Neighborhood Watchmen and the Hoodie Kid

      

Neighborhood Watchmen and the Hoodie Kid,

The Littlepage Review- President Barack Obama in a statement last week said if he had a son, he would look like Trayvon Martin. Martin a black teen shot dead by the now infamous, self-appointed, Neighborhood Watch gunmen, 28-year-old George Zimmerman.

Details suggest that on February 26, 2012, Martin and Zimmerman paths crossed as Zimmerman patrolled the streets of his gated community and Martin walked home from a short but fatal trip to a local candy store.  Martin, 17, was visiting his father whom lived in the Florida neighborhood patrolled by Zimmerman. Zimmerman called the police to report that Martin looked “Black” and suspicious.

Despite being requested by a police dispatcher not to follow Martin, the armed Zimmerman allegedly pursued Martin leading up to a confrontation that left Zimmerman with a broken nose and the young Martin dead of a gunshot wound.

At least one witness interviewed by police and a local news outlet suggests that Zimmerman, whom would later claim self-defense, was on the losing end of a fistfight as Martin, perhaps acting in his own defense, struggled with the armed Zimmerman.

Police discovered that Martin was unarmed and still in possession of skittles (candy) and tea he had purchased from the store a few minutes before the deadly confrontation with Zimmerman. Police continue to investigate the case amid growing community outrage that centers on the fact that Zimmerman was not arrested and police contended that there was no probable cause to arrest Zimmerman.

The US Justice Department is now investigating the case for possible civil rights violation associated with racial profiling. Zimmerman supporters call him anything but a racist, but for many leaders in the Black community including President Barack Obama, questions remain did Martin’s appearance contribute to his untimely and violent death?   

By

Jason D. Littlepage, Private Eye