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| Trayvon Martin: Obama says teenager's death a tragedy | Trayvon Martin: Obama says teenager's death a tragedy |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has said the "tragedy" of an unarmed black teenager shot dead in Florida should prompt some national soul-searching. | US President Barack Obama has said the "tragedy" of an unarmed black teenager shot dead in Florida should prompt some national soul-searching. |
| The death of Trayvon Martin, 17, gunned down by a neighbourhood watchman, who was not charged as he claimed self-defence, has sparked outrage. | The death of Trayvon Martin, 17, gunned down by a neighbourhood watchman, who was not charged as he claimed self-defence, has sparked outrage. |
| "If I had a son he would look like Trayvon," President Obama told reporters at the White House. | "If I had a son he would look like Trayvon," President Obama told reporters at the White House. |
| Thousands of protesters demanded justice in Florida on Thursday evening. | Thousands of protesters demanded justice in Florida on Thursday evening. |
| These remarks are rare and deliberate, and some will find them controversial. America's first black president rarely gets embroiled in issues of race beyond anodyne comments about civil rights. Just talking about race in the US is potentially politically explosive. | These remarks are rare and deliberate, and some will find them controversial. America's first black president rarely gets embroiled in issues of race beyond anodyne comments about civil rights. Just talking about race in the US is potentially politically explosive. |
| What is often accepted as obvious and common sense among African-Americans can be treated as astonishing and provocative by some whites. The president was roundly criticised in 2009 when he described police as "stupid" for arresting a black Harvard professor outside his own home. Then, as more subtlely, now, he was voicing what many black Americans feel: their colour alone makes some whites view them as criminals. | What is often accepted as obvious and common sense among African-Americans can be treated as astonishing and provocative by some whites. The president was roundly criticised in 2009 when he described police as "stupid" for arresting a black Harvard professor outside his own home. Then, as more subtlely, now, he was voicing what many black Americans feel: their colour alone makes some whites view them as criminals. |
| The president's powerful identification with the family of Trayvon Martin will be warmly welcomed by many. But it would be surprising if his opponents don't complain that he is sympathising with people on the grounds of race alone. | The president's powerful identification with the family of Trayvon Martin will be warmly welcomed by many. But it would be surprising if his opponents don't complain that he is sympathising with people on the grounds of race alone. |
| "I can only imagine what these parents are going through and when I think about this boy I think about my own kids," Mr Obama said. | "I can only imagine what these parents are going through and when I think about this boy I think about my own kids," Mr Obama said. |
| "I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans take this with the seriousness that it deserves and we're going to get to the bottom of what happened. | "I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans take this with the seriousness that it deserves and we're going to get to the bottom of what happened. |
| "Every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this and everybody pulls together, federal state and local, to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened," he added. | "Every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this and everybody pulls together, federal state and local, to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened," he added. |
| In Florida, a law known as "stand your ground" can prevent criminal or civil prosecution when deadly force is used in self-defence. | In Florida, a law known as "stand your ground" can prevent criminal or civil prosecution when deadly force is used in self-defence. |
| There have been mounting calls for the arrest of George Zimmerman, 28, who opened fire on the teenager on 26 February in the Orlando suburb of Sanford. | There have been mounting calls for the arrest of George Zimmerman, 28, who opened fire on the teenager on 26 February in the Orlando suburb of Sanford. |
| Mr Martin was carrying a bag of sweets and a can of iced tea when he was approached by Mr Zimmerman. | Mr Martin was carrying a bag of sweets and a can of iced tea when he was approached by Mr Zimmerman. |
| The neighbourhood watchman had told a police dispatcher he thought Mr Martin looked suspicious. | The neighbourhood watchman had told a police dispatcher he thought Mr Martin looked suspicious. |
| It was raining and the teenager had his jacket hood pulled over his head. Mr Zimmerman shot Mr Martin following a chase and fight. | It was raining and the teenager had his jacket hood pulled over his head. Mr Zimmerman shot Mr Martin following a chase and fight. |
| On Thursday, Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed a new prosecutor to handle the case. | On Thursday, Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed a new prosecutor to handle the case. |
| He also established a task force led by the the state's lieutenant governor, an African-American woman, to conduct hearings on the incident and recommend any changes to state law. | He also established a task force led by the the state's lieutenant governor, an African-American woman, to conduct hearings on the incident and recommend any changes to state law. |
| Thousands of people gathered at a rally in Sanford on Thursday evening led by the civil rights leader Al Sharpton demanding justice for the 17-year-old. |