Trayvon Martin Updates

[Content Note: Racism, violence, capital punishment.]

Two stories of note:

1. FBI may charge George Zimmerman with hate crime: "State prosecutors said Zimmerman, a neighborhood watchman, profiled and stalked 17-year-old Trayvon Martin before killing him, so the FBI is now looking into charging him with a hate crime. ... FBI investigators are actively questioning witnesses in the retreat at the Twin Lakes neighborhood, seeking evidence for a possible federal hate crime charge." If Zimmerman was charged with and convicted of a federal hate crime, he would potentially face the death penalty.

2. George Zimmerman prosecutors file list of witnesses, evidence in Trayvon Martin shooting: "Most names were redacted from the witness and evidence document obtained by the Orlando Sentinel, but six civilian witnesses were named: Trayvon's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin; his brother, Jahvarius Fulton; and Zimmerman's neighbor Frank Taaffe, friend Joe Oliver and father, Robert Zimmerman. The document listed 18 Sanford police officers as primary witnesses, including lead Investigator Chris Serino."

And in related news: Autopsy Shows African-American Teen Kendrec McDade Was Shot Seven Times By Police. It's not just Stand Your Ground laws we've got to worry about, of course. There's an entire culture of racist violence that we've got to meaningfully address as a nation. I just really wonder when the fuck we might get around to doing that. By which I mean: When the privileged white majority might start fucking listening to the people who have been trying to have that conversation for hundreds of years.