Posted by Angie Michelle on Mar 18, 2012 in Uncategorized
Trayvon Martin: Will There Be Justice?
Treyvon Martin
If you haven't heard, Trayvon Martin was a young, unarmed African-American, 17-year-old boy who was shot by an overzealous neighborhood watchman in a city north of Orlando. It all happened on February 26, 2012. The youth went to the local 7-11 to get some snacks while the 2012 All-Star Game was on half-time. He was walking back to the home of his father's fiance, which he had visited before. She lives in a gated community. He also had a package of Skittles with him that he got from the 7-11.
On the way back from purchasing snacks at the 7-11, he was spotted by a neighborhood watchman, George Zimmerman. Zimmerman called 911 to report a "suspicious person". Audio of the 911 calls have just been released. In the call, Zimmerman can be heard saying:
"This guy looks like he's up to no good, or he's on drugs or something," Zimmerman tells the 911 operator. "He's just staring, looking at all the houses. Now he's coming toward me. He's got his hand in his waistband. Something's wrong with him.
He described Martin as wearing sweatpants or jeans and a hoodie. He went on to say that Martin was coming to check him out and he had something in his hand. He says he doesn't know what his deal is and asked the dispatcher for an officer.
He can later be heard saying:
"These as@#holes always get away," he says to the operator. Zimmerman is then heard giving directions to the dispatcher. "Sh#2, he's running."
The dispatcher asked Zimmerman if he was following him{Martin} and he replied "Yes"! The dispatched tells him "We don't need you to do that"!
What transpired after that has caused a nation-wide outcry. Zimmerman confronts Martin and a scuffle ensues. Neighbors are calling 911 reporting hearing a young-man scream for help and then hearing one gun shot first, the screams then a second gun shot.
The police arrived and there are conflicting stories about what transpired. Zimmerman has claimed self-defense and has not been charged. Zimmerman is said to have been bleeding from his nose, the back of his head, and had grass on the back of his shirt when police arrived.
The police have been heavily criticized for the way they have handled the case so far. Some people have said they didn't get follow ups from the police. Authorities are claiming that under Florida self-defense law called the Stand Your Ground Law protects citizens who feel reasonably threatened. The family has an attorney who has called for the Department of Justice to Intervene as they feel that the Sanford police have botched the handling of the case and the family no longer trusts the Sanford P.D.
It has surfaced that there are some inconstancies in the police investigation. Zimmerman reportedly told the police he didn't have a record at the time, but it turns out he had a record for battery against an officer in 2005.
Reports have also surfaced that police told Trayvone's father that Zimmerman's record was "squeaky clean", when it wasn't. Some are making the accusations that the police are trying to "cover up something".
Activists, community leaders, & citizens alike are demanding that Zimmerman be arrested and charged with a crime. Many are saying that racism is playing a major part in this investigation, which the police deny. So much outcry has developed, it prompted Zimmerman's father to write an open letter to the Orlando Sentinel explaining that his son is not racist and he the true details will come out and it will be an injustice of how the media has portrayed his son.
The 911 calls tell a chilling tell of what neighbors heard and witnessed. A petition has been started asking for arrest of Zimmerman which has almost 300,000 signatures. Many are calling for justice in this case and until Zimmerman is charged or a higher entity intervenes, there will continue to be tension in the community both locally & nationally.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnItpb-NQ64
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