Trayvon Martin Case: Bill Cosby & Magic Johnson Open Up On The Investigation

As tensions continue to swirl around the ongoing Trayvon Martin case, influential figures are also weighing in on the controversial investigation. Comedian and activist Bill Cosby is the latest celebrity to speak out about the fatal February 26 shooting between George Zimmerman and Martin.

In speaking with the Washington Times, Cosby questioned Zimmerman’s intent on carrying a loaded gun as a neighborhood watchman.

"We've got to get the gun out of the hands of people who are supposed to be on neighborhood watch," he said."Without a gun, I don't see Mr. Zimmerman approaching Trayvon by himself. The power-of-the-gun mentality had him unafraid to confront someone. Even police call for backup in similar situations…When you carry a gun, you mean to harm somebody, kill somebody," he added.

In addition to the award-winning actor’s recent comments, five-time NBA champion and entrepreneur Magic Johnson also expressed to CNN that he hopes justice is served in the case.

“All of us are still wondering what’s going to happen. Here in America we’re still dealing with situations like this,” Johnson explained. “It’s very unfortunate, because also a lot of us have sons. Sons who wear hoodies and caps turned backward, and they’re not doing anything. That’s the fashion of today.

“And so, it could really happen to our sons. That’s what the NBA players are thinking, that’s what I’m thinking. I hope that justice is served and I hope that they get down to making sure they have a thorough investigation…The black community has seen days like this so many times,” he added.

State Attorney, Angela B. Corey’s decision to file charges against Zimmerman are currently pending.

PHOTOS:

WATCH:

From our partners

• Modern Day Matchmaker: 10 Ways To Improve Your Marriage While You're Still Single - ESSENCE
• In Hedge Fund Manager's Last Hours Of Freedom, An Attempt At One Last Victim - www.blackenterprise.com
• ‘I Can't Stop Sexting My Ex-Hubby! Am I Cheating?' - www.essence.com

Comments

[Thanh M Doan]

02:25 AM on 11/12/2012

I have sympathy for the family of Trayvon Martin. However, this is not about race issue that we're talking about here. Yes, I understand that emotions are very high when it comes to a young man getting killed but I dont believe that George Zimmerman intentionally kill him because of his race. There is more to it then just one side of the story and the prosecution team was trying to stonewall most of the evidence from the defense team. Defense Attorney Omara had to go to the judge and force the state to turn over evidence that was supportive on Zimmerman side although I dont really know the try facts behind what's inside of that report.

Al Shorton and all these African American leaders are making things worse by stirring up more race issue. If they want justices then it's only fair to let the State Prosecutor office do their job without any outside interference. Whatever happen that night, I dont honestly believe that Zimmerman was running after just to shoot him because of his skin color. If most of yall want to talk about justice then look at what the New Black Panther Party is doing. Putting a bounty out for his head for $10k and where is justice? Sounds to me like that's racial issue there and nobody is doing anything about it. I have no doubt that Zimmerman will be found "not Guilty" under Florida Self Defense Law".

[George Hanshaw]

12:53 AM on 11/12/2012

I remember Carl Rowan, a prominent African American newspaper columnist for the Washington Post and noted anti-gun advocate, SHOT A TEENAGER for the high crime of trespassing (swimming in his pool) with an illegal gun (Washington DC at the time prohibited private possession of handguns).

Prosecutors declined to charge Mr. Rowan with assault, but they did charge him with the misdemeanor offenses of possessing an unregistered pistol and ammunition.

Rowan was tried but the jury was deadlocked; the judge declared a mistrial and he was never retried.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Rowan#Controversy

http://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/27/us/trial-opens-for-rowan-in-shooting-of-trespasser.html

Zimmerman is going to walk. Might as well get used to the idea.

[ElmCreekSmith]

10:36 AM on 10/25/2012

I'm waiting with bated breath to see all the nationwide marches to protest the hundreds of killings in Chicago this year...

Hello?

Jessie? Al? Barry? Joe? Eric? Anyone?

ECS

[P3]

11:52 PM on 11/11/2012

thats b_lack on b_lack crime, barely mentionable

[Davewaybe]

09:34 AM on 10/25/2012

Its good to have sensible comments coming from both men....... they have gaurded their statements so that it will not come back to haunt them in the future.....

[EL Abogado]

07:06 AM on 05/23/2012

It is nothingDifficult to understand about the case of martin's death,simply he is guilty for what he had done to George,George had a duty to fulfil intoCommunity and martin stand against him,George was chosen for hisDuty why martin interfere with him while he fulfil hisDuty for the community?blacks are blacks full of arrogance,proud I have seen onTv.documentary howArrogant can be from an early age in class roomTaught by junk black teacher,only in junk nigeria where a black ChristianPastorConfess that theDevil went into him for the reason he had sex with the2years old daughter of the landlord which gave to him a room to live there with them,junk black pastor.What this black idiot bill cosbych make stupid comments that George killed martin which did not had with what to defend himself,don't worry it is proverbial:stupid like a black,I know it from black uneducated prophet of seventh-day adventists:ellen g white nothing white on her she was all black and stupid the reason all adventists are for they step on her foot steps and finally shall go into voodo and macumba,I know this junk race of stupid blacks which come to ameriCON because were temped by a hamburger and a Coca-Colsca and after they ate it gets into community and find a mine of chicken nuggets and run out of them call911to make more for them nuggets,what a clever way to solve a problem like aBlack as it is bill cosbych with theColour of the afriCON?

[George Hanshaw]

12:38 AM on 11/12/2012

I think perhaps you should talk to your physician. He/She might want to tweak the dosage of your antipsychotics just a mite....

[hornedcog]

12:24 AM on 04/14/2012

The initial crime and the ultimate cause for the outcome was stalking.

[George Hanshaw]

12:39 AM on 11/12/2012

Doesn't meet the legal criteria for stalking - not in most jurisdictions and certainly not in Florida.

[joan silverman]

05:37 PM on 11/12/2012

Nonsense. There was no stalking charge.

[clarose2190]

01:49 AM on 04/13/2012

Of course, they feel that way. Look at what race they are. I bet they think O.J. Simpson was innocent too!

[Kedon]

02:37 AM on 04/13/2012

A jury did.

[lemealone]

05:53 PM on 04/13/2012

9 Blacks, 1 Hispanics, 2 Whites

[qazwsxedcrfv]

08:26 AM on 04/16/2012

So that means he is innocent? That means the truth was really found?

[billy6boy]

10:38 PM on 04/12/2012

Understand alot of kids wear Hoodies ! but why was Trayvon in a Neighborhood where he did not even live there ! and to bad Mr. Cosby you don't like Guns ,well yes when you have one on you ,you feel safe I Do ! and always will carry one ! no one will mess with me and if they do well they will find out what Mistake they have Made.

[Kedon]

02:39 AM on 04/13/2012

He was a guest of a resident. I do think you understand what it means to be an invited guest...or maybe you don't since you are busy scaring people away with your Mistake Checker.

[billy6boy]

03:25 AM on 04/13/2012

ok fine he was a guest of resident ! why did he attack Mr. Zimmerman. and not leave the area when Ask too ! and I have no Mistake Checker Too answer Too!!

[Ken Will]

06:15 AM on 04/13/2012

We will all be wearing guns from here on out so........

[AFgirl]

09:53 PM on 04/12/2012

True that Mr. Cosby! What is the purpose of carrying a weapon? To harm or kill someone that you perceive is harming you. It applies to everyone: the layperson, the cop, the soldier. Also, people are more brave when they have a weapon and things often go very differently then - many less lethal ways of handling a situation go out the window. If you do not ever want the chance of killing people, you do other things: you do not drink and drive, you do not physically attack people, and you do not carry guns. When we have those things, it is way more likely to happen. And a Neighborhood Watch person???? What kind of watch was going on there? How about having maybe some pepper spray and a cell phone to dial 911 when you "watch" something happen???

[George Hanshaw]

02:12 AM on 11/12/2012

I've been licensed to carry a concealed weapon since 1974. I seldom actually do carry one, but even when I do it's not because I'm looking for trouble. It's so that if trouble finds me and I can't back away quick enough, I don't have to be the one who gets hurt.

Blaming guns for gun violence is very much akin to blaming a fork for my overeating. Inanimate objects are rarely culpable of anything, in my humble opinion.

[AFgirl]

07:51 AM on 11/12/2012

Oh brother.....

[eragan]

09:41 PM on 04/12/2012

Racism will never go away as long as Al Sharpton is around. He makes a profitable living off of it.

[msjacksonif1]

12:30 AM on 04/13/2012

Wow!!! If you think Al Sharpton is the problem, then your right....Racism will never go away. So sad for this young mans family and for our country. I wonder how you would feel if it were a black neighborhood watch man that gunned down your son in cold blood. Would you really be concerned with how Al Sharpton make his living then???

[jumpinjohn011]

12:06 AM on 06/02/2012

Read the papers, Blacks kill whites everyday, more often they kill blacks.

[George Hanshaw]

01:54 AM on 11/12/2012

" I wonder how you would feel if it were a black neighborhood watch man that gunned down your son in cold blood."

I think the blood running from Zimmerman's nose and scalp was actually pretty close to the normal body temperature of 37 degrees C.

[thefeargame]

01:03 PM on 04/13/2012

So all the U.S. race problems are Al Sharpton's fault? Lol, lol, lol

[jumpinjohn011]

12:07 AM on 06/02/2012

He's definitely part of the problem.

[bluewiles]

08:49 PM on 04/12/2012

Where is the Reverend Jackson when it comes to calling out the injustice here:
http://youtu.be/4rEl8fpMVEI

[P3]

12:04 AM on 11/12/2012

in Chicago its called 'pay to play" over there "you pay if you play"
quit partying with the primate

[Councillor]

08:46 PM on 04/12/2012

I believe that Bill Cosby is correct. We can only guess at what Zimmerman would have done if he did not have that gun on him, but I tend to believe that carrying that weapon emboldened him and made him reckless.

[joan silverman]

05:40 PM on 11/12/2012

He was merely defending himself when trayvon attacked him brutally.

[Bicyclebeauty]

07:43 PM on 04/12/2012

This was not racial at all. I am so sick of people saying that. Anytime it's something against someone else it's racial. Things like this happen all the time all over the world to every race and religion I can think of. I bet if we actually looked at the numbers we would be shocked by who's killing who in this country. Lets just pick up the pieces and move on. If I were Tray thats what I would have wanted.

[Kedon]

02:40 AM on 04/13/2012

Then what pray tell, made Zimmerman believe that Martin was suspicious?

[Jim Letchworth]

01:36 PM on 04/14/2012

..past experience/impressions?

[jumpinjohn011]

12:09 AM on 06/02/2012

Recent slew of robberies by young black men.

[Thanh M Doan]

04:55 PM on 11/12/2012

Nice speech but majority of these closed minded people would never seem to get the point here. They're using this case to gain fame and power for their own kind. We all know from the beginning that this isnt about race issue. There is proof that Zimmerman is not racist nor is he prejudice against African American. His friends who is black spoke out for him, he protested about Sanford Police office beating a black man and he even mentor Black African American kids. That's all proof right there that he isn't racist like how the left leaning media, Al Sharpton and the New Black Panther Party is portraying him to be. They just dont want to accept the fact that he use his weapon to defend himself under Florida State Law Stand Your Ground.

All these black people is using this issue to try to stir up trouble and it's not like it's going to help anything. There will be major repercussion when Zimmerman is found not guilty. All those protesting and jumping into conclusion claiming Zimmerman is guilty at first hand without all factual evidence will backfire them at the end.

[Bicyclebeauty]

07:38 PM on 04/12/2012

not racial at all.... just a bad situation. Im sick of this lets move on. This unfortunately happens everyday to people of all races and colors. Lets just pick up the pieces and put us together. Bet if we actually looked at the numbers we would all be surprised by who's killing who in this country.

[Andrekia Williams]

09:53 PM on 04/12/2012

hopefully you will feel this families pain then post back and ask if you think people should move on

[urnmyopinion]

08:13 PM on 04/14/2012

It is not good to hang onto things that are bad, move on and never forget what did happen, but don't live your life hanging on to it. It is over and nothing can be changed about it. The outcome of this trial is going to be devastating to the family as well. They are the ones that need the comfort of friends and that, not hearing all this stuff about racisim, and so on. It is a sad sad day for everyone.

[P3]

12:08 AM on 11/12/2012

I'd say since there is more b_lack on w_hite crime then w_hite on b_lack crime, theres a lot of pain going around

[TeddysRevenge]

07:06 PM on 04/12/2012

Yet more celebrities putting their two cents worth in, but I'm not so upset with them as I am with the media for quoting them or worse yet, courting their opinions. Maybe the guy is guilty ...maybe not, that's for courts to decide ...not public opinion, and ESPEACIALY not the opinions of celebrities. I've always appreciated Mr. Cosby's level headed approach to such situations when he's been forced to give one, but this is not one of his better moments. As for Sharpton and all the other political vultures out there ...maybe the black community has reasons to be angry here, full disclosure of evidence and testimony will bear that out one way or the other. But the one thing they should be angry about and take away from this is ...just how exploited their tragedies, possible injustices, and the inner emotion regarding such matters have been and are being exploited for no other real reason than the personal power and / or wealth of individuals like Mr. Sharpton and Mr. Jackson as well as the interests of a less than honorable media. Its easy to get caught up in what is happening on your right and totally miss the trick being pulled on your left ...its the basics of magic shows ...and of con-men.

[ElmCreekSmith]

11:09 AM on 10/25/2012

Still no nationwide marches protesting the hundreds of murders in Chicago this year...

ECS