ANCHORAGE/DELAND, FL - More than a month after 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in a gated Florida neighborhood, the impact of his death has made its way here to Anchorage.
“Justice for Trayvon” was the chant of several dozen Anchorage residents who participated in a rally for justice Downtown Saturday afternoon.
Hosted by the Anchorage NAACP, the demonstrators said justice would mean a complete investigation and trial for Martin's killer, who has not yet been arrested.
But they said the case has ties here in Alaska, too.
Martin's shooter remains free under Florida’s self defense law.
A similar version of that law, House Bill 80, is currently under consideration in Juneau.
"It could be misinterpreted, it could be misunderstood, and as you can see it could probably lead to the needless, needless death of young people. And not only that, I think that it also leaves open a more permissive attitude towards racial profiling,” said Wanda Green of the Anchorage NAACP.
Both Vince Beltrami, president of the Alaska AFL-CIO, and Jeffrey Mittman, executive director of the ACLU of Alaska attended Saturday’s rally.
The special prosecutor assigned to the Trayvon Martin case in Florida has yet to decide if the man who killed him, George Zimmerman, will face charges.
In Florida, dozens of student demonstrators and others are in the midst of a three-day march from Daytona to Sanford.
They're protesting how the Trayvon Martin case was handled, and want an arrest of George Zimmerman.
CBS correspondent Susan McGinnis reports from DeLand, Florida.
Protestors marched down Route 92 in Velusia County Florida, on a 3 day trek to Sanford,
the town where 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was killed on February 26 by night watchman George Zimmerman, who claims self defense.
One of the marchers, Susan Dupree, believes police and others didn't do enough after Martin was killed.
“At the very least there should have been an investigation,” Dupree said. “When a child is murdered, by a grown person, there's a reason for investigation.”
Dupree says that's why she joined this group, called the Dream Defenders, comprised of students and alumni from several Florida universities.
They walk by day, and sleep in churches by night, working their way toward Sanford, picking up more folks along the way, who believe there's a lot at stake here.
“I just want to be able to know, as a young black male, or anybody, that something can happen and that you’re going to be protected, that you don't have to worry this is going to be pushed under the rug,” said demonstrator Antonio Hairston.
When they reach Sanford, the demonstrators say they plan to engage in non-violent civil disobedience. They are hoping to draw attention to what they see as an injustice, and they are hoping for an arrest.
“We're not trying to arrest him in the court of public opinion, but we want him tried in court, and that has to start with an arrest,” said Dream Defenders organizer Vanessa Baden.
As the Dream Defenders march, all sides await word from the special prosecutor on whether Zimmerman will face charges.
The Dream Defenders planned to march through Sanford on Easter Sunday, with their journey ending in a worship service at Allen Chapel, joined by attorney for Trayvon Martin, Benjamin Crump, and plan demonstrations for Monday as well.
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Anonymous said on Wednesday, Apr 11 at 8:09 AM
there are bad people and there are good people in the world, this is what this case is about, not about the color of their skin.... Shame on those who have made this more then what it is.
87037685Anonymous said on Wednesday, Apr 11 at 7:22 AM
this should NEVER been an issue of racism. Bad call from Oboma, congress, Spike Lee, and others for making it so. Zimmerman is the least racist (according to the FACTS). This should have been a protest about the police dept. And should be a wake up call on police handleing of cases across the country. Im disgusted that so much hate has been directed without consequence (such as the black panthers bounty on this guys head....), and there has been zero facts regarding the incident. It shows lack of wisdom, and shows the willingness for people to jump up and start reacting to hate crimes. shame on those that have kept the flames of hate/racism going on this. Its not an issue of BLACK vs WHITE..... This guys is HISPANIC anyway.... what is wrong with people? Everyone protesting? Listen to the interview with Mr. Luther's niece......
87032726JAMES said on Monday, Apr 9 at 3:09 PM
Obviously you are white "tired of it all" commentter. The whites hate everything about Martin and the black community. This is just a race thing. America is divided and always will be.
86867556Tired of it all said on Monday, Apr 9 at 11:34 AM
If a young white male had been shot and killed by an adult male black man would this even be news? I'm so tired of it always being "Big Whitey's" fault.
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