You Cannot Rehabilitate the Hoodie': Geraldo Partially Blames Hoodie-Wearing for Trayvon Martin Shooting

In a segment that is sure to garner attention, Geraldo Rivera said that the Trayvon Martin shooting can partially be traced back to Martin's clothing choice: a hoodie.

To be sure, Geraldo did make sure to go after the shooter, George Zimmerman, who many believe to be motivated by racist hate. But he also offered a new theory.

"I believe that George Zimmerman, the overzealous neighborhood watch captain, should be investigated to the fullest extent of the law and if he is criminally liable he should be prosecuted," Geraldo said. "But I am urging the parents of black and Latino youngsters, particularly, to not let their children go out wearing hoodies. I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin's death as George Zimmerman was."

"When you see a kid walking down the street, particularly a dark-skinned kid like my son Cruz, who I constantly yelled out when he was going out wearing a damn hoodie or those pants around his ankles, 'Take that hood off!'"

He went on to say that people associate the hoodie with crime.

"You have to recognize that this whole stylizing yourself as a gangster-- you're going to be a gangster want-to-be. Well, people are going to perceive you as a menace, that's what happens."

That wasn't all, he added that while Martin is "innocent," "I'll bet you money, that if he didn't have that hoodie on, that nutty neighborhood watch guy wouldn't have responded in that violent and aggressive way."

"You cannot rehabilitate the hoodie!" he exclaimed later. "Stop wearing it!"

"He wore an outfit that allowed someone to respond in this irrational, overzealous way, and if he'd been dressed more appropriately--," he added before saying hoodies should be left for rainy days and track meets.*

You can watch the segment below:

*(According to the Associated Press, it was raining the night of Martin's death.)

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