The tragedy of Trayvon Martin happened February 26, 2012, in Stanford, Florida. Seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman. Martin’s death led to a dispute between the state of Florida and George Zimmerman. Prosecutors in this case accused Zimmerman of racially profiling Martin. The defense took the position that George Zimmerman was using self-defense to protect himself from harm’s way. Even though the death of Trayvon Martin has become a well-known tragedy throughout the states, there have been some positive outcomes. The controversy of the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman case revolved around Zimmerman's alleged act of racism and his claim of self-defense.
According to George Zimmerman, it all started when
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Zimmerman of profiling Trayvon as a criminal, following him and triggering the confrontation that ended with the teen's death” (The Australian). Wrobleski says that prosecutors took the position that Trayvon Martin was an innocent unarmed, African American boy. Being racially profiled, stalked, and killed by George Zimmerman who had a holster gun and used it on an unarmed boy. It specified in the report that Trayvon Martin was unarmed and, “ran toward the defendant, and once the victim was eight to twelve feet away, the defendant shot him four times, killing him” (Wrobleski 103) Before Trayvon Martin was shot, Zimmerman was talking to the dispatcher and evidence shows that Zimmerman specified that Martin looked like a criminal: “...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...” (Palmer 127) According to Psychologist Geraldine Palmer, Zimmerman was racially profiling for personal power and because the young African American youth already had problems with this and that it was easy to do. This became relevant to Zimmerman because recent break-ins at Twin Lakes had him worried, which caused him to think that Martin was going to break into a home. Wrobleski said that Martin was also a very tall …show more content…
One example, of this is as stated above that many people do not believe that George Zimmerman was acting on self-defense. They believed that he was racially profiling Trayvon Martin. The death of another young black boy in the black community, Trayvon Martin, shadows over Zimmerman stating that he acted in self-defense. There is sufficient amount of evidence for both sides to claim there arguments are true. According to Zimmerman Martin looked suspicious when he first encountered him when he was driving by. Then Zimmerman stated that Martin had come and asked if Zimmerman had a problem he then said no. Martin then beat up Zimmerman and spotted his gun and told Zimmerman that he was going to die tonight. Then Zimmerman drew his gun and shot Martin in the back. But according to the prosecutors story Trayvon Martin was being profiled and while talking to the dispatcher Zimmerman stated, “These assholes, they always get away.” (Washington Post) From what he said during the call can hint that he was profiling the general African American community. Martin was talking to his friend while running saying that this guy was following him. Then after there was a scuffle between Martin and Zimmerman, which ended with Martin getting shot. There is unclear evidence missing from the case to who was screaming for help right before Martin was shot and also there are no
What if Martin was a white kid that had gone out to buy himself a snack, just like Martin did, and came out with his hoody on his head, would he also be suspicious? This is one example of a broader racial issue that exists today in the US. Many black people live under the stereotype of being criminals or drug dealers. I’ve heard several people, sadly and unfortunately, refer to them as that. Something that was surprising for me when I first moved to the US.
This is the case of George Zimmerman vs Trayvon Martian is case where George Zimmerman is the shooter who shot Martin down. Zimmerman was a neighborhood watch volunteer when this murder happened. It has been about three years that Trayvon Martin passed away and there still hasn 't been any justice served upon George Zimmerman. Martin was an armed individual making his way home from a corner store through a gated community. Despite the fact that he got shot down by a White man makes a difference on how this case was judged.
One example was a young man by the name of Trayvon Benjamin Martin was an African American from Miami Gardens Florida, who, at 17 years old was fatally shot by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch
The law review article I chose was written by a Law Professor regarding police claims on self-defense. The author talks about Zimmerman’s murder trial and how the judge refused to allow prosecution to argue that the neighborhood watch volunteer racially profiled Martin. Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder for shooting a 17-year-old, Trayvon Martin. The state of Florida filed an affidavit of probable cause stating that Zimmerman profiled and confronted Martin and shot him to death when Martin didn’t commit any crimes. Zimmerman claims he shot Martin in self-defense.
There were different stories about the encounter; according to Zimmerman, Trayvon was the one that attacked him after he was returning to his car. Trayvon punched him in the nose, and he yelled for help, and it got to the point where Zimmerman felt he could not breathe; however, Jeantel stated Trayvon was the one yelling for Zimmerman to get off before the call ended. During the altercation, Zimmerman thought Trayvon was going for his firearm, so he "grabbed it immediately," saying, "I just pulled my firearm and shot him" (George Zimmerman trial). This case was tried as self-defense, and the jury found Zimmerman "not guilty of murder or manslaughter, but the jury agreed that Mr. Zimmerman could have been justified in shooting Mr. Martin because he feared great bodily
George Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty towards the Trayvon Martin case. Zimmerman is the neighborhood watch volunteer. Zimmerman said that he shot Trayvon in self-defense. The state of Florida has a law stating “stand your ground”. Zimmerman was the only witness of the death of Martin.
For example when you see a black male "sagging" you think he has no future, but when you see one wearing a suit and nice shoes you assume hes in college and has a job. During this case I learned that everyone has a different story. What if Martin had only those specific clothes to wear? It was said in an another article that he was " The youngster took an English Honors class, though his favorite subject was said to be math. "
It all began on Saturday August 9, 2014 in the town of Ferguson, Missouri, which is a small suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. A young African American male was shot by a white police officer, which ultatimely led to his death. His name was Michael Brown he was only 18 years old when he died from a gun shot wound by officer Darren Wilson. The story begins when Brown and his friend decided to go rob a store where they sold cigarillos.
On the subject of comparing today’s events of African Americans standing up for justice and before the 60’s when they were fighting for justice, I am going to talk about the Trayvon Martin story. Trayvon Martin was an African American teenager who was in a lot of trouble in school having been suspended three times and even was caught with drugs in his book bag by the principal of his school. After he had came from the store buying skittles and an Arizona iced tea according to George Zimmerman (the man who shot Trayvon) he had said that, "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. " After he had told this to the dispatcher, he ended up following Trayvon with the intent
Zimmerman contacted the police informing them he saw a black teenager with something in his hands that he had never seen before in the neighborhood and wanted to know how long it take someone to arrive on the scene. Despite getting all that information from the dispatcher and being told to remain in his vehicle, Zimmerman decided to leave his vehicle and follow behind Martin anyway as he was tired of the burglars getting away before the cops could arrive and he was determined that would not be the case this time as he uttered what appeared to be a racist slur according to the
On February 26, 2012, a 17 year old boy named Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by a man named George Zimmerman. George was found not guilty in July of 2013. President Obama spoke upon the ruling of this case. “It could have been me 35 years ago” stated Obama. Most African Americans went through being followed in the stores, hearing the doors on the car lock as they passed by, or had a woman move her purse closer to her as they walked in the elevator.
The murder of an innocent, young man, not bothering anybody. He was 17 years old. If you notice somebody walking at night with a hoodie on, would you let the police deal with it or take it upon yourself not knowing what that other person is carrying? Trayvon Martin’s murder happened at a Gated community in Sandford, Fla. He was walking and wearing a hoodie at the wrong time.
There are so many topics I believe that Richard Wright would've talked about today that it is hard to narrow down to just three. If someone told him that we would have a black president in the next century we definitely would have looked at you like you were crazy but if he were here today he would be proud of how much better we have come today. We have improved as a country today for equal rights and treatment of black people but we also still have a long way to go for we are not perfect. For example he would be very ashamed how black people are still getting killed just because of their skin color. He would also be disappointed that blacks are still getting paid less statistically less than whites considering how many jobs Richard had growing up.
Wilson was violent toward Brown and shot Brown several times even though Brown had already surrendered and put up his hands in the air. People who are on Brown’s side claim that a white police officer abused his power, and a sign of race discrimination among police officers. On the day of shooting, Michael Brown and Dorian Johnson went to Ferguson Market and Liquor Store where it was reported for robbery. According to Johnson 's attorney, Freeman Bosley, Michael was involved in shoplifting(CNN). The police released the video of Brown robbing and pushing a clerk of the store from the convenience store 's security camera.
The reason as to why police brutality is unethical is simple. It kills a lot of people and is not necessary. However, what are the reasons as to why police brutality has become such a problem in the United States? One can argue the police officers take advantage of how much authority their occupation comprises of. If a cop shoots and murders a person, they claim that they were using self-defense or some other kind of excuse.