Trayvon Martin Murder Stirs Controversy

The shooting of Trayvon Martin in February caused controversy and discussion over the last few months. Martin, a seventeen-year-old African American boy, was killed by George Zimmerman, a man who was a member of his community’s neighborhood watch program.

Zimmerman defended his crime by accusing Martin of attacking him before he was shot, which is the cause of all of the commotion; many say Zimmerman killed Martin because of his racial profile.

The story has been heard throughout the nation, and most have supported Martin’s innocence. Many have made their voices heard.

An online survey to get Zimmerman arrested, which was created by Martin’s mother, has gained 22 million signatures.

Protesters also arranged “Million Hoodie Marches,” in which participants organized protests of thousands of people wearing hoodies, which Martin was wearing at the time of his death. There has also been a large rise of the sales of iced tea and skittles because Martin bought these items at a local store prior to being shot.

On 11 April2012, George Zimmerman was convicted of second degree murder. In the state of Florida, where the incident took place, the minimum sentence for second degree murder is 25 years, and the maximum is a life sentence. A bail hearing on 20 April announced that Zimmerman could be released on a $150,000 bond. Zimmerman was released on 22 April and is currently under surveillance by an electronic monitoring device.

The reaction following the shooting of Trayvon Martin was massive. Protesters, family members, and supporters of Martin all demanded a prison term for George Zimmerman. The incident fueled debates of racial profiling and whether the ends of Zimmerman’s crime justified the means. The debates and discussion still continue today.