In this racially charged case, a man charged with the crime of defending himself is being tried, found guilty and strung up by the media. Figuratively.

Second degree murder charges were leveled based on the prosecutor claiming that the accused, George Zimmerman was stalking Trayvon Martin. Never mind that the stalking statutes require a pattern of following the victim and this was a one shot deal. Also, how many stalkers call 911 to tell the police that they are stalking somebody?

Putting that aside, a Jeff Black article posted on MSNBC.com typifies why Zimmerman is swinging from a tree in the court of public opinion (emphases throughout are mine):

"Seminole County Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler took herself off George Zimmerman's second-degree murder case on Wednesday because of a possible conflict of interest."

The conflict of interest is that she is up for re-election and this is a political ticking time bomb.

"The new judge on the case is Judge Kenneth Lester Jr., a 15-year veteran who has heard death penalty cases, the Orlando Sentinel reported."

Do they have the death penalty in Florida for second degree murder? Does the prosecutor plan on asking for the death penalty? Is the prosecutor hoping to cash in on the New Black Panthers bounty if she gets the chair for Zimmerman?

"Zimmerman, 28, is charged with second-degree murder for fatally shooting Trayvon Martin, 17, during a scuffle in a gated community in Sanford, Fla."

Pointing out that Zimmerman is 28 and Martin was 17 hints that the big adult here attacked the little teenager. Quite the opposite in reality.

"Zimmerman, a block watch volunteer, has pleaded not guilty, claiming it was self-defense."

Not often mentioned in the national press is that Zimmerman was not actually on duty that night. Just like Trayvon, he too was returning from the store when he noticed an unfamiliar person in a hoodie acting strangely and called the police like anybody living in a gated community would do.

"The killing of Martin on Feb. 26, and a long delay in an arrest or charges in the case, sparked protests across the nation as well as emotionally charged debate about race relations and self-defense laws."

The long delay is because there was no case. And the delay didn't spark the protests, the media manipulation of the 911 tapes and police video did. The arrest was done in order to appease the likes of Al Sharpton, not to achieve justice for Martin.

The self-defense law he refers to is Florida's stand your ground statute. Based on the physical evidence, eyewitness reports and Zimmerman's conversations with the police there is no debate about self-defense regardless what the media might try to portray through manufactured evidence.

"Martin is black, and Zimmerman is white and Hispanic."

This is exactly the race-baiting that the media is exploiting. Why is the author attaching the "white and" label to Zimmerman. Do we refer to Obama as a "white and" black man? Do we refer to Tiger Woods as an "Asian and" black person? Zimmerman is considered Hispanic just the same as Obama and Tiger are always referred to as black. The author's motives are obvious here.