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Subscribe to RSSTrayvon Martin's parents visited lawmakers in Washington. NBC's Jay Gray reports.
Updated at 7:55 p.m. ET: As a special prosecutor weighs seemingly contradictory witness accounts about the death of Trayvon Martin, his parents told members of Congress on Tuesday afternoon that they believed their son was a victim of racial profiling and hoped national attention focused on the case means he did not "die in vain."
Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., organized the briefing on racial profiling and hate crimes in response to the slaying of Martin, 17, an African American who was shot by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, Fla. Zimmerman, who hasn't been arrested, claims it was self-defense.
Wilson said Tuesday that she had a sign placed outside her office counting "the number of days that Trayvon Martin's killer is at large." She also briefly took it to the House floor.
The briefing, which isn't as formal as a congressional hearing, marks the first time Congress has waded into the controversy.
Ben Crump, an attorney for Martin's parents, told the panel that the family was convinced Martin was targeted for special attention because of his race, arguing that tougher laws against profiling might have averted the shooting.
Martin's father, Tracy Martin, urged lawmakers to make "sure that he did not indeed die in vain.”
Geraldo apologies for hoodie remark
The briefing came as details of the police report made at the scene of the Feb. 26 shooting were emerging.
ABC News, citing "multiple sources" whose affiliations it didn't identify, reported Tuesday that the lead homicide investigator in the case recommended that Zimmerman be charged with manslaughter but was overruled because the state attorney's office decided there wasn't enough evidence.
The investigator, Chris Serino, filed an affidavit on the night of the shooting stating he was unconvinced by Zimmerman's account, according to ABC, which said the state's attorney's office had no comment.
At least one witness, a 13-year-old boy, told police he saw a man fitting Zimmerman's description on the ground moaning before a shot was fired. In the original police report on the incident, a Sanford officer wrote that Zimmerman's "back appeared to be wet and was covered with grass, as if he had been laying on his back on the ground," and that he was bleeding from his nose and the back of his head.
Read the Feb. 26 incident report (.pdf)
Zimmerman has said he shot in self-defense, and his attorney says he suffered a broken nose and other injuries when attacked by Martin.
A neighbor told Dateline NBC that she heard what she thought was the moaning of a young person followed by a gunshot. She said that she and her roommate saw Zimmerman straddling Martin's body and that he didn't appear to be trying to help him.
Thousands march to city hearing on Martin's death
Special prosecutor Angela Corey called for patience Monday as her team of investigators continues looking into Martin's killing. She didn't say when officials would decide whether there was enough evidence to prosecute.
NBC News' Luke Russert contributed to this report.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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This case just shows that even with the remarkable white support that put Obama in office a few years ago, racism is still ALIVE and well. And, there are STILL too many ignorant whites petrified at the mere presence of black people and they'll believe ANYTHING justifies what this guy did.
Even if what they say about Martin's disciplinary problems in school is true, he wasn't a criminal and ZIMMERMAN COULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THIS.
He was just a self-apointed "neighborhood watch" public avenger.
A menace and these same Zimmerman apologists wouldn't have wanted HIM in their neighborhood, either.
It could have been ANY young, black youth that night he decided to confront. ANYONE'S son. And, ONLY because he had a gun on him. Without it, "Mr. Tough Guy" would have did like he was told and just waited for the police.
And, how do people just DISMISS Zimmerman's past and accept what HE says as gospel, anyway? Someone with HIS past record?
What would YOU do to save your as- from a murder or manslaughter arrest or conviction?
.
So, what were they going to charge Martin with, anyway?
Suspicious or felonious walking? Carrying a concealed iced tea?
I REPEAT. This could have happened to ANY black parent's kid that night with this coward.
B S
Your a idiot.
Ed Ryan shake hands with AdamAnthony You're of like minds. God help you both.
In the midst of all this horror and tragedy, I think there is an irrational over-reaction against "stand you ground" and "the castle doctrine". The solution is to clarify these laws, not overturn them.
The right to self defense is fundamental. The State should never coerce any citizen into putting themselves in danger, and forcing people to flee from clearly violent, life threatening attacks does exactly this. A posture of retreat almost always makes you an easier target.
Melissa, Al, Ed, Lawrence and others seem to conveniently overlook the ongoing case of a black retired bus driver who shot dead an Iraqi war vet in front of his daughter. Where was the outrage against that shooter? How credible is his case for self defense as he in fact invokes the "stand your ground" doctrine?
Now Anderson Cooper produces a witness that saw Z on the ground being beaten by M. The witness says that it was Z calling for help, not M. This witness, who was not alone at the time either, went to call 911 and heard the shot that killed M. The witness returned to the window to see M dead on the ground.
I'm pretty sure that deadly force was not really warranted in either of these events, but the issue is how to clarify the triggering threat level. The public interest would be better served though if all these squawking fools would back off a bit and start letting serious investigators do a better job than the Sanford PD!
Yes and it really is too bad that it has to take a public outcry to get that serious investigation.
Kevin C-752389 following some especially an adult following a kid is usually call stocking which I believe is illegal in almost every state. What you fail to realize and maybe you should listen to the 911 tapes again. Zimmerman was told to stop following the police would take care of it. Furthermore I fail to understand why this man and others keep referring to him as a neighborhood watch captain. He never went through any training to obtain such a title if he had he would have understood 1) neighborhood watch volunteers are not allowed to carry weapons 2) Neighborhood watch means just what it says to watch and report suspicious activities not try to play cop and intercede. If Zimmerman would have done what the 911 operator instructed him to do Martin would be alive today and he would not be in the trouble he in today...CASE CLOSED!
It is time to END neighborhood watch program, this was a good program when it started; however, it has a can of worms that come with it. Apparently there are other Zimmermans out there that are protected by some heavy hitters. In Southern Ca. neighborhood watch consisted of a EME Edit Act, a peace treaty between mob and law enforcement, which recently ended. Mob is the biggest dope dealer in Southern Ca. and to add to this dirty trick, many of the mob members were loser relatives from law enforcement. Neighborhood watch to me seems to be trillions of cameras for law enforcement that seem to favor law enforcement. It is a Character witness tool that is Erasing cops helping kids with Cops helping Relatives. Many dope dealers are used for neighborhood watch as informants. Lets not allow a man with a badge to personalize this Country to his needs. Many of these dope dealers are known as Good Dads, Question Authority.
Hemmmmmm.... very interesting. Especially since I live in SoCal.
A good place to start with all this is to realize the idealized version of Trayvon as a sweet young boy is exploitative of Trayvon's memory. Shouldn't we at least be able to see him as he was really was at the end of his life? At least at the age he really was, the time/place he really was in his life? Shouldn't we also want to see George Zimmerman as he really is right now? Not using a seven year old mug shot for charges that were dropped but current photos that offer a snap shot of who he is today? I don't think depicting Martin as a sweet little boy hurrying home with his Skittles and Zimmerman as a ruthless, racist con serve either of them or the public. It's especially unfair to Trayvon's memory.
OBJECTIVE vs SUBJECTIVE info.Yes please
Well Danny,uh ,ok,that was very,um heartfelt.I hope this all gets figured out. It seems like trayvon should still be alive,GZ was overzealous,and maybe it isn't all the way it seems.How in the hell his mom and dad are testifying before congress is beyond me.It is this kowtowing to outrage that keeps blacks from being taken seriously.What if GZ ISN'T guilty?You going to burn down your neighborhoods?What about profiling? acting thuggish,dressing,thuggish,being uneducated,loud,and opinionated does not your case make.That could be said for people of any color who act that way. Let's see what the facts are.Maybe these people ought to come home and tend to their home and burying their son.
This thread has turned into a TROLL convention.
maybe the real problem is it's not the trolls you agree with now.
The attempt to make this all about race and demonize Zimmerman could very well backfire. The more we know the more likely that it was Trayvon that was the primary aggressor. It now appears Zimmerman was indeed just acting like a neighborhood watchman and did in fact follow police suggestions to cease to follow Trayvon. Travon in a hot headed rage attacked Zimmerman and by beating Zimmerman's head into the concrete could have easily killed Zimmerman. Zimmerman appears to be fully justified in shooting in self defense with or without the stand your ground law. The attempt to demonize Zimmerman by the fact that he was legally carrying a firearm is BS. The firearm could have very well saved his life.
This is not a racial issue for me. Only the facts of the case are pertinent. When White, an African American, shot a white youth because he was part of a gang that pursued and threatened to kill his son, I was solidly on White's side and thought his prosecution and conviction was a miscarriage of justice. When an African American is convicted with little to no evidence I am outraged. Ironically I am now outraged that Zimmerman is being demonized despite all the evidence that is in his favor.
What evidence is that? The lead investigator said that he wanted Zimmerman arrested on the stop...he didn't believe the story Zimmerman said. Again, what evidence do you have in his favor?
A lot of facts are coming out --true, Zimmerman was told to not follow--but now it appears the young man punched him--knocking him to the ground and was pounding his head against payment etcwhen he shot him.Also the young man was kicked out of school three times--not the innocent one they want to project !My thoughts are after Zimmerman approached him and said something and started to walk away--the young man jumped on him/ punching etc when he got shot .The hate groups are yelling racial--facts do not show it as of yet.
How was he profiled? How do we know if he were a white boy with a hoodie that he wouldn't have gotten the same treatment? We don't.
Zimmerman was the one racially profiled by the media and thousands of racist,angry black americans wishing for the next reason to race riot.But of course the biggest loud mouth gets feed,Zimmerman will consider others feeling before his own and no will consider the wrongs done to him.
How come the media isn't talking about the two white kids shot by black men on ole miss campus or the black woman screaming kill white people and attacking white students at fyu in florida?Racial bias once again shown by who?Liberal media.......
It now appears that this black thug cold-cocked Zimmy and that he actually did act in self defense. Zimmy should be exonerated completely and all the black racists out there should apologize to Zimmy and his family and if they really want to see justice done, let the authorities handle it. Al, Jesse and all the black racist leaders should speak to the black community and warn them to quit acting like thugs and this sort of thing would never have happened.
Leave it to the Right Revs Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to whip the masses into a frenzy with their racial rhetoric. The only thing lacking are flaming torches when these same masses take to the streets and start chanting. Perhaps the misunderstood Trayvon can be honored with his image appearing on a postage stamp now that Congress is involved.
Ironic that the ''hoodie'' that symbolic garment of the hip-hop/gangsta ''kultur'' originated during the Great Depression as functional work attire for predominately Caucasian workers here in the North.
How about justice for Melissa Coon and her son (both white). At about the same time as the Trayvon shooting, Melissa’s 13 yr. old son was followed home from East High School in Kansas City Missouri by 2 black 16 yr. old males. On his porch they threw gasoline at him and set him on fire. This is what you deserve, White boy, was the last thing they boy heard. He received burns and also eye and lung damage. Luckily he was able to take off his shirt before the damage was lethal. But why is the media silent on this? Where is the media outrage? Look up Melissa Coon Son on Google and you’ll notice how little information there is about this outrageously racist incident that the media chose to ignore.
This is crazy BS. Just another way that Obama and lib media divides America. I am sick and tired of racial , social , economic , religion and politics dividing Americia. Obama and the modern lib mine set generates anger and hate because they are angry and hateful people and nothing can make these sorrid low lifes happy. They simply hate America.
Republicans turned their back on America a long time ago. To Republicans, America is a term to be used at will. They like to claim it when it suits their purpose. Then trash it and our government when that suits them. Oh yeah, and your party is racist.
Thank You!
What I find unacceptable and inflammatory is how Martin's parents (yes, they are grieving and upset), so flippantly and arrogantly publicly state "I know that if it was a black man killing a white, hed' have been thrown in jail."
Conjecture, scandalous/libelous and irresponsible. It flames the ignorant and distant people from assuming the worst.
Hell, we are in 2012 and in the USA and the racist/intimidating group the Black Panthers dare to publicly announce a "bounty"? An organized public-form of the KKK but with a different bias and hatred.
Dang!
Unacceptable ???? Conjecture ??? Can u cite one case, one incident, one time in history whereby a blk man has killed another and not been arrested or spent time in jail ? US history has many examples of a white person to the contrary.
@rkb555 I cannot site one case and I admit it. So could you please cite me a few of your many examples of a white person that killed someone and was not arrested and jailed, obviously not including this one.
George Zimmerman acted as if he was a police officer even though he was not trained in law enforcement. The job of neighborhood watch person is to report any possible problems in the community. He went way beyond what was expected for his job. The result is a loss of life because he was completely outside of his area of expertise.
Rep. Wilson. Its great that you help create the pathway for the parents to voice their grievances about the law and racial issues, BUT, Rep. Wilson you have no right to promote speculation in the case with out hard facts to make any conclusion. Creating a fantasy scenario only leads to fear and anger promotion and divides people as a whole. You have a responsibility to all people in your district to promote law centered facts not your fantasy thoughts.
There definitely needs to be a trial. The poor young lad who was shot was thin and not very muscular. Why would a much bigger, way more muscular man need to shot him? A trial is very much warranted here. People deserve to be upset and irate about this. The mother, on the news, said that her son is everyone's son. Such universal wisdom rings true; she is right. He is our responsibility too. We should all cherish each other as family!
Tom8pie
How do you now the stature of Trayvon?
slodon, Republicans seem to think they know everything about Trayvon and his family. Probably more than the family knows. They have skewed and slandered this poor family so bad. So, maybe let others express an opinion without a quick attack. Think before you type.
I see you subscribed to Hillary Clintons idea that it takes a village to raise a child. I did not. Universal Wisdom?? My "responsibility" lies with those that are in my household. Try correcting young trayvon, or paddling him in school, and see how long his parents think he is your responsiblity. Sorry, just don't buy into this liberal garbage
pastor and I assume it's a fake name...I'll leave at that. You are a fake.
You mean him being 6'3" or suspended 3 times. Wearing his pants below his butt and raising anti-white banners. His mother getting a patent on his name so when the movie comes out they will get rich,etc,etc. these didn't come from Republicans, they came from the media. Think before you type.
I've been treated very nicely by lots of kids getting suspended. So what that he was suspended. If you see people starting to make money off you dead child's name, wouldn't you put a stop to it? Wouldn't you get a lawyer and I bet he/she would suggest you protect he/her name. Get real and live in it.
Here's a suggestion, get a lawyer. Someone is going to make fun of Fox News (faasux News). See better hurry!
Because atheist, faasux like so many has already stereotyped him. That was whole reason for pulling up his background so that people like faasux will do exactly that and as u can see it is working as planned.
rkb5555 You mean that Fox News is stereotyping him like your stereotyping zimmerman. You know what they say. Turn About is fair play. Or does that not apply because it's you?
Please make sense. What stereotype have i done? Please tell me. Where do you think fox news got their info. on treyvon...from the police. Fair play??? This is not game...there are serious consequences with lives that will never be the same.
I didn't know the facts were in? Where we're the witnesses? Being interviewed and that is why Zimmerman wasn
't arrested. Quit following the liberal media who displays Martin as a clean 7th grader. Wow, 6'3"" awful tall for a 7th grader. Wait for the grand jury. That's the law.
see comment #358.2
6'3" and 140 lbs. I'm 5'6" and 140 lbs. I'm thin. I doubt he had the body you Republicans have made up. But you all continue to stoke the hate and fear fire. Trying using some logic Republicans. If you don't, it just sounds like crazy racism.
Do you honestly think that only Republicans see an attempt by media to manipulate in this case? That only Republcians want to let the investigation take it's course and don't want to rush to judgment in the meantime? There are a lot of fair-minded Democrats who believe in due process.
Are u kidding me ? So if i killed someone and several witnesses saw it and said it was self defense, u don't think i would spend time in jail that night and be held till all answers are in including the credibility of the witnesses ??? That's nativity to the umpteenth power.
Real shocker here....hmmm Racial? why not? It usually seems to work. Most white Americans will back down (regardless of being right or wrong) when the black community "rallies" and threatens. Don't get the promotion? must be due to race...don't get the bank loan? It must be due to race. I could go on. I am sick of everything being blamed on race. If a person (of any color) came through my neighborhood, after several break ins, with a hoodie, and behind showing, I would be suspicious as well. I have seen way to many of these people become violent. I have no problem believing that Martin could have been the aggressor.
You make very ignorant, unintelligent and fear monger statements. Pathetic and misleading as a person.
Ahhh there it is....Fear monger. how original. And what pray tell are the millions of hoodie marchers, Al Sharpton and his rent a mobs, and a bounty offered by the new black panthers....peace seekers? please!
so true. so true so true. hey whatever you say. i have seen many of these people become violent that is so true isnt it? So no white people become violent? like oh say running into a high school with your buddy and killing dozens of people for no reason? but why call cops for two white teenagers in hoodies when there are so many black kids in hoodies walking around to kill? or say going home and killing your two kids, your husband, your parents and then yourself? Not violent though right? Maybe you should read what you write before you make an emotional dumb__— comment. I would not be suspicious of white teenager at all. he just might be on cocaine and ready to kill dozens of kids while we are sitting in class trying to learn. your intelligent.
atheist...I'm 5;10 @ 185#'s, with some background in club fighting and I wouldn't get in the ring with an old man like De La Joya because even at 140#, out of condition and sig smaller than myself, Oscar will do serious long-term damage to my person cause it aint the weight as much as being able to 'stick and finish' the punch.
actually confusedmuch is a good name for you. Had you of read what I posted, I said "of any color" yet you want to post as though I spoke of only blacks. Typical liberal twist. I am sure you have a local college nearby to brush up on your literary skills.
And if Godzilla and Megalon would just get along. Please! You people are using every excuse to make a villan out of Trayvon. No fact that benefit him be used. Pathetic to attack someone dead but typical of Republicans. They smell blood.
Well first of all, if a 140 lbs man is gonna kick yo a z z, then u sound pretty lousy. 2ndly, how are u comparing a trained fighter with more yrs than this boy was alive to this kid...u're comparing apples and oranges.
Ahhh I see. I guess I need to educate you on what happens when you "assume".
Pastor65 there is u and there is me, Atheist lefty is the rest?
Even better if you were a real pastor! You are a joke! You stereotype Black People and you call yourself a leader? You are a demon. Not a pastor. Your intentions are to lie and mislead. To control thoughts of those who trust you. Fraud!
I do not follow. I lead. You follow and act as if you lead. There is no truth in blind following.
AL You lead to no where......little man.
At least I'm not a Rush Minion or some follower who needs to believe in invisible people. You Republicans will believe anything if Rush or some radical groups says it's true. Republicans are lemmings. 98% of you don't even matter to your party! You are just a dumb vote and not worth speaking of once the elections are finished. They could give a rats a22 about you all. They just feed you garbage and you all produce garbage out.
wow! wonder what you say about REV Al Sharpton and REV Jesse Jackson?? Lie? Mislead? Fraud? control thoughts? You must have me confused with these two guys. Thankfully you are not "leading" me.
AL I cannot stand Republicans almost as much as the Godless vile Liberals and I never listen to rush at all? You are about as clueless to the facts about me as to what happened that night Mr Zimmerman was beat up and Trayvon was shot?
I really could care less anybodies god. Keep them to yourselves. Quit shoving it in others faces. It's funny. You Christians claim the higher ground and then you turn to racism, name calling and ignorance.
There you again who said I am a Christian? Facts man Facts? Who is claiming higher ground? It is your way or they are Stupid or Racists in your eyes? You wear your conviction and intolerance on your sleeve how about a little tolerance and you might get some back.
Ok, so back east you are awesome not too smart but awesome. So if your son walked down a street to his house in his neighborhood and someone was pursuing him what would you want him to do? Oh yeah die like a little ___— and not protect himself. The bottom line in this case is that he should not have pursued and stayed in the car and waited for the cops to arrive as the dispatcher said. (I am not saying the kid is innocent and I dont really care) Bottom line is why did zimmerman pursue after the REAL cops said not too? Oh yeah he already had his mind made up.
So anyways for all of you writing on this, this case will go on and on. And all to get a rise out of everyone. There are many deaths and killings that do not get this much publicity. The YOU KNOW WHO's that have shown up for there own publicity (and we know who they are) are wrong as hell to use this kid as a stepping stone. You can bypass all the BS about how many times this kid has been suspended for whatever reason and what Zimmerman did in his past as well. Does not really matter in this case. Why did he pursue this kid is the after 911 told him not to? That is where this law started and stopped. If he was pursuing then Trayvon had the right to "stand his ground" NOT zimmerman. These so called "witnesses" where were they for the past several weeks? No one told them to come forward and "say they saw" something? Really? Everyone in this case is shady and wrong as hell. From the police dept. esp. to the witnesses. Oh yeah dont forget the "Public speakers" who have chosen to show up as well. I would say it is another "tragic death" as so many in this country will put it. but hell if "everyone" was allowed to carry a gun then maybe someone else would have died that night instead.
Suspended from school? Really? Marijuana? Really? So all the other race kids who use Cocaine and heroine all throughout high school are less dangerous right? oh yeah they parents are congressman and of the affluent so let us cover it up or the PC will lose his job. Right? Everyone is crooked as hell. Yeah I said it everyone. You dont think certain issues matter? Look at all the deicisions made when it comes to crimes. you decide.
I wonder where Rev.(?) Al and Rev. Jackson and the other Black leaders aren't in Chicago after 49 people shot over the St. Patrick's Day weekend? Why aren't they giving condolences to a DEAD 6 year old's mother? Where is the outrage that 9 other people died in 2 days? OH!! WAIT!! The 6 year old girl was white and shot by Hispanics. The others were just gang members shooting each other. NO BIG DEAL! Just normal for the Black and Hispanic HOODS.
The Christian Black Community Leaders are no better than the Race baiting Black Panthers Hate group, Everyone who jumped to conclusions before they knew all the Facts and publicly persecuted Mr Zimmerman should be ashamed of themselves.
US Citizen
Yep. Tawana Brawley and the Lacrosse team come to mind every time I see someone on MSNBC saying that Zimmerman should be in jail.
The black church should have taken a lesson from the Amish in PA, and preach forgiveness, not "fake justice". Jesus never preached justice or civil rights, he preached forgiveness.
Some Reverends Sharpton and Jackson are.
Instead of focusing on faith, forgiveness and prayer, they focus on hate, anger, and instigate riots that only harm the innocent.
I'm sure the "truly reverend" Martin Luther King Jr. would be rolling over in his grave if he could see what has become of his peaceful movement.
Sharpton and Jackson will surely burn in hell for their sins. How dare they refer to themselves as "Reverends". There is nothing reverend about them.
They are there to get their face in the news and stir up crap, that's all either one is good for besides having illegitimate children and call yourself a "Reverend"
Probably not as much hate as you have in yourself. U seem to miss the whole pt of the outrage. It's not about zimmerman guilt or innocence. It's the protocol by the authority that has led to someone never being arrested, spending time in jail just after killing another human being. I've never in my life known anyone in history and certainly not a black minority ever NOT spend time in jail for killing someone, self defense or not.
There are thousands that have killed in self defense that have never spent a moment in jail? What planet are you from? You also know what all this hoopla is about just as well as I do? So don't try to spin it.
Instead of posting a innocent young picture how about posting a current picture of Travon !!!!
How about his facebook pics.