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Trayvon Martin's parents go to Capitol Hill | Trayvon Martin's parents go to Capitol Hill |
(40 minutes later) | |
The parents of Trayvon Martin, a black teenager gunned down in Florida last month, are attending a congressional forum on racial profiling. | |
The Washington DC event, sponsored by Democratic lawmakers, comes as police investigate leaks about the case. | The Washington DC event, sponsored by Democratic lawmakers, comes as police investigate leaks about the case. |
The teenager's parents say someone is trying to tarnish his reputation. | The teenager's parents say someone is trying to tarnish his reputation. |
The shooting has prompted protests around the country and demands for the arrest of the neighbourhood watch volunteer who shot the young man. | |
Tuesday's forum, backed by members of the House Judiciary Committee, will also focus on hate crimes and Florida's "stand your ground" law, which enabled the shooter, George Zimmerman, to claim self-defence. | Tuesday's forum, backed by members of the House Judiciary Committee, will also focus on hate crimes and Florida's "stand your ground" law, which enabled the shooter, George Zimmerman, to claim self-defence. |
Mr Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, are not expected to testify. | Mr Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, are not expected to testify. |
Student activists staged a march in front of the White House and Department of Justice on Tuesday to call for the prosecution of Mr Zimmerman. | |
Sanford Police Department announced it was launching an investigation to find the source of leaks about the teenager's brushes with authority. | Sanford Police Department announced it was launching an investigation to find the source of leaks about the teenager's brushes with authority. |
A report in the Orlando Sentinel, attributed to law enforcement authorities, said Mr Zimmerman, 28, who has not been charged, opened fire after he was felled by Mr Martin with a single punch. | A report in the Orlando Sentinel, attributed to law enforcement authorities, said Mr Zimmerman, 28, who has not been charged, opened fire after he was felled by Mr Martin with a single punch. |
The newspaper said that according to Mr Zimmerman's police statement, his head was slammed on to the pavement by Mr Martin during the deadly confrontation on 26 February. | The newspaper said that according to Mr Zimmerman's police statement, his head was slammed on to the pavement by Mr Martin during the deadly confrontation on 26 February. |
It emerged on Monday that the teenager had been suspended from school for marijuana possession shortly before his death. | It emerged on Monday that the teenager had been suspended from school for marijuana possession shortly before his death. |
Meanwhile, the Miami Herald reported that a school police investigator had found women's jewellery and a "burglary tool" in the teenager's bag. | Meanwhile, the Miami Herald reported that a school police investigator had found women's jewellery and a "burglary tool" in the teenager's bag. |
Florida's Department of Juvenile Justice confirmed to the Associated Press on Monday that Mr Martin did not have a juvenile offender record. | Florida's Department of Juvenile Justice confirmed to the Associated Press on Monday that Mr Martin did not have a juvenile offender record. |
Mr Martin's mother said on Monday: "They killed my son, and now they're trying to kill his reputation." | Mr Martin's mother said on Monday: "They killed my son, and now they're trying to kill his reputation." |
Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton said he had warned the parents the authorities might attempt to destroy their son's reputation. | |
"They will try to make your son a junkie or thief [and] assault everything else before this is over," he said, the Orlando Sentinel reported. | "They will try to make your son a junkie or thief [and] assault everything else before this is over," he said, the Orlando Sentinel reported. |
Mr Martin was walking home from a local shop carrying a bag of sweets and a can of iced tea when he was approached by Mr Zimmerman. | Mr Martin was walking home from a local shop 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, who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, looked suspicious. | The neighbourhood watchman had told a police dispatcher he thought Mr Martin, who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, looked suspicious. |