Former NYPD detective Harry Houck on Tuesday told Fox News that Florida teen Trayvon Martin was responsible for his own death because he had a "street attitude."
During a break in witness selection for the trial of accused murderer George Zimmerman, criminal defense attorney Tamara Holder explained to viewers of Fox News' live Internet stream that the prosecution may want to point out that the teen was only carrying Skittles and a can of iced tea at the time of his death.
"She was talking about the Skittles that he had, and the Coca-Cola that Trayvon Martin had," Houck replied. "That doesn't look good, you know, for the defense because [the prosecution is] injecting something into their minds. Like, this is a little kid with candy walking around the street."
"Listen, Trayvon Martin would be alive today, okay, if he didn't, alright, have a street attitude," the former NYPD detective insisted. "That's the bottom line."
"'Street attitude' is a very broad thing and is something that actually can be used -- and I'm not saying this to you personally -- but something that can be used as something racist," Holder pointed out. "Like calling a kid a thug."
"That's insane," Houck laughed.
Following a break, the Fox News host noted that "we live in a society right now that's extremely focused on being politically correct."
"Personally, I think people who use the word 'thug' or believe that the word 'thug' is a racist [word] is racist themselves," Houck opined. "You know, because I call somebody a thug, I'm a racist? No. I don't think so. I mean, that's crazy."
