FAKE- NEWS: 'George Zimmerman Arrested in Ferguson'
Outline
Circulating social media message claims that George Zimmerman, who shot and killed African American teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012, has been arrested in Ferguson after an altercation with two black teenagers.
© Depositphotos.com/ Alex_F
Brief Analysis
The claims in the message are false. George Zimmerman has not been arrested in Ferguson. The story comes via fake-news website National Report, a publication notorious for churning out false and misleading reports disguised as news. Nothing published on the site should be taken seriously.Example
Florida neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, who was acquitted in July of 2013 of all charges related to the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, was arrested Wednesday morning in Ferguson, Missouri after an altercation outside of a Dunkin’ Donuts, where Zimmerman allegedly aimed a handgun at two black teenagers who confronted him.
Detailed Analysis
Message Claims George Zimmerman Arrested in Ferguson
The circulating message links to a longer report which claims that Zimmerman aimed a handgun at the teenagers after they confronted him.
The death of Trayvon Martin, who was unarmed when he was fatally shot by neighborhood watch coordinator Zimmerman, caused widespread protests across the United States with protesters demanding that Zimmerman be arrested and charged with murder. Zimmerman was eventually charged with murder, but was later acquitted.
The Ferguson, Missouri police shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in August 2014 also led to widespread protests, rioting and civil unrest.
The echoes between the two cases mean that it would be ironic indeed if Zimmerman was arrested in Ferguson on a weapons charge involving black, unarmed teenagers.
Claims in Report Are Untrue - Story From Fake-News Site National Report
Although it is presented as a news article - and even features a short 'news' video on the topic, the report is a work of fiction.
The report comes via the fake-news website National Report, which apparently sees itself as satirical. In recent months, the site has been responsible for a stream of nonsensical reports, many of which have circulated far and wide via social media causing outrage and confusion as they travel.
The site presents its fake reports in news format and does not include any clear disclaimer notifying readers that the information is fictional. Thus, many readers mistakenly believe that the reports are genuine and are apt to share them online.
Nothing published on the site should be taken seriously.
Fake-News Sites Increasingly Common

© Depositphotos.com/ stuartmiles
Last updated: August 26, 2014
First published: August 26, 2014
By Brett M. Christensen
About Hoax-Slayer
References
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