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Hundreds of students at several South Florida high schools staged walkouts Friday morning in a massive protest against the lack of an arrest in the Trayvon Martin shooting.
Students from Miami Central, Miami Edison, Miami Norland, American Senior, William H. Turner High and Southridge High in Miami and Blanche Ely High School in Broward held walkouts.
Click here for a complete list of Miami-Dade County schools that held walkouts.
At Miami Central and Turner, students were seen pouring out of the school buildings and into the streets just after 9 a.m.
In Culter Bay, at Miami Southridge High School students formed a "TM" on a field in support of Martin.
See video, read the original story on the walkout at NBCMiami.com
Miami-Dade Police also reported a crowd of students had congregated at Southland Mall.
Miami-Dade Schools Police spokesman Sgt. Ivan Silva said there had been no incidents reported.
"Our job is to make sure the demonstrations are being run in safe and peaceful manner," Silva said.
Miami-Dade Police said they were helping with crowd control as well.
Broward County Public Schools spokeswoman Nadine Drew said the protests in that county were organized with the help of the school staff.
In Miami, students from more than a dozen schools staged a walkout to protest the lack of an arrest in the shooting of a black Florida teen. NBC's Ron Allen reports.
"For the most part they are being organized and are being supported by the school family as an outpouring show of support," she said. "I think the reaction is similar to the national reaction. I don't think our students are any different than others."
Republicans join call for Trayvon Martin inquiry
In Miami-Dade, the school district sent out a statement saying Martin's mother wanted students to honor him through reflection, not walkouts.
"While we respect the expression of emotion by our students, we ask that they remain focused on their education," said Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. "Our most important mission is to provide a safe learning environment for students, and so we are asking them to respect the wishes of Trayvon's mother by celebrating his memory not through walkouts, but through reflection and civic participation."
Students at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, where Martin was attending when he was killed, were going to make a banner for Martin that will be signed by students.
NBC Miami
An aerial photo shows students in Miami forming a TM on a football field in protest of the shooting of Trayvon Martin.
Also on Friday, President Barack Obama called the incident a "tragedy," saying that if he had a son, "he would look like Trayvon." Martin's family thanked the president in an email statement.
Obama: 'If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon'
"We'd like to thank the President and the millions of people from around the world who have shown their support for Trayvon by participating in hoodie marches, rallies or through social media. We are all working together to not only get justice for Trayvon, but also to ensure that this kindof senseless tragedy doesn't happen to another child."
On Thursday, students at Miami's Carol City High School staged a massive walkout outside the Miami Gardens school. Police said the school's principal had approved of an on-campus demonstration but that students left school grounds.
Martin, 17, was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman on Feb. 26 in Sanford.
Martin was visiting with his father at his father's girlfriend's home in a gated community and had gone to buy a bag of Skittles and iced tea at a nearby convenience store and was walking back when the shooting happened.
Gerardo Mora / Getty Images
Trayvon Martin's photo is seen during a protest this week in Sanford, Fla.
Though Martin was unarmed, Zimmerman told police the shooting was self-defense, and no charges have been filed in the case.
Martin's 9th grade teacher, Noemy Pascual, remembered him as a good student. He went to George T. Baker Aviation School two years ago, and she taught him three classes of Aerospace Technology.
"He was a normal student. He was well-behaved. He passed all the classes," she said.
She said he left the school because he went to live with his father in Miami Gardens.
"Really, we always feel bad because to lose a young life. It's terrible," she said. "I told my husband 'Oh, he was my student."
Thursday night, the Rev. Al Sharpton held a rally in Sanford with Martin's parents to push for Zimmerman's arrest. Hours before the rally, Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee Jr. announced he was temporarily stepping down until the completion of the Martin shooting investigation.
"We did not come here for a temporary leave of absence. We came for permanent justice," Sharpton said. "From top to bottom, we don’t need temporary relief. We need permanent change."
NBC's legal correspondent Savannah Guthrie and managing editor of TheGrio.com, Joy-Ann Reid, offer their take on the Trayvon Martin case.
About a half-hour into the rally, which was attended by around 8,000 people, word came that Gov. Rick Scott had appointed a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation into Martin's death.
The governor said he appointed Angela Corey, a prosecutor for the Jacksonville area, to lead the investigation after Norman Wolfinger, the state attorney for Seminole and Brevard counties, recused himself.
Scott also appointed a task force led by Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll to hold hearings about the shooting and make recommendations for changing state laws and procedures.
The U.S. Justice Department and FBI are also investigating the shooting. Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, met with representatives from both departments before Thursday night's rally to discuss the case.
Sharpton told those gathered at the rally that "Zimmerman should have been arrested that night" and that police had probable cause.
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Leave a Comment:
Trayvon Martin shows what beauty of America is "We the People of The United States of America" NOT "Police of The United States of America" America is about life, liberty, justice and freedom. We don't want a police state. They are public servants, to protect and serve, not to act like China.
Zimmerman: "Where Luis Gutierrez when you need him?"
Will Mexico take him in???
I'm a tad bit underwhelmed and baffled.
Mr Zimmerman needs to be arrested, but he also needs a fair trial, based on an exhaustive crime me investigation, and ultimately should not be tried in the understandingly emotional court of public opinion.
You make a valid point. He needs to be tried in court not by the Public or Nancy Grace. I would hope we learned something from that Casey Anthony trial.
How is the trial going to be fair when the police bungled the forensic evidence?
Fair for whom, Zimmerman or Martin?
As to the public opinion, if the law enforcement officers had done their job properly there wouldn't be the national outcry for justice that is happening right now.
There is no forensic evidence, no ballistic report, no bloody shirt or grass stained pants, virtually no physical evidence at all in this case. Why, because the police failed to do their job and took Mr. Zimmerman's word that it was self-defense.
So where/how will Trayvon Martin receive his due justice? Given the laws of this land, the need to have corroboration of facts in order to convict I just don't see how Mr. Zimmerman can be legally convicted. [Kinda like the O.J. Simpson murder trial]. Everyone knows Mr. Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin, hell he admitted it himself. But without the forensic evidence he will most likely be acquitted for lack of evidence.
But you go ahead and defend Mr. Zimmerman's right for a fair trial, even though fairness for him will result in justice denied for Trayvon Martin.
Props to these kids!
Where are the Latinos standing up for their boy???? Shouldn't they be out there with their Our Lady Of Guadalupe processions trying to heal the wounds???
In truth, they really don't give a crap unless they can play the martyrs.
No, because he looks white enough so he has been labeled a White racist and murderer without any evidence much like the supposed injustice everyone is crying for.
WOW - Talk about total crap. I love how the media forgets to tell all the truth. There are always 2 sides to every story. Want to see some facts that the local media MSNBC and many others seem to leave out. Read this article. You people are so stupid sometimes.
http://www.examiner.com/charleston-conservative-in-charleston-sc/zimmerman-was-on-the-ground-being-punched-when-he-shot-trayvon-martin?CID=obinsite
Everything here is true. Look at the photos that MSNBC uses. Outdated. Trayvon was 6'2 and a football player. Model student? Yeah right, he was on a 5 day suspension from his school when he was shot. They keep calling Zimmerman white when in fact he is Hispanic and you can tell that from his damn photo. Seriously I will say it again, you people can be so stupid to believe everything you read.
VERY interesting article, Paul. All the hysterical anti-white/anti-Hispanic racists here should read that before they stir up any more hate.
Most interesting was the picture of Trayvon, a 6'2" football player, not a skinny 13 yr old as the pictures we've been shown. And the fact that his father said it wasn't him screaming for help on the 911 tape and that Zimmerman was on the ground being beaten and had wounds. Props to the police for making sure the story is RIGHT.
Well, is someone was chasing me with a gun and I was lucky to get him on the ground, I'd be bashing his head in, too! It would appear to me that the Stand Your Ground Defense ends when you are running after a guy who is fleeing. You are no longer standing your ground. You are standing on his. The guy should be arrested and charged. He can be released on bail until trail. If there is doubt as to his guilt, he will be found innocent. Justice would have been served in any case.
Racially profilling white people again........just like at the Alamo!
Paul-#'s,
The link you posted is to an article written by a conservative writer who makes four statements that are unsubstantiated or corroborated. From whom did the writer get the information?
Even if Trayvon was on top of Zimmerman, kicking his arse, how does the 'Stand Your Ground' defense apply to Zimmerman shooting Martin when it is clear that Zimmerman initiated the confrontation with Trayvon?
This is all so typical of the denial mentality. It is the contention of people like you that Trayvon Martin created this tragedy by the way he was dressed, because he somehow failed to comply/reply to questioning by Mr. Zimmerman who had zero authority, or any other scapegoat excuse you all think up to lend justification for Mr. Zimmerman shooting Trayvon Martin.
My opinion of the events are this:
Mr. Zimmerman approached Trayvon Martin in a hostile manner, spoke to him in a demeaning tone and put Trayvon on the defensive. Mr. Zimmerman attempted to physically detain Trayvon Martin and a physical fight ensued whereby Mr. Zimmerman was on the losing end of the fight. Because Mr. Zimmerman was getting his arse kicked, he then use his 9mm handgun to fatally shoot Trayvon Martin and then claimed self-defense when the police arrived.
Now, there are no facts to back up my opinion, but there are no facts to back up Mr. Zimmerman's version of events either.
@ Paul Sorry but it if someone was chasing me and assaulted me ( his girlfriend heard the conversation) I would try to defend myself as well. Also Trayvon's father admitted in a interview not he say she say, not what the police department force witnesses to say ( that was an interview as well) that the screams WAS his son's and witnesses stated that those screams were a kid's screams. I have heard the police call and that was a scream of fear and terror. No matter how you fix it Zimmerman was wrong. He did what the police dispatcher told him not to do. He was acting as head of the neighborhood watch when that area's neighborhood watch was not registered, and even if he was registered he broke the rule of no weapons. But the ultimate crime was that he killed someone's child and the boy had nothing on him but skittles and tea. Then you bring up him being suspended? He was suspended for being tardy.There are plenty of interviews to verify this information this is nothing i came up with. Google it.
Where is George Zimmerman?
Hiding from the lynch mob!
Reloading!
Bob-1017030, I'd bet your comment would change vastly if that were your kid. How in the hell does a 10 day suspension map over to being murdered? And, WTF is with all these anti Al Sharpton comments. He is not the root cause of what's going on here people. It is generally racist whites that don't like the fact that Al Sharpton even exists. I'm glad he chimed in and I hope he continues. Sharpton would probably be anything from an electrician to a college professor if the racist element that exists in this country didn't provide him enough fodder to continue to react to this unacceptable and complete nonsense. Go Al,shove it in their face!!!!!!
Quit dressing like a thug! How many people sterotype becasue of saftey???EVERYBODY!!! Lets just go walk up to "blacks" dressing like gangmembers and hope they aren't up to no good!
Even Jesse Jackson said, "It makes me sad that we're not safe in our own communities...When someone's following me on the street and I turn around and see they're white, I feel relieved..."
With so many people calling for justice why is it that they seem to be actually calling for a lynching of Zimmerman. Hypocrisy?
They are losers.
Why ask why losers act the way they do? You may never get a satisfactory answer...What do you expect them to do, act like winners? Of course they will ask for a lynching, they are losers.
I really don't see the problem of investatigating what happened and present the evidence to the grand jury and see if any charges need to be filed. That is the way it usually happens.
What I don't get about this is why so much of the debate is around how he was dressed. I wear hoodies all the time. The difference -- I'm a 30-something-year-old white woman. No one's going to shoot me because they look at me and think "overworked mom," not "gangbanger-thug." Are (young, black, male) kids supposed to wear suits and ties so that people see them as less intimidating?
And I applaud these kids for taking a stand about an issue they feel strongly about--they should not be suspended. If more of us would follow their lead, maybe there'd be fewer of these tragedies.
No, they need to stop being the primary perpetrators of violent crime (as their % of the population compared to others) so people will see them as less intimidating.
It's called a stereotype. Black man in a Hoodie is usually what you see when they rob stores and kill people and thats how a stereotype gets reinforced on a daily basis. Last time I saw a video of a person robbing a store I don't believe it was a white chic in a hoodie nor was it a black man dressed in a suit if you get my meaning. Stereotypes are based off of truth. They are not racism they are stereotypes that are the DIRECT result of actions seen over and over again to create them. Don't like stereotypes then don't keep doing them, it's that simple.
Rachel, why don't you leave this country if you're so unhappy with Obama and black people?
Great response! Shows racism and a total lack of deep thinking. How about you leave the country if you're so unhappy about a desire for safety and equality? Those are American values, not lynching of accused before a trial.
Did you read the article Paul linked above? Did you or are you running on ignorance and stupidity?
The Death of a Child (03/22/12)
I'm going to tell you a little story. It's about a boy who had run away from home, after getting in some trouble at school.
After a while, he decided to go home, because at age ten, seriously, he didn't have many other options.
On the way home, just around the corner from his house, he decided to call ahead to give his parents a little notice of his arrival.
The boy went up a neighbor's walkway towards the front door, thinking to knock on the door and ask to use the phone.
The garage door of the house was open, and on the way past it, the boy looked into the garage and stared at the wonderful toys inside, several motorcycles, a classic car, and more.
He didn't stop moving, enter the garage, or touch anything on his way to the front door. On the porch, he was about to knock, when he heard the sounds of a loud argument from within.
A man and a woman were shouting at each other, with loud, angry voices, so the boy turned around and left, thinking that now wasn't a good time to ask to use the phone.
He turned and left the property, walking quickly away, not stopping or touching anything. About 75 feet down the street, he heard the sound of someone running, turned, and saw a very large, angry man chasing him, yelling "Hey you! Hey!"
He ran up the road a ways, and into a nursery, the man only steps behind. The boy ran around and around the small office on the property, yelling to the people there "Help, Help! Call the police!"
Nobody did.
The large, angry man caught the boy, jerked his arm behind his back, and put him in a choke hold. He was yelling "I got you! I got you!"
The boy was very scared, hurt, and confused, both at the man's actions, and the inaction of the people at the nursery. Why was this happening? Why didn't anyone help him?
The police arrived, and took the boy into custody on suspicion of "trespassing." The boy thanked God that they did, because he felt much safer in cuffs in back of a patrol car, than he did with the angry man choking him and twisting his arm.
Less than a month ago, a boy with a very similar story was chased down and KILLED by a large, angry man for the crime of walking through a neighborhood not his own. His name was Trayvon Martin, and if you haven't heard his story, you soon will.
Trayvon hadn't gone up any walkways, past any open garages filled with wonderful things--but he was killed anyway.
The boy who did remembers that day, and is thankful that he is alive today, unlike Trayvon. Besides race, the difference is that the large, angry man in one boy's story had a gun, plus the desire to use it, and the other one didn't.
Life and death, decided in an instant.
One boy is alive, and is telling you his story today.
One boy is dead, and will never be able to tell you his.
So, I gather you were there?
One boy is alive, and is telling you his story today.
So yes, I was there.
One boy is dead, and will never be able to tell you his.
Was I an eyewitness to Trayvon's story? No.
And we can't exactly ask him, can we?
Pretty bad when the kids can figure things out and the RESPONSIBLE ADULTS cannot!
The way MSNBC and CNN report it, Trayvon was skipping through the neighborhood with a bag of Skittles when Zimmerman sprung from the bushes and gunned him down. Nobody knows exactly what transpired between Zimmerman's last phone call and the neighbors' 911 call, but when Trayvon was shot he was on top of Zimmerman beating him. Zimmerman is the voice screaming for help. Eyewitnesses support that, as do the grass stains on the back of Zimmerman's shirt. Zimmerman claims Trayvon jumped him from behind as he was returning to his car. He has a wound on the back of his head. But all the people here who weren't there and keep reading the MSNBC/CNN short version seem to think Zimmerman chased Trayvon down. Pretty impressive for an overweight 28 year old to chase down a teenage football player.
Indeed.
Obama is a poor excuse for a leader. The tragedy may be that Zimmerman is getting crucified, and Trayvon actually is guilty...BO trying to get the black vote will lose the Hispanic and White vote.
Give guns to good people - fine. Give them to sociopaths, bigots, racists, and a whole list of others - not so fine. Then give them a law that says it's OK to use them when "they feel threatened" and you have armed them with the means for legalized lynching.
Most of those students are probably on the verge of dropping out anyway. Stay in school, get an education you fools. That's what Trayvon would have wanted provided he was a good student himself.
I just learned of this story last night and read some articles about it today. Sounds to me like the public is on a rampage to hang someone on the basis that they claim he is racist. I ask "racists how?". He is not black? Does anyone have mind reading powers to make that claim? I do not think he CHOSE the color of the boy, that fact seams as just as important as "Went to the store to buy skittles". Every news article I read says the same thing but nothing like "Zimmerman just got done drinkinng milk" or something. Media is fanning flames to get great reactions.
As far as I understand and I think the Ploice said it to, there is little facts out on this shooting and all this protest and reations are based on hatred towards this Latino or Caucasian...I am hearing two stories on that. But everyone claiming "racism" are shouting out they are racist. Its a specific classes way of hating ALL the "others" for a crime instead of just the person who committed it. Check out who does more murders with guns against children or innocent people...then lets talk "racism" not "criminals".
The skittles and the drink are to reflect that fact that those were the only things the child was carrying. He was much smaller and younger than Zimmerman. The girlfriends statements are not the only record, check out the 911 tapes, they provide a better picture. If this is such a cut and dried case, why are so many officials bowing out and stepping down. The problem here is there isn't even a case yet, the suspect hasn't been charged, or questioned, or anything. The person that had the gun and shot another person, hasn't had any official contact with authorities other than that night of the event. Go figure.
Nope. He was taller (6'2") and a football player. Zimmerman was shorter, older, fatter. They simply released years-old photos to make Trayvon look less intimidating.
Rachel, please verify your claim regarding outdated photos of Trayvon
I would like to say "thank YOU" to every child who stood up & decided not shove this under the proverbial rug. (like it seems, the adults have done in Miami) Each one of them have beautiful hearts & should be held tight by their parents because, by the grace of God, you could be standing in the shoes that Mr. & Mrs. Martin are now wearing!
Geeeeeez.....I don't think the investigation is over so we should be quiet until the police finish their investigation. Zimmerman will probably get arrested but released once all the facts are out. We need to be patient.
There is two ways to look at this situation: 1. Is from a racist point of view. This guy zimmerman purposely shot this kid because he was black. Lets just be honest here if you saw a caucation kid walking down the street late at night in a gated community and you were apart of neighborhood watch you wouldn't think twice about what he is doing. Especially if he had some skittles and a tea. Now you have to look at it the situation reversed, and come on most of you would be suspicious.
2. Excluding the whole color theory and looking at it from a completely different perspective this was just a kid who life was taken from him because someone couldn't use their common sense. There are some comments on here that actually sound like they're trying to justify what this guy did. There is no justification, there is no right, and no reason for it. This guy deserves to rot in hell for eternity just like any body else who has committed crimes against children.
Wow. You have your own facts. How convenient for you.
When you have disproved Zimmerman's account, then your opinion will be worth something. Until then, that is all you are offering, an opinion. The law is more interested in what you can PROVE.
or
3) The child got offended this Fat F%%^& guard harrassing me. I will show off to my GF and beat his butt. Gets shot.
4) No one knows what happened. Truth comes out, he was shot wrongfully. Guard goes to Jail.
5)No one knows what heppened. Truth comes out, Guard shot in self defence.
6) Public linches innocent man.
BTW, I wanna see Reverend Sharpton at the next shooting of an innocent child by a shooter regaurd less of race and see whos side he will be on. Latino? Caucasian? White?
Funny thing is, IF this had been a Black Guard shooting a Latino boy who attacked him and he was arrested, I truly believe he would be all over the release of the guard.
I remember 6 Blacks beating 1 latino and they were chagred with attempted murder but he came the their defense and charges were lowered. Hmmm... lets remember, racicsm is just a word. Its actions that make you racist.
Zimmerman's father is German and a retired military man. He insists that he didn't raise Zimmerman to be a racist. However, we do know that there has been a lot of antagonism between Hispanic and black gangs. Zimmerman was no saint. Look at his record--attacking a police officer, fantasies of becoming a police officer (it was obvious that was what he wanted to do), and more than 50 calls to the police. He took the neighborhood watch idea too far. I would not want some civilian masquerading around any neighborhood with a semi-automatic handgun pretending he is Rambo. I think this is a mental health problem. I could paint a picture of him as a man suffering from depression and delusions. That does not excuse his acts. First, he should not have followed Travyon. After he called the police, he should have stopped pursuing him. Also, police should do background checks on people who join neighborhood watches. It should be clearly stated that guns should not be used. Trayvon had no weapon, so I don't see any reason for Zimmerman to kill him. The fact that he was not arrested is maddening. This case is a clear case of harrassment, resulting in a confrontation (perhaps Travyvon responded violently after being pursued by this madman) and then a fatal shot. I think I am going to stop being a member of the neighborhood watch committee in my community after hearing about this. The last thing I was is some psychopath pretending he is protecting my neighborhood. As far as I know, the police don't do background checks on the mental health of people conducting neighborhood watches. I think it is just an excuse not to have more police officers. Police officers need to do their jobs. If they had been patrolling the neighborhood or if they had arrived at the scene on time, this would have never happened.
"He had a clean record" and Last I heard, dreaming of being a police officer wasn't a crime. My 4 year old son wants to be a Police Officer / Pilot / Firemen. So, if all you have are those two items to "hate" this man over, makes you kind of worse than your portayal of Zimmerman itself.
50 calls in one year. "Community representative said Zimmerman solved alot of crimes". "Captured a thief".
If you judgement of Zimmerman (calling him Rambo) and spreading hate is based on the facts you wrote above, then what does that say about yourself?
I understand your hatred of this child dying. But please do not do exaclty what you blame other for doing.
I truly hate this whole event and the Father must be devistaed, I would be.