.
Ignorance isnt the key to this crime. Zimmerman called 911 and under his breath you can hear him say a race slur “F***ing C***s. People dont lie to yourselfs about what you heard. First of all this is a murder of a teenage boy that didnt deserve to die. How the hell is zimmerman going to follow Trayvon when the officer told him not too, this man took matters in his on hands. It was raining outside so yes, Trayvon had his hoodie on (i wouldnt blame him for having a hoodie on, news flash it was raining)second of all Trayvon was carring a AZ ice tea and skittles while talking on the phone to his friend (or girlfriend). Trayvon didnt do a crime, he was walking from point A the seven-eleven to his fathers home. So far I see no crime the teenage boy was doing, talking on a cell phone isnt a crime, carry skittles and a AZ ice tea isnt a crime either or even wearing a hoodie in the rain. Zimmerman murdered a teenage boy, ignored the officer on the other line and kept follow Trayvon, called him a race slur and now telling lies about how he was hurt or got head injuries which never showed up on the police report, Some say zimmerman should be locked in jail for his crime but I say lets murder him the same way he murdered poor Trayvon. Trayvon didnt deserve this. If zimmerman goes to prison he still gets freedom but behide bars, murder the son of a B****….. Prays and my heart go out to Trayvons family. This could have been my brother, son, nephew……… ((smmfh @ those that believe zimmerman did right, your ignorent fools!!!!!))
@cocosweets – It is a crime to turn around and assault the Local Neigborhood Watch captain (or anyone else for that matter) funny the everyone is SOO focused on a POSSIBILITY of a racial slur and not the –>FACTwitnessed<– Treyvon whipping George Zimmerman. Literally had him straddled on the ground and beating him. AND REALLY!?!? Calling for a lynching?? Hold yourself to the standards you would want to be held. I know and see that blacks are treated differently. If that is to ever change, the people must change. Blacks are almost 13% of the population of America however the prisons are nearly 40% black. That is not because of racist rednecks put them there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarceration_in_the_United_States
@Chuck – you verbalized exactly what I was feeling.
RIP Treyvon. . . You really did look like one of the "Good Ones"
To change the stereotype you must first change the statistic…
The whole problem with the “Stand Your Ground” law is that now justice is inequal. Someone with a gun can act as judge and jury out of fear, rather than the facts presented in a courtroom. If you shoot someone under this law, you have more incentive to kill them, so they can’ t have an opportunity to testify against you. This law makes a travesty of justice.
Amber,
Well said, but I think the law says that the attack must be “unprovoked”. If you chase someone and grab them, you have crosses the line and become the aggressor. I believe that I read that Zimmerman grabbed Martin’s arm before he was hit. If someone nut case chased me down and grabbed me, I would also probably hit them. If they first pulled a gun, I would probably run like hell. Either way, Martin had as much right to be there as Zimmerman. If the idiot (Zimmerman) would have just waited a couple minutes for police to arrive, like told, this probably would not have happened. I have many guns, but I would never take one out in public as it is just asking for trouble. If people are going to be allowed to carry concealed guns, the should have to go through the same rigorous training that police officers must complete.
I think that it misses the point, but in my opinion, the recording says “Coons”. I would bet that any jury would come to the same conclusion.
By the way, I am a white male, born and raised in Oklahoma, and living in Texas. Racism is alive and well in this country. Anyone that says different is either in complete denial or have their heads shove up their butts.
Actually for all of you the law Stand Your Ground… George Zimmerman hasn’t a leg to stand on with that. Zimmerman made the first move and if anything it applied to Trayvon to defend and protect himself.
The 2011 Florida Statutes
Title XLVI
CRIMES
Chapter 776
JUSTIFIABLE USE OF FORCE
View Entire Chapter
776.013 Home protection; use of deadly force; presumption of fear of death or great bodily harm.—
(1) A person is presumed to have held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another when using defensive force that is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm to another if:
(a) The person against whom the defensive force was used was in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering, or had unlawfully and forcibly entered, a dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle, or if that person had removed or was attempting to remove another against that person’s will from the dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle; and
(b) The person who uses defensive force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry or unlawful and forcible act was occurring or had occurred.
(2) The presumption set forth in subsection (1) does not apply if:
(a) The person against whom the defensive force is used has the right to be in or is a lawful resident of the dwelling, residence, or vehicle, such as an owner, lessee, or titleholder, and there is not an injunction for protection from domestic violence or a written pretrial supervision order of no contact against that person; or
(b) The person or persons sought to be removed is a child or grandchild, or is otherwise in the lawful custody or under the lawful guardianship of, the person against whom the defensive force is used; or
(c) The person who uses defensive force is engaged in an unlawful activity or is using the dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle to further an unlawful activity; or
(d) The person against whom the defensive force is used is a law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 943.10(14), who enters or attempts to enter a dwelling, residence, or vehicle in the performance of his or her official duties and the officer identified himself or herself in accordance with any applicable law or the person using force knew or reasonably should have known that the person entering or attempting to enter was a law enforcement officer.
(3) A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.
(4) A person who unlawfully and by force enters or attempts to enter a person’s dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle is presumed to be doing so with the intent to commit an unlawful act involving force or violence.
(5) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Dwelling” means a building or conveyance of any kind, including any attached porch, whether the building or conveyance is temporary or permanent, mobile or immobile, which has a roof over it, including a tent, and is designed to be occupied by people lodging therein at night.
(b) “Residence” means a dwelling in which a person resides either temporarily or permanently or is visiting as an invited guest.
(c) “Vehicle” means a conveyance of any kind, whether or not motorized, which is designed to transport people or property.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2005-27.
http://www.examiner.com/charleston-conservative-in-charleston-sc/zimmerman-was-on-the-ground-being-punched-when-he-shot-trayvon-martin
The Miami Herald is reporting the facts on the case and they are: Zimmerman was attacked by Martin, the kid is NOT a sweetie pie, as his family and others would like the narrative to go, but actually quite the trouble maker. And the actual photo of what he looks like now is nothing like the picture being circulated of him as a baby face skittle eating kiddie.
I am sick and tired of the media and others distorting the truth. AND for anyone to NOT decry this atrocity and stand up against them is asking for the same things to happen to them one day. Anybody hear worry about the white kid who was bullied on the way home from school by 2 black kids, who than poured gasoline on his head and body before setting him on fire? no? look it up. THAT is a hate crime, because those kids went after the 12 yr old because he WAS white.
And scream loud and clear about the black 6 yr old gunned down on her front porch a week ago by black people too. THAT makes more sense than going after a hispanic man who is tired of the crime in his neighborhood.
He says “Fucking Coons ” its very clear to me thats what this man said. Maybe the others thats saying he says ” Punks” “Cold” or whatever is trying to help cover for Zimmerman because possibly they are racist also . I’m white & non-racist… George Zimmermans words are racist to my ears.
He says, “Fucking PUNKS.” You people who hear “coons” hear it because you WANT to hear it. That doesn’t make it so.
I heard it as “punks” even before I read that anyone else thought that’s what it was.
Here’s my opinion. He is definitely racially motivated when he shoots the kid. I’m sure he has some stereotype embedded in his head that makes him fear Trayvon based on the color of his skin. However, he is definitely saying “Punks”. Any audio engineer would actually analyze the frequency and amplitude of the wave and not try to listen to it on some subpar computer speakers. I encourage all of you to download free software called “audacity” and record the 2 words with your microphone. zoom in on the wave and compare it to what you see on his computer screen in the video. You will clearly see that the wave signature looks like the one from the word “punks”.
I heard slime balls.
I believe thug want-a-be attacked Barnie F and surprise Barnie had a bullet in his gun. Having said that Barnie F probably should be charged with Manslaughter even though he will likely win at trial.
It was very clear to me, especially in the context of the other things he was saying. No doubt in my mind. But still this incident has made me positive I don’t ever want to move to that state. It is frighteneing that this creep who not only violated the young man’s civil rights, and also murdered him in cold blood in a very cowardly fashion (and with racial animosity almost certainly fueling his out of control rage), can just claim ‘delf defense’ despite there being no presentable evidence that this huge guy felt his life could possibly have been threatened by this unarmed teenager who weighed 100 less then he did. I have heard of several other absurd murders down there where a casual cold blooded shooting, even during a discussion, is protected by the ‘stand your ground’ law. A guy shoots someone for any reason then says ‘self defense’ and doesn’t even get arrested. This is definitely not the first time. This case is even more weird because Zimmerman instigated the unfriendly exchange, was twice the size of that unarmed kid, then shot the “f’ing C**n” as he referred to him, and then says ‘self defense’?. What is even more absurd is that the authorities seem to be willing to take his word for it! This cop wannabe is dangerous. Even if the Fed authorities can’t hear what is on tape, I strongly believe the young fella’s civil rights were violated. I don’t think this young man could possibly have seriously threatened bodily harm or this man’s life, so shooting him can’t be justified even by their legal standards. If Zimmerman is not at least brought to trial I would say the laws have to change (and at this point it seems to be a foregone conclusion). 38 years ago I was profiled as a hippy and my life was directly threatened by the poilce who arrested me on no legal grounds. The arrest is not on record. But that is a long story. It is very frightening to be in such a situation where they think they can do anything they want, and they don’t like the way you look, (in my case they were choking me with a hanger after they tied me to a chair with wire in order to get a false confession, also threatening to kill me). That was Ohio, where the police did not even care about the law if they didn’t like the way you looked. Similar to this case?
@ white boy you said tray on was straddled Mr Zimmerman, well according to the stand your ground law, trayvn had the right to defend himself since a stranger that he did not know was following him. You never commented on my previous question to you. What if that had been a little white girl/or boy being followed by a black man? You stated earlier that it was not 100% Mr zimmerman’s fault. Well who fault is it then?
@ rick you are 100% correct racism is well and alive in this country today. The only difference instead of having a rope and pickup truk, they have on suits and tie
It so funny that white people still think black folks are ignorant and don’t realize when they are being judged based on the color of their skin, their neighborhood or the clothes they wear.
All race aside..I am a professional audio engineer, have been for 15 years with trained ears. I heard clearly what Zimmerman said the first day the 911 call audio was released. He clearly says “Fuckin Coons” under his breath. The pronunciation of C followed by “oons” is not even in the same universe as “P’ followed by “unks”. Its sad that this is even a discussion. I wasn’t there and don’t know what happened the 60 secs of lost audio, but I do believe that “Stand You Ground” or even “Self Defense” is something that should not be able to be used by anyone who is the aggressor or going after anyone whom is minding there own business doing no wrong. Unless you are a Police Officer and legally follow Police procedure, a person being followed, stalked or confronted has the right to protect themselves. Hopefully justice is served and in the process some of you people wake up and see what is really going on in our world.
It sounds like “punks” to me.
Well, I listened again and maybe it was “coons”. It could be either one. Plus I think it is harder to hear on computer speakers. Very sad a 17 yr old young man lost his life.
A bunch of you cats need to go and get your ears checked! I was actually skeptical myself when I heard that Zimmerman may have muttered a racial slur on his 911 call so I listened myself (with a lot of doubt in my mind). Clear as day, he mumbles “fucking coons” under his breath at 2:20 in the audio file. No he didn’t say “punks” or “it’s cold,” without question he clearly says “fucking coons.” This man has committed a hate crime and needs to be charged at the federal level!!!
I just wanted to add that I am a musician who has spent countless hours transcribing solos by musicians like Charlie Parker, Lee Morgan, and Freddie Hubbard by ear, many times from very rough bootleg recordings from live concerts. I have highly trained ears that have a lot of experience in deciphering musical phrases that are sometimes obscured by static, background noise, or played off mic. I am 100% certain that he said “fucking coons” at 2:20 on this recording.
If people listened to the enhanced audio where Zimmerman may or may not have said “coons” and repeated said audio portion a thousand times they still wouldn’t know with 100% guarantee what was uttered. People are going to hear and decipher what was said simply based on their opinion. If you look up at the clouds long enough you can see many designs that someone else may see differently. It’s a matter of perception. It is so because even the enhanced audio doesn’t establish the actual word that was said. If you think Zimmerman was racist you will hear “coon” and if you believe he isn’t you will hear the word “cold”. There are some of you who claim to be experts in sound and deciphering sound phonetically, even if the sound is a rough draft and not enhanced by technology. Even if your “trained ears” hear the word “coon” it certainly doesn’t make it so. Audio experts, even with “better trained ears ” than some of you hear haven’t been able to determine what was said. It’s quite plausible, given the cool Florida night, he said “cold”. Any why are all of these liberals ganging up on a Hispanic male? Confused…