Thousands gathered this evening at a rally for Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida. The murdered teen's parents and MSNBC's Al Sharpton spoke to the crowd, calling for justice and the arrest of shooter George Zimmerman. Sharpton also announced that he and Trayvon Martin's parents will attend the Sanford City Commission meeting on Monday, where the parents will address the city leaders.
Meanwhile, more government officials are (finally) getting involved in the case. Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed a new prosecutor in the case after the state attorney, Norm Wolfinger, volunteered to recuse himself. Angela B. Corey, the prosecutor for Jacksonville, Florida is now taking over. Scott also appointed a new task force to hold hearings on the shooting and re-evaluate the state's "Stand Your Ground" law.
Family attorney Benjamin Crump and MSNBC's Al Sharpton listening as Trayvon Martin's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, speak before a rally in Sanford, Florida on Thursday.
Julie Fletcher/AP Photo
Thousands rallied in support of justice for Trayvon Martin at Fort Mellon Park.
Julie Fletcher/AP Photo
Protestor Rene Panko holding up a sign at Thursday's big rally.
Julie Fletcher/AP Photo
Protestors Lakesha Hall and her son Calvin Simms cheering and holding up signs.
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I wish people like Donald Trump would keep his mouth shut, he knows nothing about politics but thinkgs he knows it all.......He cares nothing for this loving Son who lost his life......I'm so sorry for the mother and father who loved this child dearly.
nothing can bring back this sweet child.....He's with God Now.....but hopefully this march and rally will help to convict this murder thursty person, and may he not rest a day in his life.
The murder of this young man in Sanford, Florida will ultimately be "spun" by those on the right as a BLACK issue. It is certainly not. The story is about murder that is being abetted by the state; in the guise of a stupid and dangerous law. Don't the stats in Florida show that "justified self defense" killings have doubled or tripled since the "stand your ground" law was enacted? The oceans of black people and peoples of all races and backgrounds that will amass in Sanford don't represent a racial divide or a racial interest--they represent "American justice!
I'm really sad that even the left is focusing on this as a racial issue. While it is clear that race played a part in this particular crime which makes it, it possible, even more deplorable, the deaths as a result of this stupid law go beyond race. Seriously, the police come to a scene with a dead person and their killer holding the murder weapon; the guy says I was afraid for my life; and he is neither arrested nor forensics processed, AND leaves the scene with his gun??!!!!! An officer-involved shooting gets a ton more procedure than this (gun confiscated, desk job while investigated, etc) and yet a civilian who just committed MURDER doesn't even get questioned down at the station? Seriously?
This whole story has had me in tears of anger and frustration more than once. If I could have been there from California, I would have been at that rally in a heartbeat. Even on the show there was a white woman in a hoodie standing behind (sorry, I forget his name, the wonderful speaker who helped run the rally)...Please Rev. Al and the rest of the black leaders taking the lead on this, invite and encourage the rest of us to be part of the issue--the response to this horror is more universal than you are speaking to. Not that it means a damn thing, but I wore a hoodie to work today just in silent support.
This is not as racially divisive an issue as it being made out to be--we as a nation are more racially united than ever before despite the wingnuts that will never come to center. Everyone needs to give that unity a chance to manifest itself in the media. Obama wasn't elected into office just by black people. I'm white, a proud Obama voter, and this case makes me sick on so many levels, which of course includes the racial implications of the shooting. Can say for fact I'm not alone. Invite all of us who share your outrage to join you.
Lawrence if you are going to have another hour on the Martin tragedy please have the Martins lawyer,Jasmine Rand on.
Guarantee, guarantee this case has the NRA influencing local police. Just wait and see. Mr. O'Donnell please have the NRA spokesperson join your show and disprove my assertion!
State Attorney Angela Corey is well known for prosecuting harshly, which is good news for Trayvon Martin and his family. He deserves justice. But Corey is known for not listening to the public. She has been prosecuting a 13 year old hispanic boy who is facing life without parole in the accidental death of his brother since he was barely 12 years old. She has said she isn't seeking life without parole for him but he is facing not ONE criminal trial but TWO. If convicted he will be the youngest in our country to be sentenced to life and it is a mandatory sentence in Florida. When over 182,000 people petitioned and asked her to try him as a juvenile because he is a juvenile she said she doesn't "prosecute by petition". I guess the one benefit here is more people will become more aware of the injustice that has happened to Cristian and it could help him.
There is a petition on change dot org for Cristian Fernandez also.
Where do they get off calling these "Stand Your Ground" laws? Shouldn't they be referred to as "007 laws" since they change a gun permit to a licence to kill? Or, "Self Defense If You Say So" laws? Just a thought.
Was Congressman West there? Probably not he because believes Zimmerman and West has that living on the plantation mentality. He sees himself as the Head blankety-blank in charge.
My letter to The Columbus (OH) Dispatch; and a plea
LTE
Subject: Irony accompanies Obama to Columbus
Date: 22 March 2012
Word count (text only): 159
A sad irony will accompany President Obama when he visits Columbus later today. Mr. Obama, possibly the most charismatic President since President Kennedy, will visit Columbus on the same day that Reverend Al Sharpton, reprising the role that Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King played as JFK’s nemesis, visits Sanford, Florida. Without Dr. King’s efforts, Mr. Obama probably would not have been elected President, and the shooting of Trayvon Martin might have been forgotten by now. Therein lies the sad irony.
The lessons of history can be learned only through difficult and usually painful self-reflection, and can be forgotten only at great peril. I call on Americans of all stripes, colors, flavors, and beliefs to help President Obama help all Americans to do the difficult work, to rise above this irony to a healing that we all so desperately need. After all, who knows who the next Trayvon might be? We are all Trayvon now. And history will judge us accordingly.
Robert A. Letcher (PhD, Cornell, 1994)
My plea is that "We" be visibly expansive, not just rhetorically inclusive: We need faces of Americans of all stripes, flavors, colors, and beliefs to be SEEN STANDING IN UNITY: WE ARE ALL TRAYVONS NOW! No Americans can allow this tragedy to be seen as theirs alone.
#7 Done.
Just saw a report on Trayvon's killing and the rally on German TV.
This is extremely sad. Like I said on my blog at politicalenvy.com I think there have been failures all around. From the Sanford police to the community watch group. I await Justice for this crime.
The stand-your-ground law was relevant only to TRAYVON...even if what Zimmerman alleges is true, Trayvon was the one acting in self-defense, Zimmerman ILLEGALLY and without authority pursued and detained Trayvon...WITH a gun.
Did he not violate Florida law, i.e.:
"787.02 False imprisonment; false imprisonment of child under age 13, aggravating circumstances.--
(1)(a) The term "false imprisonment" means forcibly, by threat, or secretly confining, abducting, imprisoning, or restraining another person without lawful authority and against her or his will."
Because False Imprisonment is a FELONY in Florida and Zimmerman killed Trayvon, the FELONY/MURDER law applies. If Zimmerman was black, he would be facing the death penalty...instead, the cops are helping him walk...I have no sympathy for the guy just because Trayvon MIGHT have got a couple shots in...
"...(2) A person who commits the offense of false imprisonment is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084."
Sure, we have heard he had no right to stop him, and Trayvon had no duty to do anything such as talk, stop etc., and that's all true, but what Zimmerman did was a felony for bleep sakes....why haven't they recognized that??
O'donnell is a race-baiting, hate monger. Lawrence stated that, "all George needed to know was that Martin was black and that was enough for him to kill Martin." Really? What FACTS back that up? NONE! But as more and more FACTS come out - Odonnell is moving to other cases - because he can't defend his race-baiting, bigoted hatred of Hispanics!! Inciting racial hatred to boost his ANEMIC ratings is deplorable!! You sir, and I use that term most generously, are a racist, a bigot and a prime example of the ilk (like Sharpton, Schultz, etc) that ruin MSNBC! Pathetic!
Bravo! GREAT show tonight. Zimmershmuck's lawyer runs away. The reporter from the Orlando Sentinel runs away...can't back up her reporting. These alleged leaks from the Sanford police department are bizarre and easily exposed. This sad cast of nin-com-poops (strictly my opinion) trying to smear this dead teen-ager's reputation might see their swamp gas rolling back on OVER THEIR OWN REPUTATIONS... It's wayyyy past time to charge ZIMMERMAN with WHATeverrrrr: bring in the jury and a judge. Perjury is a serious charge, as well...let's get these officials up on the stand and hear why their investigation fell so short... THEY WILL be TESTIFYING in a trial... whether they KNOW IT OR NOT... it appears there has been incompetence and negligence on a level that is very hard to comprehend.
Lawrence you're SUPER!
Joe Oliver is a sad man seeking his 10 min. of fame. "A slender acquaintance with the world must convince every man that actions, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment of friends." GEORGE WASHINGTION
I am a long time fan and follower of your show. I just watched tonight's episode and shocked and angered by the way you and your guest just attacked Joe Oliver. Why are you trying to discredit a man who says he was friends with George Zimmerman for six years. He just made you look like bullies. You did not give him a chance to answer questions (a move I expect from Bill O'Reilly). He is nothing but a character witness at best. You two just made a martyr out of him.
To Lawrence O'Donnell; I have come to realize in watching you that you are no different than the extreme Republican religious right who have labelled all people who believe differently than they do as crazy or worse. You have become the judge, jury and executioner of anyone who disagrees with you, to the point that you are proud of the fact that you are stirring up the issue in Florida because you have access to the media. I would think that a man of your experience in government would remember that we had a senator named McCarthy who made everyone believe as he did even when he was wrong. It is time to let the investigators do their jobs and finish the investigation, and more importantly, for MSNBC to let you go. You have become the de facto DRAMA QUEEN of MSNBC. Don't confuse this rant for acceptance of what happened, because it was a terrible tragedy that I wish on no parent, but you are making things worse. Stop stirring the pot and help calm the situation or leave. I cannot watch your show any longer. Once The Rachael Maddow show ends, I have to change the channels.
First, "Joe the Plumber", and now... "Joe the Oliver".
Oh... and for those who think LOD and Co were hard on them... what do you think is going to happen to them in court? Isn't it best to flush early what can't float?
The Last Word interview with Lawrence and Mr Oliver is about a love affair, read between the lines
Sorry, a love affair between Mr. Oliver and and Zimmerman
Anyway the reason for this is to explain the word "coon ass' I'm from Opelousas and the word was used to describe a Cajun. When the Cajuns arrived in south Louisiana they adopted the ways of the slaves and Indians in order to survive. Mostly the food and music of the blacks.
Foods like Gumbo, cous cous and Jambalaya were dishes of blacks. They even practiced Voo Doo. Cajun food was taken from the black creole culture of Louisiana.
When racist whites from outside of Louisiana discovered this they began referring to them as "coon asses" or the ass of the black man aka coon.