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'Trayvon Martin could have been me' - Barack Obama | 'Trayvon Martin could have been me' - Barack Obama |
(35 minutes later) | |
President Barack Obama has said that "Trayvon Martin could have been me, 35 years ago", in his first comments on the case since last week's verdict. | President Barack Obama has said that "Trayvon Martin could have been me, 35 years ago", in his first comments on the case since last week's verdict. |
The unarmed black 17-year-old was shot and killed in Florida in February 2012. | The unarmed black 17-year-old was shot and killed in Florida in February 2012. |
George Zimmerman, 29, said he opened fire on the teenager in self-defence and was acquitted of murder by a Florida court last week. | George Zimmerman, 29, said he opened fire on the teenager in self-defence and was acquitted of murder by a Florida court last week. |
In an unexpected press call, Mr Obama said very few black men in the US had not experienced racial profiling. | In an unexpected press call, Mr Obama said very few black men in the US had not experienced racial profiling. |
Mr Obama said the pain that African-Americans felt around the case came from the fact that they viewed it through "a set of experiences and a history that doesn't go away". | |
He said African Americans were also keenly aware of racial disparities in the application of criminal laws. | |
"That all contributes to a sense that if a white male teen was involved in the same kind of scenario, both the outcome and the aftermath might have been different," Mr Obama said. | |
He shared his experiences of being racially profiled in the past, such as being followed while out shopping. | |
"There are very few African-American men who haven't had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. | |
"There are very few African-Americans who haven't had the experience of getting on an elevator and a woman clutching her purse nervously and holding her breath until she has a chance to get off." | |
'Soul-searching' | |
Mr Obama also hailed the "incredible grace and dignity" of Trayvon Martin's parents in the way they reacted to the verdict. | |
Calling for "soul-searching" from Americans on issues of race, he also sounded a hopeful note, saying that race relations were improving with each generation. | |
Saturday's not guilty verdict for George Zimmerman from the all-female jury of six prompted nationwide protests, with further demonstrations planned for this weekend. | |
Mr Obama called for the protests to remain peaceful, saying any violence "dishonours what happened to Trayvon Martin". | |
He said that although criminal matters and law enforcement were traditionally dealt with on a state and not a federal level, it would be useful to examine some state and local laws to see if they encourage confrontation in certain situations. | |
On Wednesday, US Attorney General Eric Holder cited the case as he urged a nationwide review of "stand your ground" laws, such as those in place in Florida, which permit the use of deadly force if a person feels seriously threatened. | |
The issue was never raised during the trial, though the judge included a provision about the law in her instructions to the jury, allowing it to be considered as a legitimate defence. |