Trayvon Martin: Why this case?
BY REBECCA WALL
On Feb. 26 in Sanford, a 17-year-old boy named Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by the community watchman, George Zimmerman.
This incident has been discussed all around the country by people ranging from celebrities to the president of the United States. There have been multiple rallies and protests across the country including here in Stuart. Protesters want justice for Trayvon Martin as Zimmerman remains uncharged for this killing.
Numerous young African American men are killed on annual basis, so why has this particular case provoked such an outcry? Some people think the media’s portrayal is one reason Martin’s death has gained such magnitude.
“The media and viral networks have portrayed this case to be a racial issue instead of an ethical one,” said 21-year-old Jessica Cravens.
Angelo Camelo, 20, also thinks social icons have significantly brought attention to this case.
“Part of this being blown to the proportion is has been is due to social icons such as Jesse Jackson and Will Smith giving it recognition and making it a big problem,” he said. “Jesse Jackson made it a racial inequality battle while Will Smith looked at it as an unfair justice to another American child regardless of age and race.”
According to a study released by the Justice Department, 93 percent of black murder victims are killed by other black people. If Zimmerman were African American, would the circumstances of this case’s massive public attention been different?
“There are other cases where people are killed unjustly and their murderers may be let free, but I believe that a young black man killed by an older white man fuels the controversial topic of race and inequality in America,” Camelo said. “In all, it is another teenager dead in America that should still be alive.”
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