Trayvon Martin Case: George Zimmerman Made Racist Remarks At Work (LISTEN)

Within a collection of evidence officially released by the State Attorney's Office on Thursday, was an audio recording of a 15-minute interview with George Zimmerman's former co-worker. During the interview, the man, whose name was not given, says that Zimmerman racially targeted him and bullied him at work, ThinkProgress.com reports.

According to the witness, Zimmerman singled him out because he was Middle Eastern, calling him a "fucking moron" and mocking him with the voice of "Achmed the terrorist." He said Zimmerman would also tell stories and make jokes about "bombing" and other "Middle Eastern stuff."

Editor's Note: Some readers may find the language in this audio offensive.

LISTEN:

Zimmerman has been charged with shooting 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on the evening of Feb. 26 in a gated community in Sanford, Fla. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer called 911 and told a police dispatcher that the teen, who was returning from a trip to a nearby convenience store, "looked suspicious." After an altercation, Zimmerman shot Martin in the chest, subsequently telling local police that he acted in self-defense.

In addition to the second-degree murder charge he's facing, Zimmerman could also face federal hate crime charges. If convicted of second-degree murder, Zimmerman could serve a maximum sentence of life in prison. However, if he is found guilty of a federal hate crime charge, he could face the death penalty.

The witness said that he never felt physically threatened by Zimmerman or had any violent interaction with him. He said that he complained to management about Zimmerman's behavior, and Zimmerman was eventually "fired for calling the HR hotline so many times."

Complaints about Zimmerman's behavior aren't new. In the past, his neighbors complained about his aggressive tactics as a neighborhood watchmen and public records show he was arrested in Orange County in 2005 on charges of resisting arrest with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer.

Since his arrest, Zimmerman has been released on bond. The case is expected to go to trial.

Loading Slideshow

• A photograph of George Zimmerman taken the night he shot and killed Trayvon Martin in Sanford, FL.

• The gun George Zimmerman used to shoot Trayvon Martin can be seen in this evidence photo.

• George Zimmerman's gun and clip can be seen in this evidence photograph taken by Sanford police. Zimmerman shot and killed Martin after an altercation with the unarmed teen, who was returning to the house where his father was staying on February 26 after a trip to a nearby 7-Eleven.

• George Zimmerman photographed by police the night he shot and killed Trayvon Martin in a gated community in Sanford, FL.

• Cuts can be seen on the face of George Zimmerman in this photo taken by police on the night he shot and killed Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman claims that Martin attacked him and banged his head repeatedly on the ground, prompting Zimmerman to shoot the teenager in self-defense.

• Cuts can be seen on the face of George Zimmerman in this photograph taken the night he shot and killed Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman says he shot Martin during an altercation in which Martin slammed his head repeatedly into the ground.

• George Zimmerman, photographed by police on the night he shot Trayvon Martin in Sanford, FL.

• Blood can be seen on the head of George Zimmerman in this police photo taken the night he shot and killed Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman claims he shot Martin, an unarmed teenager, in self-defense.

• Blood can be seen on the head of George Zimmerman in this police photo taken the night he shot and killed Trayvon Martin.

• Blood and bruises can be seen on the head of George Zimmerman in this police photo taken the night he shot and killed Trayvon Martin.

• In this Feb. 27, 2012 image taken from a Sanford Police video posted on a website called gzlegalcase.com by George Zimmerman'sdefense team, Zimmerman speaks to investigators, (not shown) at the scene of Trayvon Martin's fatal shooting a day later giving police a blow-by-blow account of his fight with the teen. On the tape, Zimmerman did a reenactment of the scuffle with Martin in the moments before he shot the 17-year-old from Miami. (AP Photo/Sanford Police video via Zimmerman Defense Team)

• This photo released by the Seminole County Sheriff's Office shows Shellie Zimmerman. Zimmerman, the wife of the Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman, was charged with perjury and accused of lying when she told a judge that the couple had limited funds during a hearing that resulted in her husband being released on $150,000 bond. She was released on $1,000 bond. (AP Photo/Seminole County Sheriff's Office)

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Comments

[LogicandReason2012]

02:29 PM on 07/14/2012

So Zim killed Tray because the kid did something he didn't like....defend himself.

He dumped his first set of lawyers because they did something he didn't like...not allow Zim to talk to the prosecutor.

He assaulted the undercover cop because the cop did something he didn't like...ask him not to interfere.

He harrassed and bullied his co-worker because the guy did something he didn't like..not take orders from him.

He abused his ex because she did something he didn't like...chew gum.

He cut off his mom electricity because she did something he didn't like...chastised him.

He kick the dog because his ex did something he didn't like..I still can't figure that one out..

He chased down a stranger in a car because the guy did something he didn't like..him the finger because Zim intentionally tried to cut him off.

He threw a female party goer across the floor because she did something he didn't like...was a bit to drunk.

Now he wants this judge to step down because he did something Zim didn't like....Call him out for being such a LIAR.

I see a pattern that does not spell self-defense.

Cora has so much to work with when it comes to Zimmerman. Racism is the least of his issues.

[LouGots]

08:24 AM on 07/14/2012

Absolutely not. No way. No effing way would a trial judge admit evidence of making fun of Middle Easterners in a murder trial of someone accused of killing an American Black.

Such evidence has no probative value. Is it much too remote from the facts of the alleged crime. The only purpose would be to smear the defendant as a mean person. I defy anyone with actual knowledge or experience to find a basis for it.

Again, not under the Federal Rules of Evidence, not in any state I have ever heard of, certainly not under the Manual for Courts-Martial. It's as off-the-wall as saying the defendant killed a Black person because he doesn't like Mexicans. This is goofy.

[Nancy Benefiel]

07:49 AM on 08/16/2012

If Zimmerman takes the stand they probably can bring that evidence in. There's also the evidence of the neighbours to be considered. This IS a case with racial overtones so that kind of evidence may well be admissable. With the FBI still looking to declare this a hate crime, Zimmerman is in deep trouble.

[LouGots]

11:51 AM on 08/16/2012

We'll see, won't we?

I have no opinion on Florida evidence law.  Their rules of evidence look pretty broad on proof of character, but it would be shocking if they are so broad as to admit, for example, mocking an Arab as tending to show that an actor shot an American Black without justification.

[onionboy]

05:45 PM on 10/12/2012

Probably true, but you've got Zimmerman requesting Martin's school records too...which is also irrelevant as far as I'm concerned. It certainly has nothing to do with the events of that night. The prosecutor is obviously looking for evidence to support motive, but I'm also surprised that the judge is actually admitting it. But then...he's been admitting just about everything associated with this case.

As for Florida's rules of evidence, particularly the way the release ALL evidence prior to trial...well, it's pretty difficult to find a good legal reason for that. It's Florida. They're always doing something goofy.

[Diocletian2]

01:30 PM on 07/13/2012

Today I learned that making jokes about people makes you guilty of murder. Who knew?!

[Sandy Bachman]

01:24 AM on 07/15/2012

Not necessarily, but it does show that you are a bully and have a problem with people different from yourself. Zimmerman is a coward pretending to be a hero. He has lied repeatedly and by doing so has only screwed his self.

[Diocletian2]

01:53 AM on 07/15/2012

Guess the jury will decide that, not for me to say. I've made and heard off color jokes in my day, doesn't make me a racist or a coward, just saying.

[Nancy Benefiel]

07:53 AM on 08/16/2012

That's ridiculous, George Zimmerman killed an unarmed black kid. He has used race to insult and intimidate many poeple. He lost that job because of his constant complaints about his coworkers. The guy has serious personality problems that may well have contributed to his decision to shoot and kill a kid who was obviously trying to stay away from him.

[MyrtleJune]

12:28 PM on 07/13/2012

Thanks HP for finally highlighting this very frightening story. I listened weeks ago and what the coworker defines is serial bullying and hateful behavior..... also NPD. Zimmerman's amazing lying talent is telling. Very telling. This ability to be so slithery and conniving is the hallmark of npd people. You will KNOW when you've delt with one of these people and you will be shaking your head for years after. Not only that, but you can end up with ptsd from the shear mental gaslighting they do to you. It is unreal and zimmerman is classic. A very sick man.

This explains his lies and acting ability and so much more. THIS is the zimmerman who is so opportunistic to insinuate himself into the police type culture with his ex sherrif and apparently active federal air marshall and neighborhood watch. It all fits with his fantasy of being the hero and doing good......when in fact he is breaking law after law.

I found this taped sworn testimony chilling.

[11One11]

11:40 PM on 07/12/2012

Look at racebaiting HP0 all mad because the FEDLEO debunked the false narrative that they supported.
Now they bump this story back up to the top of the page....No Shame in their game.
WOW!

[jgfsmf]

10:30 AM on 07/13/2012

That's exactly what I was going to say. They lost the racist stuff with the Feds so they bring this story to the top of the list. Unbelievable. Well actually totally believable.

[Nancy Benefiel]

07:56 AM on 08/16/2012

You guys didn't actually read the FBI report did you? They made it clear that they were nowhere near the end of their investigation.

[dkt5331]

02:23 PM on 01/01/2013

Evidently the feds didn't talk to this middle easterner or Zimmerman's younger female cousin who says he is a racist. just because the fed didn't do it doesn't mean the prosecution wont.

[blkgrapes2000]

10:47 PM on 06/30/2012

LAWYER WHO HAPPENS TO BE BLACK) WANTS BOOK THROWN AT RACIST CHILD KILLER BY Michael Coard Writes
In fact, on March 28 of this year, she pled guilty after having been arrested for Aggravated Manslaughter and Felony Child Abuse. But the 12 year old child is still facing a first degree murder conviction. Maybe he should have borrowed Zimmerman’s 9 mm Kel-Tec PF-9 and blasted a gaping hole into his two year old brother’s chest so he could have gotten his charge reduced.

Zimmerman’s arraignment is scheduled for May 29. Demand justice before then by immediately calling State Attorney Angela Corey at 904-630-2400 and insisting that she prosecute him as zealously as she prosecutes black kids (who look like Trayvon) and other kids of color. Tell her that second degree is not enough because, although it generally carries a 25-to-life sentence, Section 782.04(2) says that second degree murder is “punishable by imprisonment for ‘a term of years’ not exceeding life...,” which a creative non-black-conscious defense lawyer could argue means just a few years as a minimum jail sentence followed by a lengthy parole.
Let her know that 25 years is not enough and that the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, as required by a first degree murder conviction, is needed. We, meaning black people- including black lawyers like Michael Coard - and justice and equity, all demand that the heavy leather-bound hardback book be thrown at Zimmerman.

[blkgrapes2000]

10:43 PM on 06/30/2012

As a result, Section 782.04(1)(a) should apply because it defines such murder as “The unlawful killing of a human being, when perpetrated from a premeditated design to effect… death…” And there is enough evidence of premeditation- certainly sufficient enough to present to a jury- as shown in the carrying of a loaded gun plus the unarmed status of the victim plus the weight disparity and plus especially the pursuing, approaching, and confronting and then the pointing, aiming, and firing of gun into the chest of the victim.

Nope. Premeditation is basically “thought beforehand, no matter how short.’
So why didn’t Republican State Attorney Angela Corey charge first degree? Aren’t GOPers supposed to be tough on crime? Why didn’t she throw the book at Zimmerman like she always throws the book at blacks, actually black kids and other kids of color.

Speaking of history-making, not only does Florida send more juveniles to adult prison than any other state in the country, Corey is currently prosecuting 12 year old Cristian Fernandez- the youngest murder defendant ever in Jacksonville- on a first degree murder charge for killing his toddler sibling on March 14, 2011 during violent shoving into a bookcase.

Moreover, the Medical Examiner said that if the mother had immediately called 911 instead of spending hours on the internet doing medical research, balancing her checkbook, and downloading music, there wouldn’t have been a death.

[blkgrapes2000]

10:36 PM on 06/30/2012

State Representative Dennis Baxley, the prime sponsor of Section 776.012 and 776.041, said the legislation doesn’t apply to Zimmerman. It had nothing to do with murdering defenseless black children. Zimmerman’s supporters must concede that it’s undisputed that Zimmerman was in a vehicle pursuing Trayvon (contrary to police instructions), that Trayvon was a pedestrian, that Trayvon tried to run away, that Zimmerman exited his vehicle and approached and confronted Trayvon, that Zimmerman outweighed Trayvon, that Trayvon was unarmed, that Zimmerman was armed, and that Zimmerman shot Trayvon in the chest, killing him. These are the uncontested facts. Now let’s apply the uncontested Florida criminal law.
On April 11, Zimmerman was arrested and charged with second degree murder, which in Section 782.04(2) is defined as “The unlawful killing of a human being, when perpetrated by any act imminently dangerous… and evincing a depraved mind…, although without any premeditated design…” But there was premeditation, hence first degree murder.

[Michael Peter Smith]

01:05 AM on 07/14/2012

I am so sick of Baxley's hypocritical hand-wringing. Hundreds of killers have walked under the bill he sponsored. Now suddenly 7 years later he says "Oh no, we didn't mean for this to happen!"

[lildrascal]

02:30 PM on 06/29/2012

Most of the public has not seen an updated photo of TM. Pictures that are posted are of TM when he was around 12 or 13 and not 17. I also have a 17 year old and if you have a teenager this age you know they think they know everything and can have behavioral issues and they don't want to listen to anyone. Teenagers can portrait innocence ( most will lie to anyone) and are great at acting and parents are naive and believe what their child tells them.Think back on how you were when you were 17! Maybe most people just hear,listen and believe only what the media lets out and of course the attorneys also release. So everyone that has comments was not at the crime scene and really does not know the true evidence. And neither do I. Only God knows.

[Jim Gurganious]

10:12 PM on 07/12/2012

What do updated pictures have to do with the case? The police have said that Trayvon was doing nothing wrong at the time Zimmerman started following him.

[onionboy]

05:51 PM on 10/12/2012

The only facts known for sure are that one guy was armed, the other was not. One is alive, the other is not.

Doing an investigation, making charges, is completely appropriate without any demonstrable evidence of self-defense. It must left up to the courts. Which is where it is.

[RunNewtRun]

12:21 PM on 06/20/2012

Flagged for racism.

[purplewg]

01:35 PM on 06/20/2012

Thank you sir; may I have another?

[manchan]

11:26 AM on 06/29/2012

You are an ignorant, hateful individual!

[purplewg]

11:59 AM on 06/29/2012

And you my friend are out touch with reality.

[SmoothChef41]

12:51 PM on 06/06/2012

Seems to me that gz is a bit of a bully ,he showed a form of bulling and immaturity towards his former co-worker and we all know he bullied TM.. I think he should be mentally evaluated while he's in prison right now..

[purplewg]

10:56 AM on 06/20/2012

Did you look at your avatar? lol

[WokeorSleep]

03:02 PM on 08/10/2012

Yours is more scary!

[SmoothChef41]

09:10 AM on 11/13/2012

purplewg, you dont know me so keep your ignorant comments to yourself..

[MyrtleJune]

12:33 PM on 07/13/2012

"a bit of a bully" is an understatement. He's a full blown npd psycho case. Classic signs of it. Never should have had a gun. And I'm not sure, since mental tests are garnered from self reporting, that he wouldn't pass a test. One of hallmarks of npd is their incredible ability to convincing lie, though their behavior as described by this poor coworker, tell the real story. When he says something like "he even had me second guessing myself" about zimmerman's ability to lie and connive...... you KNOW what you're dealing with.... severe and very practiced NPD and a total bully.

[rob12345]

11:50 PM on 06/04/2012

The prosecutor seems didn't do his job of preparing this witness. First, there's a lot of leading questions from the prose: "do you think he was making racists comments about middle eastern people?" That's leading. And the witness saying "I considered beating him up to teach him a lesson", sounds like he is as violent as Zimm.

If this is how the prosecution is going to work, Zimm is acquitted.

[Johnny Apleturd]

04:00 PM on 01/01/2013

Proofread yourself. That's is not leading. Go back to matlock.

[Shadowhuntaz]

12:22 AM on 06/01/2012

All races make jokes and comments that could be consider racist but his comments are beyond the pale. I made a film with friends recently about the trayvon martin case it's called Zimmerman in the hoodie. Watch it and join the conversation with heartfelt comments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qx4TNhsEJU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Johnny Apleturd]

04:01 PM on 01/01/2013

"huntaz"... Lol

[EconomicLogic]

01:02 PM on 05/31/2012

George Zimmerman started an insurance business with a black friend. That friend said Zimmerman and his wife tutored black kids in their home. Zimmerman led a protest against local police for not charging a white son of a Policeman who attacked a black man in town. But it wouldn't matter if Zimmerman was the worst racist in the world because Trayvon Martin attacked him when he was in no danger, and then after sucker puching Zimmerman and knoking him to the ground with a broken nose, Martin jumped on his dazed and already defeated victim and re-attacked by repeatedly bashing Zimmerman's head on the concrete sidewalk. This was clearly a savage attack by Martin, who was in no physical danger, and capable of running away from trouble in mere seconds (6' 2" in shape high school football player vs. 5' 9" out of shape huffing and puffing and on the phone to 911 desk jockey) ... and Martin had a cell phone to call 911, after running for 30 seconds, if he felt threatened. Did Martin run away and stay away? No. Did Martin phone 911? No. Martin decided to confront Zimmerman and attacked him. Then he re-attacked. Zimmerman saved his own life in the middle of the second violent attack that would have left him brain damaged or dead. The crime victim "won" and the criminal "lost" while in the act of committing a vicious crime. This is so rare I'd call it a miracle!

[Lucidmike79]

07:07 PM on 05/31/2012

George Zimmerman provoked this incident. When someone is threatened the most basic human reaction is fight or flight. This decision is not a conscious one and you can't fault Treyvon for choosing one or the other.

Imagine if someone walks up to you with a threatening presence. And your instincts tell you to fight, and he shoots you dead, is it ok for him to kill you because you were a threat to him? The Stand Your Ground law is flawed and George Zimmerman is to blame for creating this situation and the consequences that followed.

[abbyj]

08:46 PM on 05/31/2012

And lucid you are. Thanks. Honored to be your 1st fan.

[purplewg]

11:03 AM on 06/20/2012

Fight or flight is mostly used when speaking about herbivore's. This is their general accepted defense mechanism. This is not typically associated with the more intelligent human race.
When fists started flying the game was over.

[yankhadenuf]

07:08 AM on 06/20/2012

Zimmerman stalked Trayvon with gun and depraved intent (listen to dispatch tapes again) , he violated law , Neighborhood Watch rules, and Z is every parents nightmare of strangers hunting down their kids

[Anarchy For All]

11:27 PM on 05/30/2012

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You bore everyone.

[sp50]

06:23 PM on 06/05/2012

You people don't realize that you don't belong here either. This country belonged to the Indians and you came along and declared the land as yours. If you want the middle eastern guy to leave, then you need to leave as well LOL

[Cortez Harris]

12:42 PM on 06/26/2012

The bible says the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof God says if He were hungry He wouldn't tell us because the cattle on a thousand hills belongs to Him.