After a Florida jury found George Zimmerman not guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin Saturday, Twitter reacted with a firestorm of protest and anger.
Zimmerman, 29, a neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot the 17-year-old black teenager last February in Sanford, Fla., was also acquitted of a lesser charge of manslaughter. Zimmerman said he shot an unarmed Martin in self-defense, according to The New York Times. The case and trial spurred a U.S.-wide debate on racial profiling.
The hashtags, #JusticeForTrayvon, #TrayvonMartin and #GeorgeZimmerman, began trending on Twitter after the verdict was announced Saturday night. Most of the tweets condemned Zimmerman's acquittal, while some even posted death threats, and included Zimmerman's home address.
It's hard to have faith in humanity, when the value of life isn't equal for all. #JusticeForTrayvon— Daniela (@MsxDaniela) July 14, 2013
white supremacy reigns again. a black teen is not allowed to fight back against a stalker because he's black. horrified. #justicefortrayvon— Lauren Rankin (@laurenarankin) July 14, 2013
I can't even handle this. Absolutely disgusting that he was found not guilty. #JusticeForTrayvon #ZimmermanTrial pic.twitter.com/rFTs1lEeWN”— val✝ (@Valarie_Herrera) July 14, 2013
Dear teens, according to Florida, don't be black, or buy Skittles. You've been warned. So disturbing... No #JusticeForTrayvon Wow.— J Chris Newberg (@thechrisarmy) July 14, 2013
Can't stop crying for us all - especially the Martins - but I feel valueless as a black woman in this country tonight #JusticeForTrayvon— Frangela (@FrangelaDuo) July 14, 2013
I'm not sure whether I want to cry, throw up or scream. America has failed Trayvon and his family. #ZimmermanTrial #JusticeForTrayvon— Lauren Cox (@LaurenCox08) July 14, 2013
Zimmerman not guilty. Killing blacks with hoodies up is legal justification for murder in America. What a sick joke!! #JusticeForTrayvon— fuimaono-sapolu (@Eliota_Sapolu) July 14, 2013
A small minority of people tweeted support for Zimmerman.
Zimmerman found not guilty and that's how it should be— Cameron King (@Cameron_King_) July 14, 2013
If there was proof Zimmerman was in the wrong then the jury would have decided differently.— K.Sharma (@Kristi_Lynne) July 14, 2013