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Below is the English translation of Univisions interview withGeorge Zimmerman. Following

the English translation, please find the Spanish transcript of the interview. If you have any

questions, please contact Jose a!ora"#ose$a!ora%univision.net.

UNIVISION NEWS TRANSCRIPT

Program: Aqu y Ahora

Content:Interview with George Zimmerman

Air Date: Sunday, February 16, 2014

ey

I!" I#ia !a#der$nGZ" George Zimmerman

I!" George, than% you very mu&h 'or a&&e(ting thi) interview with *nivi)ion+ e## u)what your #i'e wa) #i%e be'ore February o' 2012+

GZ" -orma#+

I!" .hat were you doing/

GZ" I wa) wor%ing+ I wa) em(#oyed,you &now, norma##y 40 hour)+ I wa) )tudying tobe a #awyeror a (o#i&e o''i&er or a udge+ And I wa) a#)o, um, )(ending a #ot o'time in the gym to #o)e weight+ y other, um, (a)time wa) having the %id) I wa)

mentoring+ So that i) what I wa) doing wee% to wee%+

I!" .hen did you de&ide to vo#unteer a) a wat&hman 'or your neighborhood/

GZ" I didn3t want to be what i) &a##ed in ng#i)h the -eighborhood .at&h+ .hatha((ened wa) that the neighbor had an in&ident where they entered her hou)e,um, to rob her, and )he had her ninemontho#d )on in the hou)e+ y wi'e at thetime, um, )he )aw the (eo(#e who had done the robbery running in our, um, yard+
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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And )he got rea##y )&ared and wanted to move+ And I to#d her, 5e'ore we move,7be&au)e we didn3t have the, uh, 'inan&ia# mean) to move whenever we wanted, Ito#d her, 58ur a))o&iation ha) a, uh, -eighborhood .at&h 9rogram+ So #et me ta#%with the :8A, with the;a## the owner), and #et3) )ee what &an be done to )tart,uh, um, being more, um7

I!" ore (roa&tive in the &ommunity/

GZ" ore (roa&tive, ye), e


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im(ortant than anything wa) to #i)ten to them, be&au)e they have a #ot to )ay, andit3)

I!" >ou be&ame a big brother o' )ort) to tho)e %id)+

GZ" e)+ I u)t )aw them over !hri)tma)+

I!" ?et3) move on, George, to the night o' the in&ident+ e## me what ha((ened thatnight+

GZ" *n'ortunate#y, the 9re)ident ordered the @u)ti&e e(artment to &ondu&t aninve)tigation to )ee i' I had vio#ated anybody3) &ivi# right)+ And whi#e thatinve)tigation i) going on, I &an3t )ay anything more about ee), ma3am+

I!" ut I want to a)% you, a'ter a## o' that ha((ened, when did you rea#iCe that theyoung man that you )hot wa) dead/

GZ" At the o''i&e o' the (o#i&e, at the (o#i&e )tation+ And I )aid that on &amera+

I!" .hen you )hot him, what wa) your 'ir)t rea&tion/ .hat did you do/

GZ" Fir)t I thoum, I wa) a'raid it had gone through hi) othe) and that it wa) goingto go di)get #o)t, and, um, you %now, go into a hou)e andbe&au)e the youngman wa) )ti## ta#%ing to me, a) I have )aid+ So I thought that it hadn3t;a''e&tedhim, and I got worried, and I )aid, 5I ho(e that it ha)n3tthat the bu##et ha)n3t hit aneighbor+7 ut I on#y %new that the atta&% )to((ed+ Immediate#y+

I!" >ou &a##ed an ambu#an&e/ id you a)% 'or he#(/


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GZ" And )e&ond) a'ter that ha((ened, a man arrived with a '#a)h#ight, and heI hada#ready &a##ed the (o#i&e, a) everyone %now), and I %new that the (o#i&e werenearby+ hat wa) one o' the rea)on) that I &ontinued, ah, ye##ing, 5:e#(, he#(,he#(,7 be&au)e I thought the (o#i&e were nearby and were u)t #oo%ing 'or u)+hen, when the man &ame with the '#a)h#ight, I thought he wa) a (o#i&e o''i&er, )o

there wa) nothere wa)n3t even time to &a## the (o#i&e+

I!" >ou a)% 'or he#(+ oe) he a#)o a)% 'or he#(/

GZ" -o+

I!" :e doe)n3t )ay a word/

GZ" *m, he %ee() te##ing me to )hut u(, to )hut my mouth, in ng#i)h, (ro'anity+ Andat the end, that he3) going to %i## me+

I!" :i) (arent) a##ege that the voi&e heard a)%ing 'or he#( wa) that o' their )on andnot your)+

GZ" DSha%ing hi) head to )ay noE

I!" .ho)e voi&e wa) it/

GZ" ine+ Ab)o#ute#y+

I!" :ow mu&h time (a))ed 'rom the )hooting in&ident unti# the (o#i&e arrived/

GZ" Ah;I wou#d )ay that it wa) #e)) than a minute, I imagine+ :one)t#y, it )eemed#i%e an eternity+

I!" At )ome (oint did you )it down to thin% and )ay to your)e#', 5I )hou#d havewaited 'or the (o#i&e to arrive+ I )hou#d have %e(t 'ighting him handtohand+ I)hou#dn3t have )hot him7/

GZ" A## the time he wa) atta&%ing me, I wa), um, a)%ing him, begging him to )to( )othat it wou#dn3t have to e)&a#ate to the (oint he e)&a#ated it to+

I!" ut didn3t you 'ee# at )ome (oint, 5I )hou#d have waited7/

GZ" a'ter, be'ore, during the atta&%;I don3t under)tand, e


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GZ" -o, he )aw my gun and he to#d me he wa) going to %i## me, and I rea#iCed that hewa) te##ing the truth+ I mean, he wa)n3t (#aying around+

I!" .hy do you )ay that he wa) te##ing the truth/

GZ" e&au)e I a)%ed him to )to(, he obviou)#y %new I wa) hurt and the neighbor, uh,@ohn Good, to#d him to )to( and that he wa) &a##ing the (o#i&e and the young mandidn3t &are, he %e(t atta&%ing+ So, I %new that he wa)n3t going to )to( even thoughhe %new that )omebody had )een and that the (o#i&e were &oming, he didn3t &are+

I!" .ho did you &a## 'ir)t/

GZ" y wi'e+

I!" And what did you te## her/

GZ" hat I had been in a, um, that they were (utting me+ :one)t#y, I don3t rememberee), ma3am+

I!" >ou remained 'ree/

GZ" *h, te&hni&a##y the ne


6/31

GZ" *h, that day, right then, we )tayed at the home o' )ome 'riend)+ y wi'e hada#ready brought othe) and a toothbru)h, uh, (er)ona# &are )tu'', 'or two or threeday)+ ut right then, we went to )ome 'riend)3 home, my 'riend ar% 8)termanwho )(o%e, who wa) a witne)) in &ourt 'or me, and Sandra, hi) wi'e, who a#)o

)(o%e+

I!" .hy did you de&ide to go to )ome 'riend)3 home and not to your own home/

GZ" Fir)t o' a##, I didn3t have a &ar, )o, I didn3t have a way to go to my, to return to myhome, but;the )ho&% i) )o great that you go with whatever (eo(#e te## you, wherethey te## you to go+ So, uh, and hone)t#y, I 'e#t more #i%e my 'riend ar%8)terman i) a, uh, Federa# Air ar)ha#, and I 'e#t )a'er in hi) hou)e+ And not u)tbe&au)e o' )a'ety, but be&au)e, you %now, you %now, I %new they had 'ood there,that I had 'riend), (eo(#e, and to he#( me )(iritua##y to have a great 'riend, and atthat (oint I 'e#t that that

I!" >ou needed emotiona# he#( at that (oint/ :ow wa) the )ho&% o' %nowing that++

GZ" Ab)o#ute#y;

I!" hat you had )hot and %i##ed )omeone+

GZ" >e)+

I!" :ow did George Zimmerman 'ee# at that moment/

GZ" *h, )ad, very )ad+ *h, with a #ot o' que)tion) and no an)wer)+ And I didn3t havethe an)wer) 'or anything+ So+

I!" here3) a (oint where you di)a((ear+

GZ" >e), )evera#+

I!" .here did you go/

GZ" e(end) whi&h one)+

I!" e'ore turning your)e#' in+

GZ" e'ore I turned my)e#' in I went to, o)e to where, um, I wa) born and rai)ed, inthe +!+ area, -orthern irginia, (art o' irginia and ary#and, o)e to there,and I )tayed there 'or a#mo)t a month+

I!" .ith whom/ .ere you in &onta&t with your 'ami#y/


7/31

GZ" >e), but the re&e(tion on my &e## (hone wa)n3t good, there wa) no Internet, therewa) no &ab#e and, uh, &ommuni&ation wa) very #imited+ *h, but in, now, #oo%ingba&%, I rea#iCe that that wa) more o' a b#e))ing, that I didn3t have &ab#e, that Ididn3t have Internet, that I didn3t )ee everything that (eo(#e were )aying+ So, uh,we were )a'e 'or hour), )o+

I!" id you 'ee# )a'e/

GZ" >e)+

I!" .hat were you thin%ing/ .hat wa) going through your mind when youremembered what had ha((ened that night/

GZ" *h, I 'e#t )a'e, to ari'y, uh, I 'e#t )a'e when I wa) with other (eo(#e+ And when'ami#y member) &ame to vi)it me or to, but at night or when nobody wa) around,it wa) terri'ying be&au)e that wa), it wa) at that time when they (ut a bounty, uh,

they o''ered 10,000 to %i## me, whi&h at one (oint the 9re)ident &ho)e not tore&ogniCe+ And at that time Ithere were )&anda#) that (eo(#e had )aid that therewa), it wa) 100,000 or 1,000,000 to %i## me+

I!" .ho to#d you that they had o''ered a reward/

GZ" -o, it wa) done (ub#iy+ hey had demon)tration) and they had, um, (a(er) withmy 'a&e and my name on them, and they )aid, in ng#i)h, 5Heward, dead or a#ive,wanted 10,000+7 And even though the (o#i&e had the name) o' the (eo(#e whohad tho)e (a(er) and who wanted to %i## me, they &ho)e to, not to any o' them+ So,at that time, when I rea#iCed the gravity o' the )ituation and when my 'ami#ybegan to re&eive threat), at that time I be&ame rea##y terri'ied+

I!" From one minute to the ne


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I!" In other word), how do you 'ee# when you go out on the )treet/ >ou go to the)u(ermar%et, you go to a re)taurant, you go to a (ar%+ :ow doe) GeorgeZimmerman 'ee#/

.e were ta#%ing about how your #i'e &hanged be&au)e o' the in&ident o' February

o' 2012, um, be&au)e your 'a&e be&ame notoriou)+ .hat i) George Zimmerman3)#i'e #i%e today/

GZ" I3m )ti## )&ared, obviou)#y+ here are )ti## threat) again)t me and my 'ami#y+ *h, I)ti## have, a) I to#d you, the inve)tigation by the FI or the *+S+ @u)ti&ee(artment++++ I never %now what3) going to ha((en, but, uh, I than% God 'orevery day and I try to #ive my #i'e a) mu&h a) I &an+ *h, I don3t want to mi)) tho)emoment) with my 'ami#y that, uh, that thi) (ro&e)) ha) a#ready )to#en 'rom me+

I!" .hat ha((ened that day ha) generated a #ot o' 'ee#ing) among, among the (ub#i&in genera#+ It ha) generated 'ee#ing) o' hatred, it ha) generated 'ee#ing) o' revenge,

a), um, you to#d me u)t now, there are other (eo(#e who )u((ort what you didand who be#ieve that you, um, did what you had to do at that moment+ 8vera##,o(inion) are very, very &on'#i&ting+ ut that (art you have to#d me about, abouthow they re&ogniCe you, about how you don3t 'ee# good, about how you 'ear 'oryour #i'e, don3t you thin% it3) a &on)equen&e o' what ha((ened in February o'2012+

GZ" It3) a &on)equen&e o' what the (re)) did with the in&ident in 2012, in February+

I!" >ou don3t thin% it3) be&au)e o' the 'a&t that you 'ired gun/

GZ" !orre&t+ -o, obviou)#y not+

I!" .hy do you b#ame the (re)) 'or what i) ha((ening to you/

GZ" e&au)e o' the way they (ortrayed the )tory, the way that they wanted to (ortray itto ma%e it more )en)ationa#+ *m, )o, to an)wer you, I don3t thin% that that wa) a&on)equen&e o' what ha((ened that night be&au)e obviou)#y the, uh, you &an )eethe, uh, number) in the )tati)

I!" Stati)ti&)+

GZ" >e), ma3am+ :ow many time) doe) that ha((en in the *nited State), and howmany time) it goe) without new) &overage #i%e mine+

I!" .hat do you thin% ha((ened in thi) &a)e, then/

GZ" In;

I!" In your &a)e with rayvon artin+


9/31

GZ" .hat wa) the di''eren&e

I!" .hat ha((ened/ .hat i) the di''eren&e 'rom the other &a)e) that you )ay ha((en/

GZ" I don3t %now, I hone)t#y &an3t an)wer 'or the ourna#i)t)+ >ou wou#d have to a)%them+

I!" 9re)ident 8bama )(o%e about thi) &a)e and, and he )aid that 5he &ou#d have beenrayvon artin = year) ago,7 and he a#)o )aid that 5it &ou#d be hi) own )on,7and he &a##ed to end di)&rimination, )o to )(ea%, o' A'ri&anAmeri&an)+ .hat didyou thin% when you heard 9re)ident 8bama3) word) about thi) &a)e, in whi&h youare invo#ved/

GZ" *()et, )ad, di)a((ointed+

I!" .hy/

GZ" I wa) a, uh, huge )u((orter o', o' 9re)ident 8bama+ *h, and a## my 'riend), my'ami#y %new it, they %new it, and when everything 'ir)t &ame out and (eo(#e)tarted to )end (etition) to the .hite :ou)e, uh, the )(o%e)man, @ay !arney, )aidthat thi) i) a )tate &a)e, we aren3t going to do, the *nited State) and the 'edera#government have no bu)ine)) &ommenting about thi), about thi) inve)tigation+*m, and then )udden#y the 9re)ident, with the e#e&tion a#mo)t here, de&ided toma%e a &omment that )eemed to me, that )eemed un'air to me, e)(e&ia##y, a'ter)aying that they weren3t going to &omment+

I!" >ou mention the e#e&tion+ >ou thin% that 9re)ident 8bama mentioned thi) &a)ebe&au)e he wanted to gain more )u((orter), he wanted to win more vote)/

GZ" hat3) it, ab)o#ute#y+

I!" hat3) what you be#ieve+

GZ" :e )aw it a) an o((ortunity+

I!" George, you te## me that the (re)) ha) twi)ted what ha((ened, and ha) )aidwhatever it wanted to )ay, but you haven3t to#d your ver)ion o' what ha((ened,either+ So, when are we going to hear your ver)ion, why don3t you te## it to menow/

GZ" .hi&h o', o', e


10/31

GZ" 8h, ye)+ *h, a) I )aid to you, again, I &an3t di))(ea% about the detai#) be&au)e o'the inve)tigation that the *nited State) ha), but about the 'a&t that whatha((ened; He(orter) made a&&u)ation) that, with no ba)i)+

I!" For e


11/31

GZ" 8bviou)#y, 'or any A'ri&anAmeri&an, e


12/31

I!" o you thin% he wou#d have %i##ed you/

GZ" I %now that 'or )ure, ye)+

I!" y hitting you/

GZ" 8r with my (i)to#+ 8ne way or another+

I!" >ou #i%ed to boou were a )trong man+ .hy didn3t you de&ide to %ee( 'ighting and batt#ing withhim in)tead o' getting to the (oint o' having to u)e the gun/

GZ" hat3) a very good que)tion+ *m, and; there i) a di''eren&e between bo


13/31

GZ" hat )omething might ha((en to my 'ami#y and I wa) not going to be ab#e to he#(them in any way+

I!" .hat wa) your #i'e #i%e on the in)ide/

GZ" *h, )trange#y, it brought me o)er to God+ *h, I had (#enty o' time to )tudy theib#e and (ray+ *h, the

I!" :ave you a#way) been a be#iever/

GZ" >e)+

I!" o you thin% thi) in&ident brought you o)er to God/

GZ" -o, ma3am+ It wa) a#way), uh, even when I wa) I &hi#d I wa) an a#tar boy, um, a#i'e#ong !atho#i&+ *h, but in ai#, the mo)t )ur(ri)ing thing wa) that everybody

)u((orted me, 'rom the guard) to the (eo(#e who were in ai#+

I!" .hat did they )ay to you/

GZ" *h, 5%ee( your head u(K7 the (eo(#e who were in ai#, uh, to#d me, you %now,5have 'aith, God doe) everything 'or a rea)on,7 uh, and the guard) a#way) treatedme #i%e anybody e#)e, uh, who wa) in ai#+ hey treated me with re)(e&t,tremendou)#y, u)t #i%e they treat everybody+

I!" >ou te## me that you are a )trong be#iever, that you have a#way) been very o)e toGod+ .hat i) it #i%e 'or a (er)on #i%e that to dea# with the 'a&t o' having ta%enanother (er)on3) #i'e in a tragi& event/

GZ" I %now that :e i) the on#y udge, and that )omeday :e wi## te## me how :e 'ee#),and I #eave it in the hand) o' the ?ord+

I!" .hen the ury began to de#iberate, what wa) going through George Zimmerman3)head/ It too% about 16 hour) over two day)+ .hat were you thin%ing about duringtho)e day)/

GZ" .a) it u)t 16 hour)/

I!" 8ver two day), the time they were wor%ing+

GZ" .e##, at the beginning, um, we thought it wou#d be more or #e)) 'a)t, and, and#ater, a) time went by and time went by, a) my attorney at the time, ar% 8mara,to#d me, it3) #i%e having a, um, 'ami#y, a 'ather or a mother in )urgery and waiting'or the )urgeon to )ay i' they3re going to #ive or not+ hat3) the be)t way I &ane


14/31

I!" And what wa) going through George Zimmerman3) mind at that (oint, over thetwo day)/

GZ" I tried to %ee( my)e#' o&&u(ied, uh, (#anning 'or my 'ami#y and my wi'e, 'or their)a'ety, u)t in &a)e+ And I a#)o wanted than% everyone who had he#(ed me+ So, I

wa) )igning a #ot o' than% you &ard), be&au)e I didn3t %now i' I wou#d be ab#e todo that a'ter that+

I!" id you thin% you might end u( in ai# 'or the re)t o' your #i'e/

GZ" >e), ab)o#ute#y+

I!" And how did you view your )ituation there/

GZ" In ai#/ *m, #i%e

I!" For the re)t o' your #i'e+

GZ" >e), #i%e I to#d you, I turned everything over to the ?ord and to#d him, 5o withme what >ou wi##+7

I!" @u)ti&e )aid that you were not gui#ty o' what ha((ened that day, but thing) endedin a tragedy, with the death o' a young man who wa) unarmed+ o you have anyregret) about what ha((ened that night/

GZ" Again, that3) a que)tion that I &an3t an)wer right now be&au)e o' the inve)tigationthat the, the @u)ti&e e(artment ha) going on+

I!" ut a) a (er)on+

GZ" A) a (er)on who the @u)ti&e e(artment i) inve)tigating, I &an3t an)wer+

I!" >ou &an3t even te## me how you 'e#t, how you wou#d have 'e#t+

GZ" 8%ay, I3ve a#ready an)wered that )evera# time) in, with the (o#i&e and ininterview) (reviou)#y and, uh, now that there3) the inve)tigation that ha) )tartedthey obviou)#y )ent their inve)tigator) and they &ondu&ted their inve)tigation, theyo)ed the inve)tigation by )aying that that there wa) no one who &an )ay that Iwa) ra&i)t+ And a'ter they deared me inno&ent, now they have )tarted anotherinve)tigation+ So, a) I )aid, that i)n3t )omething I &an (#ay withK I &an3t an)wer+And in any &a)e, it &an &ome ba&% to hurt me+

I!" I' you &ou#d go ba&% to that night, what wou#d you &hange/

GZ" *h, I wou#d have )tayed home, I wou#dn3t have gone out )ho()ho((ing+


15/31

I!" :ave you been in &onta&t with rayvon artin3) (arent)/ :ave you a((roa&hedthem/

GZ" he on#y time wa) when r+ ra&y artin, uh, he )aid to my 'riend, um, he &a##edhim a bad word in &ourt, uh, be&au)e he had, um, hi) )ign that )aid he wa) 'ami#y,

and that wa) the on#y time we had any+ And a#)o in the, in what3) &a##ed in ng#i)hthe bond hearing, uh, eou wou#d have to a)% them+ I don3t %now what theywere thin%ing+

I!" rayvon artin3) 'ather )aid that he want) to ma%e )omething good &ome out o' anegative e


16/31

GZ" *h, I3m )ti##, um, in &onta&t with my young (eo(#e, and I )ti## ma%e (romi)e) tothem, #i%e, ah, I (romi)ed one young man that i' he (a))ed eighth grade I wou#dta%e him and introdu&e him to wight :oward o' the 8r#ando agi&, and itha((ened and I too% him+ And I )ti## ma%e them, I ma%e (romi)e) #i%e that to

them, and I try to he#( them a) mu&h a) (o))ib#e+

I!" :ow do you thin% the A'ri&anAmeri&an &ommunity view) you/

GZ" *m, tho)e who %now me #ove me+ hey have a#way) #oved me and they wi##a#way) #ove me+ Ah, the who#e &ommunity 'rom there and in A(o(%a where I wa),um, they #ove me, unti# today, um, tho)e who don3t %now me, I don3t %now howwhat they thin% o' me, )o I don3t %now i' they are going to &hange or I &ou#dn3tan)wer 'or them+

I!" .hen a## o' thi) ha((ened in February o' 2012, you to#d me that your 'ami#y

re&eived threat)+

GZ" >e)+

I!" .hat %ind o' threat) did your 'ami#y re&eive/

GZ" hat they were going to )#it my )i)ter3) throat and %i## her and throw her out ontothe )treet )o that everybody &ou#d )ee, um, that it wa) an eye 'or an eye+ heywere going to %i## my )i


17/31

tomorrow, and that &an a''e&t me in a di''erent way, and I, I %now 'or )ure that :ewi## give me the )trength to go on+

I!" >our e


18/31

I!" ut, George, be'ore thi) in&ident too% (#a&e in February o' 2012, had you had(rob#em) with the #aw/

GZ" I had an in&ident in 200+ It wa)n3t a (rob#em, rea##y+ hey arre)

I!" .hat ha((ened/

GZ" hey arre)ted me+ A 'riend o' mine wa), um, underagehe wa) 1J year) o#d andwe were at a bar and, um, there were (#ainothe) agent), um, &ondu&ting what inng#i)h i) &a##ed an under&over )ting+

I!" hey were dre))ed a) &ivi#ian)+

GZ" A) &ivi#ian)+ And that agent grabbed my 'riend by the ne&%+ :e wa) (utting himagain)t the wa##+ .ehe3d never identi'ied him)e#'+ *m, and I a)%ed him whatwa) ha((ening+ :e to#d me to go, um, he )wore at me, and when I %e(t wa#%ing,

um, toward him, )aying, 5-o, an)wer me+ .hatwhy do you have my 'riendagain)t the wa##/7, he grabbed me and hit me and when that ha((ened, the other,um, agent) who were dre))ed a) &ivi#ian) arre)ted me, and, um, a month and aha#', two month) a'ter that ha((enedthat ha((ened, um, that )ame divi)ion thatwa) a&ting a) &ivi#ian) out)ide o' the;the um, (o#i&e )tandard)+ An agent wa)%i##ed at a um, *!F, *niver)ity o' !entra# F#orida game, um, be&au)e he too% outhi) gun and 'ired into the air and never identi'ied him)e#'+ And a (o#i&eman whowa) in uni'orm )aw it, )aw a man )hooting into the air with a gun and %i##ed him;un'ortunate#y+ hat (o#i&emandied, and when the )tate )aw that that divi)ionwa) not, um, rewere not identi'ying them)e#ve) the way they )hou#d have, the&harge) again)t me were dro((ed+

I!" A'ter the February, 2012 in&ident, you3ve had other in&ident) with the (o#i&e")(eeding, a (rob#em with She##ie and with her 'ather, a (rob#em with yourgir#'riend in whi&h )he #ater )he dro((ed the &harge)+ *m, She##ie a#)o dro((edthe &harge) and )he, in that interview I mentioned, )he )aid )he dro((ed thembe&au)e )he &ou#d have a#)o been arre)ted, and )he wa) on (robation )o )he didn3twant to ta%e the ri)%+ ut it )eem) #i%e the #i'e o' George Zimmerman turnedturbu#ent a'ter everything the in&ident too% (#a&e+ .hat3) ha((ening/

GZ" *m

I!" .hat ha((ened to George Zimmerman/ .ere you #i%e that be'ore/

GZ" :one)t#y, ye), I3ve gotten ti&%et) 'or )(eeding+ ut it never made the new)+ Ah, Idon3t under)tand why ourna#i)t) &are )o mu&h, um, i' I get a )(eeding ti&%et+ Itwa) the 'ir)t time that a ti&%et, um, made internationa# new)+ *m, a#)o, #i%e the,um, web)ite that r+ :o#der &reated, um, 'or (eo(#e to be ab#e to give, um, i' theythought I wa) ra&i)t they &ou#d )end, um, e


19/31

%now why tho)e thing) ma%e, um, ourna#i)t) want to re(ort )u&h thing)+ I %now)evera# (eo(#e who get ti&%et) 'or )(eeding

I!" .hat about the other in&ident)/

GZ" >e)+ he other in&ident), um, again, anything that3) a))o&iated with my name, um,be'ore

I!" hi) wa)n3t u)t anything+ hat i), a dome)ti& 'ight

GZ" >e)+ -o, I under)tand+

I!" A dome)ti& 'ight i)n3t the )ame a) )(eeding+ hey3re two very di''erent thing)+

GZ" Ab)o#ute#y+

I!" .hat3) ha((ening/ o you have troub#e &ontro##ing your tem(er/ o you e)&a#ateea)i#y/

GZ" -o+ *m, obviou)#y I wa)n3t &harged with any o' that+ *m, I thin% (eo(#e )ti##want to %now about my #i'e+ e'ore there werebe'ore the (o#i&e )u(ervi)or) gotthere, there were three (re)) he#i&o(ter) above my hou)e in that 'ir)t in&ident withShe##ie+ So be'ore they %new what ha((ened, they a#ready wanted to re(ort it+*m, )o that i) a que)tion that (erha() you &an an)wer better than I &an+ I don3t%now what3) with thi) intere)t about my #i'e+ I have a#ready been, um, dearedinno&ent by a ury, a) our !on)titution )ay), )o I3d #ove to %now, but it3) my #i'eand I %ee( on #iving it+

I!" >our 'a&e i) a#ready we## %nown, and you be&ame we## %nown a) a re)u#t o' that&a)e+ .ou#dn3t it be a good time to have a quieter #i'e, a #ower (ro'i#e, to try to nothave troub#e with the #aw/ .hy do we %ee( hearing about (rob#em) with the #aw/

GZ" e&au)e the (re)) %ee() re(orting+

I!" 8r, be&au)ethey &ontinue ha((en/

GZ" hey3re ha((ening buttho)e &a)e) ha((en dai#y, )evera# time) a, dai#y, andthey3re not re(orting them+

I!" >e), but they3re not George Zimmerman+

GZ" >e), but in a## hone)ty, I3d #ove to #ive a quiet #i'e without being in the (re))+ I3d#ove to, #i%e any other Ameri&an &itiCen, to get a )(eeding ti&%et or to have anarguargument with my wi'e and i' the (o#i&e &ome, 'or the who#e wor#d not to'ind out about it+ ut that, a) I to#d you, i) my #i'e, and I don3t under)tand why it3)that way, but I go on with my #i'e a) I3ve a#way) #ived it+


20/31

I!" George, there are re(ort) that )ay that you owe 2+ mi##ion do##ar)+ .ho do youowe it to/

GZ" *m, tho)e re(ort) are 'a&tua#, I want to ari'y, be&au)e there are many that aren3t+

ut that re(ort &ame 'rom me+ *m, and I owe my #awyer), ar% 83ara and on.e)t+

I!" :ow do you (#an to get that money to (ay them/ o you have a ob/ .hat i)George Zimmerman #iving on/

GZ" -o, I don3t have a ob and hone)t#y I don3tI3m not &o##e&ting unem(#oyment or8bama&are or any ty(e o'be&au)e that3) )omething that (eo(#e a#way) )ay, 58h,now he3) retired, #iving o'' we#'are, )o&ia# )e&urity,7 whatever+ I3m not gettingany o' that+ Hight now there i) a &ivi# &a)e again)t a (re)) organiCation that madea, um, )eriou) mi)ta%e, and I ho(e that wi## he#( (ay 'or a (ortion o', at #ea)t, what

I owe+ I )aid 'rom the beginning, to ar% and on, i' I have to wor% at are)taurant a) a &oo%, I3## (ay them be&au)e what they did wa) a tremendou) ob, aob, um, I &an3t imagine how they did what they did with the #itt#e we had+ ut Ito#d them I wi## (ay them, )o that3) that+

I!" And the money 'rom the donation) you re&eived 'rom the web (age you o(enedduring the tria#/

GZ" >e), it3)that wa) the money we u)ed 'or the de'en)e, the de'en)e+ I' it hadn3tbeen 'or tho)e (eo(#e, um, and one thing I a#)o wanted to ear u( wa) that tho)ewere not 1,000 donation) 'rom ea&h (er)on, 10,000 donation) 'rom ea&h (er)on+hey were , 10, 20 do##ar donation)+ And to tho)e (eo(#e I owe my 'reedombe&au)e without then, we &ou#d not, um, have had the e


21/31

GZ" >e)+

I!" .hy the &ontrover)y/ .hy did they )ay you3d ta%en a )%et&h that you had notauthored and that you3d made a (ainting o' it and you3d )o#d it/ I) it true/

GZ" -o+ ho)e are thing) that, u)t a) I &hoo)e not to de'end my)e#', I &hoo)e not to,um, re)(ond to tho)e a&&u)ation), in the )ame way that I wi## not de'end my)e#'again)t, um, being ra&i)t or being, um, a humb#e (er)on or he)e a&&u)ation) areba)e#e)) a&&u)ation) 'rom (eo(#e who want to inude me in a new) re(ort, that3)a##+ And who don3t under)tand that, um, the #aw), o' &our)e, and the arti)ti& 'orm+So, um, I3ve a#way) #i%ed that and everyone ha) )een thatBand I3m doing aninterview u)t about me with r+ :annity, and I don3tI don3t give them the timeo' day, a) they )ay in ng#i)h, um, be&au)e there i)n3t enough time in the day tore)(ond to a## tho)e a&&u)ation)+

I!" In that interview with Fo< -ew), you )aid that you3d #i%e the (eo(#e who

(ortrayed you a) ra&i)t to a(o#ogiCe to you+

GZ" >e), I )aid, i' I3d done the )ame thing, I3d a(o#ogiCe to the (er)on I3d a&&u)ed+

I!" .ere they 'a#)e a&&u)ation)/

GZ" Ah, 100 (er&ent+

I!" ?et3) ta#% about the 'ight, thi) 'ight that wa) being organiCed, and in whi&h theyannoun&ed you a) a &e#ebrity 'ight+ .hy a &e#ebrity 'ight/ o you &on)ideryour)e#' a &e#ebrity/

GZ" -ot at a##+ hat

I!" .hy wa) it announ&ed a) a &e#ebrity 'ight/

GZ" I imagine and, I3m a #itt#e a'raid o' an)wering that be&au)e I, um, I don3t #i%e toan)wer 'or the (er)on, be&au)e we a## thin% di''erent#y, but I wou#d imagine thatthe man who i) (romoting it thought that that wou#d ma%e the new) and generatemore intere)t, and in )ome way, ma%e more money again+ ut thatthat wa)&an&e##ed, um, a wee% a'ter it wa) announ&ed by me+ *m, I )tarted to

I!" .hy did you de&ide to &an&e#/

GZ" e&au)e I )tarted toit )tarted a) a good way to, um, give 'und) to a &harity+

I!" .hi&h &harity/

GZ" h, I3d rather not )ay the name be&au)e any name I )ay, any bu)ine)) I )ay, um,)tart) to get threat), but it wa) a, ah+++


22/31

I!" >e), but i' you don3t )ay it, (eo(#e &ou#d thin% that you are going to %ee( themoney+ here are a #ot o' (eo(#e who thought, a) a re)u#t o' the 'ight, that youwere ma%ing money a) a re)u#t o' rayvon artin3) death, be&au)e you3d be&omenotoriou) a) a re)u#t o' that &a)e, and )o now you want to organiCe a 'ight to ma%e

money 'or your)e#'+ .hy not revea# the name o' the 'oundation to whi&h youwere going to donate the money/

GZ" hey %now it and I %now it and the ?ord %now) it+ ho)e are a## that matter+9eo(#e who want to a&&u)e me are a#way) going to a&&u)e me, even i' I ari'y ahundred thou)and time), they are going to &ontinue with the )ame a&&u)ation+*m, )o again, it3) notI don3t give them the time o' day+ *m, but un'ortunate#ythe (romthe man who i) (romoting it, um, &ho)e, um, in)tead o' it being a 'ightthat it wa), um, going to be a (er)on )e#e&ted tota##y without %nowing, um, #i%ea#mo)t #i%e a #ottery+ And the money wa) going to go to a &harity+ :e )tarted toget, um, #ot), um, o' emai#) 'rom (eo(#e who wanted to %i## me, (eo(#e who

wanted, um, there were a #otI thin% they are ra((er) or

I!" L i) a ra((er who )u((o)ed#y had agreed to 'ight with you+

GZ" 8n&e again, a) I to#d you, that 'ight wa) &an&e##ed be'ore he )aid anything aboutmy name+

I!" hat i), you didn3t agree to 'ight with L+ y that time you had a#ready ta#%edwith the (romoter to &an&e# the 'ight/

GZ" y #awyer had ta#%ed to him+

I!" .hy did the (romoter &ontinue to (romote a &e#ebrity 'ight, a 'ight with L,who i) a ra((er who3) had (rob#em) with the #aw, who i) A'ri&anAmeri&an/ Itde'initive#y rai)e) many que)tion) and, o' &our)e, more &ontrover)y+ ut did youagreed to 'ight L/

GZ" -o+ -ever+

I!" At what (oint did you &an&e# the 'ight/

GZ" It wa) a wee% a'ter I announ&ed it, ba)i&a##y+ *m, my #awyer, I )ent him the&ontra&t that he had )ent me+ I thin% it wa) three day) a'ter, um, they &onta&tedme+ I )ent it to my #awyer+ :e )aw it and, um, )aw everything they were )ayingabout me, um, the new) and )o&ia# media+ And he )aid thatno, that thi) i) notthi) ha) tran)'ormed into )omething that i) not right+

I!" :e announ&ed the 'ight (re&i)e#y the day rayvon artin wou#d have had hi)birthday+ on3t you thin% that generate) a #itt#e more animo)ity/


23/31

GZ" :one)t#y, I don3t %now why he did what he did when he did it, um+ I had no&ontro# over that, )o I &an3tI &an3t ta%e time to, um, have, um, )e&ond thought)about that+ I mean, that3) )omething that ha((ened out o' my &ontro# and I have to#ive with what that man did again+

I!" .hat3) a regu#ar day #i%e in the #i'e o' George Zimmerman/

GZ" here3) no norma# #i'e+ I &an te## you, you %now, i' I need medi&a# attention, I waitunti# I have to go to the mergen&y Hoom be&au)e I &an3t go to )ee my do&torregu#ar#y #i%e I &ou#d be'ore+

I!" .hy/

GZ" *m, I need bodyguard)+ here3) no 'und) 'or bodyguard)+ *m, and my do&tor ha)a (o#i&y that, you %now, be'ore they wou#d #et me go in through the ba&% door, notanymore+ And, um;+ it3) due to the attention and the 'ear that )omeone might

re&ogniCe me and might try to, um, )ome ty(e o' revenge+ *m, a) I )aid, I go outwith my bu##et(roo', um

I!" o you wear a bu##et(roo' ve)t/

GZ" >e)+ >e)+

I!" A## the time/

GZ" *h, ye), ma3am+ Hight now

I!" At thi) time+

GZ" I &an3t go, um, to (#ay )o&&er with my ne(hew+ I &an3t go to hi) ba)%etba##game); I &an3t go out to eat+ I &an3t go out to &at&h a &ab i' I need to go)omewhere+ *m, I a#way) have that 'ear that i' )omeone re&ogniCe) mewhat3)more, hone)t#y it3)'ran%#y, 'ear 'or my #oved one)+ I don3t want anyone to harmthem, and, and that3) why I have to )tay 'ar away 'rom them+ And that, um, i) a#one#y #i'e, um, but again, I )(end a #ot o' time with my ib#e and the ?ord, and Itry to #ive my #i'ea) norma# a) I &an, but the 'a&t i) that I &an3t+

I!" For e


24/31

be&au)e I move I move 'rom )tate to )tate, and mo)t o' the time (eo(#e don3tre&ogre&ogniCe me, but they thin%, 5:e ha) no rea)on to be it thi) )tate, in thi)&ity+7 And by the time they rea#iCe it, I3ve a#ready #e't+

I!" So you don3t have a hou)e to #ive in/

GZ" -o+

I!" >ou %ee( going 'rom )tate to )tate+

GZ" >e), ma3am+ I3m tota##y home#e))+

I!" :ow do you )ee your 'uture/

GZ" .ith 'aith in God+

I!" :ow do you envi)ion the ne


25/31

GZ" >e), I3m )orry+ *m, and I try to be, a) I )aid, to give everyone the bene'it o' thedoubt+ I tried to give it to mo)t (eo(#e, but I 'ound my)e#' a #ot o' the time, um,be#ieving what the new) )aid or be#ieving what)omeone who %new )omeone Ididn3t %now )aid+ And )in&e that day, I don3tI give everyone the bene'it o' thedoubt+ It3) not u( to me to udge anyone+

I!" .ou#d you &hange )omething in your (a)t/

GZ" -o+ y (a)t #i'e

I!" >ou3d #ive everything e


26/31

I!" George, you to#d me that you don3t re&eive money 'rom the government 'rom thegovernment3) unem(#oyment in)uran&e, you don3t have any government bene'it)+

GZ" -or 8bama !are+

I!" >ou don3t have a ob/

GZ" -o+

I!" :ow do you )urvive/

GZ" Ah, my 'ami#y he#() me a #ot, obviou)#y+ Sin&e I don3t have a hou)e, I don3t have,um, a mortgage, I don3t (ay, um, rent, um, )o, it3) di''i&u#t but it3), um, I do itthou)and) o' Ameri&an) do the )ame+ It i), a) I to#d you, di''i&u#t to owe my #i'eand, ah; A) I3ve a#way) )aid, it3) the &ro)) that the ?ord gave me and I bear ithumb#y+ So, um, noI won3t)it here and #ie and )ay, you %now, I3m 100 (er&ent

ha((y, I don3t need money, et&, et&+ 8bviou)#y I owe mi##ion) o' do##ar), but thati) )omething that right now I &an3t 'i


27/31

in uva# !ounty in F#orida, um, that made me very )ad and that wa) the moment,hone)t#y, that Ithatthat &om(#ete#y &hanged my thin%ing+ I got home, )aw myne(hew and &ried 'or #i%e a 1 minute) with him be&au)e he &ou#dn3t be#ieve that,um, Gov+ Hi&% S&ott had a((ointed hi) 'riend, um, or had a)%ed hi) 'riend 9amondi to (ut r)+ !orey a) (ro)e&utor, u)t ba)ed onba)ed on thi) te)timony

that I had u)t )een that day and that te)timony didn3t )ay anything, but ari'iedwhat I had )aid a## a#ong+ So, it wa) very )ad+I!" .hat wa) going through George Zimmerman3) mind when he wa) waiting 'or the

ury to render it) verdi&t/

GZ" *m, everybody a)%) me that be&au)e they )ayI haven3t )een the video, but theyte## me that I had no e


28/31

wea(on, um, unti# you3re 21 year) o#d in the )tate o' F#orida, I be#ieve, but )in&e Iwa) a &hi#d I3ve been re#igiou), I3ve had, um, )&a(u#ar) that my grandmotherwou#d (ut on me, um, )o, that i) notI don3t, don3t under)tand the &orre#ationbetween the two+ I' you are )aying to me that I had a ro)ary to de'end me 'rom theevi#) o' the wor#d, ye), I (rayed every time, I (rayed when I had te)t) at )&hoo#+ I

(rayed when I thought that, you %now, uh, in any )ituation in whi&h I wanted the?ord to guide me, but that3) u)t the truth+

I!" :ow doe) George Zimmerman (#an to o)e thi) &ha(ter o' hi) #i'e and )tart a new#i'e/

GZ" I thin% we3re )tarting now+ I thin% we3re )tarting+

I!" o you have a (rob#em &ontro##ing your tem(er/

GZ" 8bviou)#y I be#ieve that thethethe &ourt video) )how my tem(er when the

(ro)e&utor) are ye##ing in my 'a&e that I %i##ed a boy+ *m, my tem(er i) the )ame+I3m a#way), um, the way I3m ta#%ing to you, the way I )(o%e in &ourt when I too%the )tand to )ay, um, the artin Fu#ton 'ami#y the que)tion) they wou#d havea)%ed me+ I don3t be#ieve I have a (rob#em with my tem(er+

I!" o you be#ieve that now, month) a'ter you were deared inno&ent in &ourt, thatyou are trying to return to your #i'e, that rayvon artin3) (arent) are a#)o tryingto dea# with that grie' o' #o)ing a &hi#d, a#though #o)ing a &hi#d i) )omething thatyou &an never over&ome, that (erha() thi) i) a good o((ortunity to )end them ame))age under &ir&um)tan&e) that are di''erent 'rom )(ea%ing during a tria#/

GZ" Ab)o#ute#y not+ Again, with 9re)ident 8bama ma%ing the &omment) he did andthe inve)tigation that he, eh, ordered again)t me, I &annot have any&ommuni&ation with them+

I!" ut &an3t you )end them a me))age on &amera either/

GZ" I3ve a#ready )een, um, that anything I )ay &an be u)ed again)t me+ And, um, I &an3t)end any me))age), nor wou#d I imagine (#a&ing my)e#' in a )ituation that &ou#dgive them )omething that they &anbe&au)e I have )een that out o' nothing, they&an ma%e aa who#e &a)e+ So I don3t want to )end any me))age to anybody thatmay be mi)inter(reted and )end me ba&% to ai#+

I!" I' that wor%) it)e#' out )ome day, wou#d you #i%e to be ab#e to get o)e to them/

GZ" I3m o(en to anything+

I!" .hat doe) George Zimmerman want to do in the 'uture/

GZ" 9ro'e))iona##y/


29/31

I!" And (er)ona##y+ oth+

GZ" 9ro'e))iona##y, I wou#d #i%e to &ontinue my edu&ation and be a #awyer+ *m, I3d#i%e to, um, ma%e )ure that what ha((ened to me, the inu)ti&e that ha((ened to

me doe)n3t ha((en again to anyone+

I!" >ou &on)ider that you )u''ered an inu)ti&e/GZ" Ab)o#ute#y+ *m, and (er)ona##y my goa# i) )im(#y to #ive my #i'e a) mu&h a) I &an

#i%e !hri)t+

I!" o you have a wea(on today/

GZ" .ith me, here/

I!" -ot right at thi) moment, but do you have a wea(on with you at home/

GZ" I have a wea(on, ye)+ hey returned a## my wea(on) to me+

I!" And are you aware that the )ame thing that ha((ened that day o' February o' 2012&an ha((en again/

GZ" And I thin% it3) more o' a (o))ibi#ity given the threat) that have been made again)tme+ I don3t thin% that, um, they3re going to atta&% me with 'i)t) or &on&rete+ hey%now I have a wea(on and they3re very vo&a# in )aying that they are going to)hoot me in the head the minute they )ee me+ *m, )o to an)wer you, ye), I be#ievethat it3) more (o))ib#etoday than be'ore+

I!" he in&ident that we )(o%e about be'ore when you he#(ed )ome (eo(#e who hadhad a &ar a&&ident+ .hy did you de&ide to get out o' the &ar and he#( tho)e(eo(#e/

GZ" *m, 'ir)t o' a##, you re(orted the a&&ident and.hat I did, Fo< -ew) re(orted+he other), I don3t %now i' they re(orted it, and i' they re(orted it, )ometime)they made it )ound #i%e my #awyer) and I made a #ot o' noi)e+ *m, )o in yourde'en)e, ye), you re(orted it and, um, # a((re&iate it+ >ou re(orted it 'a&tua##y+*m, the de&i)ion wa) a de&i)ion I made in an in)tant+ *m, I )aw the &ar, um, thathadthat wa) on it) )ide+ It wa)n3t u()ide down+ And I thought that it wa) ana&&ident that had ta%en (#a&e the (reviou) day be&au)e there wa) nobody there+*m, and than%) 'or a)%ing be&au)e that3) a good e


30/31

A'ri&anAmeri&an man trying to o(en the door o' thi) &ar, u)ing tremendou))trength, and that3) when I rea#iCed that )omeone wa) tra((ed in the &ar+ *m, itwa)n3t that I made the de&i)ion to )to(+ It3) that I u)t &ou#dn3t %ee( driving, um,and than% God, everything turned out a#right+ *m, the A'ri&anAmeri&an manwho wa) there wa) the 'ir)t one to get there+ :e %e(t the &ar door o(en whi#e I

tried to get the 'ami#y out, and the man wa) ne


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they, the 'ami#y, wanted, um, and i' I &an )end a me))age to tho)e who arewat&hing that interview, the 'our o' them were wearing their )eat)eatbe#t+ And,um, the #itt#e gir# wa) nine year) o#d, I thin%, and )he wa) &rying, &rying be&au)e,we##, a##a## the trauma, and I to#d her, 5>ou %now what/ he on#y thing thatmatter) i) that a## 'our o' you are a#ive be&au)e he had your )eatbe#t on+7 hat i)

)omething I3d #i%e to )ee more, that (eo(#e ta%e that a) a (riority, um, and )hehugged me and than%ed me, and I )aid, 5>ou don3t have to than% me, but (romi)eme7 e&au)e her brother wa) younger, I )aid to her, 59romi)e me that you3rea#way) going to wear your )eatbe#t and are a#way) going to ma%e )ure that your#itt#e brother a#)o doe)+7 And the mother to#d me, 5?u&%y, huh/ ?u&%y that wewere a## wearing our )eatbe#t and )urvived+7 And I an)wered her )im(#y, 5It3) not#u&%, ma3am+ It3) God+ And the #ady )tarted to &ry and hugged me, and I thin% thatthe hu)band had to#d her who I wa) and had a#ready rea#iCed it at that time+ heywent (ub#i&, they wanted to )ay what had ha((ened and than% me+ utun'ortunate#y, they re&eived a #ot o' threat) and de&ided at the #a)t minute not togrant an interview, not to )how their 'a&e) in (ub#i&+ And, um, I, um, I than% them

'or doing what i) in the be)t intere)t o' the 'ami#y be&au)e I have )een 'ir)t o' a##how threat) and a## that a''e&t you+ And I don3t b#ame them 'or not wanting to go(ub#i& and, and )aying what ha((ened and how they rea##y )urvived be&au)e thetru&% wa) on 'ire and, um, and I %now what ha((ened+ hey %now whatha((ened+ he A'ri&anAmeri&an man who wa) there a#)o %now) what ha((enedand the ?ord %now), and I3m ha((y with that+ A#way), no matter i' they &ome outand )ay, 5>ou %now what/ George turned the &ar over and got u) out,7 and therewi## a#way) be that (er(er&entage o' (eo(#e who )ay, #i%e you )aid be'ore, thatwi## have their o(inion and wi## try to 'a#)e#y a&&u)e me o' thing)+ And with themgoing (ub#i& to de'end me or e

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Spanish Interview