Trayvon Martin's Legacy Endures 14 Years After His Death

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Fourteen years after 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in Sanford, Florida, while walking home from a convenience store, his death continues to shape the fight for justice and the Black Lives Matter movement. Police initially declined to arrest the shooter, George Zimmerman, citing Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' law, but only after weeks of national protests and public outcry was Zimmerman charged with second-degree murder. In 2013, Zimmerman was acquitted, a verdict that deepened grief and outrage across the country.

Why it matters

Trayvon Martin's death became a symbol of the unequal weight of justice in America, and his name helped ignite a new wave of activism that grew into the Black Lives Matter movement. Fourteen years later, his legacy endures as both a painful reminder and a rallying cry for justice.

The details

Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in Sanford, Florida, in 2012 while walking home from a convenience store. Police initially declined to arrest the shooter, George Zimmerman, citing Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' law, but only after weeks of national protests and public outcry was Zimmerman charged with second-degree murder. In 2013, Zimmerman was acquitted, a verdict that deepened grief and outrage across the country.

• Trayvon Martin was killed on February 26, 2012.
• George Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder in March 2012.
• Zimmerman was acquitted in July 2013.