Trayvon Martin, shot to death one year ago tonight. Today must be a tough one for Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin. They are the parents of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old Florida boy who was shot to death a year ago by a neighborhood watch volunteer who said he became suspicious of the teen's movements and followed him into a housing complex where they had a confrontation. Fulton and Martin are in New York City to participate tonight in the second "Million Hoodie Candlelight Vigil for Trayvon Martin" at 6 PM ET to commemorate their son's life and death. Other communities across the nation are also planning events to remember someone many have concluded is dead because of the color of his skin. The shooter, George Zimmerman, is set for trial on second-degree murder charges on June 10.
On this date in 2012, the 28-year-old Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer at a gated housing complex in the central Florida city of Sanford, called the police to report a young man cutting in between houses. Against the advice of the police dispatcher, he then followed Trayvon, became involved in a confrontation, drew his semi-automatic pistol from a holster in his waistband and fired a single shot into the teen's chest. Within minutes, before the police arrived, Martin was dead.
Thus was the stage set for family heartbreak, an explosion of national media attention (a good portion of it inaccurate), accusations of sloppy police work abetted by racist motivations, protests that included the wearing of hoodies (like the one Trayvon was wearing when he was shot) by whole church congregations and by Rep. Bobby Rush on the floor of the House of Representatives, the generating of an array of street art depicting Trayvon in several cities, the appointment of a special prosecutor with a reputation for being hard-nosed, an arrest and indictment for second-degree murder and release of Zimmerman on modest bail, fundraising by him on an in-your-face website, an interview with him by Sean Hannity on Fox News in which he said he had "no regrets" in the shooting, revocation of bail after it was discovered Zimmerman and his wife lied about how much money they had when bail was set the first time, and Zimmerman's release on new bail of a million dollars.
In addition, the shooting of Martin has raised questions about the state's so-called "Stand Your Ground" law that adds protections from prosecution for individuals beyond standard self-defense exemptions. Questions were also raised about Florida's provision of permits to carry concealed firearms. Zimmerman had acquired such a permit and said he carried his 9mm pistol everywhere he went except work after a police officer told him and his wife to get a gun to protect themselves against a pit bull they said had menaced them three times.
The Neighborhood Watch manual that is supposed to be followed by all volunteers specifically states that volunteers "shall not carry weapons or pursue vehicles. They should also be cautioned to alert police or deputies when encountering strange activity. Members should never confront suspicious persons who could be armed and dangerous."
No witness saw the actual shooting, although some heard shouts and saw a fight taking place. Zimmerman claims he was attacked by Trayvon, and has a medical report showing he was treated for black eyes and a broken nose. Trayvon, of course, can never tell his side of the story. Please continue reading more about the shooting below the fold.
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