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{{Short description|American teenager killed in a shooting (1995–2012)}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}]
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
'''Trayvon Benjamin Martin''' (February 5, 1995 – February 26, 2012) was a 17-year-old ] from ] who was ] by ], a neighborhood watch volunteer, in ]. Martin had gone with his father on a visit to the father's fiancée at her ] at ] in Sanford. On the evening of February 26, Martin went to a convenience store and purchased candy and juice. As Martin returned from the store, Zimmerman spotted him and called the Sanford Police to report him, saying he looked suspicious. Moments later, there was an altercation between the two individuals in which Martin, who was unarmed, was shot in the chest. Zimmerman was not charged at the time of the shooting by the Sanford Police, who said that there was no evidence to refute his claim of self-defense and that Florida's ] prohibited law-enforcement officials from arresting or charging him. Zimmerman was eventually charged and tried in Martin's death and ] of second-degree murder and of manslaughter in July 2013.
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Infobox person
|name=Trayvon Martin
|image=Trayvon Martin at aviation camp.jpg
|caption= Martin at the Experience Aviation camp in 2009
|birth_name= Trayvon Benjamin Martin
|birth_date={{birth date|1995|02|05}}
|birth_place= ], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|2012|02|26|1995|02|05}}
|death_place= ], U.S.
|death_cause= ] (gunshot wound)
|resting place=Dade Memorial Park
|occupation=
|alma_mater= {{ubl|]|]}}
|known_for=
}}

'''Trayvon Benjamin Martin''' (February 5, 1995 – February 26, 2012) was a 17-year-old African-American<!--Do not link per MOS:OVERLINK--> from ], who was ] in ], by ], a 28-year-old ] American. Martin had accompanied his father to visit his father's fiancée at her ] at ] in Sanford. On the evening of February 26, Martin was walking back to the fiancée's house from a nearby convenience store. Zimmerman, a member of the community watch, saw Martin and reported him to the Sanford Police as suspicious. Several minutes later, an altercation happened and Zimmerman fatally shot Martin in the chest.


Zimmerman was injured during the altercation with Martin. He said he shot Martin in self-defense<ref name=reach /> and was not charged at the time. The police said there was no evidence to refute his claim of self-defense, and Florida's ] prohibited them from arresting or charging him. After national media focused on the incident, Zimmerman was eventually charged and tried, but a ] of ] and ] in July 2013.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/us/george-zimmerman-verdict-trayvon-martin.html|title = Zimmerman is Acquitted in Trayvon Martin Killing|newspaper = The New York Times|date = July 14, 2013|last1 = Alvarez|first1 = Lizette|last2 = Buckley|first2 = Cara|access-date = April 30, 2021|archive-date = April 30, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210430182858/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/us/george-zimmerman-verdict-trayvon-martin.html|url-status = live}}</ref>
Martin was born in ], Florida, and attended both Norland Middle School and ], in north Miami-Dade County, Florida. He attended ] in Miami Gardens for his freshman and sophomore years, and at the time of the shooting was a ] at ] in north Miami-Dade.


Following Martin's death, rallies, marches and protests were held across the nation. In March 2012, hundreds of students at his high school held an orderly walkout in support of him. An online petition calling for a full investigation and prosecution of Zimmerman garnered 2.2 million signatures. The media coverage surrounding Martin's death was greater than that of the ], which was underway at the time. A national debate about racial profiling and stand your ground laws ensued, and the governor of Florida appointed a task force to examine the state's self-defense laws. Martin's life was scrutinized by the media and bloggers who examined the ] he had left behind. On ], the name "Trayvon" was tweeted (mentioned in posts to ] ]s by users of the service) more than two million times in the 30 days following the shooting.<ref name="cbsny rallies"/><ref name="usa syg"/><ref name="coverage of martin case"/><ref name="miher tweets"/><ref name="mherald"/><ref name="msnbc petn">{{cite web|author=Miranda Leitsinger|title=How one man helped spark online protest in Trayvon Martin case| url=http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/29/10907662-how-one-man-helped-spark-online-protest-in-trayvon-martin-case|publisher=MSNBC|date=March 29, 2012|accessdate=September 14, 2013}}</ref> More than 1,000 people attended the viewing of his remains the day before his funeral, which was held on March 3, 2012 in ]. He was buried in Dade-Memorial Park (North), in Miami. A memorial was dedicated to Martin at the Goldsboro Westside Historical Museum, a black history museum in Sanford in July 2013.<ref name="tampa htwt">{{cite web|author=Orlando Sentinel/Miami Herald|title=A review of the evidence released in the Trayvon Martin case|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/a-review-of-the-evidence-released-in-the-trayvon-martin-case/1230750|publisher=Tampa Bay Times|date=May 17, 2012|accessdate=September 10, 2013}}</ref><ref name="tm autopsy">{{cite news|author=Benjamin Hart|title=Trayvon Martin autopsy report: killed by bullet fired at intermediate range|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/17/trayvon-martin-autopsy_n_1525763.html|work=Huffington Post|date=May 17, 2012|accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref><ref name="tray grave">{{cite web|title=Trayvon Benjamin Martin|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=martin&GSfn=trayvon&GSiman=1&GScid=71884&GRid=86298494& |publisher=Find A Grave|date=March 5, 2012|accessdate=September 10, 2013}}</ref><ref name="tray gravemarker">{{cite web|author=McClatchy-Tribune News Service (Arelis R. Hernandez)|title=New Black Panther Party offers reward for capture of Florida shooter|url=http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2012/03/new_black_panther_party_offers.html|publisher=Cleveland.com|date=March 24, 2012|accessdate=September 10, 2013}}</ref><ref name="cbs 1000">{{cite web|author=CBS Miami/Associated Press|title=Parents Seek Justice For Unarmed Son's Killing|url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/03/10/parents-seek-justice-for-unarmed-sons-killing/|publisher=CBS Miami|date=March 10, 2012|accessdate=September 10, 2013}}</ref><ref name="tampa school">{{cite web|author=Audra D.S. Burch and Laura Isensee, Miami Herald|title=Trayvon Martin, a typical teen with dreams of flying or fixing planes|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/trayvon-martin-a-typical-teen-with-dreams-of-flying-or-fixing-planes/1221425|publisher=Tampa Bay Times|date=March 22, 2012|accessdate=September 10, 2013}}</ref><ref name="wftv mem">{{cite web|author=wftv.com 9|title=Group dedicates Trayvon Memorial in Sanford|url=http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/trayvon-martin-group-walking-jacksonville-central-/nY4JD/|publisher=WFTV 9|date=July 27, 2013|accessdate=September 12, 2013|location=Florida}}</ref> Following Martin's death, rallies, marches, and protests were held across the United States. In March 2012, hundreds of students at his high school held a walkout in support of him. An ] calling for a full investigation and prosecution of Zimmerman garnered 2.2 million signatures. Also in March, the media coverage surrounding Martin's death became the first story of 2012 to be featured more than the ], which was underway at the time. A national debate about racial profiling and stand-your-ground laws ensued. The governor of Florida appointed a task force to examine the state's self-defense laws. Martin's life was scrutinized by the media and bloggers. The name Trayvon was ] more than two million times in the 30 days following the shooting.<ref name="cbsny rallies" /><ref name="usa syg" /><ref name="coverage of martin case" /><ref name="mcclatchy tweets" /><ref name="mherald" /><ref name="msnbc petn">{{cite news|author=Miranda Leitsinger|title=How one man helped spark online protest in Trayvon Martin case|url=http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/29/10907662-how-one-man-helped-spark-online-protest-in-trayvon-martin-case|publisher=MSNBC|date=March 29, 2012|access-date=September 14, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330080822/http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/29/10907662-how-one-man-helped-spark-online-protest-in-trayvon-martin-case|archive-date=March 30, 2012}}</ref> More than 1,000 people attended the viewing of his remains the day before his funeral, which was held on March 3 in Miami. He was buried in Dade-Memorial Park (North), in Miami. A memorial was dedicated to Martin at the Goldsboro Westside Historical Museum, a Black history museum in Sanford, in July 2013.<ref name="tampa htwt">{{cite news|agency=Orlando Sentinel/Miami Herald|title=A review of the evidence released in the Trayvon Martin case|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/a-review-of-the-evidence-released-in-the-trayvon-martin-case/1230750/|work=Tampa Bay Times|date=May 17, 2012|access-date=September 10, 2013|archive-date=June 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627214414/https://www.tampabay.com/news/a-review-of-the-evidence-released-in-the-trayvon-martin-case/1230750/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="tm autopsy">{{cite news|author=Benjamin Hart|title=Trayvon Martin autopsy report: killed by bullet fired at intermediate range|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/17/trayvon-martin-autopsy_n_1525763.html|work=The Huffington Post|date=May 17, 2012|access-date=September 12, 2013|archive-date=October 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020210818/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/17/trayvon-martin-autopsy_n_1525763.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="tray gravemarker">{{cite news |agency=McClatchy-Tribune News Service |author=Arelis R. Hernandez |title=New Black Panther Party offers reward for capture of Florida shooter |url=http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2012/03/new_black_panther_party_offers.html |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |date=March 24, 2012 |access-date=September 10, 2013 |archive-date=June 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630075931/http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2012/03/new_black_panther_party_offers.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="cbs 1000">{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|title=Parents Seek Justice For Unarmed Son's Killing|url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/03/10/parents-seek-justice-for-unarmed-sons-killing/|publisher=CBS Miami|date=March 10, 2012|access-date=September 10, 2013|archive-date=April 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410052800/http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/03/10/parents-seek-justice-for-unarmed-sons-killing/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="tampa school">{{cite news|author=Audra D.S. Burch and Laura Isensee|title=Trayvon Martin, a typical teen with dreams of flying or fixing planes|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/trayvon-martin-a-typical-teen-with-dreams-of-flying-or-fixing-planes/1221425/|work=Tampa Bay Times|date=March 22, 2012|access-date=September 10, 2013|archive-date=September 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912205725/http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/trayvon-martin-a-typical-teen-with-dreams-of-flying-or-fixing-planes/1221425|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="wftv mem">{{cite news|title=Group dedicates Trayvon Memorial in Sanford|url=http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/trayvon-martin-group-walking-jacksonville-central-/nY4JD/|publisher=WFTV 9|date=July 27, 2013|access-date=September 12, 2013|location=Florida|archive-date=June 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603021959/http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/trayvon-martin-group-walking-jacksonville-central-/nY4JD/|url-status=dead}}</ref>


== Biography == == Biography ==
] ]
Martin was the son of Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin who divorced in 1999. At the time of the shooting, Fulton was a program coordinator for the Miami Dade Housing Authority, and Tracy was a truck driver; they lived near each other in Miami Gardens. Martin's older brother, Jahavaris Fulton, was 21 years old at the time of his brother's death and was enrolled in ], majoring in ]. Jahavaris would later serve, in July 2013, as an intern for ] ], who represents Florida's 24th district, which includes Miami Gardens, in Congress. Jahvaris was also part of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, which had been founded by Wilson 20 years earlier, a mentoring program that addresses needs and issues facing ] boys in Miami-Dade schools.<ref name="tampa school"/><ref name="nbc jahavaris">{{cite web|author=Frank Thorp and Matthew DeLuca|title=Trayvon Martin's brother interning in office of Florida congresswoman|url=http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/19/19563695-trayvon-martins-brother-interning-in-office-of-florida-congresswoman?lite|publisher=NBC News|date=July 19, 2013|accessdate=September 18, 2013}}</ref><ref name="SCHOOL">{{cite web|author=Bianca Prieto and Robert Nolin|title=Tensions still simmer in Trayvon Martin shooting case|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-17/news/os-trayvon-martin-shooting-tension-20120317_1_shooting-death-english-teacher-uncle|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|date=March 17, 2012|accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref><ref name="nbcmiami school">{{cite web|author=Ari Odzer|title=Krop Senior High Students Honor Fallen Classmate Trayvon Martin with "Chain of Life"|url=http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Krop-Senior-High-Students-Honor-Fallen-Classmate-Trayvon-Martin-With-Chain-of-Life-144022006.html|publisher=NBC Miami|date=March 27, 2012|accessdate=September 10, 2013}}</ref><ref name="cnn jahvaris">{{cite web|author=CNN Newsroom|title=CNN Transcripts|url=http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1307/05/cnr.01.html|publisher=CNN|date=July 5, 2013|accessdate=September 10, 2013}}</ref> Martin was born in 1995 in ], to Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, who divorced in 1999. At the time of the shooting, Fulton was a program coordinator for the Miami Dade Housing Authority, and Tracy Martin was a truck driver; they lived near each other in Miami Gardens. Martin's older maternal half-brother, Jahavaris Fulton, was a college student at the time (who would later testify in the Zimmerman trial).<ref name="tampa school" /><ref name="nbc jahavaris">{{cite news|author=Frank Thorp and Matthew DeLuca|title=Trayvon Martin's brother interning in office of Florida congresswoman|url=http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/19/19563695-trayvon-martins-brother-interning-in-office-of-florida-congresswoman?lite|publisher=NBC News|date=July 19, 2013|access-date=September 18, 2013|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054532/http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/19/19563695-trayvon-martins-brother-interning-in-office-of-florida-congresswoman?lite|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/ff5d3f1f21844de2b99641b3fdf81154|title=Florida teen's mother says screams are her son's|last=Hightower|first=Kyle|website=AP NEWS|access-date=April 10, 2019|archive-date=March 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307222832/https://apnews.com/ff5d3f1f21844de2b99641b3fdf81154|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SCHOOL">{{cite news|author=Bianca Prieto and Robert Nolin|title=Tensions still simmer in Trayvon Martin shooting case|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2012/03/17/tensions-still-simmer-in-trayvon-martin-shooting-case/|work=Orlando Sentinel|date=March 17, 2012|access-date=September 12, 2013|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053810/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-17/news/os-trayvon-martin-shooting-tension-20120317_1_shooting-death-english-teacher-uncle|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nbcmiami school">{{cite news|author=Ari Odzer|title=Krop Senior High Students Honor Fallen Classmate Trayvon Martin with "Chain of Life"|url=http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Krop-Senior-High-Students-Honor-Fallen-Classmate-Trayvon-Martin-With-Chain-of-Life-144022006.html|publisher=NBC Miami|date=March 27, 2012|access-date=September 10, 2013|archive-date=April 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410063351/https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Krop-Senior-High-Students-Honor-Fallen-Classmate-Trayvon-Martin-With-Chain-of-Life-144022006.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cnn jahvaris">{{cite news|title=Live Coverage of the George Zimmerman Trial|url=http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1307/05/cnr.01.html|publisher=CNN|date=July 5, 2013|access-date=September 10, 2013|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053927/http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1307/05/cnr.01.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


After his divorce from Sybrina Fulton, Martin's father married Alicia Stanley who had two daughters from a previous marriage. They met when Martin was about three years old. Stanley and Martin's father were together for about 14 years. Stanley told ] that before she and Tracy Martin separated, Trayvon was with her 90% of the time and that she went to all his football games and took care of him when he was sick. She also said that Trayvon was a kind and loving person, not the thug the media made him out to be.<ref name="tampa school"/><ref name="stanley1">{{cite web|author=Wendy Widom|title=Alicia Stanley, Trayvon Martin's Stepmother, Finally Speaks Out|url=http://www.chicagonow.com/families-in-the-loop/2013/07/alicia-stanley-george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-2013/|publisher=Chicago Now|date=July 1, 2013|accessdate=September 10, 2013}}</ref><ref name="stanley2">{{cite web|author=Kirsten West Savali|title=Trayvon Martin's Stepmother Speaks Out (Video)|url=http://newsone.com/2622820/trayvon-martin-alicia-stanley/|publisher=NewsOne|date=June 30, 2013|accessdate=September 10, 2013}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Alicia Stanley's interview aired on June 28, 2012<br>* <br>* |group="Note"}} After being divorced, Martin's father married Alicia Stanley, who had two daughters from a previous marriage. They met when Martin was about three years old and were together for about 14 years. Stanley told CNN's ] that before she and Tracy Martin separated, Trayvon was with her 90% of the time, and that she went to all his football games and took care of him when he was sick. She said that Trayvon was a kind and loving person, not a 'thug' as the media portrayed him.<ref name="tampa school" /><ref name="stanley1">{{cite news|author=Wendy Widom|title=Alicia Stanley, Trayvon Martin's Stepmother, Finally Speaks Out|url=http://www.chicagonow.com/families-in-the-loop/2013/07/alicia-stanley-george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-2013/|publisher=Chicago Now|date=July 1, 2013|access-date=September 10, 2013|archive-date=October 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020013356/http://www.chicagonow.com/families-in-the-loop/2013/07/alicia-stanley-george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-2013/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="stanley2">{{cite news|author=Kirsten West Savali|title=Trayvon Martin's Stepmother Speaks Out (Video)|url=http://newsone.com/2622820/trayvon-martin-alicia-stanley/|publisher=NewsOne|date=June 30, 2013|access-date=September 10, 2013|archive-date=September 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906084239/http://newsone.com/2622820/trayvon-martin-alicia-stanley/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Alicia Stanley's interview aired on June 28, 2012<br />* <br />* |group="Note"}}


When Martin was nine years old, he saved his father's life by pulling his father, who had been immobilized by burns to the legs, out of a fire in their apartment.<ref name="tampa school"/><ref name="usa cousin"/> Martin enjoyed ].<ref name="martin2"/> He washed cars, babysat and cut grass to earn his own money.<ref name="tampa school"/><ref name="usa cousin"/><ref name="martin2">{{cite web|author=Kim Segal|title=Protesters declare 'I am Trayvon Martin,' but who was he?|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/30/us/trayvon-martin-profile|publisher=CNN|date=March 30, 2012|accessdate=September 10, 2013}}</ref> Martin's former football coach said Martin had been one of the best players on their football team (The Wolverines) that played at Forzano Park in ]. Martin played for the Wolverines from age 8 to 13, and sometimes sat out because his father benched him "because he messed up in school."<ref name="usa cousin"/> Martin had played ] at the park since he was five years old and his team was coached in part, by his father. During his years in ], Martin volunteered at Forzano Park, working in the concession stand, sometimes staying until 8 or 9 p.m., before going home. Martin's former football coach said he was a shy kid and always walked with his ] and headphones on listening to music.<ref name="martin2"/> When Martin was nine years old, he pulled his father, who had been immobilized by burns to the legs, out of a fire in their apartment, saving his life.<ref name="tampa school" /><ref name="usa cousin" /> Martin enjoyed ].<ref name="martin2" /> He washed cars, babysat, and cut grass to earn his own money.<ref name="tampa school" /><ref name="usa cousin" /><ref name="martin2">{{cite news|author=Kim Segal|title=Protesters declare 'I am Trayvon Martin,' but who was he?|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/30/us/trayvon-martin-profile|publisher=CNN|date=March 30, 2012|access-date=September 10, 2013|archive-date=September 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912000906/http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/30/us/trayvon-martin-profile|url-status=live}}</ref> Martin had played ] at the park since he was five years old and his team was coached in part by his father. Another of Martin's former football coaches said Martin had been one of the best players on their football team (The Wolverines) that played at Forzano Park in ]. Martin played for the Wolverines from ages 8 to 13 and sometimes sat out because his father benched him "because he messed up in school".<ref name="usa cousin" /> While in high school, Martin volunteered at Forzano Park, working in the concession stand and sometimes staying until 8:00 or 9:00{{nbs}}PM before going home. Martin's former football coach said he was a shy child and always walked with his ] and headphones on listening to music.<ref name="martin2" />


Martin's cousin Stephen Martin, who had been in a park telling jokes with Trayvon the night before his death, said that he and Trayvon had been like brothers growing up. He recalled that Trayvon had been very skilled at assembling, repairing, and riding ] and ]. Miriam Martin, Trayvon's aunt and Stephen's mother, said her nephew had often stayed over visiting her family. She also said that Trayvon was fond of wearing a hoodie; "it could be 100 degrees outside and he always had his hoodie on."<ref name="usa cousin">{{cite web|author=Yamiche Alcindor|title=Trayvon Martin: Typical teen or troublemaker?|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/11/trayvon-martin-profile/1761373/|publisher=USA TODAY|date=December 11, 2012|accessdate=September 13, 2013}}</ref> Martin attended both Norland Middle School and ] in north ]. He attended ] in Miami Gardens for his freshman and sophomore years before he transferred to ] in north Miami-Dade in 2011. At the time of the shooting, Martin was a ] at Krop High School. Martin's cousin Stephen Martin, who had been in a park telling jokes with Trayvon the night before his death, said that he and Trayvon had been like brothers growing up. He recalled that Trayvon had been very skilled at assembling, repairing, and riding ] and ]. Miriam Martin, Trayvon's aunt and Stephen's mother, said her nephew had often stayed over to visit her family. She also said that Trayvon was fond of wearing a hoodie: "it could be 100 degrees outside and he always had his hoodie on."<ref name="usa cousin">{{cite news|author=Yamiche Alcindor|title=Trayvon Martin: Typical teen or troublemaker?|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/11/trayvon-martin-profile/1761373/|work=USA Today|date=December 11, 2012|access-date=September 13, 2013|archive-date=August 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830052732/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/11/trayvon-martin-profile/1761373/|url-status=live}}</ref>


Martin had wanted to fly or fix planes and in the summer of 2009, enrolled in "Experience Aviation," a seven-week program in ], which introduced him to ]. During the time Martin was enrolled in the program, it was run by ], the youngest person ever to fly solo around the world. Irving said Martin was a polite youth who enjoyed flying and had an interest in football. After Martin graduated from the program, he spent the next summer as a volunteer, helping out new students in the aviation program. According to his parents, Martin had hoped to attend the ] or ].<ref name="martin2"/> Martin had wanted to fly or repair airplanes, and in mid-2009 enrolled in "Experience Aviation", a seven-week program in ], run by award-winning aviator ]. According to Irving, Martin was a polite youth " reminded me of myself because I had a strong interest in football until I fell in love with aviation." After Martin graduated from the program, he spent the next summer as a volunteer, helping out new students in the aviation program. According to his parents, Martin had hoped to attend the ] or ].<ref name="martin2" />


=== Martin's latter teenage years === === Later teenage years ===
]
When Martin started high school, his goal of playing professional football was put aside in favor of a career working with airplanes.<ref name="martin2"/> Martin attended Carol City High School in Miami Gardens for his freshman year and most of his sophomore year, before he transferred to ] in north Miami-Dade in 2011. While in his first year at Carol City, Martin attended classes in the mornings at the high school and then went to ] for the rest of his school day. Martin's ninth grade teacher, who taught him three classes of ] Technology at the Baker Aviation School, said he was a normal student, well-behaved and passed all the classes. According to another teacher at Carol City, math was his favorite subject, and she said she never saw Martin show disrespect. Some students at Carol City, compared Martin's death to that of ], one of the nation's most infamous civil rights cases.<ref name="tampa school"/><ref name="usa cousin"/><ref name="martin2"/>
When Martin started high school, his goal of playing professional football was put aside in favor of a career working with airplanes.<ref name="martin2" /> While in his freshman year at Carol City, Martin attended classes in the mornings at the high school and then went to George T. Baker Aviation School for the rest of his school day. Martin's ninth-grade teacher, who taught him three classes of ] Technology at Baker Aviation School, said he was a normal student, well-behaved, who passed all his classes. According to another teacher at Carol City, math was his favorite subject, and she said she never saw Martin show disrespect. Some students at Carol City compared Martin's death to that of ], one of the nation's most infamous civil rights cases.<ref name="tampa school" /><ref name="usa cousin" /><ref name="martin2" />


Martin's mother had him transferred to Dr. Michael M. Krop High School, having approximately 2,700 students, for his junior year. Fulton said that her son had average performance in school, and she transferred him because she thought Krop High School was a better school and wanted a different environment for him. While a student at Dr. Michael M. Krop High School, Martin had behavioral issues in school. At the time of the shooting, he was serving a ten-day suspension for having a marijuana pipe and an empty bag containing marijuana residue. He had been suspended twice before; for tardiness and ] and marking up a door with graffiti. The suspension for graffiti was in October 2011, when Martin was observed by a school police officer on a security camera "hiding and being suspicious" in a restricted area of the school. According to the officer, he later observed Martin marking up a door with "]" When his backpack was searched the next day by a ] officer, looking for the graffiti marker, the officer found a dozen pieces of women's jewelry, a watch and a screwdriver that was described by the school police officer as a burglary tool. The jewelry found in his backpack included silver wedding bands and earrings with diamonds. When Martin was asked by the officer if the jewelry belonged to his family or a girlfriend, he said a friend had given it to him. When asked for the name of the friend, Martin declined to provide it. The school police impounded the jewelry and sent photographs of it to detectives at Miami-Dade to investigate it further. No evidence ever surfaced at that time that the jewelry was stolen. An attorney for Martin's family said the parents did not know about the jewelry or screwdriver. Martin was not charged with any crime related to these suspensions and did not have a juvenile record.<ref name="Suspend3x">{{cite web|author=Jeff Burnside and Brian Hamacher|title=Trayvon Martin Suspended From School Three Times|url=http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/Trayvon-Martin-Suspended-From-School-Three-Times-Report-144403305.html|publisher=WTVJ (NBC 6 Miami)|date=March 27, 2012|accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref><ref name="multiple suspensions">{{cite web|author=Frances Robles|title=Multiple suspensions paint complicated portrait of Trayvon Martin|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/26/v-fullstory/2714778/thousands-expected-at-trayvon.html|publisher=The Miami Herald |date=March 26, 2012|accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref> Martin's mother had him transferred to Dr. Michael M. Krop High School, which has approximately 2,700 students, for his junior year. Fulton said that her son had an average performance in school, and she transferred him because she thought Krop High School was better and she wanted a different environment for him. While a student at Krop High School, Martin had behavioral issues. At the time of the shooting, he was serving a ten-day suspension for having a marijuana pipe and an empty bag containing marijuana residue. He had been suspended twice before, for tardiness and ] and marking up a door with graffiti. The suspension for graffiti was in October 2011, when Martin was observed by a school police officer on a security camera "hiding and being suspicious" in a restricted area of the school. According to the officer, he later observed Martin marking up a door with "W.T.F." ("what the fuck?"). When his backpack was searched the next day by a ] officer, looking for the graffiti marker, the officer found a dozen pieces of women's jewelry, a watch, and a screwdriver that was described by the school police officer as a burglary tool. The jewelry found in his backpack included silver wedding bands and earrings with diamonds. When Martin was asked by the officer if the jewelry belonged to his family or a girlfriend, he said a friend had given it to him. When asked for the name of the friend, Martin declined to provide it. The school police impounded the jewelry and sent photographs of it to detectives at Miami-Dade to investigate it further. No evidence surfaced at that time that the jewelry was stolen. An attorney for Martin's family said the parents did not know about the jewelry or screwdriver. Martin was not charged with any crime related to these suspensions and did not have a juvenile record.<ref name="Suspend3x">{{cite news|author=Jeff Burnside and Brian Hamacher|title=Trayvon Martin Suspended From School Three Times|url=http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/Trayvon-Martin-Suspended-From-School-Three-Times-Report-144403305.html|publisher=WTVJ (NBC 6 Miami)|date=March 27, 2012|access-date=September 12, 2013|archive-date=September 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913101850/http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/Trayvon-Martin-Suspended-From-School-Three-Times-Report-144403305.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="multiple suspensions">{{cite news|author=Frances Robles|title=Multiple suspensions paint complicated portrait of Trayvon Martin|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/26/v-fullstory/2714778/thousands-expected-at-trayvon.html|work=Miami Herald|date=March 26, 2012|access-date=September 12, 2013|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060201/http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/26/v-fullstory/2714778/thousands-expected-at-trayvon.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


=== Digital footprint === === Digital footprint ===
Martin, known on ] by the nickname "Slimm", posted thousands of tweets over a period of months, according to the '']''. Martin tweeted his last message two days before he was shot in February 2012.{{#tag:ref|<ref name="mcclatchy tweets" /> The ''Miami Herald'' verified that the account was indeed Trayvon Martin's by cross-referencing his posts with those of the people he referenced.|group="Note"}} According to the ''Herald'', Martin's ] portrayed him as having a sense of humor and a preoccupation with girls and sometimes using profanity or obscene language when discussing sex in his tweets. Martin also enjoyed making jokes on Twitter about ] and posted ] excerpts from films like '']'' and '']'', which both made fun of street culture. Martin liked ] and tweeted about ], ], and ]. He often quoted explicit song lyrics in his tweets. Martin's postings sometimes reflected a personal nature with references to ] doughnuts, ice cream, movies, and all-night study sessions. The ''Miami Herald'' also reported that Martin was unhappy at Krop High School: in one of his tweets, he wrote, "{{small|WULD I MISS KROP?? HELL NAW FUK DA SKOOL, FUK DA LUNCH, ND MOST OF ALL FUK DA FACULTY..... IMA MISS SUM OF DA STUDENTS, MAINLY DA BABIES ;)}}"<ref name="mcclatchy tweets">{{cite news|author = Deborah Acosta|title = What Trayvon Martin's tweets say about him|url = http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/crime/article24727540.html|work = Miami Herald|publisher = McClatchy Washington Bureau|date = April 9, 2013|access-date = September 12, 2013|archive-date = March 4, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055641/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/crime/article24727540.html|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="slate tweets">{{cite news|author=David Weigel|title=The Trayvon Martin Tweets|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2012/03/26/the_trayvon_martin_tweets.html|work=Slate|date=March 26, 2012|access-date=September 13, 2013|archive-date=October 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002231050/http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2012/03/26/the_trayvon_martin_tweets.html|url-status=live}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629202559/http://twitpic.com/photos/NO_LIMIT_NIGGA |date=June 29, 2013|title=Screenshot of Martin's nickname "Slimm" and Twitter handle, NO_LIMIT_NIGGA from Twitpic}}|group="Note"}}
]
Martin, known under the nickname “Slimm” on the ] site ], had tweeted (posted to Twitter feeds) thousands of times over a period of months, according to '']''. Martin tweeted his last message two days before he was shot in February 2012.{{#tag:ref|<ref name="miher tweets"/> The Miami Herald verified the account was Trayvon Martin's by cross-referencing tweets (Twitter posts) from Martin's account with those of people mentioned throughout his tweets.|group="Note"}} According to the ''Herald'', Martin's ] portrayed him as a typical 17-year-old teenager with a sense of humor and a preoccupation with girls, and sometimes using profanity when discussing sex in his tweets. Martin also enjoyed making jokes on Twitter about street culture, and posted ] excerpts from films like '']'' and '']'', which both made fun of ]. Martin liked ] and tweeted about ], ] and ], and often quoted explicit song lyrics in his tweets. Martin's postings sometimes reflected a personal nature with references to ] doughnuts, ice cream, movies and all-night study sessions. The ''Miami Herald'' also reported that Martin was not happy at ]: in one of his tweets he had written, "Hell na f**da skool" in response to his own question, “Wuld I miss Krop?"<ref name="miher tweets">{{cite web|author=Deborah Acosta|title=What Trayvon Martin's tweets say about him|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/08/2738118/what-trayvon-martins-social-media.html|publisher=Miami Herald|date=April 8, 2013|accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref><ref name="mcclatchy tweets">{{cite web|author=Deborah Acosta, Frances Robles (The Miami Herald)|title=What Trayvon Martin's tweets say about him|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/04/09/v-print/144554/what-trayvon-martins-tweets-say.html|publisher=McClatchy Washington Bureau|date=April 9, 2013|accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref><ref name="slate tweets">{{cite web|author=David Weigel|title=The Trayvon Martin Tweets|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2012/03/26/the_trayvon_martin_tweets.html|publisher=Slate|date=March 26, 2012|accessdate=September 13, 2013}}</ref>{{#tag:ref||group="Note"}}


Critics of Martin had pointed out his tattoos, an empty marijuana bag, a photo of Martin with gold ] (a kind of dental jewelry popular in hip-hop culture), and texts from his cell phone to claim he had a violent nature and that there was an effort to keep this information from the public.<ref>Deborah Acosta, April 8, 2012 The Miami Herald<br>* Yamiche Alcindor, December 11, 2012 USA TODAY<br>* Martin family representative Ryan Julison told The Miami Herald that Trayvon did not have permanent grills on his teeth.<br>* Retrieved September 16, 2013</ref> His email and ] accounts were hacked by a ] and selected tweets from his Twitter account were published on the conservative website ]. A picture of Martin making an obscene gesture from his account was widely circulated, while pictures from the account of Martin with a birthday cake, fishing with his father and dressed in a prom suit were not.<ref>Robert Mackey (March 29, 2012) , The New York Times<br>* Deborah Acosta, (April 8, 2012) The Miami Herald<br>* Team Ebony (March 30, 2012) , EBONY<br>* Caroline Bankoff (March 29, 2012) , New York Magazine<br>* Retrieved September 16, 2013</ref> The website ] obtained a screen shot of Martin's email account inbox before it was deleted, showing emails referring to ] exams and scholarship opportunities.<ref>Media that reported on Gawker article<br>* (March 29, 2012) <br>* (April 8, 2012) <br>* (March 29, 2012) <br>* (March 29, 2012) <br>* (April 9, 2012) <br>* (March 30, 2012) <br>* (March 30, 2012) <br>* Retrieved September 18, 2013</ref> During Zimmerman's trial, the judge granted defense lawyers access to Martin's cell phone, social media posts, and Facebook and Twitter accounts, saying that the defense team needed to be able to review the evidence for any indications of violent tendencies.<ref>{{cite web|author=Fox News|title=George Zimmerman's attorneys can examine Trayvon Martin's school, social media records|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/10/19/new-motions-expected-in-trayvon-martin-case-defense-to-ask-for-more-witness/|publisher=Fox News|date=October 19, 2012|accessdate=September 13, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Amanda Evans and Margaret Kavanagh|title=Zimmerman judge allows access to Trayvon Martin's records|url=http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/10/19/george_zimmerman_to_.html?cmpid=breaking|publisher=Central Florida News 13|date=October 19, 2012|accessdate=September 13, 2013}}</ref> Some of the cell phone texts the defense wanted to use showed Martin had texted about his fights, marijuana use, and guns, and that he had described himself as "gangsta". Benjamin Crump, the Martin's family attorney, said whether Martin had worn gold teeth or used an obscene gesture had nothing to do with his death.<ref name="nyt texts">{{cite web|author=Lizette Alvarez|title=Defense in Trayvon Martin Case Raises Questions About the Victim’s Character|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/24/us/zimmermans-lawyers-release-text-messages-of-trayvon-martin.html?_r=0|publisher=The New York Times|date=May 23, 2013|accessdate=September 14, 2013}}</ref><ref name="cnn texts">{{cite web|author=Steve Almasy|title=Zimmerman attorneys: Texts show Trayvon Martin 'hostile' day of shooting|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/26/justice/florida-zimmerman-defense/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=May 28, 2013|accessdate=September 14, 2013}}</ref>{{#tag:ref||group="Note"}} The judge eventually ruled that Martin's social media posts would not be mentioned during the trial, although his marijuana use could be.<ref name="os noweed">{{cite web|author=Rene Stutzman and Jeff Weiner|title=George Zimmerman trial: Trayvon's father takes the stand|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-07-08/news/os-george-zimmerman-trial-day-20-20130708_1_george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-mark-o-mara|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|date=July 8, 2013|accessdate=September 15, 2013}}</ref> The defense did not present any of this information to the jury, and it was not entered into evidence. Critics of Martin had pointed out his tattoos, an empty marijuana bag, a photo of Martin with gold ], and texts from his cell phone to claim he had a violent nature and that there was an effort to keep this information from the public.<ref name="mcclatchy tweets" /><ref><br />* Yamiche Alcindor, December 11, 2012 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018184201/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/11/trayvon-martin-profile/1761373/ |date=October 18, 2017 }} ''USA Today''<br />* Martin family representative Ryan Julison told the ''Miami Herald'' that Trayvon did not have permanent grills on his teeth.<br />* Retrieved September 16, 2013</ref> His email and ] accounts were hacked by a ], and selected tweets from his Twitter account were published on the conservative website '']''. A picture of Martin making an obscene gesture from his account was widely circulated, while pictures from his account of Martin with a birthday cake, fishing with his father, and dressed in a prom suit were not.<ref name="mcclatchy tweets" /><ref>Robert Mackey (March 29, 2012) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002225702/http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/29/bloggers-cherry-pick-from-social-media-to-cast-trayvon-martin-as-a-menace/?_r=1 |date=October 2, 2013 }}, ''The New York Times''<br />* Team Ebony (March 30, 2012) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024063145/http://www.ebony.com/black-listed/news-views/white-supremacist-hacks-trayvon-martins-email |date=October 24, 2013 }}, ''Ebony''<br />* Caroline Bankoff (March 29, 2012) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722020322/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2012/03/white-supremacist-claims-to-have-hacked-trayvon-martins-email-social-media-accounts.html |date=July 22, 2015 }}, ''New York'' magazine<br />* Retrieved September 16, 2013</ref> The website ] obtained a screenshot of Martin's email account inbox before it was deleted, showing emails referring to ] exams and scholarship opportunities.<ref>Media that reported on Gawker article<br />* Robert Mackey (March 29, 2012) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911052521/http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/29/bloggers-cherry-pick-from-social-media-to-cast-trayvon-martin-as-a-menace/ |date=September 11, 2015 }} ''The New York Times''<br />* (April 8, 2012) '' {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508192823/http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/08/2738118/what-trayvon-martins-social-media.html |date=May 8, 2012 }}''<br />* Caroline Bankoff (March 29, 2012) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722020322/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2012/03/white-supremacist-claims-to-have-hacked-trayvon-martins-email-social-media-accounts.html |date=July 22, 2015 }} ''New York'' magazine<br />* Gene Demby (March 29, 2012) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027195259/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/white-supremacist-trayvon-martin-email_n_1389584.html |date=October 27, 2013 }} The Huffington Post<br />* (April 9, 2012) {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912204711/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/04/09/v-print/144554/what-trayvon-martins-tweets-say.html |date=September 12, 2013 }}<br />* Naeesa Aziz (March 30, 2012) BET<br />* Retrieved September 18, 2013</ref> During Zimmerman's trial, the judge granted defense lawyers access to Martin's cell phone, social media posts, and Facebook and Twitter accounts, saying that the defense team needed to be able to review the evidence for any indications of violent tendencies.<ref>{{cite news|title=George Zimmerman's attorneys can examine Trayvon Martin's school, social media records|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/judge-george-zimmermans-attorneys-can-examine-trayvon-martins-school-social-media-records|publisher=Fox News|date=October 19, 2012|access-date=September 13, 2013|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921200204/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/10/19/new-motions-expected-in-trayvon-martin-case-defense-to-ask-for-more-witness/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Amanda Evans and Margaret Kavanagh|title=Zimmerman judge allows access to Trayvon Martin's records|url=http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/10/19/george_zimmerman_to_.html|publisher=Central Florida News 13|date=October 19, 2012|access-date=September 13, 2013|archive-date=October 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021212612/http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/10/19/george_zimmerman_to_.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Some of the cell phone texts the defense wanted to use showed Martin had texted about his fights, marijuana use, and guns, and that he had described himself as "gangsta". Benjamin Crump, the Martins' family attorney, said whether Martin had worn gold teeth or used an obscene gesture had nothing to do with his death.<ref name="nyt texts">{{cite news|author=Lizette Alvarez|title=Defense in Trayvon Martin Case Raises Questions About the Victim's Character|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/24/us/zimmermans-lawyers-release-text-messages-of-trayvon-martin.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=May 23, 2013|access-date=September 14, 2013|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921103432/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/24/us/zimmermans-lawyers-release-text-messages-of-trayvon-martin.html?_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cnn texts">{{cite news|author=Steve Almasy|title=Zimmerman attorneys: Texts show Trayvon Martin 'hostile' day of shooting|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/26/justice/florida-zimmerman-defense/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=May 28, 2013|access-date=September 14, 2013|archive-date=September 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911172012/http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/26/justice/florida-zimmerman-defense/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610225512/http://www.wesh.com/blob/view/-/20272098/data/1/-/noqi40/-/Trayvon-Martins-text-messages.pdf |date=June 10, 2015|title=Transcript of Martin's cell phone texts from November, 2011 to February, 2012.}}|group="Note"}} The judge eventually ruled that Martin's social media posts would not be mentioned during the trial, although his marijuana use could be.<ref name="os noweed">{{cite news|author=Rene Stutzman and Jeff Weiner|title=George Zimmerman trial: Trayvon's father takes the stand|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2013/07/08/george-zimmerman-trial-trayvons-father-takes-the-stand/|work=Orlando Sentinel|date=July 8, 2013|access-date=September 15, 2013|archive-date=September 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915075530/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-07-08/news/os-george-zimmerman-trial-day-20-20130708_1_george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-mark-o-mara|url-status=live}}</ref> The defense did not present any of this information to the jury, and it was not entered into evidence.


Friends of Martin who had known him from Highland Oaks Middle School and Carol City High School and corresponded with him over Twitter, said Martin was not prone to violence. One friend said he was the "walk away" type of guy: "he’d rather walk away than fight." She also said that she had never seen Martin’s purported grills, and did not know he had them until she saw the picture on the news, and she never saw him in public with them on. Another friend from Twitter who had known him since middle school said he was funny and had liked to joke around and make people laugh. A professor of media law at the ], Lyrissa Lidsky, said Martin's social media posts should be taken with a ], because they do not necessarily reflect what a teenager was like in person. She said a person’s online persona may not reflect a true image of who they are, especially with young people. University of Florida criminal law professor Kenneth Nunn said when he was concerned about a person's character, he would look at anything, including what Martin's behavioral traits have been, or may have been over time.<ref name="miher tweets"/> Friends of Martin, who had known him from Highland Oaks Middle School and Carol City High School and corresponded with him over Twitter, said Martin was not prone to violence. One friend said he was the "walk away" type of guy: "he'd rather walk away than fight." She also said that she had never seen Martin's purported grills and did not know he had them until she saw the picture on the news, and that she never saw him in public with them on. Another friend from Twitter who had known him since middle school said he was funny and liked to joke around and make people laugh. A professor of media law at the ], Lyrissa Lidsky, said Martin's social media posts should be taken with a ] because they do not necessarily reflect what a teenager was like in person. She said a person's online persona may not reflect a true image of who they are, especially with young people. University of Florida criminal law professor Kenneth Nunn said when he was concerned about a person's character, he would look at anything, including what Martin's behavioral traits have been or may have been over time.<ref name="mcclatchy tweets" />


At a banquet for ] Broadcasters in Florida, Benjamin Crump and Mark O’Mara, Zimmerman's defense attorney, both said the role that social media played immediately following Martin’s death set a precedent. Crump said that social media had given people who normally would not have a voice in matters like this a chance to engage in the case. O'Mara said the misinformation that was tweeted following Martin's death "caused a firestorm that wasn’t a full picture.<ref name="sentinel crumpomara">{{cite web|author=Desiree Stennett|title=O'Mara, Crump agree: Social media playing key role in Trayvon case|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-04-27/news/os-benjamin-crump-mark-omara-20130427_1_benjamin-crump-trayvon-martin-george-zimmerman|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|date=April 27, 2013|accessdate=September 13, 2014}}</ref><ref name="cbsmiami crumpomara">{{cite web|author=CBS Miami/Associated Press|title=Social Media's Impact On Trayvon Martin Case|url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/04/28/social-medias-impact-on-trayvon-martin-case/|publisher=CBS Miami|date=April 28, 2013|accessdate=September 13, 2014}}</ref> At a banquet for ] Broadcasters in Florida, Benjamin Crump, and Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman's defense attorney, both said the role that social media played immediately following Martin's death set a precedent. Crump said that social media had given people who normally would not have a voice in matters like this a chance to engage in the case. O'Mara said the misinformation that was tweeted following Martin's death "caused a firestorm that wasn't a full picture".<ref name="sentinel crumpomara">{{cite news|author=Desiree Stennett|title=O'Mara, Crump agree: Social media playing key role in Trayvon case|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2013/04/27/omara-crump-agree-social-media-playing-key-role-in-trayvon-case/|work=Orlando Sentinel|date=April 27, 2013|access-date=September 13, 2014|archive-date=June 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603041045/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-04-27/news/os-benjamin-crump-mark-omara-20130427_1_benjamin-crump-trayvon-martin-george-zimmerman|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cbsmiami crumpomara">{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|title=Social Media's Impact On Trayvon Martin Case|url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/04/28/social-medias-impact-on-trayvon-martin-case/|publisher=CBS Miami|date=April 28, 2013|access-date=September 13, 2014|archive-date=December 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219100322/http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/04/28/social-medias-impact-on-trayvon-martin-case/|url-status=live}}</ref>


== The shooting == == Shooting ==
{{main|Shooting of Trayvon Martin}} {{Main|Killing of Trayvon Martin}}
Tracy Martin said he took his son to Sanford “to disconnect and get his priorities straight.<ref name="cbs 1000"/> Martin had been to Twin Lakes several times before with his father, and sometimes played football with the kids in the neighborhood.<ref name="TBT 25March">{{cite web|author=Lane DeGregory|title=Trayvon Martin's killing shatters safety within Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/trayvon-martins-killing-shatters-safety-within-retreat-at-twin-lakes-in/1221799|publisher=Tampa Bay Times|date=March 25, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="CNN avoidable">{{cite news|author=CNN Wire Staff|title=Police: Trayvon Martin's Death Ultimately Avoidable|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/17/justice/florida-teen-shooting |publisher=CNN|date=May 17, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="cjr football">{{cite journal|author=CJR Staff|title=Reporting Trayvon (A CJR guide to some helpful articles)|url=http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/reporting_trayvon.php?page=all|journal=Columbia Journalism Review|date=April 2, 2012|accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref> On the night of the shooting, Tracy was out to dinner with his fiancée, Brandy Green, while Trayvon and Green's son stayed at home, watching TV and playing video games. Trayvon went out, walking to a local ] store where he bought ] for Green's son and an ] watermelon-flavored fruit juice drink.<ref name="mherald">{{cite web|author=Frances S. Robles|title=What is known, what isn't about Trayvon Martin's death|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/31/2725442/what-is-known-what-isnt-about.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20130927021942/http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/31/2725442/what-is-known-what-isnt-about.html|archivedate=September 27, 2013|publisher=Miami Herald|date=March 31, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="mojo">{{cite web|author=Adam Weinstein and MoJo news team|title=The Trayvon Martin Killing, Explained|url=http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/03/what-happened-trayvon-martin-explained|publisher=Mother Jones|date=March 18, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="reuters">{{cite web|author=Daniel Trotta|title=Trayvon Martin: Before the world heard the cries|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/03/us-usa-florida-shooting-trayvon-idUSBRE8320UK20120403|publisher=Reuters|date=April 3, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="usa skittles">{{cite web|author=Associated Press|title=Trayvon Martin's friends say he never picked a fight|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-03-24/trayvon-martin-friends/53744670/1|publisher=USA Today|date=March 24, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="chad click">{{cite web|author=Click Orlando|title=Guide to state witnesses in George Zimmerman trial|url=http://www.clickorlando.com/news/guide-to-state-witnesses-in-george-zimmerman-trial/-/1637132/20789096/-/4mwq2w/-/index.html|publisher=Click Orlando|date=July 2, 2013|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="juice">{{cite web|author=Post Newsweek|title=EVIDENCE: Trayvon Martin's Arizona brand watermelon juice|url=http://www.local10.com/news/evidence-trayvon-martins-arizona-brand-watermelon-juice/-/1717324/20683764/-/b5ehbu/-/index.html|publisher=Local10.com|date=June 23, 2013|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref> Tracy Martin said he took his son to Sanford "to disconnect and get his priorities straight".<ref name="cbs 1000" /> Martin had been to Twin Lakes several times before with his father and sometimes played football with the kids in the neighborhood.<ref name="TBT 25 March">{{cite news|author=Lane DeGregory|title=Trayvon Martin's killing shatters safety within Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/trayvon-martins-killing-shatters-safety-within-retreat-at-twin-lakes-in/1221799|work=Tampa Bay Times|date=March 25, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=August 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810053112/https://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/trayvon-martins-killing-shatters-safety-within-retreat-at-twin-lakes-in/1221799/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="CNN avoidable">{{cite news|title=Police: Trayvon Martin's Death Ultimately Avoidable|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/17/justice/florida-teen-shooting|publisher=CNN|date=May 17, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=October 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007065151/https://www.cnn.com/2012/05/17/justice/florida-teen-shooting|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cjr football">{{cite journal|title=Reporting Trayvon (A CJR guide to some helpful articles)|url=https://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/reporting_trayvon.php?page=all|journal=Columbia Journalism Review|date=April 2, 2012|access-date=September 12, 2013|archive-date=September 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928011912/http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/reporting_trayvon.php?page=all|url-status=live}}</ref> On the night of the shooting, Tracy was out to dinner with his fiancée, Brandy Green, while Tracy's and Green's sons stayed at home, watching TV and playing video games. Trayvon went out, walking to a local ] store where he bought Skittles candy and an Arizona watermelon drink.<ref name="mherald">{{cite news |author=Frances S. Robles|title=What is known, what isn't about Trayvon Martin's death|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/31/v-fullstory/2725442/what-is-known-what-isnt-about.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718121422/http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/31/v-fullstory/2725442/what-is-known-what-isnt-about.html|archive-date=July 18, 2013|work=Miami Herald|date=March 31, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="mojo">{{cite news|author=Adam Weinstein|title=The Trayvon Martin Killing, Explained|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/03/what-happened-trayvon-martin-explained|work=Mother Jones|date=March 18, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=September 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913060422/http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/03/what-happened-trayvon-martin-explained|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="reuters">{{cite news|author=Daniel Trotta|title=Trayvon Martin: Before the world heard the cries|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-florida-shooting-trayvon-idUSBRE8320UK20120403|publisher=Reuters|date=April 3, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=April 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406210023/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/03/us-usa-florida-shooting-trayvon-idUSBRE8320UK20120403|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="usa skittles">{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|title=Trayvon Martin's friends say he never picked a fight|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-03-24/trayvon-martin-friends/53744670/1|work=USA Today|date=March 24, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=September 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927202336/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-03-24/trayvon-martin-friends/53744670/1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="chad click">{{cite news|title=Guide to state witnesses in George Zimmerman trial|url=http://www.clickorlando.com/news/guide-to-state-witnesses-in-george-zimmerman-trial/-/1637132/20789096/-/4mwq2w/-/index.html|publisher=Click Orlando|date=July 2, 2013|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=July 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705052507/http://www.clickorlando.com/news/guide-to-state-witnesses-in-george-zimmerman-trial/-/1637132/20789096/-/4mwq2w/-/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="juice">{{cite news|agency=Post Newsweek|title=EVIDENCE: Trayvon Martin's Arizona brand watermelon juice|url=http://www.local10.com/news/evidence-trayvon-martins-arizona-brand-watermelon-juice/-/1717324/20683764/-/b5ehbu/-/index.html|publisher=Local10.com|date=June 23, 2013|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=July 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709201728/http://www.local10.com/news/evidence-trayvon-martins-arizona-brand-watermelon-juice/-/1717324/20683764/-/b5ehbu/-/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>


After returning from the store to the Twin Lakes neighborhood, ], a volunteer Neighborhood Watch person, spotted Martin, who was {{height|precision=2|ft=5|in=11}} tall and weighed {{convert|158|lb|kg}} at the time of his death.<ref name="tampa htwt"/> Zimmerman called Sanford police to report Martin, who he said was acting suspiciously. Moments later, there was an altercation between the two individuals which resulted in Martin being shot and killed. Zimmerman claimed self-defense in shooting Martin and was eventually charged in Martin's death. On June 10, 2013, ] began in Sanford and on July 13, a jury acquitted him of second-degree murder and of manslaughter charges.<ref name="orsent">{{cite web|author=Bianca Prieto|title=Trayvon Martin: 'We are gathered here today to demand justice' in teen's fatal shooting|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-14/news/os-trayvon-martin-shooting-death-rally-20120314_1_shooting-death-bryant-chief-bill-lee|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|date=March 14, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="nytimes">{{cite web|author=Serge F. Kovaleski and Lizette Alvarez|title=A Day in Court and a New Lawyer for Defendant in Martin Case|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/13/us/george-zimmerman-to-appear-in-court.html?_r=2&|publisher=The New York Times|date=April 12, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="acquitted">{{cite web|author=Adrian Camp O-Flores and Lynn Waddell|title=Jury Acquits Zimmerman of All Charges|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324879504578603562762064502.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|date=July 14, 2013|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref> As Martin was returning from the store to the Twin Lakes neighborhood, ], a volunteer Neighborhood Watch person, spotted Martin, who was {{height|precision=2|ft=5|in=11}} tall and weighed {{convert|158|lb|kg}} at the time of his death.<ref name="tampa htwt" /> Zimmerman called Sanford police to report Martin, who he said appeared "suspicious". There was an altercation between the two individuals in which Zimmerman shot Martin, killing him. Zimmerman claimed self-defense<ref name=reach /> and was eventually charged in Martin's death. On June 10, 2013, ] began in Sanford, and on July 13, a jury acquitted him of second-degree murder and of manslaughter charges.<ref name="orsent">{{cite news|author=Bianca Prieto|title=Trayvon Martin: 'We are gathered here today to demand justice' in teen's fatal shooting|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2012/03/14/trayvon-martin-shooting-another-neighborhood-watch-leaders-view/|work=Orlando Sentinel|date=March 14, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=January 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111080959/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-14/news/os-trayvon-martin-shooting-death-rally-20120314_1_shooting-death-bryant-chief-bill-lee|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|author=Serge F. Kovaleski and Lizette Alvarez|title=A Day in Court and a New Lawyer for Defendant in Martin Case|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/13/us/george-zimmerman-to-appear-in-court.html?_r=2&|work=The New York Times|date=April 12, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308141015/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/13/us/george-zimmerman-to-appear-in-court.html?_r=2&|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="acquitted">{{cite news|author=Adrian Camp O-Flores and Lynn Waddell|title=Jury Acquits Zimmerman of All Charges|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324879504578603562762064502?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=July 14, 2013|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013224908/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324879504578603562762064502?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories|url-status=live}}</ref>


== Aftermath and media discourse == == Aftermath and media discourse ==
=== In 2012 ===
Martin's parents, upset that an arrest had not been made in their son's death, contacted Martin's sister-in-law, an attorney who put them in touch with ], a ] attorney from ]. Crump took their case ] and retained Natalie Jackson, an attorney familiar with Sanford and Seminole County who specialized in women's and children's cases, to help with the Martin case. On March 5, Jackson asked Ryan Julison to help as well. A ], Julison initially approached several national media contacts about covering the shooting. Over the next few days and weeks, the national media started reporting on the shooting, including: ], ], ] and ].<ref name="reuters"/><ref name="abc first report">{{cite web|author=Matthew Rosenbaum|title=Florida Family Seeks Justice After Unarmed Teen Shot By Neighborhood Watch Captain|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/florida-family-seeks-justice-unarmed-teen-shot-neighborhood/story?id=15888961|publisher=ABC News|date=March 9, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="cnn first report">{{cite web|author=Vivian Kuo|title=Florida teen's shooting by watchman questioned|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2012-03-12/justice/justice_florida-teen-shot_1_martin-family-gated-community-dispatcher|publisher=CNN|date=March 12, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="post first report">{{cite web|author=Paul Farhi|title=Trayon Martin story found the media|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/trayvon-martin-story-found-the-media/2012/04/12/gIQA9VGmDT_story.html|publisher=The Washington Post|date=April 12, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref> The '']'' reported that in the 30 days following the shooting, the name “Trayvon” was tweeted more than two million times.<ref name="mherald"/>


=== 2012 ===
On March 8, Kevin Cunningham, a social media coordinator who had read about Martin's death, created a petition on ] which became the largest in the website’s history a few weeks later with 2.2 million signatures. Cunningham said he started the online petition demanding that authorities prosecute Zimmerman and when the number of signatures reached 10,000, he transferred the petition to Martin's parents after Change.org contacted him. Cunningham was the media coordinator for KinderUSA, and said he fell in love with social media during the ] and was inspired by the ]. He thought Martin's death could be a similar situation where the death of one person could trigger a reevaluation of society, and revolutionize the justice system and the culture.<ref name="msnbc petn"/>
Martin's parents, upset that an arrest had not been made in their son's death, contacted Martin's sister-in-law, an attorney who put them in touch with ], a ] attorney from ]. Crump took their case '']'' and retained Natalie Jackson, an attorney familiar with Sanford and Seminole County who specialized in women's and children's cases, to help with the Martin case. On March 5, Jackson asked Ryan Julison to help as well. A ], Julison initially approached several national media contacts about covering the shooting. Over the next few days and weeks, the national media started reporting on the shooting, including: ], '']'', ''],'' and ].<ref name="reuters" /><ref name="abc first report">{{cite news|author=Matthew Rosenbaum|title=Florida Family Seeks Justice After Unarmed Teen Shot By Neighborhood Watch Captain|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/florida-family-seeks-justice-unarmed-teen-shot-neighborhood/story?id=15888961|publisher=ABC News|date=March 9, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=September 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928204403/http://abcnews.go.com/US/florida-family-seeks-justice-unarmed-teen-shot-neighborhood/story?id=15888961|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cnn first report">{{cite news|author=Vivian Kuo|title=Florida teen's shooting by watchman questioned|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2012-03-12/justice/justice_florida-teen-shot_1_martin-family-gated-community-dispatcher|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119100258/http://articles.cnn.com/2012-03-12/justice/justice_florida-teen-shot_1_martin-family-gated-community-dispatcher|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 19, 2013|publisher=CNN|date=March 12, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="post first report">{{cite news|author=Paul Farhi|title=Trayvon Martin story found the media|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/trayvon-martin-story-found-the-media/2012/04/12/gIQA9VGmDT_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 12, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=July 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728033609/http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/trayvon-martin-story-found-the-media/2012/04/12/gIQA9VGmDT_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The '']'' reported that in the 30 days following the shooting, the name Trayvon was tweeted more than two million times.<ref name="mherald" />


On March 8, Kevin Cunningham, a social media coordinator who had read about Martin's death, created a petition on ], which became the largest in the website's history a few weeks later with 2.2 million signatures. Cunningham said he started the online petition demanding that authorities prosecute Zimmerman, and when the number of signatures reached 10,000, he transferred the petition to Martin's parents after Change.org contacted him. Cunningham was the media coordinator for KinderUSA and said he fell in love with social media during the ] and was inspired by the ]. He thought Martin's death could be a similar situation where the death of one person could trigger a reevaluation of society and revolutionize the justice system and the culture.<ref name="msnbc petn" />
]
After the death of Martin, the media focus on the case was instrumental in developing a national debate about racial profiling and ], with marches and rallies held across the United States.<ref name="cbsmiami rallies">{{cite web|author=CBS Miami/Associated Press|title=Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson Speak At "Justice For Trayvon" March in Sanford|url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/03/31/119216/|publisher=CBS Miami|date=March 31, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref> One of the larger rallies, called the “Million Hoodie March” was held in ] in ] on March 21. People wore hoodies to symbolize their support for Martin, and against profiling used against non-white youths in hoodies. According to ], close to five thousand people attended the March, while other media outlet's estimated the supporters to be in the hundreds.<ref name="time hoodie">{{cite web|author=Jared T. Miller|title="Million Hoodie March" in New York Rallies Support for Trayvon Martin|url=http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/03/22/million-hoodie-march-in-new-york-rallies-support-for-trayvon-martin/|publisher=TIME|date=March 22, 2012|accessdate=September 14, 2014}}</ref><ref name="huffpo hoodie">{{cite web|author=Deepthi Hajela|title=Trayvon Martin 'Million Hoodie March' March Draws Hundreds In New York City|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/21/trayvon-martin-million-hoodie-march_n_1371403.html/|publisher=The Huffington Post|date=March 21, 2012|accessdate=September 14, 2014}}</ref> Martin's parents spoke at the event and many of the participants at the event were ] who had been evicted the night before from Union Square and returned for the March.<ref name="cbsny rallies">{{cite web|author=CBS New York Press|title='Million Hoodie March' Held in Union Square In Memory Of Slain Florida Teenager|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/03/21/march-to-be-held-in-union-square-in-memory-of-slain-florida-teenager/|publisher=CBS New York|date=March 21, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="salon rallies">{{cite web|author=Natasha Lennard|title=Occupiers march for Trayvon Martin at "Million Hoodie March"|url=http://www.salon.com/2012/03/22/occupiers_march_for_trayvon_martin_at_million_hoodie_march/|publisher=Salon|date=March 22, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref>


]
At a White House press conference in March, ] was asked about the Martin shooting, and said, "If I had a son he would look like Trayvon and I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves." ], the Republican presidential candidate at the time, said that a full inquiry was needed so that "justice could be carried out with impartiality and integrity".<ref name="obama">{{cite web|author=Matt Williams|title=Obama: Trayvon Martin death a tragedy that must be fully investigated |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/23/obama-trayvon-martin-tragedy|publisher=The Guardian|date=March 23, 2012|accessdate=September 12, 2013|location=London}}</ref> The ] reported in March that media coverage of the Martin case had become the first news story in 2012 to be reported on more than the ].<ref name="coverage of martin case">{{cite web|author=Eric Deggans|title=Update: Trayvon Martin story now more covered than presidential race|url=http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/media/content/trayvon-martin-update-story-now-more-covered-presidential-race|publisher=Tampa Bay Times|date=March 30, 2012|accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref>
After the death of Martin, the media focus on the case was instrumental in developing a national debate about racial profiling and ], with marches and rallies held across the United States.<ref name="cbsmiami rallies">{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|title=Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson Speak At "Justice For Trayvon" March in Sanford|url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/03/31/119216/|publisher=CBS Miami|date=March 31, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=October 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220159/http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/03/31/119216/|url-status=live}}</ref> One of the larger rallies, the "Million Hoodie March", was held in ] in ] on March 21. People wore hoodies to symbolize their support for Martin and against profiling used against non-white youths in hoodies. According to ], close to five thousand people attended the March, while other media outlets estimated the supporters to be in the hundreds.<ref name="time hoodie">{{cite magazine|author=Jared T. Miller|title="Million Hoodie March" in New York Rallies Support for Trayvon Martin|url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2012/03/22/million-hoodie-march-in-new-york-rallies-support-for-trayvon-martin/|magazine=Time|date=March 22, 2012|access-date=September 14, 2014|archive-date=August 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814232755/http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/03/22/million-hoodie-march-in-new-york-rallies-support-for-trayvon-martin/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="huffpo hoodie">{{cite news|author=Deepthi Hajela|title=Trayvon Martin 'Million Hoodie March' March Draws Hundreds In New York City|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/21/trayvon-martin-million-hoodie-march_n_1371403.html/|work=The Huffington Post|date=March 21, 2012|access-date=September 14, 2014|archive-date=October 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002154530/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/21/trayvon-martin-million-hoodie-march_n_1371403.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Martin's parents spoke at the event, and many of the participants at the event were ] who had been evicted the night before from Union Square and returned for the March.<ref name="cbsny rallies">{{cite news|agency=CBS New York Press|title='Million Hoodie March' Held in Union Square In Memory Of Slain Florida Teenager|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/03/21/march-to-be-held-in-union-square-in-memory-of-slain-florida-teenager/|publisher=CBS New York|date=March 21, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=October 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004225733/http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/03/21/march-to-be-held-in-union-square-in-memory-of-slain-florida-teenager/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="salon rallies">{{cite news|author=Natasha Lennard|title=Occupiers march for Trayvon Martin at "Million Hoodie March"|url=http://www.salon.com/2012/03/22/occupiers_march_for_trayvon_martin_at_million_hoodie_march/|work=Salon|date=March 22, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=July 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722103536/http://www.salon.com/2012/03/22/occupiers_march_for_trayvon_martin_at_million_hoodie_march/|url-status=live}}</ref>


At a White House press conference in March, ] was asked about the Martin shooting and said, "If I had a son he would look like Trayvon and I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves." ], the Republican presidential candidate at the time, said that a full inquiry was needed so that "justice could be carried out with impartiality and integrity".<ref name="obama">{{cite news |author=Matt Williams|title=Obama: Trayvon Martin death a tragedy that must be fully investigated |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/23/obama-trayvon-martin-tragedy|work=The Guardian|date=March 23, 2012|access-date=September 12, 2013|location=New York|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909200341/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/23/obama-trayvon-martin-tragedy|archive-date=9 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The ] reported in March that media coverage of the Martin case had become the first news story in 2012 to be reported on more than the ].<ref name="coverage of martin case">{{cite news|author=Eric Deggans|title=Update: Trayvon Martin story now more covered than presidential race|url=http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/media/content/trayvon-martin-update-story-now-more-covered-presidential-race|work=Tampa Bay Times|date=March 30, 2012|access-date=September 12, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004214442/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/media/content/trayvon-martin-update-story-now-more-covered-presidential-race|archive-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref>
In June, Martin's parents and members of the Second Chance on Shoot First campaign, delivered a petition with 340,000 signatures to the Citizen Safety and Protection task force asking for changes to the ] in Florida. Governor Rick Scott had established the task force after Martin's death to review and make recommendations about the law. Florida was the first state to pass a law that allowed an individual who feels threatened to stand his or her ground.<ref name="usa syg">{{cite web|author=Yamiche Alcindor and Gary Strauss|title=Trayvon's parents protest use of 'stand your ground'|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-06-12/stand-your-ground-law/55544756/1|publisher=USA TODAY|date=June 12, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="salon orlsent">{{cite web|author=Steve Klingaman (Editor's Pick)|title=Ten Reasons to Repeal Stand Your Ground Laws|url=http://open.salon.com/blog/steve_klingaman/2012/04/11/ten_reasons_to_repeal_stand_your_ground_laws_for_trayvon_martin_at_million_hoodie_march/|publisher=Open Salon|date=April 11, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref> Joëlle Anne Moreno, a former ], who was part of the task force said it was "clear that there was lots of confusion around the statute." ], a ] (NRA) lobbyist and former NRA president who had helped write Florida’s law, said the law was not about one incident and there was nothing wrong with the law.<ref name="csm syg">{{cite web|author=Patrik Jonsson|title=Trayvon Martin case reveals confusion over how Stand Your Ground works|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2012/0411/Trayvon-Martin-case-reveals-confusion-over-how-Stand-Your-Ground-works|publisher=The Christian Science Monitor|date=April 11, 2012|accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref> The task force eventually recommended against repealing the statute, saying that Florida residents had a right to defend themselves with deadly force without a duty to retreat if they feel threatened.<ref name="pbptaskforce">{{cite web|author=Dara Kam|title=Florida's Stand Your Ground panel: keep self-defense law intact|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/stand-your-ground-panel-keep-self-defense-law-inta/nS5yj/|publisher=Palm Beach Post|date=November 13, 2012|accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref>
{{#tag:ref|Second Chance on Shoot First is a coalition that includes New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the NAACP and the National Urban League.<ref name="usa syg"/><br>* |group="Note"}}


In June, Martin's parents and members of the Second Chance on Shoot First campaign delivered a petition with 340,000 signatures to the Citizen Safety and Protection task force asking for changes to the ] in Florida. Governor ] had established the task force after Martin's death to review and make recommendations about the law. Florida was the first state to pass a law that allowed an individual who felt threatened to stand their ground.<ref name="usa syg">{{cite news|author=Yamiche Alcindor and Gary Strauss|title=Trayvon's parents protest use of 'stand your ground'|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-06-12/stand-your-ground-law/55544756/1|work=USA Today|date=June 12, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304092443/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-06-12/stand-your-ground-law/55544756/1|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="salon orlsent">{{cite news |author=Steve Klingaman |title=Ten Reasons to Repeal Stand Your Ground Laws|url=http://open.salon.com/blog/steve_klingaman/2012/04/11/ten_reasons_to_repeal_stand_your_ground_laws_for_trayvon_martin_at_million_hoodie_march/|publisher=Open Salon|date=April 11, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2013}}{{deadlink|date=September 2023}}</ref> Joëlle Anne Moreno, a former ], who was part of the task force said it was "clear that there was lots of confusion around the statute". ], a ] (NRA) lobbyist and former NRA president who had helped write Florida's law, said the law was not about one incident and there was nothing wrong with the law.<ref name="csm syg">{{cite news |author=Patrik Jonsson|title=Trayvon Martin case reveals confusion over how Stand Your Ground works|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2012/0411/Trayvon-Martin-case-reveals-confusion-over-how-Stand-Your-Ground-works|work=The Christian Science Monitor|date=April 11, 2012|access-date=September 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412212652/http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2012/0411/Trayvon-Martin-case-reveals-confusion-over-how-Stand-Your-Ground-works|archive-date=April 12, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The task force eventually recommended against repealing the statute, saying Florida residents had a right to defend themselves with deadly force without a duty to retreat if they feel threatened.<ref name="pbptaskforce">{{cite news |author=Dara Kam|title=Florida's Stand Your Ground panel: keep self-defense law intact|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/stand-your-ground-panel-keep-self-defense-law-inta/nS5yj/|work=Palm Beach Post|date=November 13, 2012|access-date=September 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119032834/http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/stand-your-ground-panel-keep-self-defense-law-inta/nS5yj/|archive-date=November 19, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Stand-your-ground laws were not used as a legal defense in the trial of George Zimmerman and had no legal role in his eventual acquittal.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Mark O'Mara: George Zimmerman verdict the same without Stand Your Ground |url=http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=325766 |publisher=CBS 10 |location=Tampa Bay and Sarasota |date=July 18, 2013 |accessdate=February 28, 2014}}</ref><ref name="CBS News">{{cite news|author=<!--staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=George Zimmerman's attorneys won't use "stand your ground" defense |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/george-zimmermans-attorneys-wont-use-stand-your-ground-defense/|publisher=CBS News|agency=Associated Press |date=August 13, 2012|accessdate=February 28, 2014}}</ref><ref name="ABC News">{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/floridas-stand-ground-law-determine-zimmerman-dunn-cases/story?id=22543929|title=No, Florida's Stand Your Ground Law Did Not Determine Either Zimmerman or Dunn Cases |first=Dan|last=Abrams|date=February 7, 2014|accessdate=February 28, 2014|publisher=ABC}}</ref>
{{#tag:ref|Second Chance on Shoot First is a coalition that includes New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the NAACP and the National Urban League.<ref name="usa syg" /><br />* |group="Note"}}


Stand-your-ground laws were not used as a legal defense in the trial of George Zimmerman and had no legal role in his eventual acquittal.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Mark O'Mara: George Zimmerman verdict the same without Stand Your Ground |url=http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=325766 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140301045850/http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=325766 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 1, 2014 |publisher=CBS 10 |location=Tampa Bay and Sarasota |date=July 18, 2013 |access-date=February 28, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="CBS News">{{cite news|author=<!--staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=George Zimmerman's attorneys won't use "stand your ground" defense|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/george-zimmermans-attorneys-wont-use-stand-your-ground-defense/|publisher=CBS News|agency=Associated Press|date=August 13, 2012|access-date=February 28, 2014|archive-date=March 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305071657/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/george-zimmermans-attorneys-wont-use-stand-your-ground-defense/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ABC News">{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/floridas-stand-ground-law-determine-zimmerman-dunn-cases/story?id=22543929|title=No, Florida's Stand Your Ground Law Did Not Determine Either Zimmerman or Dunn Cases|first=Dan|last=Abrams|date=February 7, 2014|access-date=February 28, 2014|publisher=ABC|archive-date=February 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227044821/http://abcnews.go.com/US/floridas-stand-ground-law-determine-zimmerman-dunn-cases/story?id=22543929|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== In 2013 ===
In an interview with ''New York Times'' columnist ] in June, Martin's mother was asked about the texts recovered from her son's cell phone. She said that she was skeptical about the truthfulness of those claims and didn't know if they were real or not. She just wanted the world to remember him “as just an average teenager, somebody that was struggling through life, but nevertheless had a life.”<ref name="nyt blow">{{cite web|author=Charles M. Blow|title=Sybrina's Sorrow|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/05/opinion/the-sorrow-of-trayvon-martins-mother.html?_r=0|publisher=The New York Times|date=June 5, 2013|accessdate=September 15, 2013}}</ref>


In March 2012, Martin's parents created the Trayvon Martin Foundation, which is dedicated to helping families that have lost children to gun violence.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620060607/https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2018/07/31/631897758/a-look-back-at-trayvon-martins-death-and-the-movement-it-inspired |date=June 20, 2021 }} NPR, July 31, 2018, Karen Grigsby Bates</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.trayvonmartinfoundation.org/ |title=TMF – Travon Martin Foundation |publisher=Trayvonmartinfoundation.org |date= |accessdate=2022-03-04 |archive-date=June 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620184859/https://www.trayvonmartinfoundation.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Politicians, celebrities, musicians, civil rights leaders and citizens all expressed their opinions on every form of media following the acquittal of Zimmerman.<ref>Media reporting after acquittal in July, 2013<br>* , (Politicians)<br>* , (Celebrities)<br>* , (Musicians)<br>* , (Social media)<br>* , (Social media)<br>* Retrieved: September 2013</ref> Four days after the acquittal, a group calling themselves the Dream Defenders, began a sit-in at the ] to force a special legislative session on Florida's stand your ground law. After 31 days, their occupation of the Capitol ended without a special session being called.<ref name="yahoo dream">{{cite web|author=Bill Cotterell (Reuters)|title='Stand Your Ground' protesters end sit-in at Florida state Capitol|url=http://news.yahoo.com/stand-ground-protesters-end-sit-florida-state-capitol-144853777.html|publisher=YAHOO NEWS|date=August 16, 2013|accessdate=September 13, 2013}}</ref> A group of Martin supporters walked from ] to Sanford to highlight what they believed were injustices concerning Florida's stand your ground law. The six day walk was called the "Walk for Dignity," and ended with a community forum being held and a dedication of the Trayvon Martin memorial at the Goldsboro Westside Historical Museum, in Sanford.<ref name="wftv mem"/> In ] an area of a garden at ] was dedicated to Martin in celebration of the 50th anniversary of ] ] speech. A march was also held at the dedication to teach students how to express their ] rights while standing their ground for youth Civil Rights, according to the school.<ref name="cbs losang">{{cite web|author=CBSLA.com|title=Crenshaw High School Hosts Trayvon Martin Dedication For MLK Jr. Anniversary|url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/08/27/crenshaw-high-school-to-host-garden-beautification-trayvon-martin-memorial-dedication/|publisher=CBS Los Angeles|date=August 27, 2013|accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref>


=== 2013 ===
<br>Video of President Obama's Remarks<br>* |group="Note"}}]]
Martin's parents and their legal team enlisted the public relations services of The TASC Group to manage media attention around Martin's death and Zimmerman's subsequent trial.<ref name="prsa">{{cite news|author=The Trayvon Martin Foundation|title=The Trayvon Martin Story|url=http://apps.prsa.org/SearchResults/View/6BE-1412C06/0/The_Trayvon_Martin_Story#.WUGmqmgrKUm|work=The Public Relations Society of America|date=June 5, 2014|access-date=June 14, 2017|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018183737/http://apps.prsa.org/SearchResults/View/6BE-1412C06/0/The_Trayvon_Martin_Story#.WUGmqmgrKUm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="The Daily Narrative">{{cite news|author=The Daily Narrative|title=Sybrina Fulton & Tracy Martin Comment on President Obama's Remarks About Trayvon Martin|url=http://www.thedailynarrative.com/2013/07/19/trayvon-martins-parents-sybrina-fulton-and-tracy-martin-respond-to-president-obamas-remarks-about-their-son/.html|work=The Daily Narrative|date=July 19, 2013|access-date=June 14, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018184214/http://www.thedailynarrative.com/2013/07/19/trayvon-martins-parents-sybrina-fulton-and-tracy-martin-respond-to-president-obamas-remarks-about-their-son/.html|archive-date=October 18, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Savannah Morning News">{{cite news|author=Sean Hogan, Mary Carr Mayle|title=Wading through a PR crisis|url=http://savannahnow.com/sean-horgan-and-mary-carr-mayle/2013-06-25/wading-through-pr-crisis#|work=Savannah Now|date=June 25, 2013|access-date=June 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018184219/http://savannahnow.com/sean-horgan-and-mary-carr-mayle/2013-06-25/wading-through-pr-crisis|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="The Tasc Group">{{cite news|author=The Tasc Group|title=The Tasc Group Clients|url=http://www.thetascgroup.com/clients/|work=The Tasc Group|date=June 25, 2013|access-date=June 14, 2017|archive-date=June 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613083800/http://www.thetascgroup.com/clients/|url-status=live}}</ref> In an interview with ''New York Times'' columnist ] in June, Martin's mother was asked about the texts recovered from her son's cell phone, which "appeared to show a boy who used marijuana, was involved in fights and had a handgun". She said that she was skeptical about the truthfulness of those claims and did not know if they were real or not. She wanted the world to remember him "as just an average teenager, somebody that was struggling through life, but nevertheless had a life".<ref name="nyt blow">{{cite news|author=Charles M. Blow|title=Sybrina's Sorrow|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/05/opinion/the-sorrow-of-trayvon-martins-mother.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=June 5, 2013|access-date=September 15, 2013|archive-date=June 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610162125/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/05/opinion/the-sorrow-of-trayvon-martins-mother.html?_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{main|Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago}}
In July, President Obama made comments about the death of Martin after the acquittal of Zimmerman. He said, "I think it would be useful for us to examine some state and local laws to see ... if they are designed in such a way that they may encourage the kinds of altercations and confrontations and tragedies that we saw in the Florida case, rather than defuse potential altercations." The President also talked about his experiences of being an African-American man in this country and a history of racial disparities in the law and how it's applied to the African-American community, in everything from the death penalty to drug laws. The President said it was those experiences that had an impact on how the African-American community interpreted what happened that night in Florida. It was during these remarks when President Obama said, "Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago."<ref name="cnn 35years">{{cite web|author=Tom Cohen|title=Obama: 'Trayvon Martin could have been me'|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/19/politics/obama-zimmerman/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=July 19, 2013|accessdate=September 15, 2013|location=Washington D.C.}}</ref><ref name="huffpost obama">{{cite web|author=Amanda Terkel|title=Obama Calls For Review Of 'Stand Your Ground' Laws After Trayvon Martin Verdict|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/19/obama-stand-your-ground_n_3624594.html|publisher=The Huffington Post|date=July 19, 2013|accessdate=September 13, 2013 }}</ref>


Politicians, celebrities, musicians, civil rights leaders, and citizens all expressed their opinions on every form of media following the acquittal of Zimmerman.<ref>Media reporting after acquittal in July 2013<br />* Ryan J. Reilly {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021084526/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/14/politicians-george-zimmerman_n_3594484.html |date=October 21, 2013 }} The Huffington Post, (Politicians)<br />* Andrea Mandell {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904175552/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/07/13/celebs-react-to-george-zimmerman-verdit/2515113/ |date=September 4, 2017 }} ''USA Today'', (Celebrities)<br />* Miriam Coleman {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919190622/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/musicians-react-to-george-zimmerman-verdict-20130714 |date=September 19, 2017 }} ''Rolling Stone'', (Musicians)<br />* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018185229/https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/07/13/reactions-to-zimmerman-not-guilty-verdict-flood-social-media/ |date=October 18, 2017 }} ''The Wall Street Journal'', (Social media)<br />* Emanuella Grinberg {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005033049/http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/13/justice/zimmerman-verdict-reax/index.html |date=October 5, 2013 }} CNN, (Social media)<br /></ref> Four days after the acquittal, a group calling themselves the Dream Defenders began a sit-in at the ] to force a special legislative session on Florida's stand-your-ground law. After 31 days, their occupation of the Capitol ended without a special session being called.<ref name="yahoo dream">{{cite news|author=Bill Cotterell|agency=Reuters|title='Stand Your Ground' protesters end sit-in at Florida state Capitol|url=https://news.yahoo.com/stand-ground-protesters-end-sit-florida-state-capitol-144853777.html|publisher=Yahoo News|date=August 16, 2013|access-date=September 13, 2013|archive-date=August 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827043518/http://news.yahoo.com/stand-ground-protesters-end-sit-florida-state-capitol-144853777.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A group of Martin supporters walked from ], to Sanford to highlight what they believed were injustices concerning Florida's stand-your-ground law. The six-day walk was called the "Walk for Dignity" and ended with a community forum being held and a dedication of the Trayvon Martin memorial at the Goldsboro Westside Historical Museum in Sanford.<ref name="wftv mem" /> In ], an area of a garden at ] was dedicated to Martin in celebration of the 50th anniversary of ]'s "]" speech. A march was also held at the dedication to teach students how to express their ] rights while standing their ground for youth Civil Rights, according to the school.<ref name="cbs losang">{{cite news|title=Crenshaw High School Hosts Trayvon Martin Dedication For MLK Jr. Anniversary|url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/08/27/crenshaw-high-school-to-host-garden-beautification-trayvon-martin-memorial-dedication/|publisher=CBS Los Angeles|date=August 27, 2013|access-date=September 12, 2013|archive-date=August 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831101559/http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/08/27/crenshaw-high-school-to-host-garden-beautification-trayvon-martin-memorial-dedication/|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== In 2014 ===

On July 19, 2014, ] in ] was scheduled to hold a "peace walk and peace talk" hosted by Trayvon Martin's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin.<ref>{{Cite news
<br />Video of President Obama's Remarks<br />* |group="Note"}}]]
In July, President Obama ] about the death of Martin after the acquittal of Zimmerman. He said, "I think it would be useful for us to examine some state and local laws to see ... if they are designed in such a way that they may encourage the kinds of altercations and confrontations and tragedies that we saw in the Florida case, rather than defuse potential altercations." He stated that "The African-American community is also knowledgeable that there is a history of racial disparities in the application of our criminal laws, everything from the death penalty to enforcement of our drug laws". It was during these remarks when President Obama said, "Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago."<ref name="cnn 35years">{{cite news|author=Tom Cohen|title=Obama: 'Trayvon Martin could have been me'|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/19/politics/obama-zimmerman/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=July 19, 2013|access-date=September 15, 2013|location=Washington D.C.|archive-date=September 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922140046/http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/19/politics/obama-zimmerman/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="huffpost obama">{{cite news|author=Amanda Terkel|title=Obama Calls For Review Of 'Stand Your Ground' Laws After Trayvon Martin Verdict|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/19/obama-stand-your-ground_n_3624594.html|work=The Huffington Post|date=July 19, 2013|access-date=September 13, 2013|archive-date=September 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930154433/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/19/obama-stand-your-ground_n_3624594.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2014 and later ===
On July 19, 2014, ] in ] was scheduled to hold a "peace walk and peace talk" hosted by Martin's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin.<ref>{{Cite news
| last = Merl
| first = Jean
| title = Celebrities to attend peace walk, talk today to honor Trayvon Martin | title = Celebrities to attend peace walk, talk today to honor Trayvon Martin
| work = ] | work = ]
| accessdate = 2014-07-20 | access-date = July 20, 2014
| date = 2014-07-19 | date = July 19, 2014
| url = http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-trayvon-foundation-peace-walk-20140719-story.html#navtype=outfit | url = http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-trayvon-foundation-peace-walk-20140719-story.html#navtype=outfit
| archive-date = July 19, 2014
}}</ref>
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140719185126/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-trayvon-foundation-peace-walk-20140719-story.html#navtype=outfit
| url-status = live
}}</ref> On May 13, 2017, Martin posthumously received a bachelor's degree in aeronautical science from ] "in honor of the steps he took during his young life toward becoming a pilot". Martin's parents accepted the award for their son.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hauser|first=Christine|title=Florida University to Award Posthumous Degree to Trayvon Martin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/05/us/trayvon-martin-degree.html|access-date=May 7, 2017|work=]|date=May 5, 2017|archive-date=May 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507083222/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/05/us/trayvon-martin-degree.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2017, Martin's parents (under ]) published a book about Martin's life and death entitled '']''.<ref name="penguin random house">{{cite web|title=Rest in Power|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/243453/rest-in-power-by-sybrina-fulton-and-tracy-martin/9780812997231/|website=Penguin Random House|access-date=December 29, 2017|archive-date=December 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230171952/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/243453/rest-in-power-by-sybrina-fulton-and-tracy-martin/9780812997231/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2020, a street in front of the Dr. Michael M. Krop High School in Miami that Martin attended was named "Trayvon Martin Avenue".<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184924/https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/10/11/us/trayvon-martin-street-named-miami-trnd/index.html |date=July 9, 2021 }} CNN, Kelly Murray, October 11, 2020</ref>

== See also ==
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==See also==
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== Notes == == Notes ==
{{reflist|group="Note"}} {{reflist|group="Note"}}


== References == == References ==
{{reflist|30em}} {{reflist|refs=
<ref name="reach">{{cite web |title= ABC News Exclusive: Zimmerman Medical Report Shows Broken Nose, Lacerations After Trayvon Martin Shooting |author= Matt Gutman and Seni Tienabeso |url= https://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimmerman-medical-report-sheds-light-injuries-trayvon/story?id=16353532 |website= abcnews.go.com |quote= Zimmerman has claimed self-defense in what he described as a life and death struggle that Martin initiated by accosting him, punching him in the face, then repeatedly bashing his head into the pavement" (in paragraph 2), and paragraph 12, "He later told officers his head was being pounded into the pavement and that he feared for his life, but that it was only when Martin seemed to reach for the gun wedges {{sic}} in his waistband that Zimmerman drew his weapon and fired directly into Martin's chest – killing him. |access-date= August 13, 2018 |archive-date= June 10, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200610050428/https://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimmerman-medical-report-sheds-light-injuries-trayvon/story?id=16353532 |url-status= live }}</ref>
}}


==External links== == External links ==
* website maintained by ] * website maintained by ]
* {{NYTtopic|people/m/trayvon_martin|Trayvon Martin}} * {{NYTtopic|people/m/trayvon_martin|Trayvon Martin}}

* {{WSJtopic|person/M/trayvon-martin/6906|Trayvon Martin}}
* collected news and commentary at '']'' * collected news and commentary at '']''
* collected news and commentary at '']'' * collected news and commentary at '']''
* collected news and commentary at '']'' * collected news and commentary at '']''
* collection of 15 photographs at ] * collection of 15 photographs at ]
* collection of 20 photographs at ] * collection of 20 photographs at ]
* {{FAG|86298494|Trayvon Benjamin Martin}} * {{FAG|86298494|Trayvon Benjamin Martin}}
*
*


{{Killing of Trayvon Martin}}
{{Authority control|VIAF=265198683|LCCN=n/2012/59194}}
{{Black Lives Matter}}

{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata
| NAME = Martin, Trayvon
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American shooting victim
| DATE OF BIRTH = February 5, 1995
| PLACE OF BIRTH =Miami Gardens, Florida
| DATE OF DEATH = February 26, 2012
| PLACE OF DEATH =Sanford, Florida
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Trayvon}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Trayvon}}
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Latest revision as of 11:49, 17 November 2024

American teenager killed in a shooting (1995–2012)

Trayvon Martin
Martin at the Experience Aviation camp in 2009
BornTrayvon Benjamin Martin
(1995-02-05)February 5, 1995
Miami, Florida, U.S.
DiedFebruary 26, 2012(2012-02-26) (aged 17)
Sanford, Florida, U.S.
Cause of deathHomicide (gunshot wound)
Resting placeDade Memorial Park
Alma mater

Trayvon Benjamin Martin (February 5, 1995 – February 26, 2012) was a 17-year-old African-American from Miami Gardens, Florida, who was fatally shot in Sanford, Florida, by George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old Hispanic American. Martin had accompanied his father to visit his father's fiancée at her townhouse at The Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford. On the evening of February 26, Martin was walking back to the fiancée's house from a nearby convenience store. Zimmerman, a member of the community watch, saw Martin and reported him to the Sanford Police as suspicious. Several minutes later, an altercation happened and Zimmerman fatally shot Martin in the chest.

Zimmerman was injured during the altercation with Martin. He said he shot Martin in self-defense and was not charged at the time. The police said there was no evidence to refute his claim of self-defense, and Florida's stand-your-ground law prohibited them from arresting or charging him. After national media focused on the incident, Zimmerman was eventually charged and tried, but a jury acquitted him of second-degree murder and manslaughter in July 2013.

Following Martin's death, rallies, marches, and protests were held across the United States. In March 2012, hundreds of students at his high school held a walkout in support of him. An online petition calling for a full investigation and prosecution of Zimmerman garnered 2.2 million signatures. Also in March, the media coverage surrounding Martin's death became the first story of 2012 to be featured more than the presidential race, which was underway at the time. A national debate about racial profiling and stand-your-ground laws ensued. The governor of Florida appointed a task force to examine the state's self-defense laws. Martin's life was scrutinized by the media and bloggers. The name Trayvon was tweeted more than two million times in the 30 days following the shooting. More than 1,000 people attended the viewing of his remains the day before his funeral, which was held on March 3 in Miami. He was buried in Dade-Memorial Park (North), in Miami. A memorial was dedicated to Martin at the Goldsboro Westside Historical Museum, a Black history museum in Sanford, in July 2013.

Biography

Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton at an event in 2012

Martin was born in 1995 in Miami, Florida, to Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, who divorced in 1999. At the time of the shooting, Fulton was a program coordinator for the Miami Dade Housing Authority, and Tracy Martin was a truck driver; they lived near each other in Miami Gardens. Martin's older maternal half-brother, Jahavaris Fulton, was a college student at the time (who would later testify in the Zimmerman trial).

After being divorced, Martin's father married Alicia Stanley, who had two daughters from a previous marriage. They met when Martin was about three years old and were together for about 14 years. Stanley told CNN's Anderson Cooper that before she and Tracy Martin separated, Trayvon was with her 90% of the time, and that she went to all his football games and took care of him when he was sick. She said that Trayvon was a kind and loving person, not a 'thug' as the media portrayed him.

When Martin was nine years old, he pulled his father, who had been immobilized by burns to the legs, out of a fire in their apartment, saving his life. Martin enjoyed sports video games. He washed cars, babysat, and cut grass to earn his own money. Martin had played football at the park since he was five years old and his team was coached in part by his father. Another of Martin's former football coaches said Martin had been one of the best players on their football team (The Wolverines) that played at Forzano Park in Miramar, Florida. Martin played for the Wolverines from ages 8 to 13 and sometimes sat out because his father benched him "because he messed up in school". While in high school, Martin volunteered at Forzano Park, working in the concession stand and sometimes staying until 8:00 or 9:00 PM before going home. Martin's former football coach said he was a shy child and always walked with his hoodie and headphones on listening to music.

Martin attended both Norland Middle School and Highland Oaks Middle School in north Miami-Dade County, Florida. He attended Miami Carol City High School in Miami Gardens for his freshman and sophomore years before he transferred to Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School in north Miami-Dade in 2011. At the time of the shooting, Martin was a junior at Krop High School. Martin's cousin Stephen Martin, who had been in a park telling jokes with Trayvon the night before his death, said that he and Trayvon had been like brothers growing up. He recalled that Trayvon had been very skilled at assembling, repairing, and riding pocket bikes and dirt bikes. Miriam Martin, Trayvon's aunt and Stephen's mother, said her nephew had often stayed over to visit her family. She also said that Trayvon was fond of wearing a hoodie: "it could be 100 degrees outside and he always had his hoodie on."

Martin had wanted to fly or repair airplanes, and in mid-2009 enrolled in "Experience Aviation", a seven-week program in Opa-locka, Florida, run by award-winning aviator Barrington Irving. According to Irving, Martin was a polite youth " reminded me of myself because I had a strong interest in football until I fell in love with aviation." After Martin graduated from the program, he spent the next summer as a volunteer, helping out new students in the aviation program. According to his parents, Martin had hoped to attend the University of Miami or Florida A&M University.

Later teenage years

Undated personal photo of Trayvon Martin wearing a hoodie as a teenager. This image was displayed by protesters and sold by merchants on hoodies, T-shirts, and keychains, prompting the family to trademark slogans using his name.

When Martin started high school, his goal of playing professional football was put aside in favor of a career working with airplanes. While in his freshman year at Carol City, Martin attended classes in the mornings at the high school and then went to George T. Baker Aviation School for the rest of his school day. Martin's ninth-grade teacher, who taught him three classes of Aerospace Technology at Baker Aviation School, said he was a normal student, well-behaved, who passed all his classes. According to another teacher at Carol City, math was his favorite subject, and she said she never saw Martin show disrespect. Some students at Carol City compared Martin's death to that of Emmett Till, one of the nation's most infamous civil rights cases.

Martin's mother had him transferred to Dr. Michael M. Krop High School, which has approximately 2,700 students, for his junior year. Fulton said that her son had an average performance in school, and she transferred him because she thought Krop High School was better and she wanted a different environment for him. While a student at Krop High School, Martin had behavioral issues. At the time of the shooting, he was serving a ten-day suspension for having a marijuana pipe and an empty bag containing marijuana residue. He had been suspended twice before, for tardiness and truancy and marking up a door with graffiti. The suspension for graffiti was in October 2011, when Martin was observed by a school police officer on a security camera "hiding and being suspicious" in a restricted area of the school. According to the officer, he later observed Martin marking up a door with "W.T.F." ("what the fuck?"). When his backpack was searched the next day by a Miami-Dade School Police officer, looking for the graffiti marker, the officer found a dozen pieces of women's jewelry, a watch, and a screwdriver that was described by the school police officer as a burglary tool. The jewelry found in his backpack included silver wedding bands and earrings with diamonds. When Martin was asked by the officer if the jewelry belonged to his family or a girlfriend, he said a friend had given it to him. When asked for the name of the friend, Martin declined to provide it. The school police impounded the jewelry and sent photographs of it to detectives at Miami-Dade to investigate it further. No evidence surfaced at that time that the jewelry was stolen. An attorney for Martin's family said the parents did not know about the jewelry or screwdriver. Martin was not charged with any crime related to these suspensions and did not have a juvenile record.

Digital footprint

Martin, known on Twitter by the nickname "Slimm", posted thousands of tweets over a period of months, according to the Miami Herald. Martin tweeted his last message two days before he was shot in February 2012. According to the Herald, Martin's digital footprint portrayed him as having a sense of humor and a preoccupation with girls and sometimes using profanity or obscene language when discussing sex in his tweets. Martin also enjoyed making jokes on Twitter about street culture and posted YouTube excerpts from films like Friday and Next Friday, which both made fun of street culture. Martin liked rap music and tweeted about Tupac Shakur, DMX, and Mystikal. He often quoted explicit song lyrics in his tweets. Martin's postings sometimes reflected a personal nature with references to Krispy Kreme doughnuts, ice cream, movies, and all-night study sessions. The Miami Herald also reported that Martin was unhappy at Krop High School: in one of his tweets, he wrote, "WULD I MISS KROP?? HELL NAW FUK DA SKOOL, FUK DA LUNCH, ND MOST OF ALL FUK DA FACULTY..... IMA MISS SUM OF DA STUDENTS, MAINLY DA BABIES ;)"

Critics of Martin had pointed out his tattoos, an empty marijuana bag, a photo of Martin with gold grills, and texts from his cell phone to claim he had a violent nature and that there was an effort to keep this information from the public. His email and Facebook accounts were hacked by a white supremacist, and selected tweets from his Twitter account were published on the conservative website The Daily Caller. A picture of Martin making an obscene gesture from his account was widely circulated, while pictures from his account of Martin with a birthday cake, fishing with his father, and dressed in a prom suit were not. The website Gawker obtained a screenshot of Martin's email account inbox before it was deleted, showing emails referring to SAT exams and scholarship opportunities. During Zimmerman's trial, the judge granted defense lawyers access to Martin's cell phone, social media posts, and Facebook and Twitter accounts, saying that the defense team needed to be able to review the evidence for any indications of violent tendencies. Some of the cell phone texts the defense wanted to use showed Martin had texted about his fights, marijuana use, and guns, and that he had described himself as "gangsta". Benjamin Crump, the Martins' family attorney, said whether Martin had worn gold teeth or used an obscene gesture had nothing to do with his death. The judge eventually ruled that Martin's social media posts would not be mentioned during the trial, although his marijuana use could be. The defense did not present any of this information to the jury, and it was not entered into evidence.

Friends of Martin, who had known him from Highland Oaks Middle School and Carol City High School and corresponded with him over Twitter, said Martin was not prone to violence. One friend said he was the "walk away" type of guy: "he'd rather walk away than fight." She also said that she had never seen Martin's purported grills and did not know he had them until she saw the picture on the news, and that she never saw him in public with them on. Another friend from Twitter who had known him since middle school said he was funny and liked to joke around and make people laugh. A professor of media law at the University of Florida, Lyrissa Lidsky, said Martin's social media posts should be taken with a grain of salt because they do not necessarily reflect what a teenager was like in person. She said a person's online persona may not reflect a true image of who they are, especially with young people. University of Florida criminal law professor Kenneth Nunn said when he was concerned about a person's character, he would look at anything, including what Martin's behavioral traits have been or may have been over time.

At a banquet for Associated Press Broadcasters in Florida, Benjamin Crump, and Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman's defense attorney, both said the role that social media played immediately following Martin's death set a precedent. Crump said that social media had given people who normally would not have a voice in matters like this a chance to engage in the case. O'Mara said the misinformation that was tweeted following Martin's death "caused a firestorm that wasn't a full picture".

Shooting

Main article: Killing of Trayvon Martin

Tracy Martin said he took his son to Sanford "to disconnect and get his priorities straight". Martin had been to Twin Lakes several times before with his father and sometimes played football with the kids in the neighborhood. On the night of the shooting, Tracy was out to dinner with his fiancée, Brandy Green, while Tracy's and Green's sons stayed at home, watching TV and playing video games. Trayvon went out, walking to a local 7-Eleven store where he bought Skittles candy and an Arizona watermelon drink.

As Martin was returning from the store to the Twin Lakes neighborhood, George Zimmerman, a volunteer Neighborhood Watch person, spotted Martin, who was 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) tall and weighed 158 pounds (72 kg) at the time of his death. Zimmerman called Sanford police to report Martin, who he said appeared "suspicious". There was an altercation between the two individuals in which Zimmerman shot Martin, killing him. Zimmerman claimed self-defense and was eventually charged in Martin's death. On June 10, 2013, Zimmerman's trial began in Sanford, and on July 13, a jury acquitted him of second-degree murder and of manslaughter charges.

Aftermath and media discourse

2012

Martin's parents, upset that an arrest had not been made in their son's death, contacted Martin's sister-in-law, an attorney who put them in touch with Benjamin Crump, a civil rights attorney from Tallahassee, Florida. Crump took their case pro bono and retained Natalie Jackson, an attorney familiar with Sanford and Seminole County who specialized in women's and children's cases, to help with the Martin case. On March 5, Jackson asked Ryan Julison to help as well. A publicist, Julison initially approached several national media contacts about covering the shooting. Over the next few days and weeks, the national media started reporting on the shooting, including: Reuters, CBS This Morning, ABC World News, and CNN. The Miami Herald reported that in the 30 days following the shooting, the name Trayvon was tweeted more than two million times.

On March 8, Kevin Cunningham, a social media coordinator who had read about Martin's death, created a petition on Change.org, which became the largest in the website's history a few weeks later with 2.2 million signatures. Cunningham said he started the online petition demanding that authorities prosecute Zimmerman, and when the number of signatures reached 10,000, he transferred the petition to Martin's parents after Change.org contacted him. Cunningham was the media coordinator for KinderUSA and said he fell in love with social media during the Egyptian revolution and was inspired by the death of Khaled Said. He thought Martin's death could be a similar situation where the death of one person could trigger a reevaluation of society and revolutionize the justice system and the culture.

Photo from the "Million Hoodie March" in Union Square

After the death of Martin, the media focus on the case was instrumental in developing a national debate about racial profiling and self-defense laws, with marches and rallies held across the United States. One of the larger rallies, the "Million Hoodie March", was held in Manhattan's Union Square in New York City on March 21. People wore hoodies to symbolize their support for Martin and against profiling used against non-white youths in hoodies. According to Salon, close to five thousand people attended the March, while other media outlets estimated the supporters to be in the hundreds. Martin's parents spoke at the event, and many of the participants at the event were Occupiers who had been evicted the night before from Union Square and returned for the March.

At a White House press conference in March, President Obama was asked about the Martin shooting and said, "If I had a son he would look like Trayvon and I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves." Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential candidate at the time, said that a full inquiry was needed so that "justice could be carried out with impartiality and integrity". The Project for Excellence in Journalism reported in March that media coverage of the Martin case had become the first news story in 2012 to be reported on more than the presidential race.

In June, Martin's parents and members of the Second Chance on Shoot First campaign delivered a petition with 340,000 signatures to the Citizen Safety and Protection task force asking for changes to the stand-your-ground law in Florida. Governor Rick Scott had established the task force after Martin's death to review and make recommendations about the law. Florida was the first state to pass a law that allowed an individual who felt threatened to stand their ground. Joëlle Anne Moreno, a former federal prosecutor, who was part of the task force said it was "clear that there was lots of confusion around the statute". Marion Hammer, a National Rifle Association of America (NRA) lobbyist and former NRA president who had helped write Florida's law, said the law was not about one incident and there was nothing wrong with the law. The task force eventually recommended against repealing the statute, saying Florida residents had a right to defend themselves with deadly force without a duty to retreat if they feel threatened.

Stand-your-ground laws were not used as a legal defense in the trial of George Zimmerman and had no legal role in his eventual acquittal.

In March 2012, Martin's parents created the Trayvon Martin Foundation, which is dedicated to helping families that have lost children to gun violence.

2013

Martin's parents and their legal team enlisted the public relations services of The TASC Group to manage media attention around Martin's death and Zimmerman's subsequent trial. In an interview with New York Times columnist Charles Blow in June, Martin's mother was asked about the texts recovered from her son's cell phone, which "appeared to show a boy who used marijuana, was involved in fights and had a handgun". She said that she was skeptical about the truthfulness of those claims and did not know if they were real or not. She wanted the world to remember him "as just an average teenager, somebody that was struggling through life, but nevertheless had a life".

Politicians, celebrities, musicians, civil rights leaders, and citizens all expressed their opinions on every form of media following the acquittal of Zimmerman. Four days after the acquittal, a group calling themselves the Dream Defenders began a sit-in at the Florida State Capitol to force a special legislative session on Florida's stand-your-ground law. After 31 days, their occupation of the Capitol ended without a special session being called. A group of Martin supporters walked from Jacksonville, Florida, to Sanford to highlight what they believed were injustices concerning Florida's stand-your-ground law. The six-day walk was called the "Walk for Dignity" and ended with a community forum being held and a dedication of the Trayvon Martin memorial at the Goldsboro Westside Historical Museum in Sanford. In Los Angeles, California, an area of a garden at Crenshaw High School was dedicated to Martin in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. A march was also held at the dedication to teach students how to express their First Amendment rights while standing their ground for youth Civil Rights, according to the school.

President Obama speaking in July 2013 about Trayvon Martin

In July, President Obama made comments about the death of Martin after the acquittal of Zimmerman. He said, "I think it would be useful for us to examine some state and local laws to see ... if they are designed in such a way that they may encourage the kinds of altercations and confrontations and tragedies that we saw in the Florida case, rather than defuse potential altercations." He stated that "The African-American community is also knowledgeable that there is a history of racial disparities in the application of our criminal laws, everything from the death penalty to enforcement of our drug laws". It was during these remarks when President Obama said, "Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago."

2014 and later

On July 19, 2014, Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles was scheduled to hold a "peace walk and peace talk" hosted by Martin's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin. On May 13, 2017, Martin posthumously received a bachelor's degree in aeronautical science from Florida Memorial University "in honor of the steps he took during his young life toward becoming a pilot". Martin's parents accepted the award for their son.

In January 2017, Martin's parents (under Penguin Random House) published a book about Martin's life and death entitled Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin.

In October 2020, a street in front of the Dr. Michael M. Krop High School in Miami that Martin attended was named "Trayvon Martin Avenue".

See also

Notes

  1. Alicia Stanley's interview aired on June 28, 2012
    * Video of Stanley's interview on AC360°
    * Transcript of Stanley's interview on AC360°
  2. The Miami Herald verified that the account was indeed Trayvon Martin's by cross-referencing his posts with those of the people he referenced.
  3. Screenshot of Martin's nickname "Slimm" and Twitter handle, NO_LIMIT_NIGGA from Twitpic at the Wayback Machine (archived June 29, 2013)
  4. Transcript of Martin's cell phone texts from November, 2011 to February, 2012. at the Wayback Machine (archived June 10, 2015)
  5. Second Chance on Shoot First is a coalition that includes New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the NAACP and the National Urban League.
    * Final report and other documents from the Task Force on Citizens Safety and Protection
  6. Transcript of President Obama's Remarks
    * Remarks by the President on Trayvon Martin
    Video of President Obama's Remarks
    * President Obama Speaks on Trayvon Martin

References

  1. ^ Matt Gutman and Seni Tienabeso. "ABC News Exclusive: Zimmerman Medical Report Shows Broken Nose, Lacerations After Trayvon Martin Shooting". abcnews.go.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2018. Zimmerman has claimed self-defense in what he described as a life and death struggle that Martin initiated by accosting him, punching him in the face, then repeatedly bashing his head into the pavement" (in paragraph 2), and paragraph 12, "He later told officers his head was being pounded into the pavement and that he feared for his life, but that it was only when Martin seemed to reach for the gun wedges [sic] in his waistband that Zimmerman drew his weapon and fired directly into Martin's chest – killing him.
  2. Alvarez, Lizette; Buckley, Cara (July 14, 2013). "Zimmerman is Acquitted in Trayvon Martin Killing". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "'Million Hoodie March' Held in Union Square In Memory Of Slain Florida Teenager". CBS New York. CBS New York Press. March 21, 2012. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  4. ^ Yamiche Alcindor and Gary Strauss (June 12, 2012). "Trayvon's parents protest use of 'stand your ground'". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 4, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  5. ^ Eric Deggans (March 30, 2012). "Update: Trayvon Martin story now more covered than presidential race". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  6. ^ Deborah Acosta (April 9, 2013). "What Trayvon Martin's tweets say about him". Miami Herald. McClatchy Washington Bureau. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  7. ^ Frances S. Robles (March 31, 2012). "What is known, what isn't about Trayvon Martin's death". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on July 18, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  8. ^ Miranda Leitsinger (March 29, 2012). "How one man helped spark online protest in Trayvon Martin case". MSNBC. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  9. ^ "A review of the evidence released in the Trayvon Martin case". Tampa Bay Times. Orlando Sentinel/Miami Herald. May 17, 2012. Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  10. Benjamin Hart (May 17, 2012). "Trayvon Martin autopsy report: killed by bullet fired at intermediate range". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  11. Arelis R. Hernandez (March 24, 2012). "New Black Panther Party offers reward for capture of Florida shooter". The Plain Dealer. McClatchy-Tribune News Service. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  12. ^ "Parents Seek Justice For Unarmed Son's Killing". CBS Miami. Associated Press. March 10, 2012. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  13. ^ Audra D.S. Burch and Laura Isensee (March 22, 2012). "Trayvon Martin, a typical teen with dreams of flying or fixing planes". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on September 12, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  14. ^ "Group dedicates Trayvon Memorial in Sanford". Florida: WFTV 9. July 27, 2013. Archived from the original on June 3, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  15. Frank Thorp and Matthew DeLuca (July 19, 2013). "Trayvon Martin's brother interning in office of Florida congresswoman". NBC News. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  16. Hightower, Kyle. "Florida teen's mother says screams are her son's". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  17. Bianca Prieto and Robert Nolin (March 17, 2012). "Tensions still simmer in Trayvon Martin shooting case". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  18. Ari Odzer (March 27, 2012). "Krop Senior High Students Honor Fallen Classmate Trayvon Martin with "Chain of Life"". NBC Miami. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  19. "Live Coverage of the George Zimmerman Trial". CNN. July 5, 2013. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  20. Wendy Widom (July 1, 2013). "Alicia Stanley, Trayvon Martin's Stepmother, Finally Speaks Out". Chicago Now. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  21. Kirsten West Savali (June 30, 2013). "Trayvon Martin's Stepmother Speaks Out (Video)". NewsOne. Archived from the original on September 6, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  22. ^ Yamiche Alcindor (December 11, 2012). "Trayvon Martin: Typical teen or troublemaker?". USA Today. Archived from the original on August 30, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  23. ^ Kim Segal (March 30, 2012). "Protesters declare 'I am Trayvon Martin,' but who was he?". CNN. Archived from the original on September 12, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  24. "Trayvon Martin's case turns into brand". USA Today. March 28, 2012. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  25. Jeff Burnside and Brian Hamacher (March 27, 2012). "Trayvon Martin Suspended From School Three Times". WTVJ (NBC 6 Miami). Archived from the original on September 13, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  26. Frances Robles (March 26, 2012). "Multiple suspensions paint complicated portrait of Trayvon Martin". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
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  28. * Yamiche Alcindor, December 11, 2012 "Trayvon Martin: Typical teen or troublemaker?" Archived October 18, 2017, at the Wayback Machine USA Today
    * Martin family representative Ryan Julison told the Miami Herald that Trayvon did not have permanent grills on his teeth.
    * Retrieved September 16, 2013
  29. Robert Mackey (March 29, 2012) Bloggers Cherry-Pick From Social Media to Cast Trayvon Martin as a Menace Archived October 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times
    * Team Ebony (March 30, 2012) "White Supremacist Hacks Trayvon Martin's Email" Archived October 24, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Ebony
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    * Retrieved September 16, 2013
  30. Media that reported on Gawker article
    * Robert Mackey (March 29, 2012) "Bloggers Cherry-Pick From Social Media to Cast Trayvon Martin as a Menace" Archived September 11, 2015, at the Wayback Machine The New York Times
    * (April 8, 2012) Miami Herald Archived May 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
    * Caroline Bankoff (March 29, 2012) "White Supremacist Claims to Have Hacked Trayvon Martin's Email, Social Media Accounts" Archived July 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine New York magazine
    * Gene Demby (March 29, 2012) "Trayvon Martin's Email And Facebook Accounts Allegedly Hacked By White Supremacist" Archived October 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine The Huffington Post
    * (April 9, 2012) McClatchy Washington Bureau (Reprint of Miami Herald) Archived September 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
    * Naeesa Aziz (March 30, 2012) "Trayvon Martin's Email Hacked, Messages Used to Attack Teen's Character" BET
    * Retrieved September 18, 2013
  31. "George Zimmerman's attorneys can examine Trayvon Martin's school, social media records". Fox News. October 19, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  32. Amanda Evans and Margaret Kavanagh (October 19, 2012). "Zimmerman judge allows access to Trayvon Martin's records". Central Florida News 13. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  33. Lizette Alvarez (May 23, 2013). "Defense in Trayvon Martin Case Raises Questions About the Victim's Character". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  34. Steve Almasy (May 28, 2013). "Zimmerman attorneys: Texts show Trayvon Martin 'hostile' day of shooting". CNN. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  35. Rene Stutzman and Jeff Weiner (July 8, 2013). "George Zimmerman trial: Trayvon's father takes the stand". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 15, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  36. Desiree Stennett (April 27, 2013). "O'Mara, Crump agree: Social media playing key role in Trayvon case". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 3, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  37. "Social Media's Impact On Trayvon Martin Case". CBS Miami. Associated Press. April 28, 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  38. Lane DeGregory (March 25, 2012). "Trayvon Martin's killing shatters safety within Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  39. "Police: Trayvon Martin's Death Ultimately Avoidable". CNN. May 17, 2012. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  40. "Reporting Trayvon (A CJR guide to some helpful articles)". Columbia Journalism Review. April 2, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  41. Adam Weinstein (March 18, 2012). "The Trayvon Martin Killing, Explained". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on September 13, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  42. ^ Daniel Trotta (April 3, 2012). "Trayvon Martin: Before the world heard the cries". Reuters. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  43. "Trayvon Martin's friends say he never picked a fight". USA Today. Associated Press. March 24, 2012. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  44. "Guide to state witnesses in George Zimmerman trial". Click Orlando. July 2, 2013. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  45. "EVIDENCE: Trayvon Martin's Arizona brand watermelon juice". Local10.com. Post Newsweek. June 23, 2013. Archived from the original on July 9, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  46. Bianca Prieto (March 14, 2012). "Trayvon Martin: 'We are gathered here today to demand justice' in teen's fatal shooting". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on January 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
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  48. Adrian Camp O-Flores and Lynn Waddell (July 14, 2013). "Jury Acquits Zimmerman of All Charges". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
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  52. "Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson Speak At "Justice For Trayvon" March in Sanford". CBS Miami. Associated Press. March 31, 2012. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
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  57. Steve Klingaman (April 11, 2012). "Ten Reasons to Repeal Stand Your Ground Laws". Open Salon. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
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    * Ryan J. Reilly "Politicians React To George Zimmerman Not Guilty Verdict" Archived October 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine The Huffington Post, (Politicians)
    * Andrea Mandell "Celebs react to George Zimmerman verdict" Archived September 4, 2017, at the Wayback Machine USA Today, (Celebrities)
    * Miriam Coleman "Musicians React to George Zimmerman Verdict" Archived September 19, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Rolling Stone, (Musicians)
    * "Reactions to Zimmerman Not Guilty Verdict Flood Social Media" Archived October 18, 2017, at the Wayback Machine The Wall Street Journal, (Social media)
    * Emanuella Grinberg "Anger, sadness but 'little surprise' over Zimmerman verdict" Archived October 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine CNN, (Social media)
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  74. Amanda Terkel (July 19, 2013). "Obama Calls For Review Of 'Stand Your Ground' Laws After Trayvon Martin Verdict". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  75. Merl, Jean (July 19, 2014). "Celebrities to attend peace walk, talk today to honor Trayvon Martin". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 19, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  76. Hauser, Christine (May 5, 2017). "Florida University to Award Posthumous Degree to Trayvon Martin". New York Times. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  77. "Rest in Power". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on December 30, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  78. Miami street to be named after Trayvon Martin Archived July 9, 2021, at the Wayback Machine CNN, Kelly Murray, October 11, 2020

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