George Zimmerman Defense Team Launches Social Media Campaign

The defense team for George Zimmerman, the man charged with murdering unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin, has launched a new website, Facebook and Twitter account designed to dispute misinformation and provide "a voice for Mr. Zimmerman."

"We understand that it is unusual for a legal defense to maintain a social media presence on behalf of a defendant, but we also acknowledge that this is a very unusual case," Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman’s attorney, wrote on the website, gzlegalcase.com.

O’Mara said that "social media in this day and age cannot be ignored," and that it would be “irresponsible to ignore the robust online conversation” around his client's case.

Zimmerman, who has been charged with second-degree murder in Martin’s killing, was released last week from a Seminole County jail on $150,000 bond. Zimmerman admitted to shooting and killing Martin, 17, on February 26. He has maintained that he killed the teen in self-defense.

According to the website, the defense will use the online platforms to discourage speculation, discredit fraudulent websites created in Zimmerman’s name and provide the latest details of the case.

The website will also be used to raise funds for Zimmerman's defense.

“We understand that this is controversial, but Mr. Zimmerman deserves a fair trial, and mounting a defense is an expensive proposition,” the website said.

This latest social media offensive isn’t the first time Zimmerman has gone online to defend himself or to raise funds.

In early April, Zimmerman launched www.therealgeorgezimmerman.com.

"As a result of the incident and subsequent media coverage, I have been forced to leave my home, my school, my employer, my family and ultimately, my entire life," Zimmerman wrote on that site. With its creation, he wrote, he hoped to “provide an avenue to thank my supporters personally and ensure that any funds provided are used only for living expenses and legal defense, in lieu of my forced inability to maintain employment.”

The site included a pair of controversial photos, one featuring someone holding a sign that read “Justice For Zimmerman,” and the other showing the words “Long Live Zimmerman” spray-painted on the side of a black cultural center at Ohio State University.

Through the website, which has since been taken down, Zimmerman raised some $200,000. The announcement of the amount raised came just days after Zimmerman, his family and attorneys told a judge during an April 20 bond hearing that Zimmerman was broke and needed a low bond.

In light of the news of Zimmerman's fundraising efforts, the prosecutor in the case asked Florida Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. to raise his bond. Lester rejected the request.

The new website will also be used to address questions regarding the next steps in the case, including the request of documents during the discovery phase of the case, in which the sides exchange witnesses and other relevant evidence.

"We are concerned about the release of witness information to the general public, solely due to safety concerns. There has been a lot of animosity and emotions caused by incomplete and premature disclosure of information,” the site said. “Because those emotions still run so high, we want to do everything we can to protect the sanctity of the process and the safety of the witnesses. No good purpose will be served by a media frenzy directed at witnesses."

It continued: "We are delaying demanding the discovery until we can file motions to protect these witnesses. Once that is in place, discovery will flow to us, then the media and the public has access to it, under our rules."

Since its inception on Thursday, the Twitter account @GZlegalCase has gained almost 600 followers and sent more than 40 tweets. The tweets have referred followers to news stories about Zimmerman’s case, to the new Facebook page and to the website.

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Comments

[charmage]

06:36 PM on 07/07/2012

It's unfortunate that Z is free on bail. In large part, due to the Racist fringes of society, that empathsize with Z, through monetary contributions. Those same people would not give Z a dime if Trayvon had been Trevor. And we all know it. A child shot in one of their gated communities, would not have tolerated. The only ground Z would have been standing on, would be the one in jail.

[Ray Blodgetts]

08:54 PM on 05/17/2012

His Facebook supporters site is racist and violent. They are advocating that murdering this child was OK. If George wasn't going to get the death penalty before they created the Facebook site he certainly is now. Looking at the facebook support page there is absolutely no doubt that this was a hate crime.

[Ray Blodgetts]

08:50 PM on 05/17/2012

"As a result of the incident and subsequent media coverage, I have been forced to leave my home, my school, my employer, my family and ultimately, my entire life," Zimmerman wrote on that site.

[pat511]

02:12 PM on 05/16/2012

It's so strange that all the big mouth posters who KNEW exactly what happened that evening as Zimmerman was on a hunt to kill a black kid have suddenly disappeared. Unable to face the "troof" is my guess. It's gotten difficult for them to oppose the facts as they're being presented.

[Sh00Fly]

01:28 AM on 05/17/2012

Yea...Some have been 86d but most of the rest of them have scattered like r0achez.

[Patt Rugar]

11:13 PM on 05/15/2012

now that racer is no more than a proven liar . Do we have to listen to him>?

[pat511]

10:30 PM on 05/15/2012

So....Zimmerman was - as I've believed all along - injured by the kid

ABC News:

"A medical report compiled by the family physician of accused Trayvon Martin murderer George Zimmerman and obtained exclusively by ABC News found that Zimmerman was diagnosed with a "closed fracture" of his nose, a pair of black eyes, two lacerations to the back of his head and a minor back injury the day after he fatally shot Martin during an alleged altercation."

[Patt Rugar]

11:05 PM on 05/15/2012

or in other words .. he was attacked ..?

[Patricia Hollister]

09:58 PM on 05/22/2012

To Patt Rugar: The way I see it GZ was not attacked. Just because TM hit him ( to what extent we really don't know) that doesn't suddenly become reason to call TM attacker or aggressor. These are indisputable facts GZ was following TM, TM knew he was being followed, GZ's commentary to the dispatch was of suspicion of TM with anger thrown in, ("they always get away"), TM's conversation with the girlfriend indicates that he was puzzled why this guy was following him. I feel TM did what many of us would do, he reacted with his self defense. Remember no one knows what was said or done in the last moments. Think for God's sake! this is why it doesn't matter if TM hit GZ first. And don't anyone go saying OOh, it's illegal to hit someone...Use your brain, you could very well be in this situation! A GUNSHOT TO THE CHEST WAS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO !!

[Patt Rugar]

12:01 AM on 05/16/2012

allI have to say to others is "duh"

[pat511]

10:12 PM on 05/15/2012

The Rev King would be proud:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meJTGPuUfys&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fall_comments%3Fv%3DmeJTGPuUfys%26page%3D1

[Sh00Flys]

09:39 PM on 05/14/2012

A great poster with the moniker edgySF has a great micro-bio:

"If God had enemies, they would be the fear mongers"

There are many fear mongers here tonight.

They are the enemies of not only God but also of decency.

If there is a God, these fear mongers will get there justice some day.

Until then, it is the duty of all decent people to make sure the fear mongers do not win.

Facts and reason are the anti-dote to fear mongering which is based on fear not hate.

Intelligent people react to fear by attempting to understand the source of that fear and devise a plan to overcome their fears.

Fear Mongers surrender to fear and blame anyone but themselves for their fears.

They believe blame dissipates fear. They even blame the violence that their fear mongering on those not responsible.

All posters, as I have, should fan poster edgySF. His posts are somewhere below.

[Patt Rugar]

10:11 PM on 05/14/2012

I agree if there where a God .. However I chose to beleive that Virgins don't give birth , Dead people don't rise. There is no old man who is upset with Adam and Eve for eating his apple . However . I do not endorse fear mongers and feel that it is fear mongers who tell you if you don't say a certain prayer (saved) you go to a lake of fire .. so I see it as a fear mongers greatest enemy is a fear monger or that God hates his followers. But this may be a little thought provoking and it is easier to conform

[Sh00Flys]

11:56 PM on 05/14/2012

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!

I'm pretty sure that most posters familiar with your posts would think of you as one.

[Sh00Flys]

09:26 PM on 05/14/2012

"May he without sin cast the first stone" - Jesus Christ.

Trayvon Martin was not perfect. He was a typical teenager. He was scheduled to graduate on time. He had never been arrested. His parents were professionals. His mother had worked for the county for 23 years.

Yet, Zman's defense team and ZBots seek to portray Trayvon as a thug.

Zimmerman had been arrested 4 times, once for assaulting a police officer and once for domestic battery. His own My Space page revealed his racist and violent nature. The 911 audio DID capture Zman making a racist remark.

Yet, Zman's defense team and ZBots portray him as the second coming of Jesus.

Neither Trayvon, Zimmerman, any poster, or any human is totally bad or good.

The difference was that Trayvon was only 17 years old, a teenager seeking his own identity.
Still a child under our constitution and in the eyes of the law. Zimmerman was a legal adult.

The sad FACT about this case is that Trayvon will never get to sort out who he wanted to be, because a grown man acted like a petulant child that fateful day.

Children have a reason to act like children because they ARE children.

There is NO excuse for adults to act in said manner.

[Patt Rugar]

10:06 PM on 05/14/2012

So his childish actions are what got him killed your saying. Okay I will buy that

[Sh00Flys]

11:57 PM on 05/14/2012

Thanks for the example of fear mongering.

[Patricia Hollister]

10:18 PM on 05/22/2012

To Patt Rugar: To some extent TM's reaction to GZ did get him killed, I sadly agree with that, but it was GZ' s very fearful reaction with the gun that caused a person's death. GZ was the first to cause this situation. Even in my son's murder I have to acknowledge that he probably was yelling an angry, but he also didn't deserve a gunshot to the neck, just because a little rat ( who prided himself on never getting hit by another guy even tho he knew he was a punk) so since this guy had a gun loaded and ready, he shot to kill. Many tragic incidents happen because of two people at fault, one usually outweighs the other in signifcance. actions.

[Patt Rugar]

02:44 PM on 05/15/2012

I am pretty much with sin .. yeah .. I look at a good looking woman every now and then .. lot of men do .. and some women .. but as far as hate.. call me sin free.

[Sh00Flys]

05:20 PM on 05/15/2012

I'm willing to bet you $10,000 of Mitt Romney's money that any poster familiar with you would have a different opinion.

shall we ask raceorrdig ????

[Patt Rugar]

07:57 PM on 05/14/2012

Hey .. um race .. I kinda cut and past on you as an example of how to catch some one in a lie . which is it .. .. these are time marked any one can look it up if they dont believe me .
2 hours ago ( 4:33 PM)
Fanned !! I am a gun owner also and there is no way I see SD or SYG. I work for lawyers as an expert in consumer fraud

Commented May 10, 2012 at 08:58:03 in Black Voices
I do race & hi-perf cars for a living.

[Sh00Flys]

09:07 PM on 05/14/2012

One can do both.

Just like you can hide behind your other identities here on Huff Post.

[Patt Rugar]

09:34 PM on 05/14/2012

I only have one identity .. your making an assumption where I am proofing some thing .. If you want to stand on the same ground . proof it . report me to Huff and they will do an I.P search

[Sh00Fly]

01:29 AM on 05/15/2012

Hardyharharhar...Says the person who admits defeat by creating an account in honor of his master.

[edgySF]

01:04 PM on 05/14/2012

Killing Trayvon Martin has been very lucrative for George Zimmerman.

I wonder how many hundreds of thousands of dollars he's raked in already.

Nobody -- including Trayvon's family -- has profited more off this tragedy than the admitted killer.

[Patt Rugar]

04:10 PM on 05/14/2012

You would be surpized as Martins mother is globe traveling .. living in 5 star hotels has new hair and clothes .She is taking other peoples vacation time to do this . yet her salery was already $68,700 this lady is milking it worse than anyone..

[Patricia Hollister]

03:14 AM on 05/21/2012

to Patt Rugar: I hope you never know what it's like to lose a son to murder. I do and I know that if indeed Sabrina Fulton is traveling and seems to be coping with her son's death that means nothing. She would give anything to have her son back. As for me my reaction was to become even more reclusive , The tv is seldom off ( because to hear silence is to let my mind go to the incredible anguish). To hear music and all of it sounds as if it's in a minor key is how this feels. To want to walk until I fall off the face of the Earth is how this feels .My son's death also was called Castle Doctrine self defense, but has remained open because we told facts to the detectives. Though the killer will probably never be arrested, at least the law kept the case open for now. Sabrina Fulton is NOT enjoying whatever "benefits" have come her way, I assure you.

[Patt Rugar]

06:27 PM on 05/13/2012

Funny every one complains Zimmerman shot Martin . but no one has any other option than he should of sat there and let Martin beat him to death .. I wouldn't like that option and I don't think any one else would. I think in Zimmers situation he did what he had to to live . what would you of done?

[Sherry Brazell]

11:01 AM on 05/14/2012

Zimmerman should have let the police handle the situation..POINT BLANK!!! ENOUGH SAID!!

[ElmCreekSmith]

01:35 PM on 05/14/2012

After the police non-emergency line dispatcher told Zimmerman, "We don't need you to do that" (following Martin), he stopped following him and continued talking to the dispatcher for another 95 seconds. At the point where Zimmerman lost sight of Martin, the young man was approximately a 15 second run from where he was staying (perhaps a minute if he refused to run). Do you believe that Zimmerman, after concluding his conversation with the police dispatcher out ran and chased down a high school football play, initiated a confrontation, and killed Martin in cold blood before Martin could have reached safety? Really?

ECS

[Patt Rugar]

04:18 PM on 05/14/2012

Why? .. people should be aware and help preserve a dying neighbor hood like that one Zimmerman tried to protect.

[Patricia Hollister]

03:24 AM on 05/21/2012

a punch in the nose, a bang on the ground given to an unknown person who is stalking you doesn't deserve a gunshot to the chest ! If the person killed had been a woman there would be no doubt that Zimmerman would be have been arrested right away ! TM did what any young 17 yr old might understandably do in the situation; he fought against a perceived assailant. That Stand Your Ground law , an the Castle Doctrine need to be defined as they used to be. The law originally was to protect a person who shoots to kill an intruder ( mostly considering intruder as in burglar, rapist, crazy person with intent to harm you) and so the person who kills said intruder wouldn't have to be arrested and prosecuted or answer to why they "shot to kill, etc."

[Patt Rugar]

10:52 AM on 05/13/2012

So looks like Race is not going to stand behind his accusation . They are unfounded , and dismissed as such .Writing race off as less than truthful and lacking credibility. look he is running away from it now.. Won't even reply .. `If he claims some thing was on the internet . lets see it .. He makes things up and says it is there but never produces the proof of his accusation ..

[conformist1983]

08:41 AM on 05/13/2012

George Zimmerman is innocent until proven guilty, so he has every right to launch his own website and fight for his innocence, much like race-baiters Sharpton and Jackson are doing for Trayvon. Let the man have a fair trial.

[Patricia Hollister]

03:34 AM on 05/21/2012

To conformist1983: To be correct I think we must realize that The phrase "innocent until proven guilty" Is only about the legal aspect of a person's guilt or innocence. I will still say my opinion is that there is guilt forever upon Zimmerman. Only he will know the whole truth . Trayvon may have reacted badly to the man following him, but Trayvon may have been pushed first, or GZ may have said something derogatory to TM. Only GZ will ever know the truth. A judgment in court of guilt or innocence PROVES NOTHING in reality. The fact that an arrest and trial was not even going to happen is what the began the public's anger in this matter.

[Sh00Flys]

03:50 AM on 05/13/2012

Before this is over, they will portray Zimmerman as the second coming of Jebus.

Trayvon will be portrayed as the devil reincarnate.

Elmer Gantry lives.

[Sh00Fly]

03:20 PM on 05/13/2012

Who is, "they"?

And why would anybody portray Zimmerman as the second coming of Jebus?