Trayvon Martin is a young black man who was shot and killed by George Zimmerman a few weeks ago for no other significant reason other than being a young black man who “looked” suspicious. Zimmerman has not been arrested nor convicted of the murder even though he has admitted to shooting unarmed Trayvon Martin. His family is petitioning that for an investigation and arrest for their son’s murder. Here’s an excerpt from their petition (Please sign here to support their cause):
On February 26, our son Trayvon Martin was shot and killed as he walked to a family member’s home from a convenience store where he had just bought some candy. He was only 17 years-old.
Trayvon’s killer, George Zimmerman, admitted to police that he shot Trayvon in the chest. Zimmerman, the community’s self appointed “neighborhood watch leader,” called the police to report a suspicious person when he saw Travyon, a young black man, walking from the store. But Zimmerman still hasn’t been charged for murdering our son.
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.
When Zimmerman reported Trayvon to the police, they told him not to confront him. But he did anyway. All we know about what happened next is that our 17 year-old son, who was completely unarmed, was shot and killed.
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.
Although the call to justice through this petition will give way to action, it still does not change the thought process of how young black men are viewed by other races. Although slavery has been abolished and equal rights laws are in place these do not change the mindset of few. It really saddens my heart and has me scared for young black men to have to walk out of their home and be worried if they look “suspicious” enough to be shot dead. I’m hoping that this is a huge wake up call for race relations in the U.S. we need better cultural tolerance amongst all races.
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