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George Zimmerman: Obama pitted 'American against American'

ORLANDO, Fla., March 24 (UPI) -- Former neighborhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman, who was acquitted in the shooting death of a black Florida teen, lashed out at President Barack Obama and said he can not feel guilt for surviving the confrontation with Trayvon Martin in 2012.

In his first public interview since being cleared of civil-rights violations, Zimmerman blasted Obama for "rushing to judgment" against him and "pitting Americans against each other solely based on race" in expressing empathy for Martin's family. In a 13-minute video posted on his lawyer's website, Zimmerman said the person who has been most unfair to him is "President Barack Hussein Obama," citing the president's remarks in March 2012 in which Obama said "If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon."

"And for him to make incendiary comments as he did and direct the Department of Justice to pursue a baseless prosecution he by far overstretched, overreached, even broke the law in certain aspects to where you have an innocent American being prosecuted by the federal government," he said.

Zimmerman was acquitted in the Feb. 26, 2012, shooting death of Martin. The 17-year-old, who was unarmed, was walking home from a convenience store when Zimmerman, acting as a neighborhood watch volunteer, shot and killed him. Zimmerman, 31, said he shot in self defense. The incident sparked a nationwide debate over racial profiling. Last month, the Department of Justice announced Zimmerman would not face charges in the shooting.

Zimmerman said the the Justice Department process "worked," but the investigation should have been taken one step further to determine if his civil rights had been violated.

"And again they had various numerous examples of bounties place on my head, credible threats placed against myself and my family. Against from whom they know to be domestic terrorists and the president and the attorney general and the federal government declined to do anything about it," he said.

He said he does not feel guilty for surviving, but his life has changed dramatically since the incident.

"I have to have my guard up significantly. I have to look over my shoulder on a daily basis several times a day. I don't get to spend time with my family, kids I mentor. I do try and keep my ideals the same. I do try and remain pragmatic," he said. "Because despite it all I still believe people are truly good at heart."

He said he puts his future in God's hands and said his highly reported run-ins with the law since the incident put the attention on the "media's agenda."

"I would ask them to put themselves in my shoes and again when you have a speeding ticket or a speeding infraction, any traffic citation and it makes international news appearing all the way to the UK you have to sit back and ask what is the media's agenda," Zimmerman said.

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George Zimmerman: Obama pitted 'American against American'

George Zimmerman says he would have done nothing differently the night he killed Trayvon Martin

The 31-year-old spoke in a video released by law firm Ayo and Iken First public comments since he was cleared by the Department of Justice Condemned Obama for stirring up racial divisiveness over boy's death President said if he had a son it would look like 17-year-old Trayvon When asked if he had a clear conscience over the death, Zimmerman said: 'Yes sir'

By Wills Robinson For Dailymail.com and Associated Press Reporter

Published: 16:07 EST, 23 March 2015 | Updated: 09:25 EST, 24 March 2015

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George Zimmerman has said he can't feel guilty over surviving a confrontation like the one he had with Trayvon Martin three years ago.

In a new controversial new video released on Monday by law firm Ayo and Iken, the 31-year-old criticized President Barack Obama's reaction to the case involving the death of the unarmed 17-year-old.

It is the first time he has spoken since the Department of Justice cleared him of Civil Rights violations in connection with youngster's death.

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George Zimmerman says he would have done nothing differently the night he killed Trayvon Martin

Zimmerman says in video he does not feel guilty for Trayvon Martin's death

George Zimmerman: Only in a true life-and-death scenario can you have mental clearness to know that you cannot feel guilty for surviving. Photograph: Seminole County sheriff's office

George Zimmerman says in a newly released video that a person in his circumstances cant feel guilty over surviving a confrontation like the one he had with Trayvon Martin, the unarmed 17-year-old he shot and killed three years ago in Florida. He also criticizes President Barack Obamas reaction to the case.

In the video released Monday by his attorney, Zimmerman said he would feel guilty only if he thought he could have done something differently that would have saved both their lives.

Only in a true life-and-death scenario can you have mental clearness to know that you cannot feel guilty for surviving, Zimmerman said in the video.

He also blamed Obama for stirring up racial divisiveness over Martins death.

When asked by his attorney who brought the highest level of unfairness to his case, Zimmerman named Obama. After Martins death gained international attention, Obama said if he had a son, he would look like Martin.

Zimmerman said those comments were racially charged.

To me that was clearly a dereliction of duty, pitting Americans against each other solely based on race, Zimmerman said.

When asked by his off-camera attorney, Howard Iken, if he thinks he did anything wrong, Zimmerman said, no. When asked if he had a clean conscience, he replied, yes sir.

Zimmerman said in the video that he was speaking publicly, now that a US Department of Justice investigation into the case is over. Last month, the Justice Department decided not to prosecute Zimmerman for a hate crime.

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Zimmerman says in video he does not feel guilty for Trayvon Martin's death

George Zimmerman Accuses President Obama of Inciting Racial Tension

George Zimmerman, acquitted of criminal charges in the 2012 Florida shooting death of African-American teen Trayvon Martin, says he has a clear conscience and that President Obama sought to provoke racial conflict over the high-profile incident.

In a video interview posted to his lawyers website on Monday, Zimmerman says, President Obama held his Rose Garden speech stating If I had a son he would look like Trayvon. To me that was clearly a dereliction of duty pitting Americans against each other solely based on race.

Zimmerman also says he does not feel guilty about the incident because, he maintains, he did what he needed to do to survive.

Had I had a fraction of the thought that I could have done something differently, acted differently so that both of us survived, then I would have heavier weight on my shoulders. In all fairness, you cannot as a human feel guilty for living, for surviving.

The Department of Justice said last month that no civil rights charges would be filed against against Zimmerman.

The interview was recorded on March 8 by his attorney Howard Iken.

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George Zimmerman Accuses President Obama of Inciting Racial Tension

Zimmerman blames Obama for racial tension after shooting

Trayvon Martins killer, George Zimmerman, released a video Monday in which he claims President Obama stoked racial tension and used incendiary language following the 2012 Florida shooting.

Zimmerman, 31, a white man acquitted based on the controversial stand your ground defense, said he now feels free to speak without fear of retaliation because federal prosecutors decided not to press civil-rights charges against him last month in the death of the unarmed black 17-year-old in Sanford, Fla.

Now is the perfect time to speak my mind, Zimmerman said.

President Obama held his Rose Garden speech stating, If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon. Unfortunately for the president, Im also my parents child and my life matters as well.

Zimmerman was an armed neighborhood watchman in his gated community who approached Martin as the teen walked back home from a store.

He claimed that Obama pitted Americans against each other by making racially charged comments about the incident.

For him to make incendiary comments as he did and direct the Department of Justice to pursue a baseless prosecution, he . . . overstretched, overreached, Zimmerman said.

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Zimmerman blames Obama for racial tension after shooting