14 DAY TRIAL // Jay Z and Beyonce, perhaps the most influential and powerful couple in showbiz, showed up at a Trayvon Martin rally in New York, prompted by the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the murder trial that literally captivated (and divided) a nation.
The two refused to talk to the press, the New York Daily News reports, but, even so, their simply being there was more than enough to draw attention to the cause.
Several journalists and photographers tried to get a statement from the rapper, but only got “I’m not here to do interviews, thank you” instead.
Reverend Al Sharpton was also at the rally but, unlike Jay Z and Beyonce, he did address the crowd.
So did Trayvon’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, the same media outlet points out.
She stressed that, even though Zimmerman was acquitted of the murder charges stemming from a 2012 incident, in which he shot and killed Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old, he was guilty.
“Trayvon was no burglar,” she said. “He was a child. Don’t take my word for it. He had a drink and candy.”
“George Zimmerman started the fight and George Zimmerman ended the fight. My son died without even knowing who his killer was... Today it was my son. Tomorrow it might be yours,” Fulton said, fighting back tears.
Trayvon Martin’s parents are now urging for federal civil rights prosecution of Zimmerman in the killing of their son. The rallies are meant to make this happen.
Last Friday, President Barack Obama also addressed the hot topic of Zimmerman’s acquittal saying that, while he had every conviction that everyone involved in the trial had done the right thing, there was no denying racial profiling was still a problem in the US.
As we also reported at the time, he even said that “Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago.”