The case of Trayvon Martin’s death continues to dominate headlines.
There has been a public outcry for justice of the death of Trayvon. In what was called the “Million Hoodie March”, hundreds of protesters took to the streets on Wednesday to mourn Trayvon’s death and to demand the arrest of the person responsible.
Even President Obama spoke out about the death of Trayvon.
The shooter, George Zimmerman has now become a household name. The 28 year-old neighborhood patrol volunteer mentioned in his 911 call that he considered Martin as:
“a real suspicious guy… looks like he’s up to no good or he’s on drugs or something…And he’s a black male…Something’s wrong with him…These a**holes, they always get away.”
He described Martin as having his hand on his waistband, carrying an object, and coming towards him. This prompted him to shoot, despite the 911 dispatcher’s advice to not chase the boy.
Geraldo Rivera, while appearing on Fox and Friends stated:
“I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was… I’ll bet you money, if he didn’t have that hoodie on, that nutty neighborhood watch guy wouldn’t have responded in that violent and aggressive way.”
Rivera went on to tweet:
“It’s sad that I have to be the one reminding minority parents of the risk that comes with being a kid of color in America–channel the rage”
Craig Sonner, the legal advisor to Zimmerman, had the following to say:
“This case is spinning out of control… I hope there’s a way to rein things in so it doesn’t become an issue of a racial battle. I hope that things come back so that there can be a time for justice and for healing and not for just skipping the whole judicial process and going straight to sentencing.”
This case has brought Florida’s Stand Your Ground law under much scrutiny:
“[Stand Your Ground] gives the benefit of the doubt to a person who claims self-defense…In Florida, if people feel they are in imminent danger of being killed or badly injured, they do not have to retreat, even if it would seem reasonable to do so. They have the right to ’stand their ground’ and protect themselves.”
What are your thoughts about the “Stand your ground Law? What about Rivera’s argument… is Martin’s attire to blame for his death?
