On Feb. 26, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in Sanford, Fla. Weeks later, with the help of social media campaigns, millions of Americans are seeking answers.
Weeks after Martin’s death, protestors took to the streets across the country in places including New York, Chicago and Texas in protest of Zimmerman’s description of the teen as a “suspicious black man” and his claim that he shot Martin in the chest in self defense.
It was a shot that rang throughout social media sites, resonating with many people nationwide. A call to action in the form of a march prompted thousands of protestors to walk the streets across the country with signs in the Million Hoodie March.
Protestors chanted things like “We are Trayvon Martin” and said that a hoodie — which Martin wore the day of his death — as well as tea and Skittles — which were carried by him that day — were not suspicious items.
At first, the way the case was being handled was unsettling, which is why Martin’s family took things in its own hands and started a petition. Even people such as NBA players Dwayne Wade and LeBron James participated in protest of the Trayvon Martin tragedy. Some argue, however, that Martin’s death is unfortunate but not tragic.
However, it is a tragedy to be shot in the chest while carrying a bag of Skittles and tea as your only defense.
James tweeted to followers to sign the online petition on www.change.org, which calls on Angela Corey, Florida’s State Attorney for the Fourth District, to investigate Martin’s murder and prosecute Zimmerman. He also tweeted a picture of himself and 13 Miami Heat teammates in hoodies with their heads bowed. The petition is against Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, former Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and currently has nearly 2.2 million signatures as of Thursday evening.
The TCU NAACP chapter participated in the University of Texas at Arlington’s NAACP hoodie march at 11 a.m. on Monday on the UTA campus.
Students wore all black T-shirts and hoodies and met at the UTA Library Mall in front of the flag post. Students were encouraged to bring signs, Skittles and tea.
Carrying candy and a beverage while wearing a hoodie is something students themselves may do anyway, which is not suspicious behavior. Maybe a college logo on Martin’s hoodie would have made him less suspicious.
During the Million Hoodie March on March 21 in New York, which went live on USTREAM, some people commented that the march was a beautiful sight, while others described it as an angry mob.
With that said, I would strongly encourage everyone to attend a Silent March in honor of Trayvon Martin at 7:15 p.m. Monday, hosted by the university’s NAACP chapter. It will begin in front of the library and end in front of Frog Fountain.
The role of social media in the Martin tragedy is powerful and effective. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other sites are more than services, they are tools. In a world where some people discriminate against hoodies, it is refreshing that people are not settling for less than justice and that social media sites can be tools to obtain the truth.
LyTer Green is a senior strategic communication major from Fort Worth.
