Prominent civil rights lawyer represents slain US airman's family. A look at Ben Crump's past cases
The family of a young Black U.S. Air Force airman gunned down by a Florida sheriffโs deputy is represented by a prominent civil rights lawyer.
Chiefs parade shooting could be a new test of expanded 'stand your ground' protections
Court documents say the man accused of firing the first shots at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl rally told authorities he felt threatened, while a second man said he pulled the trigger because someone was shooting at him.
Black Lives Matter movement to mark 10 years of activism, renews call to defund the police
The Black Lives Matter movement turns 10 years old on Thursday, marking the day in 2013 that the man who fatally shot Trayvon Martin was acquitted in his death.
Ocala shooter likely not covered under self-defense laws, attorney says
The man at the center of the case that brought Floridaโs Stand Your Ground law to the national conversation said he doesnโt think the law applies to a Marion County woman accused of manslaughter.
Protesters call for arrest of white woman who fatally shot Black neighbor
A Florida sheriff says detectives must investigate self-defense claims before any criminal charges can be brought against a white woman who fatally shot her neighbor last week in the violent culmination of what the sheriff described as a 2ยฝ-year feud.
AP Exclusive: Black Lives Matter has $42 million in assets
A new, 63-page IRS tax filing shared exclusively with The Associated Press shows the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation Inc. ended its last fiscal year with nearly $42 million in net assets.
The AP Interview: BLM's Patrisse Cullors denies wrongdoing
In an exclusive interview, Patrisse Cullors, the former leader of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, tells The Associated Press that neither she nor anyone else in leadership has misused millions of dollars in donations.
Trayvon Martin's mother: 'Don't give up' fight for justice
The mother of Trayvon Martin is marking the 10th anniversary of her sonโs death by thanking those who sought justice for her family and urging them to continue to fight.
After Trayvon Martin, Crump became civil rights go-to lawyer
Before Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor and other Black people died at the hands of white police officers or self-appointed vigilantes, there was Martin Lee Anderson.
Attorneys discuss โstand your ground,โ racial justice 10 years after Trayvon Martinโs death
Florida civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump recalls being in court in early 2012 when he received a phone call from a fellow lawyer whose relative had been fatally shot in Sanford days earlier.
'Stand your ground' laws proliferate after Trayvon spotlight
Ten years ago when Trayvon Martin was fatally shot, Florida was one of the few states with โstand your groundโ laws that eased use of deadly force in the face of danger.
Saturday marks 10 years since Trayvon Martinโs death in Sanford
February is not only Black History Month, but also the month the 17-year-old was bornโand the month he was killed. And since his death, Sanford Police Department has instilled changes for the betterment of the community.
Trayvon Martin, 10 years later: Teen's death changes nation
The killing of Trayvon Martin at the hands of a stranger still reverberates 10 years later -- in protest, in partisanship, in racial reckoning and reactionary response, in social justice and social media.
Florida judge tosses George Zimmerman lawsuit against Trayvon Martin parents
A judge in Florida has dismissed a defamation and conspiracy lawsuit former neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman had filed against the parents of Trayvon Martin, the teen he fatally shot almost a decade ago.
Man sentenced for shooting at George Zimmerman in Seminole County to get a new trial
42-year-old, Matthew Apperson, the man sentenced for the attempted murder of George Zimmerman, is set to get a new trial.
Chauvin's trial leaves many Black viewers emotionally taxed
Many Black men and women in the U.S. are keeping tabs on whatโs unfolding in the televised murder trial of white former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, taking in what they can before turning away to allow their anger and hurt to subside.
Ample opportunities for viewers to follow Chauvin trial
In this image from Minneapolis city surveillance video, Minneapolis police are seen attempting to take George Floyd into custody May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minn. Floydโs name is more widely known than Chauvin, but calling it the โFloyd trialโ would wrongly imply that the victim was the one on trial. Most called it the Chauvin trial. CourtTV called it โThe Death of George Floyd Murder Trial.โ ABC said it was the โDerek Chauvin Trial, 10 Months After George Floydโs Death.โFor some of the specialty networks, the trial offers a rare opportunity to increase viewership, both on the air and online. CBS' website will carry its own coverage, along with that of the network's Minneapolis affiliate, he said.
Sanford seeks racial injustice reform 9 years after Trayvon Martinโs death
The 15-member โRace, Equality, Equity and Inclusion" group will be made up of residents, people who work in Sanford and business owners, the Orlando Sentinel reported. AdThey're being asked to deliver a report detailing its findings to the city commission in about eight months. Martin's death helped lead to the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2013. Today, two of the city's commissioners, the police chief and city manager are Black. The city will provide the committee with up to $35,000 to pay for technical assistance, conducting surveys and other costs.
AP Exclusive: Black Lives Matter opens up about its finances
This marks the first time in the movementโs nearly eight-year history that BLM leaders have revealed a detailed look at their finances. The foundation said it committed $21.7 million in grant funding to official and unofficial BLM chapters, as well as 30 Black-led local organizations. In its report, the BLM foundation said individual donations via its main fundraising platform averaged $30.76. โBecause the BLM movement was larger than life โ and it is larger than life โ people made very huge assumptions about what our actual finances looked like,โ Cullors said. Leaders at the BLM foundation admit that they have not been clear about the movementโs finances and governance over the years.
Florida road named after Trayvon Martin
MIAMI โ A section of road that leads to the South Florida high school that Trayvon Martin attended now bears the name of the Black teenager whose 2012 death sparked a movement for social justice. The road became Trayvon Martin Avenue during a brief ceremony on Thursday morning near Dr. Michael K. Krop Senior High, where the teen was in 11th grade when he was killed. โOur students every morning will come out here and see the road that bears Trayvonโs name. Martin, 17, was shot dead while visiting his father in Sanford in 2012. Zimmermanโs acquittal under Floridaโs self-defense law in July 2013 sparked the Black Lives Matter movement.
Black Lives Matter faces test of its influence in election
โBlack Lives Matter saved us, because we had nobody,โ said Jones. Now, BLMโs influence faces a test, as voters in Tuesdayโs election consider candidates who endorsed or denounced the BLM movement amid a national reckoning on race. Enter Black Lives Matter. Across social media platforms, the Black Lives Matter movement boasts a following of millions. โBlack Lives Matter,โ as a slogan, elicited โAll Lives Matterโ and โBlue Lives Matterโ responses from foes.
Sanford police chief shares lessons of healing, reconciliation after Trayvon Martinโs death
Trust between the community and the police was broken and the world was watching to see what would happen next. In 2012, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was killed by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman during a struggle after Zimmerman followed Martin, believing Martin was suspicious. โOne of the things we constantly heard is we donโt have people who look like us, sound like us, or understand us or are from our community,โ Smith said. FPCA Chair Chief Anthony Holloway of the St. Petersburg Police Department said the FPCA is โseriousโ about its work. The Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA) is the nationโs pre-eminent law enforcement professional association, speaking for more than 900 of Floridaโs top law enforcement executives, and providing guidance and leadership for the future of law enforcement and our communities, according to the FPCA.
Black Lives Matter network debunks Trump Twitter post
Black Lives Matter leader states, If U.S. doesnt give us what we want, then we will burn down this system and replace it. Hawk Newsome has no relation to the Black Lives Matter Global Network, Scales said. Reached by phone Thursday night, Newsome said Black Lives Matter Greater New York is now under the leadership of Black women. He also said Black Lives Matter is not a movement over which anyone can claim ownership. In Washington, D.C., the mayor ordered the words Black Lives Matter painted across a street near the White House, which also has been renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza.
Antebellum brings racial justice call to reopened theaters
This image released by Lionsgate shows co-writer/directors Christopher Renz, left, and Gerard Bush on the set of "Antebellum." Filmmakers Bush and Renz planned to release their feature-length debut film, Antebellum, in the spring of 2020, just as the coronavirus pandemic exploded internationally. In Antebellum, Mone gives moviegoers a modern Black heroine who takes charge of her own liberation without a male-dominated cavalry. Their path to feature-length films with a racial justice message has been a long time coming, Bush and Renz said. Even as they anticipate finding box office success with Antebellum, Bush and Renz are already at work on their second feature-length script, under a newly formed production company, Gloaming Pictures.
Racial equality groups grapple with surge in donations
The fund includes $6 million in donations to support Black-led grassroots organizing groups. Two weeks ago, it unveiled a separate $6.5 million fund for its network of affiliate chapters. Color of Change, one of the largest online racial justice organizations, didnโt quantify how much donations have increased over the past few weeks. The fund, called the โThe Emergency Fund For Racial Justiceโ is in partnership with the Amalgamated Foundation. Michael Jordan pledged $100 million over the next 10 years to organizations dedicated to ensuring racial equality, social justice and greater access to education.
Black Lives Matter network establishes $12M grant fund
Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, the group behind the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement, has established a more than $12 million fund to aid organizations fighting institutional racism in the wake of the George Floyd protests. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)NEW YORK โ The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation has established a fund worth more than $12 million to aid organizations fighting institutional racism, in the wake of the George Floyd protests. Although there are many groups that use โBlack Lives Matterโ or โBLMโ in their names, only 16 are considered affiliates of the global network. The Black Lives Matter movement emerged in 2013 amid anger over the acquittal of George Zimmerman, the Florida man who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012. โIโm really proud of the work weโve been able to do in the last seven years,โ Patrisse Cullors, co-founder and chairwoman of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, said in a statement.
Mother of Trayvon Martin joins Miami protesters seeking racial justice, police support
MIAMI โ The mother of Trayvon Martin joined hundreds of demonstrators at a rally in downtown Miami on Sunday, demanding racial equality following the death of George Floyd last month at the hands of a white police officer in Minnesota. At one point, demonstrators lined up U.S. flags that spelled out โRESISTโ on a blocked-off downtown street. Nearby at a separate protest, dozens of police supporters waved flags and chanted โWe support the police!โ at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. At one point, about three dozen officers on bikes rode by the protesters and gave high-fives to supporters who applauded and took photos. The Miami Beach protest was led by Egyptia Green, a rising eighth grader who also led another protest last week.
Mother of Trayvon Marin joins Miami protesters seeking racial justice, police support
MIAMI The mother of Trayvon Martin joined hundreds of demonstrators at a rally in downtown Miami on Sunday, demanding racial equality following the death of George Floyd last month at the hands of a white police officer in Minnesota. At one point, demonstrators lined up U.S. flags that spelled out RESIST on a blocked-off downtown street. Nearby at a separate protest, dozens of police supporters waved flags and chanted We support the police! at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. At one point, about three dozen officers on bikes rode by the protesters and gave high-fives to supporters who applauded and took photos. The Miami Beach protest was led by Egyptia Green, a rising eighth grader who also led another protest last week.
Long seen as radical, Black Lives Matter goes mainstream
Black Lives Matter has gone mainstream and black activists are carefully assessing how they should respond. Its very name enraged its foes, who countered with the slogans Blue Lives Matter and All Lives Matter." Black Lives Matter has gone mainstream and black activists are carefully assessing how they should respond. When we started Black Lives Matter, it was really to have a larger conversation around this country about its relationship to black people, said Patrisse Cullors, one of three black women who founded the Black Lives Matter Global Network, with chapters throughout the U.S. and in Britain and Canada. Last week, longtime Sacramento Kings TV broadcaster Grant Napear resigned after tweeting ALL LIVES MATTER when asked his opinion on the Black Lives Matter movement.
Georgia man's death raises echoes of US racial terror legacy
The footage of Arberyโs death was not the only thing that rattled the nationโs conscience. โThe slothfulness and inaction of the judicial system, in this case, is a gross testament to the blatant white racial privileges that permeates throughout our country and our institutions." A Georgia Bureau of Investigation statement said the McMichaels confronted Arbery with two firearms and that Travis McMichael fatally shot Arbery. While likening Arberyโs death to a lynching may seem like an apt comparison, doing so isnโt sufficient for understanding why the manโs death is a tragedy, said Bryan Stevenson, executive director of the Alabama-based Equal Justice Initiative. The organization has cataloged more than 4,400 racial terror lynchings in the U.S. that took place between Reconstruction and World War II.
George Zimmerman sues Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren over tweets
George Zimmerman has filed a lawsuit against Democratic presidential candidates Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren, after he claimed both candidates damaged his reputation while paying tribute to Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman claims the candidates were attempting to โgarner votes in the black community,โ Newsweek.com reported. We need to end gun violence and racism. https://t.co/9lXXlRnvzL โ Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 6, 2020According to Zimmermanโs lawsuit, both Warren and Buttigieg falsely connected Martinโs death with gun violence, even though he claims he acted in self-defense on the night of the shooting. Warren and Buttigiegโs tweets were used as a part of their โpolitical agenda to garner votes in the black community,โ the lawsuit added.
Florida governor asked to reexamine 'stand your ground' case
In this undated photo made available by the Modell family, Ryan Modell, right, visits Paris with his father Sandy Modell. Sandy Modell is asking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to reopen the investigation into his son's 2016 shooting death during an altercation at Ryan Modell's Fort Myers, Fla., condominium complex. Local prosecutors declined to charge the shooter, Steve Taylor, citing the state's "stand your ground" law, a decision Sandy Modell wants reversed. (Modell family via AP)
Florida governor asked to reexamine 'stand your ground' case
In this undated photo made available by the Modell family, Ryan Modell, right, visits Paris with his father Sandy Modell. Local prosecutors declined to charge the shooter, Steve Taylor, citing the state's "stand your ground" law, a decision Sandy Modell wants reversed. (Modell family via AP)FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. โ In a case involving Florida's controversial โstand your groundโ law, Gov. In both the Martin and Modell slayings, prosecutors cited the โstand your groundโ law in deciding, at least initially, not to prosecute. In the Modell case, O'Mara argues that โstand your groundโ does not apply.
George Zimmerman sues Trayvon Martin family, others for $100 million
POLK COUNTY, Fla. โ George Zimmerman is suing Trayvon Martinโs family, prosecutors and others for $100 million. Zimmerman, a Sanford neighborhood watch volunteer in 2012, was acquitted of homicide in the fatal shooting of Martin, who was 17 years old. The lawsuit, filed in Polk County, where Zimmerman now lives, cites information in a documentary about the case that accuses the Martin family of engineering false testimony. According to the newly filed lawsuit, Zimmerman cites a documentary about the case accusing Martinโs family of lying about a witness who testified. Zimmerman filed a defamation lawsuit against NBC News several years ago, claiming the media company had maliciously edited phone calls Zimmerman placed to 911 shortly after he shot and killed Martin.
News 6 at 6-- 11/13/18
The Seminole County man previously acquitted of killing an unarmed teenager accepted a plea deal in an unrelated stalking case. That and the ongoing statewide election recount are the top local and trending stories for Tuesday, Nov. 13, as seen on ClickOrlando.com and News 6. However, Seminole County Judge Mark Herr admonished Zimmerman to understand that "words matter." The judge expressed hope that Zimmerman would avoid making future appearances at the Seminole County Courthouse. It also marks the second launch in under 12 hours from the East Coast from different NASA launch pads.