George Zimmerman, the man accused of murdering Trayvon Martin, was found not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter on Saturday, news reports said.
The not guilty verdict stems from the jury of six women found that Zimmerman justifiably used self defense against 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012. As part of Florida's definition of the 'Stand Your Ground' Law,' if force is "necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm" to himself, then self-defense by using a gun is permissable. This is what the jury concluded was the case.
After the verdict was read, he smiled slightly and shook hands with one of his lawyers.
Protests ensued in several cities, including New York, by supporters of Trayvon's family. Many protesters voiced the opinion that Trayvon was targeted and killed for racial reasons. Trayvon was black and Zimmerman is Hispanic.
"You have a little black boy who was killed," said Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the parents of Trayvon Martin. "It's going to be reported in history books and 50 years from now, our children will talk about Trayvon Martin's case like we talk about Emmett Till." Emmett Till, a 14-year-old black young man, was tortured, murdered and grossly disfigured in Mississippi after being accused of flirting with a white woman.
