EBONY MAGAZINE AMAZING DEDICATION TO TRAYVON MARTIN

For its September issue, Ebony magazine chose not one, but four covers to open the conversation about race in America. HuffPost Live talks with the magazine's editor, Amy DuBois Barnett, to discuss the Trayvon Martin case, race relations, and "Stand Your Ground."

 

WE WILL NOT STOP!

Rev. Al Sharpton to rally in 100 cities over Trayvon Martin death

100 cities RALLY FOR Trayvon Martin death Civil rights leaders are planning vigils and rallies in 100 U.S. cities this weekend to press the federal government to bring charges against a former-neighborhood watch volunteer acquitted in the killing of an unarmed black teenager.

George Zimmerman had been charged with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin last year, but a jury of six women found him not guilty of that charge as well as the lesser charge of manslaughter.

“People all across the country will gather to show that we are not having a two- or three-day anger fit. This is a social movement for justice,” Rev. Al Sharpton said Tuesday as he announced the plan outside the Justice Department in Washington, D.C.

The rallies and vigils will occur in front of federal court buildings at noon Saturday in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and New York.

Martin was visiting his father and returning to the home of his father’s fiancée in a gated community in Sanford, Florida, after a trip to the store when Zimmerman identified him as a potential criminal. The neighborhood watchman fatally shot Martin during a physical confrontation in February 2012.

Martin was black, and Zimmerman identifies himself as Hispanic. Zimmerman was not arrested for 44 days, and the delay in charging him led to nationwide protests from those who believed race was a factor in the handling of the case.

 

Sharpton says vigils will be followed by a conference next week in Miami to develop a plan to address Florida’s “stand-your-ground” law. The law gives people wide latitude to use deadly force if they fear death or bodily harm.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said such laws, which exist in many states, need to be reassessed.

“Separate and apart from the case that has drawn the nation’s attention, it’s time to question laws that senselessly expand the concept of self-defense and sow dangerous conflict in our neighborhoods,” Holder said during a speech before a convention of the NAACP civil rights group.

Meanwhile, protests over Zimmerman’s acquittal have broken out as far away as California, where rallies were small and calm Tuesday night. In Los Angeles, police had vowed to crack down with quick action to prevent a recurrence of the vandalism and violence the city saw on Monday night in street protests.

The Justice Department has said it is looking into Martin’s death to determine whether federal prosecutors will file criminal civil rights charges against Zimmerman, who is now a free man.

The key to charging Zimmerman lies in whether evidence exists that he was motivated by racial animosity to kill Martin. While Martin’s family has said the teen was racially profiled, no evidence surfaced during the state trial that Zimmerman had a racial bias. Zimmerman maintained he acted in self-defense. He claimed Martin was slamming his head into the concrete sidewalk when he fired his gun.

Zimmerman’s friends and family have repeatedly denied he harbored racial animosity toward blacks.

One of the jurors in the case — known only as Juror B37 because their identities have not been released — said in an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper Monday that she did not believe Zimmerman followed Martin because of his race.

Juror B37 said the actions of Zimmerman and Martin both led to the teenager’s fatal shooting last year, but that Zimmerman didn’t actually break the law. She said Zimmerman made some mistakes, but that she believed Martin struck Zimmerman first and that the neighborhood watch volunteer had a right to defend himself.

Juror B37 said the jurors were initially divided on Zimmerman’s guilt, with three jurors believing he was guilty of either manslaughter or second-degree murder, but that the jury agreed to acquit him after studying the law.

Four other jurors issued a brief statement on court stationary late Tuesday saying that the opinions expressed by Juror B37 in the TV interview “were her own, and not in any way representative of the jurors listed below.” It was signed by Jurors B51, B76, E6 and E40.

The four other jurors said in their statement that Martin’s death weighed on them.

“Serving on this jury has been a highly emotional and physically draining experience for each of us,” the statement said. “The death of a teenager weighed heavily on our hearts but in the end we did what the law required us to do.”

They also made a request for privacy. The court has not released the names of the six-woman jury, which included five whites and one woman who appeared to reporters to be Hispanic.

In a statement to CNN released Wednesday, Juror B37 said she prayed for those who have the power to modify laws that gave her “no verdict option other than ‘not guilty’ in order to remain within the instructions.”

 

Jacksonville, FL: It's time to take to this movement to the streets and allow it to MOVE. Join us as we caravan and march against injustice. At 10:30 we are meeting in our cars at the Gas station where Jordan Davis was shot. We are going to play our music and sing in remembrance of our fallen children. We are then going to caravan downtown to The states attorney office, where will will leave our vehicles and march over to the Jail house where Marissa Alexander is held and sing and cheer for her. From there we are going to ma...rch over to Hemming Plaza.

54 People Were Shot Dead In Chicago During The George Zimmerman Trial

 

While the nation was fixated on the trial of George Zimmerman, who Saturday was acquitted in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, many were left wondering when the media would tell their similarly tragic stories of lives lost to gun violence.

Over the duration of the trial, over 50 people's lives came to an end in shootings in Chicago alone -- many of them black and many of them teenagers, just like Trayvon.

In the days since the trial, three more people were killed in Chicago shootings, including 16-year-old Joseph Brewer Jr. Brewer, who was gunned down Sunday afternoon while walking to visit his infant daughter, loved video games, basketball and was "family-oriented," his family told the Chicago Tribune.

Chicago Gun Violence Amid Zimmerman Trial | Create infographics

George Zimmerman Verdict, NOT GUILTY

SANFORD, Fla. -- George Zimmerman, the man accused of murdering Trayvon Martin, was found not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter Saturday night.
The verdict is the culmination of a case that captured the nation's attention and will undoubtedly be imprinted in America's history. For Zimmerman, it means trying to recapture his life after he was at the center of a national maelstrom over racial profiling, state gun laws and what constitutes self-defense.
The not guilty verdict means the jury of six women, after deliberating for more than 15 hours over two days, found that Zimmerman justifiably used deadly force. They determined that he reasonably believed that such force was "necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm" to himself — Florida's definition of self-defense.
Zimmerman showed no emotion as the verdict was read. After the verdict was read, he smiled slightly and shook hands with one of his lawyers.
The unidentified jurors decided Zimmerman didn't "intentionally commit an act or acts that caused death" or demonstrate a "depraved mind without regard for human life" -- Florida's definitions of manslaughter and second-degree murder, respectively.
In a press conference after the verdict, Zimmerman attorney Mark O'Mara said his client will now need to get on with his life.

"I think he's going to be great. I think he is still worried. Hopefully everyone will respect the jury's verdict," O'Mara said.
He offered his sympathies to Trayvon's parents for the loss of their son. But he said despite the national protests that erupted after the shooting, the case had nothing to do with civil rights.
Zimmerman's brother, Robert, told CNN's Piers Morgan that his brother was processing the reality that he is free.
"He has some decompressing to do," he said. "Our family was emotional. We are exonerated as a family and George is exonerated as a defendant. It's going to take us some time to heal."
For all the euphoria on Zimmerman's team, prosecutors and Trayvon's family faced a huge letdown. Trayvon's parents were not in the courtroom when the verdict was read.

Protests ensued in several cities, including New York, by supporters of Trayvon's family. Many protesters voiced the opinion that Trayvon was targeted and killed for racial reasons. Trayvon, 17, was black and Zimmerman is Hispanic.
"You have a little black boy who was killed," said Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the parents of Trayvon. "It's going to be reported in history books and 50 years from now, our children will talk about Trayvon Martin's case like we talk about Emmett Till."
Emmett Till, a 14-year-old black young man, was tortured, grossly disfigured and murdered in 1955 in Mississippi after being accused of flirting with a white woman.
In Zimmerman's case, State Attorney Corey stepped in and charged Zimmerman with murder on April 11, 2012. Prosecutors never argued that Zimmerman racially profiled the teen and instead said the teen was profiled as a criminal.
The five-week trial of Zimmerman, held in the same Florida city where Trayvon was killed, brought the facts of the case under a nationally televised spotlight, with every moment captured on camera. More than 50 witnesses testified, and when deliberations began Friday afternoon, the jury requested a list of the plethora of evidence that lawyers presented.
Some of the items include several statements Zimmerman gave to police, Trayvon's autopsy report and photos of both Zimmerman's injuries and Trayvon's body. Witnesses included forensic experts who testified about the angle at which Trayvon was shot, the position Zimmerman's gun may have been in, and where DNA and blood was found.
Other witnesses offered conflicting statements about how the fight happened, who had the upper hand when Zimmerman fired the shot and who was screaming for help in a 911 call recording.
The defense called nine people -- including both of Zimmerman's parents -- to testify that the screams belonged to Zimmerman. Both of Trayvon's parents and his brother all said Trayvon was screaming moments before he was shot.
In at times riveting detail, prosecutors tried their best to convince jurors that Zimmerman was a killer who "tracked" Trayvon, an innocent teenager, and murdered him before police arrived.
"That child had every right to be afraid of a strange man following him," prosecutor John Guy told jurors before they began deliberations. "This case isn't about standing your ground. It's about staying in your car."

THE CELEBS SPEAK OUT....

Hashtags of prayer. Tweets of disbelief. Emotions on Twitter ranged from shock to outrage as celebs rapidly reacted to the news that George Zimmerman, charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin, was found not guilty on Saturday evening.
Here's a look at the stars who shared their thoughts on Twitter:
Rainn Wilson: "Hanging out in a gated community with a gun, looking for some suspicious characters today."
Ellie Goulding: "Going to bed with a sober head full of confusion"
Diddy: "#myTruth I am blessed to have 6 beautiful kids. I'm hurt and I'm mad as hell! My heart goes out to the family. He followed him! (Expletive) That!"
Jordin Sparks: "What is happening?!"
Solange Knowles: "Is this not what our ancestors, grandfathers and fathers fought for...? Now I will be fighting for my son..."
Natalie Maines: "Stand Your Ground Law aka, Entrapment."
John Cusack: "the need for justice & civil liberties /rights for all Americans inspires US to reclaim rights so this tragedy cld have positive meaning"
James Van Der Beek: "Wow. So Florida... just to be clear, when is it NOT okay to track down and shoot an unarmed teenager?#RipTrayvonMartin"
Nia Vardalos: "Disgusting. This is the second tragic night in the Martin household."
Lupe Fiasco: "The case should have never been televised as the potential to antagonize US race relations was, in my dumb, opinion too risky & unnecessary"
Jennifer Hudson: "I can't help but think of what my mama use to say " If u think u seen it all just keep on living"
Ellen Page: "If u really believe racism isnt a massive problem, that the oppression of minorities is not a horrific and systemic issue. U R in denial."
Mia Farrow: "I don't understand this. At ALL"
Steve Harvey: "A Child is Dead & The Man that Killed Him is Free & Again The Child is Black...My Country Tis of Thee?"
Richard Dreyfuss: "It's 2013 and an American jury just acquitted a man who admitted to stalking and killing an unarmed child."
Judy Blume: "Not surprised. But distraught. Saw 'Fruitvale Station' tonight. How ironic to come home to this verdict."
Kate Walsh: "Zimmerman verdict sickens me."
Kat Dennings: "I can't handle this. All that really matters are Trayvon's parents, and making sure nothing like this ever happens again."
Questlove: "this might be in bad taste but in light of this verdict? i really INSIST you people see Fruitvale Station not now but RIGHT NOW"
Alec Baldwin, who recently quit Twitter (again), resurfaced post-verdict: "Florida is a parallel universe. A (expletive) one."
Tom Arnold: "Dear Son, I love you and there is no shame in running away from creepy a-- crackers. #nojustice"
Michael Ian Black: "The only thing that surprised me about the verdict is that juries work on Saturdays."
Donald Trump: "Zimmerman is no angel but the lack of evidence and the concept of self-defense, especially in Florida law, gave the jury little other choice"
Chris Brown: "Bull----!"
Gabrielle Union: "Help! What's the proper procedure when you're followed by a random armed nutbag returning home from getting candy & iced tea?"
Whoopi Goldberg: "My heart is with trayvon martins family tonight, so my focus on them. No one else really matters"
Jaleel White: "I can't ..." wrote the star, adding a sad emoticon.
Olivia Wilde: "I feel sick." She then directed a tweet at Ann Coulter, who tweeted "Hallelujah!" at the verdict. ".@AnnCoulter You are a hateful wench," wrote Wilde.
Mandy Moore: "My heart is heavy...for all who knew and loved #TrayvonMartin. His life mattered. This is shameful."
Russell Simmons: "I know many people are very upset about the verdict, but we must remain peaceful. No matter what, remain peaceful."
Nicki Minaj: "And our taxes paid for that trial. We just paid to see a murderer walk free after killing an innocent unarmed little boy. #GodBlessAmerica"
Sophia Bush: "The wind is more than knocked out of me... My heart aches for this boy's family. Justice System? I don't think so. #justicefortrayvon"
Rihanna: "This is the saddest news ever!!! #whatsjustice #pray4theMartinFamily"
John Legend: "My heart hurts"
Lena Dunham: "No. My heart is with Sybrina Fulton, Rachel Jeantel, everyone who loved Trayvon and has been sent the message that his life didn't matter."
Mario Lopez: "Hope people don't misbehave after hearing this verdict... Pray for the Martin family."
Josh Groban: "Oh no. Seriously? Crap."
Shaquille O'Neil: "George Zimmerman not guilty can u believe that. Wow"
Miley Cyrus tweeted twice. "No justice. No peace," she wrote, followed by: "The world is a scary place."