It was one year ago that George Zimmerman was acquitted in the murder of Trayvon Martin. It was a case and a verdict that polarized a nation, perhaps more than any since the O.J. Simpson trial.
Recently, a Quora discussion asked the question: What one person’s death would have the greatest impact on the world today? Many responded with the names of presidents, world leaders, religious figures, celebrities. But, as one person pointed out, Trayvon Martin was a nobody outside of his own family and friends, but his death affected the nation profoundly.
And the name of the man that killed him still sparks emotional responses in a wide swathe of people. George Zimmerman’s life has never been the same since the trial. But he has a life.
After the trial, Zimmerman had loads of legal bills. He has tried to pay those down in a few different ways. Most recently, he tried suing NBC for their selective quoting of the 911 call from the fateful night he killed Martin. He alleged that NBC’s actions made him look like a racist in the eyes of the nation, and thus he accused them of defamation of character.
But a judge tossed out Zimmerman’s suit.
Before that, there was the infamous pay-per-view boxing match with DMX that never materialized. Word is that the match may be back on, but little has come of it so far.
I heard the promoters canceled the George Zimmerman "celebrity" fight. Good move. Glorifying a criminal is simply disgusting #sorryNotSorry
— Tiffany Porter (@tiffofili) February 9, 2014
His girlfriend accused him of threatening her with a gun, then dropped the charges.
Zimmerman has been seen as the “celebrity guest” at a gun show in Florida, signing autographs for folks who see him as a “stand your ground” hero of the Second Amendment. He was accompanied by the same girlfriend from above.
George Zimmerman signed autographs at a gun show. If only Jeffrey Dahmer were around to sign copies of his cookbook
— Paul Lander (@paul_lander) March 20, 2014
George Zimmerman did an autograph signing at a gun show; That's like Jerry Sandusky doing a signing at a middle school.
— Elliot Coleman (@elliotcoleman) March 12, 2014
Zimmerman is still as polarizing a figure as ever. And people seem to be divided along political party lines in terms of for or against him.
Thank GOD for George Zimmerman!!! "@GroverNorquist: We always had the right to self-defense and gun ownership. It helped win our freedom."
— Melissa Ziobron (@MelissaHZiobron) July 4, 2014
George Zimmerman my hero
— ricky $panish (@juicymessiah) July 9, 2014
.@seanhannity Only a LOSER like you would try to make a hero out of fellow LOSER George Zimmerman.
— Don Millard (@OTOOLEFAN) August 7, 2013
ThingsYouMightHearALiberalSay
George Zimmerman is a murderer
#ThingsYouMightHearAConservativeSay
George Zimmerman is a hero & a patriot
— CommonSenseIsFun (@1_punny_dem) August 2, 2013
Image via YouTube