Teens speak openly at Milwaukee race relations forum
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A public discussion for teens about race relations was held at Milwaukee's Victory Over Violence Park on Thursday, July 18th, after many expressed disagreement with the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial."We shouldn't be sitting back acting like this isn't phasing us.
Trayvon Martin's parents speak out following verdict
(CNN) -- Trayvon Martin's parents spoke out Thursday for the first time since George Zimmerman was acquitted in the death of their son.In interviews on the three network TV morning news programs, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin assailed the verdict and the Zimmerman defense team's argument that the killing was in self-defense during an attack by the unarmed teenager.Fulton told "CBS This Morning" she was "in a bit of shock" after the verdict. "I thought surely that he would be found guilty of second-degree murder," she said.On NBC's "Today," Fulton said the case is "sending a terrible message to other little black and brown boys -- that you can't walk fast, you can't walk slow.
Justice Department asks police to hold Zimmerman evidence
(CNN) -- The Department of Justice has asked the Sanford, Florida, police department to hold all evidence related to the George Zimmerman case, Sanford Capt.
Juror B37 pushes for new laws following Zimmerman trial
(CNN) -- The woman known as Juror B37 in the George Zimmerman trial released a statement exclusively to CNN Wednesday pushing for new laws."My prayers are with all those who have the influence and power to modify the laws that left me with no verdict option other than 'not guilty' in order to remain within the instructions.
Four jurors in George Zimmerman trial release joint statement
(CNN) -- The George Zimmerman murder trial is over, but details from the case continue to emerge at a dizzying pace.Several jurors have spoken out after the verdict.
Fringe protesters turn violent in LA after Zimmerman verdict
LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Dismayed, angry but saying they'll fight in a new struggle for civil rights, protesters marched peacefully Tuesday in Houston, Atlanta and Florida while thousands of Americans found other ways to demonstrate their feelings.Pro boxer Terrell Gausha told the entertainment news site TMZ that he would no longer wear the American flag.
Juror: 'No doubt' that George Zimmerman feared for his life
(CNN) -- George Zimmerman "didn't do anything unlawful" and was "justified" in shooting 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, according to one of the jurors who acquitted Zimmerman.The woman, known as Juror B37, spoke exclusively to CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360." Part 1 of the interview aired Monday, and part 2 aired Tuesday night.Shortly after the interview segment Tuesday, four other jurors released a statement responding to her comments."We, the undersigned jurors, understand there is a great deal of interest in this case.
Holder blasts 'stand your ground' after Zimmerman verdict
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Attorney General Eric Holder, a longtime target of Republicans who have tried to force him out of office, now faces the prospect of angering liberal supporters when the Justice Department decides whether to file federal charges in the Trayvon Martin killing.Civil rights groups are planning nationwide vigils, and more than a million people support an online petition drive calling for admitted shooter George Zimmerman to face federal charges in the February 2012 killing.Holder confronted that political pressure Tuesday in a speech to the NAACP, which is conducting the petition drive.He repeated his pledge for a full investigation of Martin's death in the aftermath of Zimmerman's acquittal on murder and manslaughter charges by a Florida court, saying the Justice Department "will continue to act in a manner that is consistent with the facts and the law.
Man attacked believes it was in response to Zimmerman verdict
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee police are investigating a battery that happened near 26th and Cherry around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 14th.A 34-year-old Wauwatosa man told police that he was walking through Tiefenthaler Park from a friend's house when he was punched in the back of the head by an unknown suspect, knocking him down.
Rally for Corey Stingley, Trayvon Martin Monday in West Allis
WEST ALLIS (WITI) -- Since the not guilty verdict was read on Saturday, July 13th, and George Zimmerman was acquitted in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, people have taken to the streets across the country to express their feelings on the case, and the verdict -- and another rally was held Monday evening at Nathan Hale High School in West Allis.Corey Stingley was a student at Nathan Hale High School when he died.
Despite outrage, federal charges uncertain in Zimmerman case
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In the emotional aftermath of the Trayvon Martin killing last year, Attorney General Eric Holder signaled the unlikelihood of filing federal hate crimes charges against admitted shooter George Zimmerman."For a federal hate crime, we have to prove the highest standard in the law," Holder said in April 2012, 45 days after Zimmerman shot the African American teenager in what was depicted by civil rights groups as a racially motivated killing.In words that now sound prescient, Holder described to reporters that day how "something that was reckless, that was negligent does not meet that standard.""We have to show that there was specific intent to do the crime with requisite state of mind," he said.Zimmerman's acquittal of state murder and manslaughter charges on Saturday showed the Florida jury rejected that he intended to kill Martin for any reason, including the racial motivation necessary for federal charges that he violated Martin's civil rights.The Department of Justice opened an investigation into the Zimmerman case last year, and a statement from the agency on Sunday said it was ongoing and will now include evidence and testimony from the Florida trial.In a speech in Washington on Monday, Holder said the Justice Department would "continue to act in a manner that is consistent with the facts and the law" in examining what he called "the tragic, unnecessary shooting death of Trayvon Martin.""Independent of the legal determination that will be made, I believe that this tragedy provides yet another opportunity for our nation to speak honestly about the complicated and emotionally charged issues that this case has raised," Holder said. "We must not - as we have too often in the past - let this opportunity pass."Separately, the White House said President Barack Obama would play no role in deciding whether federal charges are filed."Cases are brought on the merits and the merits are evaluated by the professionals at the Department of Justice," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.The president on Sunday called Martin's killing a tragedy for America, but said in a written statement that the jury had spoken.
Verdict doesn't end debate in Trayvon Martin death
(CNN) -- They took to the streets, to radio call-in shows, to social media to vent their frustration.
Groups protest Zimmerman verdict with rallies in Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Late Saturday, July 13th, a jury found George Zimmerman not guilty in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin inside a Sanford, Florida courtroom.
Milwaukee reaction to George Zimmerman not guilty verdict
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Late Saturday, July 13th, a jury found George Zimmerman not guilty in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.Just steps away from the courthouse where a jury decided George Zimmerman's fate, demonstrators vowed that their fight wasn't over."Nationwide protest to demand justice," protesters chanted after the jury's not-guilty verdict in Sanford, Florida, cleared Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.It wasn't long before some appeared to be heeding their call.Rallies started in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York.
Zimmerman verdict reactions ring out in protests, calls from pulpit
(CNN) -- Just steps away from the courthouse where a jury decided George Zimmerman's fate, demonstrators vowed that their fight wasn't over."Nationwide protest to demand justice," they chanted after the jury's not-guilty verdict in Sanford, Florida, cleared Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.It wasn't long before some appeared to be heeding their call.Rallies started in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York.
President Obama responds to Zimmerman verdict
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Barack Obama called on Sunday for "calm reflection" following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.The president, in a written statement, acknowledged an emotionally charged climate but concluded that "we are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken."Obama called Martin's death a tragedy for America."I know this case has elicited strong passions.
Trayvon Martin's dad: My heart is broken, my faith is not
(CNN) -- Trayvon Martin's father says his heart is broken but his faith is not."God blessed Me & Sybrina with Tray and even in his death I know my baby proud of the FIGHT we along with all of you put up for him GOD BLESS," Tracy Martin wrote, in the first of three tweets sent about 30 minutes after the not-guilty decision was read in the Sanford, Florida, courtroom.
George Zimmerman found not guilty of murder in Trayvon Martin
(CNN) -- George Zimmerman never denied shooting Trayvon Martin, but he said he did so in self defense.
What's next: George Zimmerman a free man
(CNN) -- The acquittal of George Michael Zimmerman, 29, means he's a free man and will be able to walk out of the courthouse because he's no longer in police custody.He will be free, if he chooses, to leave Seminole County, Florida.
Jury deliberates Zimmerman's fate for a second day
(CNN) -- The six women deliberating George Zimmerman's fate asked the court Saturday evening for clarification on the instructions regarding manslaughter, the judge said.That couldn't have even been a question a few days ago: Judge Debra Nelson ruled Thursday, over the defense's vehement objection, to include manslaughter as an option for jurors, in addition to the second-degree murder charge.