Trayvon Martin

Trayvon Martin was a 17-year-old African American killed by neighborhood-watch volunteer George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida, on February 26, 2012. His death and Zimmerman’s acquittal became a national flashpoint over race, gun laws, and self-defense.

George Zimmerman: George Zimmerman is the Florida man who fatally shot Trayvon Martin and was acquitted of his killing. His encounter with Martin and subsequent trial defined the case.
Florida v. Zimmerman jury instructions: The trial judge’s directions explaining the law the jury had to apply in George Zimmerman’s case. They framed the jury’s evaluation of self-defense and the criminal charges.
Neighborhood watch: A community-based program in which residents observe and report suspicious activity to law enforcement. Zimmerman was acting as a neighborhood-watch volunteer before encountering Martin.
Black Lives Matter movement: A decentralized movement addressing anti-Black racism and state violence, which grew from organizing after Trayvon Martin’s death. Martin’s killing galvanized activists whose organizing helped establish the movement.
State of Florida v. George Zimmerman: The 2013 Florida criminal trial in which a jury acquitted George Zimmerman of charges related to Trayvon Martin’s death. The verdict became the central legal outcome examined in public debate.
Stand-your-ground law: A law removing a duty to retreat before using force when a person is lawfully present and meets specified conditions. Florida’s statute shaped public discussion, though Zimmerman’s defense did not rely on its immunity procedure.
The Retreat at Twin Lakes: A gated residential community in Sanford, Florida, where Trayvon Martin was killed. Martin was walking through the community when Zimmerman encountered him.
Race and crime in the United States: The study and public debate of how race relates to crime, policing, victimization, and criminal justice in the United States. The case intensified scrutiny of how race shaped perceptions of Martin and Zimmerman.
Sanford, Florida: A city in central Florida where Trayvon Martin was killed and George Zimmerman was tried. The shooting and trial unfolded in this city.
Self-defense: A legal justification for using force to prevent an imminent unlawful attack, subject to jurisdiction-specific rules. Zimmerman argued that his use of deadly force was justified as self-defense.

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