Thousands rally over Trayvon Martin shooting
- 12 years ago
In Washington D.C. --- thousands gathered to demand criminal charges be brought in the death of Trayvon Martin --- a black Florida teenager who was shot and killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer in February.
The police decision not to arrest the shooter has ignited outrage across the U.S. and some say it has underscored a pattern of racial bias by law enforcement.
Martin was unarmed, was walking home from a convenience store when his shooter George Zimmerman first noticed him and called police to report a 'suspicious character.'
SOUNDBITE: Rally participant Carlyn Crawley saying:
"For me, Trayvon Martin is just like my little brother. I mean he goes, he puts on a hoodie all the time, he drinks Arizona Iced teas all the time. And, so I just think its unfortunate that someone can take his life and tell him he looks suspect and not be held accountable."
SOUNDBITE: Rally participant John Christie saying:
"I feel like there needs to be some awareness brought to, you know, an American tragedy. (This is) Something that I don't think should be happening in the year 2012."
SOUNDBITE: Rally participant Brian Ward saying:
"His case is a clear cut example on why our criminal judicial system is like blatantly racist. But this is for all the Trayvon Martins... there are countless examples of people that this has happened to around the country and enough is enough."
Many wore hooded sweatshirts --- in a gesture of solidarity with the slain teenager who was wearing one the night of death. Many at the rally say the description of a young black male wearing a hooded sweatshirt has unfairly become shorthand for a threat.
SOUNDBITE: Rally participant John Hellman saying:
"I think it is important that in America that in America a person be allowed to walk down street whether someone thinks they are suspicious or not."
They also say it has made those the description targets.
SOUNDBITE: Rally participant Marsha Adebayo saying:
"My son was stopped 20 times in one month when he was 18 years old. When he was 19 years old he was stopped 30 times in one month. Every single black woman here with a black son will have a story like mine. So we absolutely have to stop this kind of atrocity that is going on-- this war against Black men in this country."
The FBI and the Department of Justice have launched investigations into the shooting and a grand jury will hear the case next month.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters
The police decision not to arrest the shooter has ignited outrage across the U.S. and some say it has underscored a pattern of racial bias by law enforcement.
Martin was unarmed, was walking home from a convenience store when his shooter George Zimmerman first noticed him and called police to report a 'suspicious character.'
SOUNDBITE: Rally participant Carlyn Crawley saying:
"For me, Trayvon Martin is just like my little brother. I mean he goes, he puts on a hoodie all the time, he drinks Arizona Iced teas all the time. And, so I just think its unfortunate that someone can take his life and tell him he looks suspect and not be held accountable."
SOUNDBITE: Rally participant John Christie saying:
"I feel like there needs to be some awareness brought to, you know, an American tragedy. (This is) Something that I don't think should be happening in the year 2012."
SOUNDBITE: Rally participant Brian Ward saying:
"His case is a clear cut example on why our criminal judicial system is like blatantly racist. But this is for all the Trayvon Martins... there are countless examples of people that this has happened to around the country and enough is enough."
Many wore hooded sweatshirts --- in a gesture of solidarity with the slain teenager who was wearing one the night of death. Many at the rally say the description of a young black male wearing a hooded sweatshirt has unfairly become shorthand for a threat.
SOUNDBITE: Rally participant John Hellman saying:
"I think it is important that in America that in America a person be allowed to walk down street whether someone thinks they are suspicious or not."
They also say it has made those the description targets.
SOUNDBITE: Rally participant Marsha Adebayo saying:
"My son was stopped 20 times in one month when he was 18 years old. When he was 19 years old he was stopped 30 times in one month. Every single black woman here with a black son will have a story like mine. So we absolutely have to stop this kind of atrocity that is going on-- this war against Black men in this country."
The FBI and the Department of Justice have launched investigations into the shooting and a grand jury will hear the case next month.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters