Why George Zimmerman ‘Identifies With’ Anne Frank

Image by Getty Images

By Anne Cohen September 30, 2014

Getty Images

Despite his somewhat misleading last name, George Zimmerman is not Jewish. But according to GQ’s newly-released profile of the Zimmerman family, the man who shot Trayvon Martin feels a strange connection to Anne Frank.

Robert Zimmerman, George’s brother and the “Zimmerman in charge of rebranding” told the magazine that George, an aspiring painter, will likely be working on a portrait of Frank in the near future because he “identifies with her.” George’s painting of an American flag recently sold for $100,000.

This budding art career is all part of Robert’s plan to turn his younger brother, whom he calls the “Wreck it Ralph of America,” into a reality TV star. Apparently, they’re really big on the Kardashians.

Read the fascinating profile here.

Anne Cohen was the Forward’s deputy digital media editor. When she’s not looking for the secret Jewish history of Voodoo in New Orleans, or making lists about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she writes for The Assimilator. She graduated from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism with an M.S. magazine concentration in 2012.

A message from our editor-in-chief Jodi Rudoren

We're building on 127 years of independent journalism to help you develop deeper connections to what it means to be Jewish today.

With so much at stake for the Jewish people right now — war, rising antisemitism, a high-stakes U.S. presidential election — American Jews depend on the Forward's perspective, integrity and courage.

Become a member today and you'll directly support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

— Jodi Rudoren, Editor-in-Chief