Clothing is thought to be one of the easiest ways to guess what type of person someone is. This isn’t true, of course, and there’s a saying, “Don’t ever judge a book by it’s cover.” A hoodie is technically a  cover, right? While it seems like just a comfy piece of clothing that athletes often sport—a so-called journalist thinks it’s a death trap.

According to “journalist” Geraldo Rivera, an African-American boy wearing a hoodie is asking to be shot.

Trayvon Martin, an African-American teenager, was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a Caucasian male who is also the self-proclaimed neighborhood watch captain. Zimmerman’s defense was the fact that Martin was suspicious, and he also donned a black sweatshirt.

Rivera is convinced, and has even shared publicly on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends,” that “I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was.” Later, in a column titled “Trayvon Martin would be alive but for his hoodie,” Rivera even goes on to say that “don’t let your child go out into the hard cruel world wearing a costume that is really a sign that says ‘shoot me.’”

Hold up—this guy is a credited newsman? He sounds more like a racist fashionista.

Since when does wearing a hoodie make anyone a hoodlum? I own my fair share of sweatshirts that do in fact have hoods on them. GASP! I’d bet that many of you who are reading this most likely own a hoodie or two—or five.

I actually believe that it’s unfair that clothing has such a potentially dangerous cause-and-effect scenario. If wearing a hoodie makes someone a walking death wish, what conclusions are we supposed to draw about a guy with long hair wearing a Nike “Get High” t-shirt, or a girl sporting “I Want it Bad” Nike running shirt?

If Rivera claims that Martin was asking to be shot, by wearing a hoodie, is it safe to bet that the girl is then asking to be raped?

Of course not.

We can’t possibly have the mentality that something so shallow and superficial such as a hoodie would brand someone as a criminal or shady. To go on to defend Zimmerman for the innocent killing of Martin is preposterous.

These audacious accusations  prove Rivera is alone, and that  a “shoot-me-hoodie” does not exist.