This makes me retch. Geraldo Rivera reveals himself to be an idiot with this comment:
Geraldo Rivera said Friday he would “bet money” that Trayvon Martin wouldn’t have been fatally shot if the teenager hadn’t been wearing a hoodie, and the Fox News host’s comments immediately drew a fierce response, with one critic branding him a “moron” on Twitter.
“I am urging the parents of black and Latino youngsters particularly to not let their children go out wearing hoodies,” Rivera said on “Fox & Friends.” “I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was.”
snip
Rivera on Friday launched into a long-winded monologue about how wearing a hoodie can draw “dark-skinned” kids unwanted attention because of the negative associations attached to people that dress to look like “a gangsta.”
“When you see a kid walking down the street, particularly a dark-skinned kid like my son Cruz, who I constantly yelled at when he was going out wearing a damn hoodie or those pants around his ankles,” Rivera said, as he continued on to argue that there is an “instant association” with someone that is wearing a hoodie.
Politico
George Zimmerman killed Tayvon Martin because he was black. A hoodie did not kill Taryvon Martin; George Zimmerman did.
Rivera may not be bad intentioned with his comments and he may worry about his own son who is "darker skinned", but blaming the victim's choice of clothes rather than the racist who killed Trayvon Martin is just wrong.
Update I: Perhaps Florida will put the "hoodie" on trial?
Update II: Check out this diary:
President Obama:
You know, if I had a son he’d look like Trayvon.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Update III: More. From Christian Dem in NC in the comments below, Rivera doubled down in his column:
His hoodie killed Trayvon Martin as surely as George Zimmerman did.
snip
No one black, brown or white can honestly tell me that seeing a kid of color with a hood pulled over his head doesn’t generate a certain reaction, sometimes scorn, often menace.
When you see that kid coming your way, unless you specifically recognize him you are thinking ghetto or ghetto wannabe high-style or low-brow wise-ass. Pedestrians cross the street to avoid black or brown hoodie wearers coming their way.
Because this is a teachable moment let me speak plainly.
Whatever Reverends Sharpton and Jackson say in Florida Friday, after listening to the 911 tapes and hearing the witness’ testimonials, I believe Trayvon Martin would be alive today but for his hoodie.
http://latino.foxnews.com/...
Fuck you Geraldo Rivera. YOU are perpetuating racist stereotyping and are FULL OF SHIT. Your thesis is wrong and its effect is pernicious.