(RNN) – President Barack Obama and high school students in Florida, among others, are making the slaying of teenager Trayvon Martin a personal matter.
The teenager was shot and killed in a gated community in Sanford, FL, last week when neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman mistook him for a potential intruder.
“When I think about this boy, I think about my own kids,” Obama said. “I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that investigate every aspect of this … My main message is to the parents of Trayvon Martin. If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon.”
Zimmerman claimed self defense in the incident, although Martin was unarmed. Martin’s family and their lawyer say the evidence in the 911 calls and phone records prove Zimmerman shot Martin in cold blood.
Obama said the nation should do some “soul-searching to figure out how something like this happens.” He made the comments Friday morning during an announcement of his nomination for a new head of the World Bank.
Martin’s shooting spurred students in multiple Miami high schools to stage walkouts during classes Friday.
Students chanted “I am Trayvon” and loudly demanded the arrest of George Zimmerman.
Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee Jr. announced he will resign temporarily in the wake of the outrage over the Martin’s death.
“I’m aware that my role as the leader of this agency has become a distraction,” Lee said in a news conference Thursday.
Late Thursday, Governor Rick Scott chose prosecutor Angela Corey to head up the case because the county prosecutor originally in charge chose to step down.
Zimmerman has been apparently shielded by Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. The law allows a person who fears for his safety to kill another without first attempting to retreat.
http://www.19actionnews.com/story/17239019/obama-comments-on-trayvon-martin-outrage
Article Courtesy of WOIO 19 Action News
