Rev. Jesse Jackson, in a moving address before the Sanford City Commission Town-hall meeting on Monday, implored commissioners to do the right thing in seeking justice in the Trayvon Martin killing.
Jackson told the more than 500 persons packed into the Civic Center that, “we have been here before,” recalling the murder of Emmett Till nearly 57 years ago.
“If a black vigilante shot a 17-year-old white child…he would be in jail today, and maybe he should be,” he said, to thunderous applause.
Jackson said the eyes of the world are on Sanford and that America is on trial today. A young child is dead and our hearts bleed, he said.
“I want you to do a bigger thing than just mourn,” Jackson pointedly told the city commissioners. “I want you to be a redeeming force for justice in America.”
Added Jackson, “If you decide to vote today, one-by-one on where you stand on justice for Trayvon, on whether Mr. Zimmerman should be prosecuted today, if you do the right think God will bless you real good.”
Monday marked the one month anniversary of the shooting death of Martin, 17, an unarmed black teen, by a self-appointed neighborhood watch captain, George Zimmerman, 28, in a gated community in Sanford.
Martin had gone to a nearby convenience store to buy Skittles and iced tea on February 26, when he encountered Zimmerman, who according to 911 tapes released by police, followed the teen. An encounter between the two, led to Zimmerman fatally shooting Martin.
Although Zimmerman confessed to killing Martin, he has claimed self-defense. Witness accounts vary on who was the aggressor and a botched police investigation has only served to heighten outrage as Zimmerman continues to walk free.
Sybrina Fulton, Martin’s mother, who addressed city commissioners said, ” I know I cannot bring my baby back. But I’m going to make changes so that this does not happen to another family.”
Trayvon’s father, Tracy Martin said, Mr. Zimmerman “needs to be arrested. He needs to be put on trial.”
Rev. Al Sharton said, “We have come with 2 million signatures petitioning you to execute the immediate arrest of the killer of Trayvon.”
Others speaking at the town hall meeting, including Congresswomen Corrine Brown (D-FL), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas’ 18th District) and National Urban League president, Marc Morial, also called for Zimmerman’s arrest.
Morial urged the city commission to go on record calling for the repeal of Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law. To loud applaud he encouraged action on cleaning up the Sanford Police Department which he said, had failed to meet “any procedural standards” in the conduct of the Martin investigation.
Jackson Lee laid out a road map that the commission could take – restore arrest powers of the police department or petition the governor for the State Attorney – to have Zimmerman arrested. She also expressed concern over the diversity of the grand jury which will convene on April 10, to review the investigation.
Brown asked the critical question, ‘What can we do to make sure others are not profiled as this young man was?’ and suggested that “everyone work together to make things better for our children.”
The town hall meeting was followed by a rally at the Fort Mellon Park nearby, which drew thousands who continue to call for justice for Martin.
