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Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Protesters hold cans of ice tea and Skittles which is what the 17-year-old Trayvon Martin is reported to have been carrying when he was killed by neighborhood watch person, George Zimmerman.
Updated at 8:09 a.m. ET: The death of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed 17-year-old shot earlier this month by a neighborhood watch volunteer, has prompted a protest aimed at the police department that initially investigated the case. The weapon: Skittles.
A campaign mounted through Facebook and Twitter is asking people to mail packages of the candy to Bill Lee, police chief of the Sanford Police Department, which released the man who shot Martin after questioning. The campaign has been touted at the DailyKos.com and theurbandaily.com.
They’ve chosen Skittles because that’s what Martin was carrying when George Zimmerman, 28, spotted Martin, a black teen who was walking home from a convenience store at night in a gated community. Zimmerman told police he shot Martin in self-defense after a confrontation.
Mom: Trayvon Martin was killed because of 'the color of his skin'
The Sanford City Commission passed a vote of "no confidence" in police Chief Bill Lee Wednesday night over his handling of the Trayvon Martin shooting. Meanwhile, hundreds of demonstrators assembled a "Million Hoodie March" in New York City to call for the arrest of Martin's killer. NBC's Lilia Luciano reports.
Martin’s death set off protests around the United States from people demanding that Zimmerman’s actions be investigated. More than 818,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org, a social action website, calling for his arrest, Reuters reported.
At a rally Wednesday evening in New York attended by Martin's parents, protesters held signs decorated with Skittles.
PhotoBlog: Showing support for Trayvon Martin
In a statement, a spokeswoman for Skittles said: "We are deeply saddened by the news of Trayvon Martin's death and express our sincere condolences to his family and friends. We also respect their privacy and feel it inappropriate to get involved or comment further as we would never wish for our actions to be perceived as an attempt of commercial gain following this tragedy.”
Savannah Guthrie, TODAY's legal correspondent, and Star Jones, a former prosecutor, discuss whether public outrage over the Trayvon Martin shooting will lead to the arrest of his killer, neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman.
Neighbor defends Trayvon Martin's shooter: 'No Rambo'
Responding to the outcry, the Florida state attorney announced Tuesday that a grand jury would investigate the teen’s death.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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Seems like one person lost their right to defend their safety just because the other had a weapon and a willingness to use it. I challenge those defending Zimmerman's freedom to reverse the situation. If Martin had been the one with the gun, shooting to defend himself, would he be free at this time? I doubt it.
I would certainly hope so, Sportdog, as that's what the statute is supposed to provide. The ability for the lawful to defend themselves against the lawless.
Bigger question, though...if the situation was truly reversed and Martin were free, would you see the Rev. Al and all the Justice Mob members demanding Martin be arrested?
I doubt it.
Where are all of the protesters when a Black cop shots and kills an unarmed white teenager/ Or how come the FBI and Justice Dept. hasn't investigated the cold blooded murder of my white friend by 2 black crack heads for the $28 dollars he had in his pocket? If the Whites were to ever protest Black on White Murders they would all be thrown into the jail in a heart beat.
Good luck with that one, Keevin...we can't even get a straight answer from the head of the DOJ as to why a Border Patrol agent was killed with guns that he allowed into the hands of known drug cartels.
I want some Skittles.........................
Since I first read of this tragedy, which no doubt was a murder, I couldn't help but wonder if Trayvon was really the good boy thosed around him claimed he was. The initial report said Tratvon had left his fiancees home to go buy some candy, and was attacked on the way back as he passed through the gated community.
Firstly: was Trayvons' fiancee's home in that gated community, and what normal 'good boy' is engaged to be married at 17 years old.
The reason I bring this up is, in the 1950s and 60s I was one of the most notorious hoodlums in the state of Washington, especially Seattle. Family and most all of those close around me thought the world of me, and many opposing gang members had a high degree of respect for me because I was known to be rational and fair. The general word was "leave Ellis and his alone, and he will leave you and yours alone. Fighty years latter an ex-brother-in law of mine told me he worked with some of my boys and opposing gang members at Bremerton shipyards near Seattle. He said sometimes they would sit around the lunch table and tell stories about me and some of the encounters, he said they all talked like they loved me, A villian by societies standards.
My point is, could some of trayvon's, or some groups earlier actions have contributed to this confrontation. The gated community had an active block watch, so they were apparently concerned about something that was going on around there........Let's hear the whole of the story !
retraction: after reading what witnesses said and the police report, it does now appear to me it was an act of self defense, but it probably could have been avoided had not Zimmerman decided to follow Trayvon........HINDSITE IS AMAZING
Or Traygone could have not gone around breaking into homes and attacking the watchman.
republican conservative tea mongerers can't even agree that a huge , unjustifiable killing has taken place again in our country. keck said race relations are worst in 50 years, that's why that murderer shot that kid. 50 years ago , a black person had to move off the sidewalk when a white person was passing. 50 years ago , blacks weren't allowed to eat at same restaurants with whites. 50 years ago , blacks could not be in certain parts of town , at certain times of night. 50 years ago , black kids couldn't attend schools with white kids. SO , IT'S APPARENT , '' THIS IS THE LIFE, REPUBLICAN CONSERVATIVE, WHITE TEA DRINKERS CALLED , '' THE BEST RACE RELATIONS ''. THESE GENUIS MUST ALSO THINK THERE ARE RAILROAD TRACKS IN HEAVEN. CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW MANY ARE PAYING THE PRICE FOR THAT SERIOUS MISCALCULATION ????? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It looks like all the idiots rushed here to comment on this STUPID article. Here's what happend...An overzealous guy with a fake badge and gun wanted to feel like real cop so he followed a thug. The thug got pissed and instead of just walking away decided to beat the crap out him. That got the thug shot. End of story. It didn't happen b/c one is hispanic and one is black. It happened b/c both are idiots. One is dead. The other's life as he knows it is over regardless.
Are you really this stupid? I wish Traygone was alive just so he can go sneaking around your neighborhood and give you a savage beating and take your life.
Traygone was a burglar, and a savage thug. He died doing what he likes to do, attempted murder. If he succeeded in murdering the neighborhood watch this would have hardly made the news.
Is this because the new police chief is African-American? I heard that African-Americans really like that candy.