Trayvon Martin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Trayvon Martin
|
|
|---|---|
Martin at the Experience Aviation camp in 2009
|
|
| Born |
Trayvon Benjamin Martin
February 5, 1995 Miami, Florida, U.S.
|
| Died | February 26, 2012 (aged 17) Sanford, Florida, U.S.
|
| Cause of death | Homicide (gunshot wound) |
| Resting place | Dade Memorial Park |
| Alma mater |
|
Trayvon Benjamin Martin (born February 5, 1995 – died February 26, 2012) was a 17-year-old African-American teenager. He lived in Miami Gardens, Florida. Trayvon died after being shot in Sanford, Florida. The person who shot him was George Zimmerman, who was 28 years old.
Trayvon was visiting his father in Sanford. His father's fiancée lived in a townhouse there. On the evening of February 26, Trayvon was walking back to the house. He had just been to a nearby store. George Zimmerman was part of a neighborhood watch group. He saw Trayvon and told the Sanford Police that Trayvon looked suspicious. A few minutes later, an argument happened. Zimmerman then shot Trayvon, who died.
Zimmerman said he shot Trayvon to protect himself. At first, the police did not charge him. They said there was no proof to show he was not telling the truth. Florida had a "stand-your-ground law". This law allows people to use force to protect themselves. This law stopped the police from arresting or charging him at that time.
Later, news about the event spread across the country. Zimmerman was then charged and went to court. In July 2013, a group of people called a jury decided he was not guilty.
After Trayvon's death, many people held rallies and protests. These events took place all over the United States. In March 2012, hundreds of students at his high school walked out of class. They did this to show their support for Trayvon. An online request asking for a full investigation got 2.2 million signatures.
Also in March, news about Trayvon's death became a very big story. It was even bigger than the presidential race happening at the time. People across the country started talking about racial profiling. This is when someone is judged unfairly because of their race. They also talked about "stand-your-ground laws." The governor of Florida created a group to look at the state's self-defense laws.
Trayvon's life was looked at closely by the news and people online. His name, Trayvon, was mentioned more than two million times on Twitter in the month after he died. More than 1,000 people came to see his body the day before his funeral. His funeral was held on March 3 in Miami. He was buried in Dade-Memorial Park (North), in Miami. In July 2013, a special place was made to remember Trayvon. It is at the Goldsboro Westside Historical Museum in Sanford. This museum shares Black history.
In July, President Obama talked about Trayvon's death. This was after Zimmerman was found not guilty. He said that it would be good to look at some state and local laws. He wanted to see if these laws might cause arguments and sad events. He also said that African-American communities know that laws are sometimes used differently for people of different races. President Obama then said, "Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago."
On July 19, 2014, Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles planned a "peace walk and peace talk." Trayvon's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, were going to host it. On May 13, 2017, Trayvon was given a special honor. He received a bachelor's degree in aeronautical science from Florida Memorial University. This was to honor his dream of becoming a pilot. His parents accepted the award for him.
In January 2017, Trayvon's parents wrote a book. It was about Trayvon's life and death. The book is called Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin.
In October 2020, a street in front of Dr. Michael M. Krop High School in Miami was named "Trayvon Martin Avenue." Trayvon had attended this school.
See also
- 2014 Ferguson unrest
- Mothers of the Movement
Images for kids
-
Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton at an event in 2012
-
Photo from the "Million Hoodie March" in Union Square
