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Shot for being a black boy in a white area - please read

163 replies

TheRhubarb · 20/03/2012 13:08

Apologies if this has been posted - I couldn't find it.

Trayvon Martin was a 17yo boy who lived in a largely white, gated area. He left his home to pop to the shops and was spotted by a white neighbourhood watch member. George Zimmerman called the police to let them know about this boy who was "like he's up to no good or he's on drugs or something" before then saying "These assholes, they always get away.". He told the 911 operator that he was following Trayvon and was advised not to. Trayvon at that point had started running to get away from his follower.

Trayvon was not on drugs or acting suspiciously. He had bought a packet of skittles and a can of iced tea and was heading back home. He phoned a friend in a panic about being followed by Zimmerman, at that point the friend heard him say "why are you following me?" as Zimmerman cornered him to confront him, then there was a scuffle before the line went dead.

Zimmerman had ended up fighting with the 17yo. He had a gun, Trayvon had just his sweets and can of pop. Trayvon was heard by neighbours to shout for help before being blasted in the chest. He died on the spot, just yards from his own back door.

Zimmerman has not been arrested. He claimed he was acting in self defence. He has a history of raising false alarms to the police and broke neighbourhood watch rules by carrying a loaded gun. He is still free.

Trayvon's family and friends still have not come to terms with what has happened to their little boy who was not afraid to be seen kissing his dad in public and who once saved his dad's life by pulling him from the flames of a house fire.

Can you imagine if Trayvon had been white and Zimmerman black?

Please sign This petition to prosecute Zimmerman for the murder of Trayvon. Please also share on your facebook walls. Cheers.

OP posts:
otterface · 20/03/2012 16:57

Well said, Rhubarb.

It might make people feel better about themselves and their society to tut 'that's America for you' and believe that the same or similar couldn't happen here, but that is just their ignorance talking.

peeriebear · 20/03/2012 16:58

Signed.

nappymaestro · 20/03/2012 17:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nappymaestro · 20/03/2012 17:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AlistairSim · 20/03/2012 17:19

Poor kid.

Sad
ToffeeWhirl · 20/03/2012 17:21

This is dreadful.

Signed.

Sad
mumwithdice · 20/03/2012 17:35

signed.

ScrambledSmegs · 20/03/2012 17:35

This is so awful. That poor family.

I've signed and passed on the story/petition link. Thanks for highlighting this, Rhubarb.

nappymaestro · 20/03/2012 17:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FondleWithCare · 20/03/2012 18:00

Disgusting. I hope that man is sent to prison, this story is just awful. Sad

marshmallowpies · 20/03/2012 18:07

Signed. I read about this story over the weekend and was horrified.

I could say a lot of things about gun crime in America, but this was shocking above and beyond what we've come to expect. I believe (but can't find the article I read over the weekend), George W Bush's brother Jeb brought in the 'self-defence' law which the gunman claimed he had invoked.

More info here (apologies if someone has already posted this)
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/20/trayvon-martin-death-justice-department?newsfeed=true

peeriebear · 20/03/2012 18:10

So he followed an unarmed boy, carrying a loaded gun, scared the boy horribly then shot him in the chest. Self defence? It just shows how rotten the State is if this is allowed to lie.
Black man as aggressive shooter, all-American white boy as victim? Can you imagine he would have walked free?

nappymaestro · 20/03/2012 18:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SpagboLagain · 20/03/2012 18:18

Very sad

Kellywestie · 20/03/2012 18:23

Signed - really hope the family are successful.

fridakahlo · 20/03/2012 18:24

Horrific I have signed.

bleedingheart · 20/03/2012 18:25

Signed.

Such a sad story, it seems so obviously wrong that you could weep.

maristella · 20/03/2012 18:36

Thank you for bringing this to us. I've signed.
Honestly I don't know what to say...
The anger and sadness I feel at reading Trayvon's story :( :(

TheRhubarb · 20/03/2012 19:14

Bumping for others. Thanks for signing everyone. They are still 400,000 short of the 1,000,000 signatures they were hoping for.

I can't believe that more people are not signing this petition.

This is what his mother says: "Trayvon was our hero. At the age 9, Trayvon pulled his father from a burning kitchen, saving his life. He loved sports and horseback riding. At only 17 he had a bright future ahead of him with dreams of attending college and becoming an aviation mechanic. Now that?s all gone.

It's been nearly two weeks and the Sanford Police have refused to arrest George Zimmerman. In their public statements, they even go so far as to stand up for the killer - saying he's "a college grad" who took a class in criminal justice.

Please join us in calling on Norman Wolfinger, Florida's 18th District State's Attorney, to investigate my son's murder and prosecute George Zimmerman for the shooting and killing of Trayvon Martin."

Please help this mother to get justice for her son. Please raise awareness - there aren't enough people talking about this.

OP posts:
TheRhubarb · 20/03/2012 19:22

Latest news is that the killer is going to be charged!

I doubt this latest action would have happened without such huge public pressure. In fact it's taken them almost a month to actually decide to do something - can you imagine that?

Please sign the petition still, please raise awareness, people need to be talking about this and his family need to know that they have our support. This has happened to other black boys in other American states and their killers have walked free. Let this case put an end to that. Show your anger and add your name to the petition - you do not have to be an American to sign it or show that you care.

OP posts:
Stillthinking · 20/03/2012 19:23

I have signed. Just watching c4 news now, it's so awful.

Fuzzywood · 20/03/2012 19:24

Poor lad Sad
Signed and bump

RabidEchidna · 20/03/2012 19:27

signed

wetnoodle · 20/03/2012 19:40

Signed. This story brought a tear to my eye when I read about this last week. Glad to see it on here. Only wish this could get as much attention as KONY 2012

BCBG · 20/03/2012 19:52

Shared

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