Trayvon Martin Parents To Attend Capitol Hill Forum On Hate Crimes, Racial Profiling

WASHINGTON -- Trayvon Martin's parents will be on Capitol Hill Tuesday to attend a forum on racial profiling and hate crimes.

Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, whose teenaged son Trayvon was shot to death last month by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Fla., will be in the audience, but won't testify during the two-hour forum organized by Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee. Their family attorney Benjamin Crump will testify, however.

Four Congressional Black Caucus members -- Reps. John Conyers (D-Mich.), Corrine Brown (D-Fla.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) -- came up with the idea for the forum. Conyers and Jackson Lee serve on the Judiciary Committee. Brown represents Sanford and Trayvon was a constituent of Wilson's.

Participants will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. and a briefing at 3 p.m., with the goal of assessing "the role of the federal government regarding racial profiling and hate crime issues," according to a notice of the forum.

A House Democratic aide said Congressional Black Caucus members have been asking all Democratic members of the Judiciary Committee -- "white and black" -- to participate. Among those expected to give remarks are Congressional Black Caucus chairman Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.). But it doesn't appear that any Republicans are attending: Jackson Lee spokesman Michael McQuerry said GOP lawmakers "have been made aware" of the briefing and that it is open to all, but Kim Smith, a spokeswoman for Judiciary Committee chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), said she thought the event was a "press availability" and wasn't sure Republicans were attending.

Others slated to testify include Rebecca Monroe, acting director of the Community Relations Service at the Justice Department; Albert E. Dotson, Jr., chairman of 100 Black Men of America Inc.; Robert Parker, former director of the Miami-Dade Police Department; Ben Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP; and Daniel Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

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Comments

[drhiii]

09:45 PM on 03/30/2012

Is there a forum where all this is being discussed, information being presented, etc? Huff Post is cool and all, but wondering if people have been collecting somewhere on this??

A couple of questions that I haven't see discussed are... was this a gated community which is something I've heard but don't know? If yes, how do you get access into this gated community? Are general public people discouraged from being in this area through these kinds of barriers, checks and balances, etc?

After all that, what was Treyvon Martin doing in this area? Was it reasonable to think that he would go through this area on his way home? Or was this a bit out of the way?

I just am curious about all this... It does NOT excuse or reinforce what happened at all. I am just curious as to how this young man came to be in this area mainly because listening to the phone call from Zimmerman, did Zimmerman embellish his comments (beyond what we heard in the racial slurs) about someone being in *that area*.

I haven't heard this talked about. And trust me... it is stunningly remarkable how quick everyone is to draw conclusions. Information will keep coming out. This is just one slice of all this I am curious about.

[Stephuf]

03:42 PM on 05/11/2012

http://theconservativetreehouse.com/2012/05/11/update-21-trayvon-martin-shooting-the-media-retreat-no-longer-subtle/#comments

This blog has chronicled the case from the get go, is excruciatingly thorough from the known facts of the case to the interwoven relationships of the race spinmeisters. New term, "you've been Crumped". The meat starts about at update 8 or 9, but read all.

The gate to the community is coded, but it's easy to access on foot.

[inthedesert]

06:44 PM on 03/28/2012

WHERE IS THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE PARENT'S COPYWRITING HIS NAME???????????

[Roxy87]

12:09 AM on 03/28/2012

"Stand Your Ground would be defense that you would use if you were being charged for something. It's not an excuse for the police to not arrest you for a murder." Massanova

[Idlewind]

07:20 PM on 03/27/2012

Keep in mind, if hate crime legislation passes, it will apply to everyone, right?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1220695/Is-political-correctness-blame-lack-coverage-horrific-black-white-killings-Americas-Deep-South-Tennessee-Channon-Christian-Christopher-Newsom-carjack.html

[Roxy87]

01:02 AM on 03/28/2012

Agreed, otherwise it would be discrimination towards another group who felt they don't have rights now and that's not fair. I would assume if it did pass, they wouldn't be stupid enough to exclude other races, that wouldn't be the solution.

[diceman099]

05:22 PM on 03/27/2012

After reading the real facts behind this felonious assault... I think Mr. Zimmerman should be given a award of some type, maybe a key to the city !

[Gene Lammon]

04:11 PM on 03/27/2012

I dare you to read this!!

http://theinjusticefile.blogspot.com/

[Richrr]

06:47 PM on 03/27/2012

Just totally sad !

[Idlewind]

07:38 PM on 03/27/2012

Wow!!!!

That blogger has done a lot of research. I couldn't believe the disparity in the numbers between white victims of black assailants vs. black victims of white assailants since 1970.

Good find and good post.

[RAGTOP4SP]

01:31 PM on 03/27/2012

these black shot and kill eachother everyday of the week and no1 is marching and starting trouble about that i see!!!

[mbroo]

11:46 PM on 03/27/2012

Ummm, what?

[RAGTOP4SP]

04:31 AM on 03/28/2012

these ppl are taken eachother out!! there doing the world a favor!!let it be!!

[Bayou Crier]

12:15 PM on 03/27/2012

Isn't welfare grand. You can get your check and go to protest marches all day long.

[RAGTOP4SP]

01:31 PM on 03/27/2012

well said!!!!

[Bayou Crier]

12:12 PM on 03/27/2012

Trayvon Martin was a punk. He attacked Mr. Zimmerman and Mr. Zimmerman protected himself as the law in Florida allows. The Martin boy was a troublemaker in school and a drug user who was a violent agressive person who was, and would continue to be a problem for society.

[dalehay]

06:16 PM on 03/27/2012

The bayou is crying for you to go back into the swamp from which you came.

[Fonsini]

12:02 PM on 03/27/2012

Meanwhile 49 blacks were shot by other blacks in Chicago during just one weekend resulting in 10 deaths including a 6 year old girl.

Why is no one marching on DC about THAT?

[Grandma Koolfinger]

12:31 PM on 03/27/2012

Because it's nothing out of the ordinary, which is very sad. That's where Al and Jess should go next, but they won't.

[lolagray]

10:53 AM on 03/27/2012

Was there an autopsy done on Trayvon? Where is it? It will answer a lot of questions as to how Trayvon killed. Police say Tray was found face down, which means GZ shot him in the back. How is that self defense?

[edgySF]

10:53 AM on 03/27/2012

GZ was so afraid of getting beaten to death by TM that he had no choice but to shoot and kill the kid.

Yet GZ did not go the hospital for his injuries.

How do you GZ supporters explain that?

Was he brutally beaten by the kid or not?

Do you really believe a grown man with a gun would cry for "help"? Against an unarmed youth?

And not have to go to the hospital for injuries?

Really, people? Come on. I'm beginning to think some of you are on the payroll of Judge Zimmerman's law firm.

[RAGTOP4SP]

01:33 PM on 03/27/2012

not every1 has to go to the hospital after a fight, martin was the bad guy !! stop makin up ecuses!!!!!

[edgySF]

10:50 AM on 03/27/2012

We have proof that TM was pursued by GZ.

His girlfriend was on the phone with him at the time. She heard GZ approach TM and confront him.

TM asked GZ, "why are following me?"

The girlfriend told TM to run from the strange man.

After GZ confronted TM, the phone got knocked out.

I would like to see the police photos of GZ's broken nose, scratches and grass stains.

I'd also like to see the paramedic's report.

[abarovingEU]

10:42 AM on 03/27/2012

I probably heard ( and watched ) three or more different version of this unfortunate killing.
there are no visuals on that--only a confused recording on a 911 Call--? I am not sure.
The proposed Forum will only confuse and deepen resentments on both sides----I feel terrible for the family of this young boy, everybody does---so, I would concentrate more on the carrying a loaded gun around---that privilege should be removed---there is where the focus should be directed.....if not, when will we hear of another case involving a GUN?....soon, more likely than not.

[naaman]

10:35 AM on 03/27/2012

Good grief! Another racial profiling gig. - How would Sharpton/Jackson make a living without the race card!

[realtalk1234]

11:40 AM on 03/27/2012

I don't think its racial profiling...its called Justice!!!!!! Get it right.... I truly believe that the purpose of all the rallies are JUSTICE for Trayvon. Not for racial purposes. So if Sharpton/Jackson want to rally for JUSTICE let them. Thank you very much

[RAGTOP4SP]

01:33 PM on 03/27/2012

thats right!!!