March for Trayvon Martin held in Sanford

From left, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Benjamin Jealous, President of the NAACP lead the march for slain Florida teenager Trayvon Martin on Saturday, March 31, 2012 in Sanford, Fla. / AP Photo/Julie Fletcher

(AP) SANFORD, Fla. - Thousands joined a march Saturday through the Florida town where 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer, vowing to continue protesting until an arrest is made.

Protesters carried signs, chanted "Justice for Trayvon," and clutched the hands of their children while they walked from Crooms Academy of Information Technology — the county's first high school for black students — to the Sanford Police Department. The march was organized by the NAACP was one of several taking place over the weekend.

"We live in the middle of an American paradox," Rev. Al Sharpton told the crowd. "We can put a black man in the White House but we cannot walk a black child through a gated neighborhood. We are not selling out, bowing out or backing down until there is justice for Trayvon."

Martin was shot to death by 28-year-old George Zimmerman on Feb. 26 as he walked from back from a convenience store to his father's fiancee's home in a gated community outside Orlando. The case has stirred a national conversation about race and the laws of self-defense. Martin, a black teenager from Miami, was unarmed when he was shot by Zimmerman, whose father is white and mother is Hispanic. Zimmerman told police the teen attacked him before he shot in self-defense.

Trayvon Martin's brother sticks up for him
Complete coverage: The shooting of Trayvon Martin

Sharpton and other civil rights leaders, including Rev. Jesse Jackson, spoke during a two-hour rally following the half-mile march.

"This is not about a hoodie, it's about racial profiling," Jackson said. "We will use our marching feet, civil disobedience and every weapon in in our non-violent arsenal until justice is served."

A dozen buses from across the state brought protesters to the rally. Shirley Roulhac-Lumpkin came with a group from Miami Gardens.

"I come from an era where people wore white hoods and nobody arrested the KKK," said Roulhac-Lumpkin. "Wearing a hoodie does not mean you're a hoodlum."

Gary Marion, a nurse who grew up in Sanford, said the Sanford police department is known "as a good ole boy network and this incident sends a message that our children are worth nothing. I would like to see the chief of police charged with obstruction of justice."

Most of the protesters wore T-shirts with images of Trayvon Martin and many carried handmade posters with messages that read, "Hoodies Don't Kill People, Guns Kill People" and "Mother's Tears Have No Color."

"We come to make sense of this great tragedy and the entire world grieves with us," said Roslyn Brock, chairman of the national board of directors for the NAACP. "When the Sanford police did not arrest George Zimmerman, they essentially placed the burden of proof on a dead young man who cannot speak for himself."

19 Photos

Trayvon Martin shooting

[JosephMcCaffrey]

Do not call Zimmerman a "neighborhood watch volunteer." There is no neighborhood watch in Sanford. A neighborhood watch would have had their police department train and supervise volunteers. Zimmerman had neither training nor supervision. He was merely a private citizen, roaming around with a loaded weapon, stalking anyone he wanted to stalk. He was totally outside the law.

[custompcsys]

What I see in this case saddens me on both sides. First and foremost the death of someone under these circumstances, especially someone Treyvon's age, is tragic and unnecessary. Mr. Zimmerman, if he is in fact guilty of the crime people seem to think he is, should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. The SYG law should be reviewed to see if any changes are required. All of this I agree with, and the case certainly merits competent, agressive investigation.

What has happened after this incident also saddens me. These protests all call for "justice", but it is quite evident that the only thing they consider justice is Mr. Zimmerman's arrest, even before all the facts are in from the special prosecutor. None of us know what really happened yet, but it seems that these groups have already convicted this man. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? If the situation were reversed and a Black man shot a White man, would they not want the same assumption of innocence? If the situation were reversed, would Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton be out calling for "justice"?

All I see from this case is that both sides, Black and White alike, have a long way to go. Behavior like Mr. Zimmerman's, if found to be criminal by the courts, cannot be tolerated in any form. Racially motivated violence must be punished severely. For the other side to assume this man is guilty of a crime and assume its racially motivated without having all the facts, however, is equally biased. Those of us who were around in the 80's remember Tawana Brawley and how that case polarized the country and the races. We should all remember that lesson and wait to hear all of the facts before making a judgement. We all want justice here, but the Constituion's definition of justice....not yours, not mine.

[themanfrombrum]

"This is not about a hoodie, it's about racial profiling," Jackson said. "We will use our marching feet, civil disobedience and every weapon in in our non-violent arsenal until justice is served."

"Civil disobedience and every weapon," Jesse? I smell hate in YOUR veins. But you'll never match the fine calibre of your predecessor MLK Jr.

[reality_sanity]

Learn from the 60's as you distorted Mr Jackson's words. Mr Jackson's statement was very much in the MLK Jr tradition. Note the weapons Mr Jackson was willing to use in his statement -- "every weapon in in our non-violent arsenal" you probably would be hard pressed to list a weapon in the non-violent arsenal of which Mr Jackson spoke.

[reality_sanity]

Sandra & Mr Bilski
to
Even if George is acquitted by a jury in criminal proceedings. He will probably die a poor man with the same legacy of OJ Simpson. Civil trials have a lower threshold of proof; so if the original police chief and prosecutor managed to muddy the evidence to prevent a criminal conviction there is a great deal of evidence for a civil conviction. The work of the special Prosecutor and even the Orlando Sentinel has already shown that much.

[reality_sanity]

by Sandra227 April 1, 2012 6:34 PM EDT
... Zimmerman acted within the law as written!

----

Not according to the authors of the law, the governor that signed the law, the city of Sanford that voted no confidence in the police chief, the Governor that appointed a special prosecutor to take over from the original prosecutor. The message is clear from the REPUBLICANS that wrote the law and the governor that signed the law PURSUIT negates the self-defense provisions of Florida's SYG law.

[GIJoe2137]

Nice to see educated commentary reality_sanity

Precisely correct, the authors of the legislation themselves are on record as decrying its use in this instance. However, Joran van der Sloot's father (pun intended) being the legal eagle that he is, has made certain that the Zimmerman camp continues to sing in unison the "I was returning to the truck when attacked" tune, (a key issue in the "retreat" requirement written into the law.

However, not stopping there they've sweetened it further by claiming that the kid states "You're going to die" as he supposedly jumps a retreating Zimmerman. This guy (Zimmerman) was looking for trouble and found it and is at this moment regretting his ill-conceived decision to dismount the vehicle where he proves himself to be both a reckless amateur and reveals a hidden agenda.

I think it would be a mistake to charge him with murder, too much of a hurdle. Manslaughter is the better charge.

[reality_sanity]

I do not believe specifically the law requires retreat. It does according to it's authors require NOT ADVANCING. George originally left his truck to check an address. The confrontation and alleged fight is reported to have occurred on a back porch. How many homes have you seen that have address information on the BACK OF A HOUSE? Was George returning to his truck by walking through other people's yards including behind their homes when his alleged position during the phone call was in the curb / sidewalk area near his vehicle.

[Boomersheart]

Who is paying for all the preprinted signs? This trial in the court of public opinion is an absolute display of opportunists seeking the spotlight one more time. There is a court system. Strange how these so called black "leaders" aren't marching in Chicago, Detroit, and other cities where blacks are killing each other in multiple gunfights or driveby shooting every day! Why not try to change the image that those young people are creating with their actions, and be role models that present more than men taking advantage of a circumstance for personal gain. If this blows sky high, will these leaders take responsibility? Never. Sharpton has been involved in several different actions that have been disproved with the FACTS! Try this one in court, not in front of the t.v. camera.

[reality_sanity]

The death alone is not the primary issue; the failed investigation, sidelining the police chief and the prosecutor in Sanford; That is the issue. So in the other cities you name there is not yet a reason to investigate.

[reality_sanity]

corrrection -- in the other cities you name there is no issue yet with the police and prosecutor's response.

[reality_sanity]

Have any of you read the qualifications of the new special prosecutor? She is an expert in shooting crimes and a take no prisoners prosecutor; meaning she is not inclined to plea bargain.

[reality_sanity]

Dream on -- this prosecutor is no nonsense -- if she finds cause Mr Zimmerman and his father are unlikely to influence the process. If the tape analysis by the Orlando Sentinel can be replicated by the prosecutors we may have audio of Trayvon pleading for help (instead of George as George claimed) as George threatens Trayvon with a weapon. If George is found to have lied about calling for help the rest of his changing self-defense story becomes less and less credible. Like that blood that never hit George when he shot Trayvon in the chest while Trayvon was allegedly on top of George, facing him and punching him.

[reality_sanity]

As far as anyone rioting, Mr Bilski once your delusions are challenged we are all hoping / prayinng you do not decide to "go postal"

[americalove1]

From The LA Times: "It could be weeks, if not months, before the medical examiner's report is made public. A Seminole County grand jury will convene April 10 on the case."

Also, it was reported in this article that, according to officials, evidence may suggest that Martin was the aggressor.

[americalove1]

People need to cool down & wait for all the facts, especially the autopsy report.

[americalove1]

"I think the evidence has been obvious from the beginning. They took long enough to figure it out!"

What evidence? Autopsy report? forensics report? crime lab report?

[WeeWeedUp]

NBC is conducting an internal investigation into why MessNBC distorted the Zimmerman 911 call to fabricate what was actually said.

MessNBC's heavily edited version of the tape:

Zimmerman: "This guy looks like he's up to no good. He looks black."

Actual tape:

Zimmerman: This guy looks like he's up to no good. Or he's on drugs or something. It's raining and he's just walking around, looking about.

Dispatcher: OK, and this guy -- is he black, white or Hispanic?

Zimmerman: He looks black.


Sorry, MessNBC, but an internal investigation will not suffice. I encouraging everyone on this forum to write your Congressmen and demand an investigation into this most egregious example of journalistic malpractice. MessNBC turned evidence into a lie to rile up its lunatic audience. MessNBC did it for no other reason. If Congress has time to investigate what baseball player used steroids, it can certainly take a look at why MessNBC is manipulating audio tapes to try to start a race war.

And when MessNBC gets those riots they're so desperately broadcasting lies to incite, I hope everyone with a monetary or other loss sues MessNBC into oblivion.

[bankersvox]

While this looks like there is need for more investigation, it also is a planned DISTRACTION


/////from the FAILURE of PRES OBAMA in just about everything,

jobs,

corruption with $$$ going to his cronies,

lack of any moral leadership,

selling out our friends,


//////////and now ??? Secret DEALS with Punk Dictatiors in RUSSIA ?


He and his crew backed by the willing slobbering media are EXPERT at distraction.