George Zimmerman's father: "So much hate" coming from Obama

A still from a video from inside the Sanford, Florida, police station allegedly showing a handcuffed George Zimmerman being led by police.

/ ABC News via YouTube

Amid continued controversy over the death of Trayvon Martin, the father of the man who shot Martin lamented what he called "so much hate" coming from all sides - including President Obama.

"I never foresaw so much hate coming from the president, the Congressional Black Caucus, the NAACP," said Robert Zimmerman, the father of George Zimmerman, in an interview with Orlando's FOX 35 News. "Every organization imaginable is trying to get notoriety or profit from this in, in some way."

George Zimmerman, a volunteer member of a Sanford, Florida neighborhood watch, killed Martin last month while patrolling the neighborhood with a 9 millimeter gun. Zimmerman, who has not been charged with Martin's murder, claims he was defending himself against the teenager, who was unarmed.

Asked about the ongoing controversy surrounding the case, Mr. Obama last week called the event a tragedy and suggested he was sympathetic to suspicion that the shooting may have been racially motivated. "You know, if I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon," Mr. Obama said. Without ever mentioning Zimmerman, the president call on authorities to investigate "every aspect" of the incident.

According to a report in the Orlando Sentinel, Zimmerman told police he exchanged words with Martin on the evening of Martin's death, and that the 17-year-old attacked him. Zimmerman says he began crying for help, but Martin's family argues it was their son who was calling for help. Witness accounts differ, and 911 tapes are not clear.

In the interview, Zimmerman's father said the degree of hate that had been borne out of the controversy was "unbelievable," and that he hoped everyone would be able to "go beyond" it.

"But there's so much hate that I - I've never been involved in hate, and George hasn't, and it's really unbelievable," said Zimmerman, who did not expose his face in the interview. "I just hope at one point everyone will go beyond the hate that they have."

Martin's death has sparked a national uproar over both racial profiling and so-called Stand Your Ground laws, which in Florida allow a person to to "stand his or her ground and meet force with force ... including deadly force" if there is a reasonable belief it is needed to "prevent death or great bodily harm," even if there's a chance to escape.

Police have said Florida's Stand Your Ground law prohibited them from arresting Zimmerman.

[sideliner78]

In Obamas speach not one point did I read or hear a single hate message in it. The person that mentioned hate well, i'll leave it up to the GOD he service to Lord over Mr. Robert Zimmerman. The truth will be revealed.

[more-bs-less-truth]

For all you HATERS out there. A question!!! What would You be saying if Trayvon had the gun and shot Zimmerman?? OH did not think about that. I listen to so much hate, why cus sharpton and jackson want you to. I can't wait till GOD tells ALL OF US, Go kill each other and then I pick up the pieces. Yes i'm a old white guy who does not care what you look like I hate everybody equily [can't sp sy] it's just easier that way. But at least I'm not throwing stones. You all have whatever day, and remember TRUTH HURTS, more that LIES do.

[Fareed17]

Robert Zimmerman "so much hate" yea right, I can see why your son is so screwed up, he has blood on his hands, is in hiding, and can't show his face. The only hate came from your borderline retarded son who stalked and murdered 17 year old Trayvon Martin. For that your son will die 1000 deaths of a coward. His has completely screwed up life, and has now gone to Hell. His only hope is to come forward, or be hunted down and dragged into court when the indictments come. Just be careful you are not an accessory.

[more-bs-less-truth]

Do you know for a fact everything you say is true? I guess you were there, so where's your police statement??

[republicansrdumb]

Rich pay same rate as secretary-class warfare. Rich folks who avoided tax their whole lives pay inheritance tax on estates value over a million dollars-death tax. Rules to keep corporations from polluting, price gouging, and misrepresenting services to consumers- job busting regulations. The Creator of the Universe representatives on earth-Job Creators. Death Panels in their imagination- Real death Panels in Republican Arizonian. The son of a Rich Jewish Retired Federal Judge attorney to face the same scrutiny as anyone else who took a life under odd circumstances-hate peddling. Aren't Republicans Grand.

[roaringmaus]

Just a quick question, are you naturally this moronic or is this something you have to work at on a daily basis? You are not making any sense, but then again, rational thinking isn't a liberal strong suit.

[raymailhot]

Even Juan Williams (www.wsj.com) is seeing the duplicity of the political left.

Rather than argue the point, listen to what is being said and for what gain.

[Lionhart40]

If you want to see what hate really looks like, take a look at the kids body.

[jabailo]

George Zimmerman shot a kid walking home from the grocery.

You can hear the child screaming for his life as Zimmerman put a bullet in his heart.

[mick7744]

A question...

Since Zimmerman and his supporters claim that the reason he was being so vigilant was because of a rash of unsolved break-ins and burglaries committed by black teenagers...

If these crimes were and are unsolved, how did Zimmerman (and some posters here) know that they were committed by black teenagers?

There are plenty of retired white gangsters in Florida and some may have fallen on hard times because of the nation's economic crises...

Just sayin'

[robert1129]

Let's just remember that this guy is the father of zimmerman and leave it at that. Let's cut him some slack.

[ATAT8080]

The Honorable President Obama, unlike most prior presidents, never claimed to represent *all* Americans. For instance, the rich, he clearly doesn't represent them. And Republicans, he doesn't represent Republicans, he attacks them as a group all the time.

I think he may be right on the Iran thing, put pressure on those who buy Iranian oil, that's cheaper than a war, but it remains to be seen if Iran will back down, so the verdict is still out on whether President Obama is correct on how he's handling that.

[sideliner78]

I think that there is just so much dislike of Obama as President that you'll find any way to just not like him. He keeps trying to help the Country, like most Presidents regardless of affiliation are up against a BRICK WALL when trying to do whats right. So, I don't think you are looking at this from a head on perspective at all.