Politicians don hoodies in solidarity with slain teen
In a demonstration coordinated by Melissa Mark-Viverito, who represents part of Mott Haven, and by Letitia James of Brooklyn, 28 members of the New York City Council gathered on the steps of City Hall wearing hoodies on March 28 to call for justice in the case of Trayvon Martin, the Florida teen killed in an incident that has galvanized the nation.
Martin, a 17-year-old African American was wearing a hoodie when he was confronted and shot by a member of the Neighborhood Watch in Sanford, Florida. George Zimmerman, the man who shot him, placed a call to police saying he looked suspicious, a statement that has been widely denounced as an instance of racial profiling.
“Incidents like these only serve as a reminder of how much further we as a society have to go until all people are treated equally,” said Viverito. As the 911 calls from that tragic night demonstrate, Trayvon was targeted strictly based on his appearance. The fact that George Zimmerman has not been brought up on any charges only reinforces the cynicism in communities of color about our law enforcement and criminal justice systems.”
The Council also held a moment of silence for Martin at its meeting today and passed a resolution that condemns the killing, the weaknesses of the police investigation and the lack of an arrest.
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