George Zimmerman's Mom Speaks Out in First TV Interview: My Son Is 'Not Racist

In a rare television interview, the mother of George Zimmerman appeared on CNN with Piers Morgan on Monday night to speak out about her son and slain teen Trayvon Martin for the first time. Her face was disguised for the interview.

Gladys Zimmerman told Morgan the media has played a huge role in the shooting. By portraying her son in a negative way, she explained, the media has inaccurately shaped people's perception of him.

When asked what has bothered her the most regarding the allegations made against George Zimmerman, Gladys said "that he was called racist." She said there were plenty of people who "didn't bother to come up front and say no he's not racist."

Gladys told the story about her son helping a homeless African-American man who was severely beaten. No one came to the man's defense except for Zimmerman, she said. She also explained that he made fliers and distributed them to get the community together to bring the incident before a city council meeting in 2011.

Morgan told Gladys that her son may not be racist, but there is a possibility that Zimmerman "racially profiled" Martin because he is a "young black" kid. The mother just shook her head in disagreement.

Gladys also recounted how she felt when she had first learned that her son had killed Martin, the moment she knew her life would never be the same. She said it felt like a "nightmare."

"It felt like I couldn't believe what had happened. I felt that the world had turned upside down," she added.

Morgan asked if she had considered that her son may spend 25 or 30 years behind bars if he is convicted by a court of law.

"I believe in the judicial system," Gladys said. "I believe from the beginning that he is innocent...there is justice in America and I believe in justice."

"I'm deeply sorry for what had happened, it is a tremendous tragedy for both families," she concluded.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Martin last February in a gated community in Sanford, Fla. He is pleading not guilty, saying he shot Martin in self-defense.

Watch the clips via CNN below: