We gathered on the steps of SF’s Hall of Justice to send our condolences to the family of Trayvon Martin. Mothers, including Denika Chapman and Mesha Irizarry spoke of loosing their sons to gun violence. We questioned why George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain, became a “self-appointed vigilante”, followed Trayvon as he walked home form a store, and confronted him with a 9-millimeter handgun. On Feb. 26th, in Stanford FL., 911 recorded a murder. We hear shouts for help then a gun shot. Zimmerman who had called 911 earlier to report a “real suspicious” person-Trayvon-was told to cease following him, but kept on. Zimmerman was taken into custody, released, not arrested, or tested for gun residue, and remained free as of this National Day of protest day, March 26.
Why 60 years after the murder of Emmitt Till are children still gunned down as “suspicious” for lacking a MUNI pass, or judged guilty for the innocence of walking in a neighborhood?
The parents of Trayvon Martin, and their attorney will deliver 100,000,000 petitions to the city commission of Stanford. More voices are needed; sign the petition http://www.change.org. The Department of Justice has announced that its Civil Rights Division, and the FBI will investigate Trayvon Martin's death. We will continue to stand up and demand justice.