Trayvon: A Year Later

Today marks the one year anniversary of the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, 17, an unarmed black teen in Sanford.

Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, as he returned to his neighborhood in a gated community on the evening of February 26.   Martin, who had gone to a convenience store to purchase a bag of skittles and iced tea, was spotted by Zimmerman, who began to follow him because he thought he looked suspicious.

Although Zimmerman was told by police not to follow Martin, he did so anyway, getting out of his truck to pursue the teen.  What transpired between Zimmerman and Martin remains murky, but the two got into a fight and the teen was fatally shot.

The fatal shooting of Martin set off a firestorm nationwide and internationally, and Zimmerman was eventually arrested and charged with second degree murder.   He remains out of a jail on a $1 million bond until the start of his trial, expected to get underway on June 10th.

Zimmerman has claimed that he was attacked by Martin and shot the teen in self-defense.  A judge will hear arguments on whether Zimmerman could assert self-defense on April 19th. Depending on how the judge rules, the State vs. George Zimmerman case could come to an abrupt end.

Martin’s killing also led to heated debate of Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law, a defense Zimmerman’s attorneys initially contemplated, according to reports.   So great was the outcry that Gov. Rick Scott established a task force to review and make recommendations on the legislation.

The ‘Stand Your Ground’ basically allows anyone who feels their life is in danger in public, to meet the threat with deadly force.  Over the intervening months, Martin’s parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, along with many others have called for its repeal. 

In the end however, the panel was stacked with many of the framers of the ‘Stand Your Ground’ law, as well as supporters of the law, and so major changes to the legislation were not recommended.

Last month, a House Democrat, Rep. Alan Williams (D-Tallahassee) filed a bill aimed at repealing the controversial “Stand Your Ground” law.  According to Williams, the law has failed as, in several cases it has “given individuals the ability to hide behind this law, when going out and carrying out acts of violence, especially in several cases of deadly acts of violence.”  Nonetheless, it is doubtful that this repeal bill will get the light of day in the Florida Legislature.

Today, a number of vigils are planned all across the country to mark the one-year anniversary of Martin’s shooting.  His parents are expected to take part in an event at 6:00 p.m., at Union Square Park in Sanford.  A Travon Martin Vigil will also be held at the University of Central Florida outside the UCF bookstore.