Hundreds In Bergen Protest Killing Of Trayvon Martin
Residents, community leaders call for justice after fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager.
Photos
More than 600 people donned hoodie sweatshirts and marched in Englewood Sunday to show solidarity with the family of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager who was shot dead by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Florida.
The marchers traveled from Mount Calvary Baptist Church to MacKay Park in near silence to protest the killing. George Zimmerman, 28, told police he acted in self-defense when he gunned down the unarmed 17-year-old on Feb. 26.
Zimmerman had called police to report Martin as looking suspicious. The killing and the fact that Zimmerman has not been charged sparked a national outcry, led the Sanford police chief to temporarily step down and prompted federal authorities to launch an investigation.
Florida police have cited the state's “stand your ground” law, which allows people to use deadly force if they feel threatened, as the reason why he was not immediately charged.
"I don't care if he was a wearing a do-rag and a prison uniform, you don't get to run after someone and call it self-defense," Fort Lee resident Marcy Levy said.
Mount Calvary Baptist Church Senior Pastor Rev. Vernon C. Walton said he organized Sunday's event because a similar incident could happen anywhere, including New Jersey.
"As we've come along, we've made tremendous strides with race relations, but I don't want us to become complacent," Walton said.
Walton and others said they believe prejudice played a role in Martin's death and the reaction from police, who have been accused of mishandling the case.
"I think there's still a lot of hatred and prejudice," Hackensack resident Michele Henry said. "We all have to coexist in a civilized society."
Parishioners from several area churches and members of various organizations came to the march to lend support. Elected officials, including Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin, Teaneck Councilwoman Barbara Toffler and Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr., also turned out.
"This is an opportunity for us to band together," Hameeduddin said. "Whether there is a shooting of an unarmed African-American child, or whether it's a Latino in Arizona being picked up for being Latino, or whether it's the NYPD spying on Muslims just for being Muslim, we must all stand together. This is when the establishment will take us seriously."
Elle Kelly, a veteran and member of the American Legion in Englewood, said he believed Zimmerman should be charged for killing Martin.
"It's not about race. It's about justice," Kelly said.
Rep. Steve Rothman spoke at the church's service before the march.
"I grieve that, still in America, our young people have to live in fear of this kind of conduct," Rothman said. "This cannot happen again in the United States of America, and if it does, there will be swift and certain justice."
Bergen County NAACP President Anthony Cureton said he hopes people will take Martin's death as inspiration to become more proactive in their lives by voting and participating in government and community events.
Walton agreed with Cureton.
"If you're not registered to vote, you're sleeping," Walton said.
Walton also said he hoped people would learn from the incident not to judge others by their appearance, including both race and clothing. In rallies across the country, supporters have worn hoodie sweatshirts to show support for Martin.
Parents should also take a greater role in their children's lives, he said.
"We cannot allow Trayvon's blood to be shed and his dying to be in vain," Walton said. "It won't be if some people wake up."
Bizzy Bee
8:57 am on Monday, March 26, 2012
Wish I could have been there. So glad this event happened
Shirley Fennell Bennett
11:39 am on Monday, March 26, 2012
I am proud of my home county people representing.
DMAB6395
12:25 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
Wish we could have been there as well-we were wearing hoodie's tho.
Tommy P
12:41 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
I have only seen a few tid bits on TV, I have even heard the Black Panthers are offering $10,000 "Dead or Alive" for Zimmerman. Sharpton is about to march, and Spike Lee even tweeted his address.
I have not idea if Zimmerman is guilty. I understand there is a witness who talked to the police who claims Martin was attacking Zimmerman and that Zimmerman is the person on the audio who is calling for help. If this turns out to be self defense, Martin got what he deserved. I don't know what happened, I hope the truth full comes out.
I only have one question, what even happened to due process of law?
JamesTS
1:06 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
you dont see a very basic problem when a 17 yr old child who is unarmed is killed by a random person over nothing? I see no justifiable explanation for such a thing. I agree with due process of law but this situation was completely wrong from the start. if nobody spoke out this would have been swept under the rug. it shouldnt matter but i am white. This is not just about race. everyone should be outraged.
Tommy P
1:20 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
Again, I do not know all of the facts in this case. I am not a fan of what Zimmerman was doing, but there are POTENTIALLY justifiable reasons, ie if he were being physically assaulted. When you attack someone, you should fear they will defend themselves. You should fear that you could be shot and potentially die. After all, if that fear existed, the number of assaults would drop substantially.
Again, I do not know exactly what happened. I am just answering your open ended hypothetical question.
BellairBerdan
3:42 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
WOW @ "Martin got what he deserved". Are you kidding me? You say "what even happened to due process of law:" and "I don't know what happened" but you can be the judge and jury against Martin? You are totally messed up. Zimmerman initiated the entire action. There is NO doubt about that.
You have the nerve to complain about someone tweeting his address when you spend your entire time on Patch sleuthing to post names and links to photos of people and are always trying to find out where people live and work to use it against them?
Tommy P
7:34 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
BellairBerdan, notice the qualifier phrase IF THIS TURNS OUT TO BE SELF DEFENSE.
I don't know all the facts in this case. There is nothing illegal about carrying a gun, and in Florida, nothing illegal about using deadly force to defend yourself. I am not a big fan of what Zimmerman was doing in terms of following Martin, but there is nothing illegal about walking a patrol like that. The Guardian Angles have been doing that for decades, security guards have been doing it for much longer.
As for your last paragraph, what are you talking about? I am confused by your comment.
BellairBerdan
9:27 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
Obviously Zimmerman didn't think it would have been Martin's right to carry a gun.
Tommy P
9:41 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
I guess he went to a government school.
Robyn Nadel
1:49 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
You think Zimmerman was hit by a Skittle. responding by shooting off his gun? And what is Zimmerman (with a previous record?) doing guarding a community with a gun anyway? There should be many more 'rules and regulations' regarding gun control!!!!!!! And why don't people who have a gun license and feel it 'necessary' to use a gun shoot for the knees???
Tommy P
3:48 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
Like you and me, he has a right to bear arms. Its right there in the supreme law of our land, its called the second amendment, "the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed". If you don't like it, there is a legal way to change that, propose an amendment to the Constitution. After all, as they ignore that right, they can ignore any right. We are a nation of laws not men. If this guy Zimmerman broke the law, he should pay the price.
Marcy Tolkoff Levy
2:19 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
Zimmerman was a self-appointed Neighborhood Watch captain and seems to have had delusions of grandeur. He's called 911 46 times in the past few years.
Tony
3:43 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
Where's that fool Al Sharpton?
HAHA
3:49 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
to all you "conservatives":
so as an american zimmermans has the freedom to own a gun and take the law into his own hands. but a homosexual american does not have the freedom to marry who ever he/she wants? one freedom as shown in this article can cause a tragedy. dont you think your views of freedom are alittle hypocritical?
Jack B Goode
9:06 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
nobody believes that freedom to own a gun gives someone a right to take the law into their own hands ,and this has no relation to gay marriage...don't you think maybe your views are twisted?.
Denise
12:22 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
It seems as though the Black Panthers, offering a $10,000.00 dollar reward for Zimmerman dead or alive are taking the law into their own hands as "vigilanties"
HAHA
3:52 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
@ adolph and tp: 911 told zimmerman NOT to follow him. in other words do not take the law into your own hands. therefore he disobeyed an order by a professionally trained police officer. thats all i need to hear to know zimmerman was wrong.
Tommy P
7:22 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
Again, I don't know all the facts, but let me address your specific point. Disobey? When did the police gain that authority? Given that he didn't follow that officer's request, aren't you surprise he wasn't charged with contempt of cop?
Harlan Consider
12:48 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Zimmerman is not a cop. Even if he was, cops cannot order you to stop following them.
Borat
5:31 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
How desperate is Rothman for votes?
John Q.
7:26 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
Very desperate. It's the silly season.
Karin Kiesow-Irvine
1:21 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
this kid was suspended for 10 days from school..why was he even allowed to wander the streets? Where were his parents? And um yeah why is is mother trade marking his name--someone is looking to turn a profit I see. I am not saying Zimmerman was 100% correct in what he did but this kid is not the angel his family is painting to be.
DMAB6395
1:47 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Karin-who cares if he was suspended from school? What matters is that he was shot & killed for what? And as far as trade marketing not marking his name that again is not what the issue is-the issue is that he was an unarmed kid who was shot & killed. The rest is useless information that you bring up. Not every child is a angel-were you? I know I wasn't, maybe we didn't get suspended from school or anything like that but it has no revelance to this matter. What matters is what happened just before he was shot & what happened when he was shot that's what matters here nothing else.
Karin Kiesow-Irvine
1:58 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
DMAB...I care because if he was were he was supposed to be instead of wandering the streets he would still be alive..all the little parts make up the big picture (yes what happened right before and right after he was shot are part of that BIG picture) ! That is simply my point...
B@B
3:54 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Since when is it a crime to be "walking while black"? This kid went to the convenience store to pick up a snack for his cousin. Since when is this "wandering the streets"? Should he be required to never leave the house because he is young and black? Your statement is absolutely reprehensible and shows your racism. I'm sorry to say it, but there we are.
Karin Kiesow-Irvine
4:24 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
B@B- I never pulled the "race card" you did, why? I never made this an issue about the kids race or the shooter race....If you want to make this a race issue please leave me out of the conversation!
IMho after being suspended for 10 days from school regardless of this skin color NO he should not of been out buying his cousin snacks or doing anything else! you B@B have pulled the "race card" just like our elected officials do..instead of making this an issue about an unarmed kid getting shot dead it is a race issue now! We are One People Indivisible Under God!--you want race to be a non-issue then stop pulling the "race card" at every turn!
DMAB6395
5:45 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
B@B-Karin didn't bring up in her comment anything about race. I may not know her personally but I do know her from here & even though most of the time we don't agree she has never-ever brought up race & I don't believe her to be a racist. I think no I know that you owe her a apology for calling her a racist!! Race has no part in this-it should never be about race. Al Sharpton & them bring the race card into matters but not Karin! You are totally off base on this. Karin I for one am sorry that this person called you a racist-like I said we disagree sometimes but you have never brought race into our conversations & I don't believe you to be a racist!!
DMAB6395
2:50 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Karin-yes he should have been home etc. But he wasn't again it's not important what is important is what happened to him not where were his parents, or why he wasn't home. That's not going to change the fact that he's dead & it's not going to change who did it to him. That's what I'm talking about...you can't say it's his parent's fault because he wasn't home, you can't blame that he was suspended from school for 10 day either. That is irrelevant to the fact that he was shot & killed. It doesn't matter if he was an angel or not & that he got in trouble in school. What matters is why he was shot & who did it. You seem to be putting it on his parents & him being suspended from school Like I said teenagers are not angels you are practically blaming him & his parents for him being shot. He shouldn't have been there is not an answer either.
Karin Kiesow-Irvine
4:29 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
DMAB--I blame the two people involved in the incident. Hopefully justice prevails and the truth comes out.
Robyn Nadel
4:37 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Protection is a right but killing is not......how about a gun with stun bullets - something to stop the person being sought, but not to kill. Too many times police and people with guns have killed for nothing!!!!! The minute a chase is on by a person with a gun, at times they see you and boom! you're dead! for what???????
Tony
4:39 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Best to let the evidence decide what course of action, if any, is to be taken. I just don't understand why that phony Al Sharpton is recruited to stick his face in the middle of things. The guy has zero credibility and is a proven fake for his part in the Tawana Brawley fiasco in 1987.
DMAB6395
5:24 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Karin-your right on that. I hope the truth comes out also & whoever is responsible gets what they deserve. Either way it's not going to bring him back. Tony I agree with you 100% on the Al Sharpton crap. I don't understand how he can still be a "leader" when it's been shown how much a liar he is & all he wants is publicity. He doesn't care about anyone but himself.
Anthony
7:37 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The law in Fl makes it very easy for an armed person to use deadly force. From what I understand, if the kid said "I'll kill you or take you out" even without actual intent, the guy could legally use deadly force. I travel to FL for business and have been warned by the locals not to talk like that in the heat of the moment, in bars or even in jest. I am sure there are other places that have laws on the books very similar.
Anthony
7:42 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
I should have said legally armed, because if you do it with an illegal firearm, they will fry you, black, white or Spanish, it does not matter.
b.smith
1:29 am on Thursday, March 29, 2012
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John Doe
11:24 am on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Martin should have either pulled out his cell phone or walked home to call 9-11 to report a suspicious person following him instead of taking matters into his own hands and confronting Zimmerman. Yes Zimmerman took things to the extreme by killing Martin but if Martin attacked Zimmerman the he did what he had to do to protect himself. Hopefully the investigation will reveal the truth so
that if the shooting was unjustified Zimmerman will get what he deserves.
DMAB6395
9:43 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
If he got shot for carrying Skittles~then him reaching for his cellphone would have gotten him shot sooner.
Robyn Nadel
11:52 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
he didn't get shot for carrying skittles.....not implied.....be serious! What will be will be.... whether we like it or not. It's in the hands of the system (?-don't want to go there)! :)
DMAB6395
8:51 pm on Friday, March 30, 2012
No kidding Robyn Nadel. I know he didn't get shot for carrying skittles! Be serious....he got shot-what I'm saying is if he went to get a cellphone out of his pocket he would have been shot sooner.
Robyn Nadel
9:00 pm on Friday, March 30, 2012
leaving me speechless!! :)
Holly
9:31 am on Sunday, April 1, 2012
How could Zimmerman been in fear for his life?
Compared to Martin, Zimmerman was huge, and he had a gun. Trayvon was unarmed.
Why would Zimmerman be in fear for his life?
From what I've read of his past, he doesn't sound like someone who would act out of fear.
He has a history of being an aggressor, being enraged, overreacting and losing his temper.
If someone was aiming a gun at me I'd probably try to get it away from them, too.
hsr
10:04 am on Sunday, April 1, 2012
Who was following who? When all is said and done, the prove is in the pudding.
A child is dead and that's outrageous! Who can think this is right?
DMAB6395
11:39 am on Sunday, April 1, 2012
Exactly mms! He was told by the 911 operator NOT to follow & he did so anyway. Like someone else posted on here how could he have a gun (Zimmerman) when he has a record? I know it's everyone's right to bear arms etc but if you have a criminal record I thought you couldn't "bear arms", am I wrong? Are there different laws down in Florida about criminals & guns? What about this neighborhood watch, how could he be a member of & be the captain no less, with that criminal record? I know with his record I wouldn't want him to be on my neighborhood watch, even without it he's too aggressive & too much of a hot head for me.
Edna
1:02 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
Edna
The most important thing people who believe that an injustice occured when an unarmed Trayvon Martin was killed, would be to get involved in the political process and REGISTER TO VOTE, so many things that affect our lives involve legislation. Marching will garner attention but voting WILL quite possibly bring about meaningful CHANGE!!
hsr
2:29 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
Edna, not when there isn't a good opposing candidate, as with Garret's election. We need better choices.
Allan E. Fineberg
2:37 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
The right-wing sickos have crawled out from under their rocks, on cue. Let's hope that racism will come to a halt some time soon. But stupidity? I fear that sheer dumbness will be with us forever. Still, as Edna says: it's essential that people, especially young people, minority people, old people and progressive-minded people must vote to change things.
Pobomobo
4:27 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
Are you saying there are no left wing sickos who are racists?
Pobomobo
4:30 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
Fact: 95% of all blacks are killed by other blacks. Where's the coverage.
Allan E. Fineberg
5:41 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
"Are you saying there are no left wing sickos who are racists?" You've got to be kidding.
Pobomobo
7:24 am on Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Glad you agree. Zimmerman is a registered Democrat which makes him a leftist, I think you should clean your own home before you start pointing fingers.
The left has far more racists than the right (Sharpton, Obama, Jackson for example)
Honey
7:57 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
Ppl need to get alone n stop the killing in ouer comunity's.trayvon will get justice n his family will succeed what's right is right n what's wrong is wrong.justice will b served.
DHES
8:00 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
This is out of control: I'm gonna play the race card!!! If a white 17 year old had been killed, do you think white people all over this country would be marching???
NO, because we don't act like that. It is what it is people, it has nothing to do with race!!! GET OVER IT ALREADY.
DMAB6395
8:11 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
DHES- I hate to tell you but a large majority of the people that are marching in defense of what happened ARE WHITE!!! The race card has nothing to do with this-it's not a factor. You should look at the whole picture & read what's going on before you comment on who's doing what. If this was a 17 year old white boy that was shot we would be marching for justice, that's what we are doing now.
Jack B Goode
8:14 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
I agree, everyone that has blogged has a strong opinion, but not one was actually there. If Zimmerman is tried and convicted of Murder, he should get the full penalty.
If it is proven that he is a racist ,he should be punished.but the race baiters are wrong to blame white society for the deeds of one person.