“Charlottesville has joined the national rally of justice of Trayvon Martin, a 17 year old killed by self-appointed neighborhood watchman, George Zimmerman, possibly due to racial profiling. Zimmerman has yet to be arrested due to ‘Stand Your Ground Laws.’”
Interview with Joe-Joe Thompson
I feel that there is obviously a racial component to this case but more so there is a problem with ultra right wing law, so called stand your ground law, which add up to shoot now and ask no questions later mentality, and you know that’s not justice. That’s not what we do in America. George Zimmerman needs to be tried not by media but court of law by jury of his peers that’s how we do it in America.
Stand your ground law is a state law that justifies the use of a deadly weapon if it is for self-defense. 25 states, including Florida, have this law. Virginia is currently considering to enact a form of this self-defense law.
Interview with Debbie Curry-Rush
Debbie Curry-Rush, Charlottesville
I am deeply saddened that the fact that the mother has to bury her son for doing nothing more than going to visit his father. He had nothing more than a bag of skittles and tea, and if this makes me armed and dangersous, then it’s just ridiculous. And as a parent that my child has to dress a certain way or act a certain way in order for him to come back home, it’s just a heart wrenching thing.
Tuesday March 27th, NAACP at UVA organized RALLY in SUPPORT of JUSTICE for TRAYVON MARTIN in front of Rotunda as part of their week of events examining the US justice system.
Interview with: Jeanne Wolf, Louisa; Kia Sims, Stafford
I am concerned that nothing happening is going to create an anger with my kids and their peers beccause I know I am angry but I know how to channel it and kids don’t. It’s sad and it’s scary. I’ve always been dealing with racial issues. I thought we were moving forward, but I feel like we are going in reverse
Interview with: ArDonna Hamilton, 3rd year, Undergraduate; Eudora Chua, 5th year, Graduate
This was not something that had to happen. yeah, that’s why I am here. Because this is not something that I want to see in my generation ever again.
Speaker: Johnathan Bryan, Vice President, NAACP at UVA
-”But this isn’t about Mr. Zimmerman, this is an issue much greater than any of us individually./ Because if you did not know, there are people in this world who view people of color as threat. It is hate so quick than it took less time than it took Trayvon’s Skittles to hit the ground. I am sure Travyon didn’t know he was born with target on his chest and neither did I.
Interview with Erica Washington, President, NAACP at UVA
Tonight is the beginning, dialogue will happen, direct action will happen, letters, everything you can think of. Throughout this week and next week, we will get things done, so we are just calling for participation at this point.
While these two rallies may be over, the fight for justice in the Trayvon Martin case has not come to a close as Zimmerman is yet to be arrested.
Interview with Jeanne Wolf and Kia Sims
I’ll just keep talking about it, you know? I am jus t going to keep loving and praying for those who are ignorant, hateful, spiteful, which is what I think this Zimmerman guy is, and you know Trayvon and his family deserve justice.
“What do we want?… We are Trayvon. We are Trayvon. We are Trayvon.”
