Trayvon parents: Son disrespected even in death

From left: Rev. Al Sharpton; Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, parents of slain teenager Trayvon Martin; and Rev. Jesse Jackson, at a community forum on the killing of Trayvon Martin, at Macedonia Baptist Church, March 26, 2012 in Eatonville, Fla. A march and rally are planned for later this afternoon in Sanford. / Mario Tama/Getty Images

Last Updated 2:45 p.m. ET

(CBS/AP) SANFORD, Fla. - Prior to a march and rally to be held marking one month since a Florida teenager was fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer, the parents of Trayvon Martin defended their son and decried reports that offered contrary accounts of the confrontation.

Speaking after a community forum held at a Baptist church in Eatonville, the parents were emotional in the wake of a news report published in the Orlando Sentinel that said George Zimmerman had been attacked by the 17-year-old, and an Associated Press report that Trayvon had been suspended from school because of an empty plastic baggie found in his book bag which tested positive for traces of marijuana.

"Even in death, they are still disrespecting my son," said Tracy Martin, "and I feel that is a shame."

"They've killed my son, and now they're trying to kill his reputation," said Trayvon's mother, Sybrina Fulton.

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Rev. Al Sharpton said that he had warned Trayvon's parents that their son would become the subject of speculation: "As much as it will hurt, they will try to make your son a junkie, a thief, assaulter, everything else before this is over," he said. "If you want to discuss something relevant, discuss what Zimmerman might have had in his system. Discuss his past.

"Why are we asking about what Trayvon is capable of, when you have records of Zimmerman assaulting law officers? You have domestic violence. No one asked his lawyer about his character that has been documented," Sharpton said. "He has the record of violence. ... So why are we going out of our way to try and create something in Trayvon's background when you have documented stuff in Zimmerman's background and won't even question his attorney about it?

"Let's not play this double standard of trying to demonize who is dead and sanitize who was the cause of the death," said Sharpton.

Martin family lawyer Ben Crump also disputed the report that claimed Zimmerman had been attacked by Trayvon. "Based on the 911 tapes, [Zimmerman] is chasing Trayvon," he said.

"Trayvon was an average kid [who had] never, ever demonstrated any violence, had never even gotten in a fight," Crump said. "Trayvon is dead and can't defend himself. Had Zimmerman not disobeyed the police dispatcher and got out of his car and pursued Trayvon, Trayvon would still be living today."

Thousands are expected to participate in the march from Centennial Park beginning at 4 p.m. to the Sanford Civic Center, where Monday's city commission meeting will begin at 5 p.m. The commission's meeting was moved from City Hall to the civic center to accommodate the expected crowd, with a jumbo screen erected outside for the overflow.

"The people are standing with Trayvon's parents," said Sharpton.

Prior to today's march, Rev. Jesse Jackson said the moral flaw of American society is racial injustice. "Racial injustice must be eliminated. Racial justice, equality, workers rights and the American dream goes hand in hand," he said.

Among those joining the rally and march are pro football players Ray Lewis and Santonio Holmes; the comedian Sinbad; and leaders from the Urban League and ACLU.

There have been rallies around the country as anger has spread over the shooting a month ago Monday, when Trayvon Martin, 17, was killed.

Martin was returning to his father's fiancee's home from a convenience store when Zimmerman, 28, started following him, telling police dispatchers he looked suspicious. At some point, the two got into a fight and Zimmerman pulled out his gun.

Zimmerman told police he shot in self-defense. He has not been arrested or charged.

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Zimmerman has not spoken in public about the shooting. His lawyer, Craig Sooner, has been speaking for him and has denied there was any racial motive in the shooting. Zimmerman's father is white and his mother is Hispanic.

Darren Scott, who was named acting chief of police, said he understood everyone was seeking "a quick and positive resolution to this tragic event," but asked that the legal process be allowed to run its course. "It may not be perfect, but it's the only one we have," he said.

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Rallies and demonstrations are also being held in other cities, including Atlanta and Denver, to mark one month since Trayvon's shooting death.

In Albany, N.Y., three prominent New York legislators wearing "hoodies" plan to lead other black lawmakers into the Senate chamber to protest the shooting of Trayvon.

[Justanotherguy2212]

Sharpton and Jackson, scum of the earth trying to capitalize on someone else's misery again.

Before anyone makes a stink, I could care less about their race. My opinion is that a scumbag is a scumbag regardless of the race, and Sharpton and Jackson are scumbags.

[lmurph100]

think Former NAACP President C.L. Bryant hit it on the nose...

http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/26/former-naacp-leader-accuses-sharpton-and-jackson-of-exploiting-trayvon-martin/#ixzz1qGRIcDgQ

I suggest everyone read this.

[lmurph100]

think Former NAACP President C.L. Bryant hit it on the nose...

http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/26/former-naacp-leader-accuses-sharpton-and-jackson-of-exploiting-trayvon-martin/#ixzz1qGRIcDgQ

I suggest everyone read this.

[moretruthnow]

Zimmerman obviously told a tall tale when he was questioned at the scene. He had just killed an unarmed teenager walking home. There were people in the area who heard Trayvon yelling for help and then heard the shot. That does not jive with anything that Zimmerman said. Zimmerman is the person who should be arrested and tried for killing this young man for no justifiable reason.

[bokehbrian]

Like many of my white friends there is a specific group of black people I hate, truly despise. On the whole I think they are lazier, do not have the same value for rules or societies acceptable behaviors. They are louder and more obnoxious then others. They do not consider other people before they act, and think it's better to hustle or steal then work hard. And yes I think they are more likely to be criminals then other people and violence to them is viewed as acceptable. Most white people wont say they hate this group of black people for fear of being labeled a racist, but here's the thing. We don't hate them BECAUSE they are black, it just turns out that this particular group of people happen to be black. If they were white we would hate them every bit as much. Every other black person we see outside of this group we view as equals and love them as much as anyone else who is white, so how can we be racist?

http://thetop10.squarespace.com/the-politics-of-it-all/?SSScrollPosition=0

[moretruthnow]

Well aren't you just precious. Nothing you say is anything but racist.

[mikeonthebay]

The mama is worried that her son's reputation is "sullied". Funny, that is why she is using her sons death by immediately offering a new line of "hoodies" merchandise. "Disrepected" is not a legitimate word by the way. And of course Sharpton has is go-bag ready to respond to any incident of injustice, like the Duke lacrosse, and Tawney Brawley incidents.

[moretruthnow]

There is no reason to think justice will be done. It has been a month since Trayvon Martin was killed and no arrest has been made, no charges have been filed. That is the only reason that people are up in arms over this. No action has been taken, and if left to the Sanford Police Department, no action would ever be taken about this murder.

[thesafesurfer]

So Trayvon, who was busted as school with a baggy full of women's jewelry (he isn't a girl) wasn't walking through a rich neighborhood he didn't live in looking for an opportunity for a quick score? Zimmerman said Trayvon was acting suspicious, lurking around. Oh I forgot Zimmerman is just a mindless bigot looking to kill the first black teenager he comes across right? Isn't that the narrative? So now bigots looking to blast black teens call the cops to ask them to send a car? So Trayvon, the tagger/ the pothead/ the thief (all charges that got him suspended from school numerous times) doesn't like being followed by guy who is cramping his plan to score something quit so he just the guy, breaks his nose, and starts banging his head on the sidewalk until the guy defends himself and shoots him.

A defense attorney is going to get Zimmerman off in a heartbeat if out of control victimization ever forces anyone to even charge Zimmerman.

Martin is not a scholar athlete strolling back home with nothing but skittles and a cell phone saying the "I have a dream speech" to himself. He is a troubled teen from a broken home who was in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong thing who got into a fight with the wrong person.

That is the tragedy people. A teen shouldn't have had the life Trayvon had.

[audemus]

What Martin's parents say is "authorities trying to sully their son's reputation," is actually efforts at telling the complete story.

Those in the Martin camp will have to do more than engage in post-mortem charity if they wish to make their case. I find it ironic that what this community in particular is labeling "justice," seems to be somewhat of an orchestrated attempt at legal lynching. I hope the authorities stick to the law here, and don't cave-in to the intense notoriety and loud voices screaming for blood. If Zimmerman is guilty of a crime, let's give him his day in court, if he's not, then let's declare that, and move on.

The facts of young Martin's life should not be ignored or white-washed--even if they don't support the message of his sweetness and innocence coming out of Florida. If there is indeed injustice here, covering up the truth, and telling lies, will not serve the causes aligned to fight against that injustice-- it will only delay and diminish the beauty of that justice when it finally arrives. Thank Goodness we don't arrest people because 2 million people sign a petition. Guilt is not a popularity contest.

Martin's mother is quoted as saying "They've" killed my son...," there is no "They" here, only Zimmerman. Her statement amounts to a blanket accusation against an entire group of people, (in this case, probably white people), most of whom evidently find what happened in this case to be tragic, and perhaps unlawful. Hyperbole might serve to get the crowd ranting and raving, but it eventually diminishes the number of people taking your position seriously, because it casts shadows on the truth.

Let's follow that truth-- wherever it leads us.

[karlejohn]

Is this "Skittlesgate Murder", the crime and the coverup?

[Quantum-Mechanic]

Revelations surfaced that the teen's high school had suspended him three times for offenses including vandalism, truancy and tardiness, and, at the time of his death, he was in the midst a two-week suspension for a baggie containing marijuana residue found in his book bag.
He is probably the burglar that had been hitting that neighborhood.
A clear picture is starting to emerge on this thug in the beginning of his criminal career.

[hamiltongrad]

"thug", who called the police asking for help ? Who witnesses saw struck down first, had his head bashed in?
What we all need is to embrace peace, and follow the law.

[jgnv]

None of this young man's offenses justify death by shooting. All the publicity generated by this killing have, unfortunately, painted slanted images of both parties involved. However, I do still feel that,as a member of a neighborhood watch group, Mr. Zimmerman did not have the authority, much less the training, to confront any suspect. Had he not pursued this young man, as instructed by the police dispatcher, the alleged assault would never have occurred.