Trayvon Martin Shooting and Its Lasting Impact
On February 26, 2012, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, an African American teenager, was fatally shot in Sanford, Florida, by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman. Martin had been walking back from a 7-Eleven with snacks when Zimmerman, who suspected him of being “suspicious,” followed him despite instructions from a 911 dispatcher. The confrontation escalated into a physical altercation, during which Zimmerman, a 28-year-old Hispanic-American, shot Martin in the chest at close range.
Zimmerman was not immediately arrested, leading to widespread national outrage and sparking debates over Florida’s “stand-your-ground” law. He was later charged with second-degree murder but was acquitted on July 13, 2013, after claiming self-defense.
The case drew intense scrutiny over racial profiling and the killing of an unarmed Black teenager. It inspired protests nationwide and is widely regarded as a catalyst for the formation of the Black Lives Matter movement. The Department of Justice reviewed the incident for potential civil rights violations but ultimately did not file charges.
Trayvon Martin’s death remains a pivotal moment in U.S. conversations about race, gun laws, and justice, leaving a lasting legacy in the fight against racial inequality.
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