Joe Oliver Defends Friend George Zimmerman
A former news reporter who is a friend of George Zimmerman came to his defense trying to paint Zimmerman as a caring person who was trying to do the right thing and not the racist killer he is portrayed as by some media outlets.
Joe Oliver, 53, has known Zimmerman for several years explained that he is distraught over how this incident turned out.
"He couldn't stop crying. He's a caring human being," Oliver told Reuters in an interview.
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"I mean, he took a man's life and he has no idea what to do about it. He's extremely remorseful about it," Oliver added.
Oliver, whose wife is friends with Zimmerman's mother-in-law, explained that for as long as he has known Zimmerman, he has not shown any indication that he resents people of color.
"I'm a black male and all that I know is that George has never given me any reason whatsoever to believe he has anything against people of color," Oliver said.
He furthered his defense of Zimmerman by stating that until all the evidence is brought forth and analyzed that people should not cast judgment on a person they do not know and should instead let the wheels of justice turn.
"All these people who are threatening George, what makes them any better than the person they think he is?" Oliver said.
"You've got all these people wanting to lynch the man and they don't know the whole story," he continued. "There are huge gaps that are being filled in and interpreted without evidence."
Zimmerman has not yet been arrested due to the current law in Florida that makes it legal to use deadly force if a person's life is in mortal danger.
Zimmerman has not made any public appearances since the shooting and his whereabouts are currently unknown. The New Black Panther Party, an African-American group unrelated to the original Black Panther Party, placed a $10,000 bounty on Zimmerman last week.
