# If Zimmerman is found "not guilty" will there be rioting? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 11, 2013, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221 "2013-07-11T12:51:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/1 "2013-07-11T12:51:28Z")
Just as the title asks. I think there will be. Race has been made such a part of this case, by almost all parties involved, and emotions regarding the death of Martin have run very high. It may be similar to the LA riots of '92 after the acquittal the LAPD officers in the Rodney King beating trial. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/2 "2013-07-11T12:56:44Z")
Nonsense. There will be discontent but Florida is not going to burn. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/3 "2013-07-11T13:11:14Z")
Chris Hayes made an interesting point last night on his show: The very thing George Zimmerman was prejudging Travon Martin for, is the exact same thing the Florida Sheriff’s department is doing towards the black folks of that community.\* \*Local law enforcement agencies have a plan ready in case shit goes south if the verdict goes in GZ’s favor. ---
**Author:** ![Honesty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f04885/32.png) [@Honesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honesty)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/4 "2013-07-11T13:16:46Z")
It’s such a racist question: there will be no rioting. Interestingly, **Omar Little** , Storm front dot org also made a thread on this exact topic. You might want to participate over there as well. Click here for the link. I’m sure you’ll fit right into the discussion. - Honesty [Mod Edit: Link Disabled] ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/5 "2013-07-11T13:23:20Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Chris Hayes made an interesting point last night on his show: The very thing George Zimmerman was prejudging Travon Martin for, is the exact same thing the Florida Sheriff’s department is doing towards the black folks of that community.\* > \*Local law enforcement agencies have a plan ready in case shit goes south if the verdict goes in GZ’s favor. Creating contingency plans for forseeable, even if unlikely, events is just sensible law-enforcement policy. Unless the plan is enacted before there’s any cause to do so (such as a pre-emptive curfew), it’s not prejudice, it’s doing their job. By way of analogy: law enforcement in a town with a chemical plant most likely has a plan established in the event of a disaster at the plant. That doesn’t mean the police consider the plant to be poorly maintained and dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/6 "2013-07-11T13:28:40Z")
> [@Honesty](#): > > It’s such a racist question: there will be no rioting. Interestingly, **Omar Little** , Storm front dot org also made a thread on this exact topic. You might want to participate over there as well. Click here for the link. I’m sure you’ll fit right into the discussion. > > - Honesty Threadshitting aside, I disagree. That thought would have never entered my brain pre OJ trial. That shit was a sight to see and burned an image in my head. Still though, lessons were learned and I don’t think it will happen again. But I wouldn’t flat out call some one a racist for thinking it _might._ ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/7 "2013-07-11T13:29:39Z")
[We just did this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=695126&highlight=zimmerman). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/8 "2013-07-11T13:32:01Z")
> [@Honesty](#): > > It’s such a racist question: there will be no rioting. Interestingly, **Omar Little** , [Stormfront.org](http://Stormfront.org) also made a thread on this exact topic. It’s the second SDMB thread asking this question in the last month. And we also had at least one other thread asking this around the time Zimmerman was charged. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/9 "2013-07-11T15:27:58Z")
Considering that manslaughter is on the table per the jury instructions, will there be rioting if Zimmerman is convicted of that lesser charge? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/10 "2013-07-11T15:33:02Z")
My apologies to not seeing the original thread…but this one contains a poll. 😛 Hardly a racist question. The substantial amount of twitter activity of people threatening Zimmerman’s life throughout the trial if there is an acquittal, compounded with the past examples of rioting when verdicts are perceived be unfair makes this a credible question. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/11 "2013-07-11T15:34:08Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Considering that manslaughter is on the table per the jury instructions, will there be rioting if Zimmerman is convicted of that lesser charge? I would think that any convition would be considered justice by those seeking prosecution, and would not expect rioting under those conditions. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/12 "2013-07-11T15:37:09Z")
Whether they admit it or not, I think most people know Zimmerman’s actions were justified, so I don’t think there will be much rioting, if any. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/13 "2013-07-11T16:03:33Z")
There are already Anarchists planning shit and looters picking out stuff from store windows. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/14 "2013-07-11T16:33:45Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Whether they admit it or not, I think most people know Zimmerman’s actions were justified, so I don’t think there will be much rioting, if any. I doubt anyone thinks Zimmerman’s actions were justified. He initiated a confrintation that resulted in a pointless death. I do think most people would now agree he didn’t murder the kid, which is enough. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/15 "2013-07-11T16:47:41Z")
I haven’t followed the case closely, but I would be very surprised if there is rioting. The outrage before was due the the fact that he wasn’t even charged. Now that he’s been brought to trial, I don’t see anyone having a riot-inducing problem if the trial comes out in a way different than they would like. Do people really care that much how this trial turns out? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/16 "2013-07-11T16:53:05Z")
Well, black people in Central Florida do. However, as I pointed out in the prior thread (and I live in Seminole County), there was no rioting when the state was refusing to charge him so it there’s virtually zero chance of any now. I can’t speak for people outside the area, of course. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/17 "2013-07-11T17:14:31Z")
I think there will be rioting either way. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/18 "2013-07-11T18:19:39Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > I would think that any convition would be considered justice by those seeking prosecution, and would not expect rioting under those conditions. But.. But.. Zimmerman’s supporters are all those gun nuts! With guns! It’ll be raining lead for days! And the streets will be covered with brass! Did you hear me?! GUNS! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/19 "2013-07-11T18:23:17Z")
First time trying this satire thing? Don’t worry, you’ll get better with practice. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221/20 "2013-07-11T21:41:54Z")
Probably not, even if there is it’ll be on the scale of those drunken orgies after a sport team wins rather than the LA riots. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-will-there-be-rioting/663221.md?page=2)