Category Archives: Trayvon Martin

7:17 2/26/2012

Anthony Hill, Attorney Benjamin Crump, Crime, Dads, Facebook, Faith, Family, Google, Gun Control, Injustice, Inner City, Jacksonville Florida, Life & Death, murder, President Barack H. Obama, Race, Race Relations, Racism, RELAUNCH, Social Media, Stand Your Ground, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, Trayvon Martin, Twitter February 26, 2013 Leave a comment

As I listen to the rain beat against my Northern Virginia home while sitting in front of my MacBook, I find it eerily difficult to write this piece. A year ago today on a cold rainy night like this, in a bedroom community like this, a kid was stolen from humanity. This post isn’t much of an article nor an essay, it’s simply remembering Trayvon Martin…

Shortly after 7pm at approximately 7:09 on February 26, 2012 a call was made to the Sanford Florida Police. The caller said there was a suspecting looking unknown male walking around in the rain. The caller went on to describe the suspecting looking unknown male as wearing a gray hoodie, jeans and sneakers. The caller was adamant about something being in the hands of the suspect who he later described as a black kid in his late teens. The police dispatcher tells the caller that they don’t need for him (the caller) to follow the suspect, someone is en route to investigate. The call was then wrapped up.

7:17 Eight minutes later, when Sanford Police arrived on the scene they found the unknown “suspect” (suspect of what) lying face down in the grass. The shooter, was still on the scene and was identified as the 911 caller, GZ. (He’s not worthy of being named unless we call him murderous coward)

GZ was taken into custody. As other first responders arrived, attempts were made to revive the unidentified and unresponsive teen. A short time later, the teen was declared dead.

While GZ was telling his story down at Sanford PD headquarters, the unidentified body of Trayvon Martin was sitting unclaimed at a morgue. His father had filed a missing persons report after the teen never returned from a quick walk to the store.

The senior Martin and his son had been visiting the home of his fiancé who lived in the gated community where the senseless crime had occurred.

Trayvon Martin was killed by a single gunshot ruled a contact shot according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation report.

Trayvon Martin’s name and death have gone on to become synonymous with the legal concept of Stand Your Ground, and the social concept of walking while Black.

Trayvon Martin to me is somewhat like this century’s Emmett Till. A young man off visiting family away from home who went to a store only to never be returned alive to those who knew and loved him. His parents like Till’s mother have shared with the world and media his image so that we will never forget what was done to their child!

This death and others like it pain me and take me a place that reminds me that the skin I wear although it is beautiful, strong, powerful and imitated is the most understood and hated hue… James Craig Anderson of Mississippi; Anthony Hill of South Carolina; and most recently the death of another 17 year old teen, Jordan Davis of Jacksonville Florida, nearly 9 months to the date of the death of Trayvon Martin.

Wake up people! Stop sleeping and believing that we’ve arrived as a nation just because the President and First Lady are Black… We’ve only just began to see the hatred that exist towards our people!

The 18th…

Attorney Benjamin Crump, Birthdays, Crime, Facebook, Faith, Family, Google, Gun Control, I Have A Dream, Injustice, Inner City, Jacksonville Florida, Jordan Davis, Life & Death, Love, Media, murder, National Rifle Association, Prayer, Race, Race Relations, Racism, Social Media, Stand Your Ground, Trayvon Martin, Twitter, Youth February 5, 2013 Leave a comment

Gosh, I anticipated this day my whole life. To be an adult; “A Grown Man”. I’d be old enough to vote and just months away from graduating high school.

I’m missing all of that now. Pray for my mother and father. This is a day they’d usually be excited about just as much as if not more than me. Pray their strength. They’ve suffered an unthinkable pain for nearly a year.

Pray for my family. They didn’t deserve to see me go out like this. Pray for my community. Pray their strength is unbreakable as they along with my family demand justice in my name.

Pray for the family of Jordan Davis. He and I share a similar story of how a coward can steal the innocence of a child.

Pray for all the young people who like me just want to make it home from the store without being thought of as suspicious because they’re protecting their head from the rain or because of the way we listen to our music while wearing a beautiful dark hue. A hue so strong and powerful it is seen as a threat and despised because its all that many choose to see about a kid.

Jordan and I both had dreams that were stolen from us in 2012 as blood spilled from our bodies and as we took our last breath. So please, while you still have a chance, this Black History Month and for my 18th Birthday decide today to conquer your dreams, live them courageously and unapologetically and share them with the ones you love!

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17 Year Old Murdered Over Loud Music

Crime, Facebook, Injustice, Jacksonville Florida, Jordan Davis, Michael Dunn, murder, Race, Social Media, Stand Your Ground, Trayvon Martin, Twitter November 28, 2012 1 Comment

Jacksonville, FL … November 23, 2012 a group of teens finishing up some Black Friday shopping stop at a local gas station. THIS IS THEIR STORY!

All over the nation on Friday nights you can find teens like 17- year old Jordan Davis, “chilling” in a parking lot listening to whatever is the hottest music out. Jordan Davis a student at Wolfson High School in Jacksonville, FL was with friends on Black Friday. The teens had been out at the malls shopping earlier that day. Last Friday night Jordan Davis was seated in the backseat of a SUV with a few friends chilling while parked at a local convenience store when a 45- year old out-of-towner by the name of Michael Dunn pulled up in a dark colored sedan and parked beside them.

Dunn was in town for his son’s wedding. He was in his car with his girlfriend when he and Jordan Davis “met.” According to reports, Dunn told/asked the kids to turn the music down.

The teens and Dunn argued over the music. Somewhere in the argument something ticked and Dunn opened fire, shooting EIGHT or NINE times hitting Jordan Davis twice. Dunn’s attorney says he acted in self-defense.

Dunn’s girlfriend came running out of the convenience store after the shooting and they left.

Jordan Davis was in the SUV when he was fatally wounded. He died while in the backseat of the SUV in the arms of one of his friends.

Witnesses were able to get the tag from the car driven by Dunn. THANK GOD!!!!!

Dunn sped away from the scene returning to his hotel. On Saturday morning, he “heard” that Jordan Davis had died as a result of the shooting on the news and decided he should return home.

173 Miles

I imagine Dunn drove frantically down 95 S or some other route back to his home in Satellite Beach, while the family of Jordan Davis gathered at his home trying to understand why their loved one had been murdered.

Dunn was arrested at his home on Saturday and charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. At his arraignment, Dunn entered a plea of “Not Guilty.” Dunn’s attorney, Robin Lemonidis had this to say:

“Once all the facts come out, what really happened is made known, that it will be very clear that Mr. Dunn acted responsibly and as any responsible firearms owner acted under these same circumstances.”

According to law enforcement, there were NO GUNS IN THE SUV and none of the teens were carrying weapons. Perhaps the music scared Dunn. Its still unclear what caused him to fear for his life.

Do You Have Questions? I Do.

WHY WOULD YOU (a grown man) ARGUE WITH A KID WHO IS MINDING HIS OWN BUSINESS WITH FRIENDS OVER LOUD MUSIC?

WHO FIRES OFF 8 OR 9 ROUNDS INTO A VEHICLE FILLED WITH TEENAGERS?

WHO FLEES THE SCENE OF A CRIME AND GOES BACK TO THEIR HOTEL?

WHO SKIPS TOWN AFTER LEARNING THAT A KID WAS KILLED FROM 2 OF THE ROUNDS FIRED INTO THE VEHICLE?

WHO DRIVES OVER TWO HOURS AWAY BACK HOME AFTER COMMITTING CAPITAL MURDER?

WHEN IN THE HELL WILL FLORIDA REVISE THEIR STAND YOUR GROUND LAW SO COWARDS CAN STOP MURDERING CHILDREN?

DOES THIS STIR UP EMOTIONS IN YOU OVER FEBRUARY 26, 2012 AND THE MURDER OF TRAYVON MARTIN?

9 Months

Just nine months ago we grappled with the loss of another 17 year old child’s murder in Florida. Remembering Trayvon Martin ~>;; Nine Months Later

*This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Be blessed and be a blessing.*

9 Months…

Commitment, Community Service, Crime, Facebook, Google, Injustice, Law & Order, Life & Death, Love, Media, murder, Opportunities, Prayer, Social Media, Trayvon Martin, Twitter, Youth November 26, 2012 1 Comment

I’ve read the transcripts and heard the 911 tapes that recorded your voice as you cried out for your life on that rainy Sunday night.

I’ve tried to imagine the the how’s and why’s of the situation which would be your last. I’ve reasoned and wrestled with it over and over in my head, on paper and in conversation with close friends. At times your last moments consumed me for hours, sometimes days at a time. I have been saddened, angered and inspired by your death.

Many young men and women die innocently at the hands of a stranger and sometimes at the hands of people they know. However, you were different. Maybe it’s because we’re both Floridians. Perhaps it’s because you reminded me of former students I taught or mentored. Maybe its the love and gentleness I see in your eyes on all the pictures online… I’m not sure why, but I carry it with me. I carry you with me.

I pray for your family. I couldn’t imagine losing my sister or brother brutally at the hands of a coward. The rage of imagining it is so powerful I shake at just the thought of it.

Each time I see my nephew, I squeeze him just a few seconds longer. He probably thinks I’m babying him, but I’m praying for him and the millions of other young men who are targeted as suspects just for the color of their skin. He’s only a year younger than you were when you left this world.

So here we are 9 months later and I ask myself, “What has been “birthed” from your death?”

For me, it’s to not be complacent with the comforts of suburbia and gated communities. It’s also made me glean more about the criminal code and SYG legislation around the nation. I’m sure this is true for others.

I believe that your death won’t be in vain, despite all the pain it has caused. I hope your murderer is found guilty, and I pray for the safety of youth everywhere.

I’m not sure what you dreamed of being when you grew up. I imagine like most young people it was something cool that would be a gift to the world. You should know, despite the sudden halt of those dreams, even in your death you’ve been a gift and you have changed the world.

Nine months…

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Letter from Sanford City Manager regarding Trayvon Martin

Crime, Facebook, Florida, Injustice, murder, Race, Race Relations, Racism, Social Media, Trayvon Martin, Twitter March 19, 2012 Leave a comment

Sanford’s City Manager addresses the tragic murder of Trayvon Martin and more

Fellow Citizens:

There has been a lot of media attention to the recent incident where George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin. This is indeed a tragic situation and has caused a flood of questions and strong emotions from within our community, the region and nation. On behalf of the employees of the City of Sanford, Our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to the family and friends of Trayvon Martin. As a father, I can only image the pain Trayvon’s family must be going though.

In an effort to continue to be as responsive as possible to the public seeking information on the incident, I have asked Chief Lee to provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding this matter. Below are his responses. Please understand that since this is still an ongoing investigation, the Police Department is limited in what information it can publicly release.

The City of Sanford is committed to insuring that justice is served and, therefore, the City of Sanford has contacted the United States Attorney General’s Office for assistance in this matter.

Why was George Zimmerman not arrested the night of the shooting?

When the Sanford Police Department arrived at the scene of the incident, Mr. Zimmerman provided a statement claiming he acted in self defense which at the time was supported by physical evidence and testimony. By Florida Statute, law enforcement was PROHIBITED from making an arrest based on the facts and circumstances they had at the time. Additionally, when any police officer makes an arrest for any reason, the officer MUST swear and affirm that he/she is making the arrest in good faith and with probable cause. If the arrest is done maliciously and in bad faith, the officer and the City may be held liable.

According to Florida Statute 776.032 :

776.032 Immunity from criminal prosecution and civil action for justifiable use of force.—
(1) A person who uses force as permitted in s. 776.012, s. 776.013, or s. 776.031 is justified in using such force and is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force, unless the person against whom force was used is a law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 943.10(14), who was acting in the performance of his or her official duties and the officer identified himself or herself in accordance with any applicable law or the person using force knew or reasonably should have known that the person was a law enforcement officer. As used in this subsection, the term “criminal prosecution” includes arresting, detaining in custody, and charging or prosecuting the defendant.

(2) A law enforcement agency may use standard procedures for investigating the use of force as described in subsection (1), but the agency may not arrest the person for using force unless it determines that there is probable cause that the force that was used was unlawful.

The men and women of the Sanford Police Department extend our heartfelt sympathies to the Martin family. This is indeed a tragic situation. The death of anyone due to violence, especially a 17 year old young man, is morally appalling. As this incident has generated a lot of media attention, we wanted to provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

Why the 911 tapes are not yet released?

There are exemptions to the public records laws for active criminal intelligence and for ongoing investigations. In this instance, the 911 calls made by neighbors in the subdivision, and the non- emergency call made by Mr. Zimmerman are all key to the investigation by Sanford Police Department. In consultation with the Office of the State Attorney, the Sanford police department has decided not to release the audio recordings of the 911 calls due to the ongoing investigation. Many times, specific information is contained in those recordings which is vital to the integrity of the investigation. Should it be revealed, the information may compromise the integrity of the investigation prior to its completion.

Why did Mr. Zimmerman have a firearm in his possession while acting in the role of a neighborhood watch member?
Mr. Zimmerman holds a concealed weapon permit issued from the State of Florida. He is authorized to carry the weapon in a concealed manner wherever Florida Statute dictates. Neighborhood Watch programs are designed for members of a neighborhood to be “eyes and ears” for police and to watch out for their neighbors. They are not members of the Police Department nor are they vigilantes. Training provided by law enforcement agencies to Neighborhood Watch organizations stresses non-contact surveillance of suspicious situations and notifying police of those situations so that law enforcement can respond and take control of the situation.

Mr. Zimmerman was not acting outside the legal boundaries of Florida Statute by carrying his weapon when this incident occurred. He was in fact on a personal errand in his vehicle when he observed Mr. Martin in the community and called the Sanford Police Department.

If Zimmerman was told not to continue to follow Trayvon, can that be considered in this investigation?
Yes it will; however, the telecommunications call taker asked Zimmerman “are you following him”. Zimmerman replied, “yes”. The call taker stated “you don’t need to do that”. The call taker’s suggestion is not a lawful order that Mr. Zimmerman would be required to follow. Zimmerman’s statement was that he had lost sight of Trayvon and was returning to his truck to meet the police officer when he says he was attacked by Trayvon.

Why was George Zimmerman labeled as “squeaky clean” when in fact he has a prior arrest history?
In one of the initial meetings with the father of the victim the investigator related to him the account that Mr. Zimmerman provided of the incident. At that time the investigator said that Mr. Zimmerman portrayed himself to be “squeaky clean”. We are aware of the background information regarding both individuals involved in this event. We believe Mr. Martin may have misconstrued this information.

What about media reenactments of the shooting incident?

Any media reenactments of the shooting incident are purely speculation. To date the Sanford Police Department has not released any rendition of the events of the evening to anyone other than the Office of the State Attorney. The renditions we have seen are not consistent with the evidence in this case.

The Sanford Police Department has conducted a complete and fair investigation of this incident. We have provided the results of our investigation to the Office of the State Attorney for their review and consideration for possible criminal prosecution.

Although the Police Department is the target of the troubling questions, let me assure you we too feel the pain of this senseless tragedy that has dramatically affected our community. Therefore, as we move forward and strive to answer the questions that that are a point of controversy in the community, we ask for your patience, understanding and assistance in getting the correct information to the community.

Thank you,

Norton N. Bonaparte, Jr., ICMA-CM City Manager

Department of Justice & FBI now involved in the TRAYVON MARTIN case

Attorney Benjamin Crump, Crime, Facebook, Florida, Google, Injustice, murder, Race, Race Relations, Racism, Social Media, Trayvon Martin, Twitter, Youth March 19, 2012 Leave a comment

OFFICIAL DOJ STATEMENT IN THE TRAYVON MARTIN CASE: “The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, and the FBI opened an investigation into the facts and circumstances of the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. The department will conduct a thorough and independent review of all of the evidence and take appropriate action at the conclusion of the investigation. The department also is providing assistance to and cooperating with the state officials in their investigation into the incident. With all federal civil rights crimes, the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person acted intentionally and with the specific intent to do something which the law forbids – the highest level of intent in criminal law. Negligence, recklessness, mistakes and accidents are not prosecutable under the federal criminal civil rights laws. The Community Relations Service will be in Sanford, Fla., this week to meet with civil rights leaders, community leaders, and local law enforcement to address tension in the community.”

Trayvon Martin’s Last Cry…

Attorney Benjamin Crump, Crime, Facebook, Florida, Google, Injustice, murder, Race Relations, Racism, Social Media, Trayvon Martin, Twitter, Youth, Youth Awareness March 16, 2012 Leave a comment

The 911 tapes have been released. There’s nothing I can write to describe, explain or express the sadness and agony that stirs inside me as I listen to this child and his last cry…

Listen here:The sound no parent should ever have to hear

Trayvon Martin

Attorney Benjamin Crump, Crime, Facebook, Family, Florida, Injustice, Media, murder, Race, Race Relations, Racism, Roundup Russy, Social Media, Trayvon Martin, Twitter, Youth, Youth Awareness March 13, 2012 1 Comment

Every neighborhood has that one nosey neighbor. In my childhood neighborhood in Central Florida we called her “nosey Rosie”; nosey because she was always in everyone’s business and Rosie because that was her name. She’d call your mom, your next door neighbor and maybe the laws (southern for police), but Nosey Rosie would never lay her hands or an extension there of on a child…

But that was 25 years ago… Fast forward to Feb. 2012 in another Central Florida neighborhood about 45 min northeast of my home and there’s another nosey neighbor. This guy is the “self appointed captain” of the neighborhood watch. At age 26, George Zimmerman is far from being Nosey Rosie which became very clear on Feb. 26, 2012 when he fatally shot 17 year old Trayvon Martin.

According to other published reports, Zimmerman called 911 reporting a suspicious person (Martin). The dispatcher reportedly instructed Zimmerman to not follow the suspicious person, and informed him that an officer was en route. Zimmerman ignored the dispatcher, following Martin anyway while armed with his 9mm pistol.

Skittles & Ice Tea

Sometime between that 911 call and the arrival of Sanford PD, Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon in his chest. When officers arrived they discovered Trayvon’s lifeless body face down, unarmed with only a bag of skittles and a can of ice tea in his pockets.

Zimmerman claimed self defense and was released without any criminal charges.

The unreleased 911 Tapes

Attorney Benjamin Crump of the Tallahassee powerhouse firm Parks & Crump has been retained to represent the Martin family. Crump has filed a lawsuit for the release of the 911 tapes.

According to Crump, people with access to the tapes have states that Zimmerman made a comment about Martins race during the call and said he had no intentions of letting the youth get away because, “they always get away.”

Not so Squeaky Clean Record

Initially Sanford PD told the Martin family that the shooting was in self defense and that the shooter, Zimmerman had a “squeaky clean” record. Public records show that Zimmerman has been arrested before and was charged with resisting arrest and battery on a law enforcement officer.

Complaints on Zimmerman

Neighbors of the Retreat at Twin Lakes community had filed complaints about his over zealous tabs aggressive tactics. The self appointed neighborhood watch captain remains free.

Developing Story

Although this tragedy took place weeks ago, this story is still developing. As we await the release of the 911 tapes and the State Attorney’s Office decision regarding criminal charges, I implore you to actively utilize Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites to keep the lights an attention on this case.

Also, please join the Facebook group, “Justice for Trayvon” to show your support.

***This post was written for this website and for Alumni Roundup. Feel free to post this link to your social media pages. As the story develops, the information here will be updated.

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