Trayvon Martin
Trayvon Martin was 17 years old at the time of his death. He was walking home from a convenience store in Sanford, Florida wearing a black hoodie, and carrying Skittles and an iced tea.
George Zimmerman was a neighborhood watch captain located in Sanford, Florida. While running a personal errand, Zimmerman encountered Martin.
The video, located above, is the 911 call between Zimmerman and dispatch. While the dispatch operator informed Zimmerman that they did not need him to follow Martin, Zimmerman disregarded the operators, left his vehicle, and approached Martin. From there, Zimmerman claims that a scuffle ensued and he shot and killed Trayvon Martin in self defense. It is important to note that Trayvon Martin was unarmed.
Zimmerman was questioned and arrested shortly after the shooting. Five hours later, he was released from prison. After an extensive investigation, in July of 2013, Zimmerman was acquitted of the murder of Trayvon Martin.
While Trayvon Martin's death was not a direct result of police brutality, it was his death that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement in 2013. Black Lives Matter was created in a direct response of the acquittal of George Zimmerman. Today, there are over 40 Black Lives Matter organizations worldwide and the movement continues to grow.
