One year ago, Trayvon Martin became the nation's poster child for gun control. |
Trayvon Martin was killed in Sanford, Florida. He was an unarmed teenager who was in the gated community of his father. While there he got into a confrontation with George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer who was patrolling the neighborhood. They got into a fight and Zimmerman shot him. The killing of Trayvon Martin sparked international outcry for gun control. And today marks one year since this tragedy happened.
The controversial shooting isn't forgotten by me and LaReyna. I will revisit the previous article I've written in September will bring you up to date on the tragedy.
George Zimmerman. |
Pressure to Governor Rick Scott (R-Florida) got the case was reopened. It also sparked a debate on these "stand your ground laws". The U.S. Justice Department is looking into the misconduct of Sanford Police after they took the side of the shooter.
Governor Scott assigned a special prosecutor for the case. The prosecutor found evidence that debunks the claim that George Zimmerman defended himself from a violent Trayvon Martin.
The young teenager spending time with his father, a young brother and the father's new girlfriend.
Trayvon went to the local 7-Eleven store to pick up an Arizona Ice Tea and pack of Skittles for his younger brother. It was a rainy night and Martin decided to wear his dark hoodie. As he left the convenience store he goes through the Twin Lakes Residential Gated Community. As he was approaching his home, he was followed by a young man who was a volunteer neighborhood watcher for the gated community.
The young man George Zimmerman was newly married and had focused on his goal of becoming a police officer.
George Zimmerman complained to law enforcement about suspicious activity previously. This night was one of them where he felt that the young teenager was acting in way that appeared to pose as a threat. As Martin was on his phone talking to his girlfriend, he informed her that he was being followed by someone. Zimmerman was on the phone with a 9-1-1 operator saying that he's following this individual.
As Martin tried to duck through homes, Zimmerman told the operator that he was closing in on him. The operator told him not to follow in words "We don't need you to do that!"
Somehow they confronted each other. Zimmerman claimed that Martin came up on him as he was going back to his vehicle. When words gotten heated, Zimmerman claimed that Martin sucker punched him and tried to choke him. As they scuffle, according to Zimmerman, the teenager saw his gun, and tried to reach for it. So in an attempt to reach for the gun, the young man shoots the teenager in the chest. The injuries killed him.
Conservatives and white supremacists went bonkers over the president's take on the matter. |
The Republican led legislature were trying to ease up the concerns of the National Rifle Association and Gun Owner's Association. They passed a controversial "Stand Your Ground" law in which a person can use deadly force if an individual poses a threat to the person carrying a firearm.
The boycott has gotten the attention of the national media. The mainstream media came down to Florida.
Liberals and conservatives equally took sides. Each of them had a reason of concern. Liberals thought that Martin's race was a factor to this shooting. Conservatives thought that Zimmerman's reaction to a threat was justified.
The 2012 Republican Candidates had an opinion of it. President Barack Obama had an opinion of it. And yes, what the president said matters. It matters so much, it pissed off the conservatives. They believe that anytime the president takes a side in a controversial issue, it's political expediency.
Hannity interviews Zimmerman. |
President Barack Obama asked the U.S. Justice Department to look into the matter. Attorney General Eric Holder and the FBI are probing the handling of this case.
Conservatives and White Supremacists were angry. Conservatives were already blaming the president for playing the race card and call to question incidents that involved Blacks or Hispanics attacking White people.
The white supremacists were hacking into the email account of the family of Trayvon Martin. They took his pictures and sent them to conservative news agitators like Michelle Malkin, Matt Drudge and Sean Hannity.
They wanted to discredit the victim. They looking into the teenager's troubled background. They criticized the parents as being greedy money honey "NIGGERS!"
They called Trayvon Martin, "Traycoon", "wannabe gangsta", "one dead Nigger" and the like.
Supporters demand justice for Trayvon. |
George Zimmerman on the other hand was getting death threats from individuals who feel that he got off with murder. The New Black Panthers, a radical Black separatist group posted flyers for the apprehension of Zimmerman. The Reverends Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson traveled to Florida to give solidarity to Martin's family. The media has unearthed George Zimmerman's history. Some of his friends claim that he had issues with Blacks, Hispanics and Muslims. His father came to his son's defense by going on friendlier news outlets like Fox News. Sean Hannity has offered Zimmerman legal advice and it was reported that he was interested in helping Zimmerman beat his court case. Sean Hannity managed to snag the first interview with Zimmerman.
When the prosecutors had the evidence to charge Zimmerman with second degree murder, he was arrest and booked into jail. The judge preceding over the case was relieved of his duties after two epic failures.
The judge ordered a low bond for Zimmerman in his first hearing. After he posted bail, he went to launch his official website asking for donations to help his legal case. The website pulled in over $250,000 in aid. This information made it to the prosecutors. The prosecutors went to the judge and asked to have his bond revoked.
When he was arrested he was in the Seminole County Jail talking to his wife, Shelley. He ended up incriminated himself once again!
He tried to maneuver funds to his secondary account. He asked his wife to lie while under oath.
They used coded language to seal up his secondary passport, extra accounts and owed debts. If he was to beat the case, he was going to walk out of jail wearing a hoodie as the audiotapes were rolling.
He didn't know he was recorded while in jail. So as he was talking to his wife, Seminole County Sheriff's were listening.
After finding out about this latest development, the judge revoked his bond and ordered him back to jail.
George Zimmerman and his wife Shelley were charged with perjury.
Now in June, Zimmerman managed to post a full $1 million dollar bond. And he's now out on electronic monitoring and ordered not to leave the state.
Trayvon Martin's family. His mother Sabrina Fulton and father Tracy Martin became advocates for gun control. |
Information came out that the story Zimmerman told to the police a story that's not credible.
Prosecutors at the State Attorney’s office released findings of forensic results that could throw the defense of George Zimmerman out the window. The forensic results found no evidence that Trayvon had any interaction with the gun of George Zimmerman, charged with the killing of Trayvon.
Intervention from Al Sharpton and Sean Hannity fueled the "trial by media" theory. Since Al Sharpton wanted Zimmerman punished and Sean Hannity wants the media to know that Trayvon started this fight, it's going to taint a jury.
Now this coming month Zimmerman will face the trial of his life. If he is found guilty in second degree murder he will spend the rest of his life in prison.
As always, we will keep you posted on the latest developments in this here on Journal de la Reyna.
Intervention from Al Sharpton and Sean Hannity fueled the "trial by media" theory. Since Al Sharpton wanted Zimmerman punished and Sean Hannity wants the media to know that Trayvon started this fight, it's going to taint a jury.
Now this coming month Zimmerman will face the trial of his life. If he is found guilty in second degree murder he will spend the rest of his life in prison.
As always, we will keep you posted on the latest developments in this here on Journal de la Reyna.