The NAACP commends the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice for heeding calls from the NAACP and community leaders to investigate the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin at the hands of a vigilante in Sanford, Florida.
“We are pleased the Department of Justice has heeded our calls and agreed to investigate this outrageous case,” stated NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. “The rules of justice in this nation have failed when an innocent teenage boy can be shot to death by a vigilante and no arrest is made for weeks. Pursuing, and killing a 17-year-old boy should never be construed as self-defense. Our society deserves better, our community deserves answers and Trayvon’s family deserves justice.”
On February 26, Trayvon Martin was visiting his father in Sanford when he was shot to death by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman. The unarmed teen was returning from a local 7-Eleven carrying nothing but Skittles, a cellphone and an iced tea at the time of the shooting. Despite 911 calls confirming that he pursued Trayvon, Zimmerman has yet to be arrested in connection with Trayvon’s death.
This morning, following requests from the NAACP, the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the shooting. Copies of the letters can be found here. http://www.naacp.org/news/entry/naacp-to-host-march-20-townhall-on-shooting-of-trayvon-martin
Florida State Attorney Norm Wolfinger also announced today the convening of a grand jury investigation into the shooting. The grand jury is scheduled for April 10th.
“This is another step in the right direction,” stated Jealous, “but we will not rest until Trayvon’s family gets justice.”
