Fan-987-Logo_35 35h_CBSSportsRad_Tampa CW44_TB

Latest News

Trayvon Martin’s Parents To Lead Rally In Sanford

View Comments
Tracy Martin, left, and Sybrina Fulton, parents of slain teenager Trayvon Martin, address supporters at a Million Hoodies March on March 21, 2012 in New York City. (credit: John Moore/Getty Images)

Tracy Martin, left, and Sybrina Fulton, parents of slain teenager Trayvon Martin, address supporters at a Million Hoodies March on March 21, 2012 in New York City. (credit: John Moore/Getty Images)

SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — The parents of an unarmed black teenager shot dead by a neighborhood watch captain in a gated community are leading a rally Monday in the city where he was killed to protest the lack of an arrest or prosecution.

Professional football players Ray Lewis and Santonio Holmes are joining civil rights leaders Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton at the rally in Sanford, near Orlando, that comes before a city commission meeting. It’s the first time Sanford commissioners have met since the city’s police chief stepped down in what he called a temporary move.

Also joining the rally are the comedian Sinbad and leaders from the Urban League and ACLU.

Trayvon Martin’s parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, also are planning to address the city commission at its weekly meeting. The meeting was moved from City Hall to the Sanford Civic Center to accommodate the expected crowd.

There have been rallies around the country as anger has spread over the shooting a month ago Monday.

Seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin was returning to his father’s fiancee’s home from a convenience store when Zimmerman, 28, started following him, telling police dispatchers he looked suspicious. At some point, the two got into a fight and Zimmerman pulled out his gun. Zimmerman told police he shot in self-defense and hasn’t been arrested or charged.

Zimmerman has not spoken in public about the shooting. His lawyer, Craig Sooner, has been speaking for him and has denied there was any racial motive in the shooting. Zimmerman’s father is white and his mother is Hispanic.

A man identified as a friend of Zimmerman said Monday the neighborhood watch volunteer would tell the teen’s parents he’s “very, very sorry” if he could.

Speaking on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Joe Oliver said George Zimmerman is not a racist and has virtually lost his own life since the shooting.

“This is a guy who thought he was doing the right thing at the time and it’s turned out horribly wrong,” Oliver said.

On NBC’s “Today” show, Oliver said he had spoken with Zimmerman’s mother-in-law, who said Zimmerman was remorseful.

“I learned that he couldn’t stop crying for days after the shooting,” Oliver said.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus
Listen Live!

Follow CBS Tampa

Like us on foursquare

Connect With 98.7 The Fan

kirk and dinger 300x75 Connect With 98.7 The FanThe Kirk & Dinger Show – 6a – 9a the commish 300x75 Connect With 98.7 The FanThe Commish – 9a – noon booger and rich 300x75 Connect With 98.7 The FanBooger & Rich – 3p – 7p sports babe 300x75 Connect With 98.7 The FanThe Fabulous Sports Babe – 7p – 10p

Call Toll-free (888) 998-7987

Text 98.7 The Fan

Max 4 msgs/wk. Msg & data rates may apply. Text STOP to 98190 to cancel.

98.7 The Fan Team Coverage

rays 98.7 The Fan Team Coverage bucs 98.7 The Fan Team Coverage
tb lightning logo 98.7 The Fan Team Coverage usf 98.7 The Fan Team Coverage

CBS Radio Tampa

1 CBS Radio Tampa Bay 2 edit2 CBS Radio Tampa Bay 3 CBS Radio Tampa Bay
5r CBS Radio Tampa Bay 5 CBS Radio Tampa Bay 6 CBS Radio Tampa Bay
7 CBS Radio Tampa Bay 8 CBS Radio Tampa Bay 9 CBS Radio Tampa Bay

Select a Live Stream