Trayvon

Amy Goodman interviews Benjamin Jealous, President of the NAACP, concerning the murder of 17 year old Trayvon Martin.  Mr. Jealous is calling for the killer's immediate arrest and the Sanford, Florida police chief's ouster.  Over a million people have signed a change.org petition here, calling for prosecution.

The Los Angeles Times has reported in the last six hours that Sanford police chief Bill Lee has temporarily stepped down under mounting pressure.  CBS reports that Trayvon's parents state that they are not satisfied with the temporary removal of Bill Lee and want the killer, Ronald Zimmerman, arrested, and a conviction for the murder of their child.  MSNBC is currently reporting that Florida governor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi are appointing a new prosecuter to investigate the case. 

For futher background, Ms. Goodman has this article, Walking While Black: The Killing of Trayvon Martin.  She writes,

NAACP President Ben Jealous, recounting a mass meeting in a Sanford-area church Tuesday night, quoted a local resident who stood up and said, “‘If you kill a dog in this town, you’d be in jail the next day." Trayvon Martin was killed four weeks ago, and his killer is still walking the streets.' 

'With his gun,' adds Ms. Goodman, as Mr. Zimmerman's gun was not taken away either.

Courtesy of the Christian Science Monitor

AP Photo/HO, Martin Family Photos

Trayvon Martin, 1995-2012

On Wednesday, thousands took to the streets of New York City, livestreamed by Tim Pool, chanting "We are Trayvon Martin!"  Thousands reportedly marched in different locations, one group effectively eluding several attempts by police to "corral" or "capture" demonstrators - including on the Brooklyn Bridge - and by rapidly switching directions as a *unified mass* and continuing to march and voice their outrage.

In the Democracy Now! video and video posted at the LA Times website, Trayvon's mother speaks to protesters, stating, "Our son did not commit any crime.  Our son is your son.  I want you guys to stand up for justice and to stand up for what is right.  This is not about a black and white thing.  This is about a right and wrong thing."