Jordan Davis would have turned 19 on Sunday.
The black teen was killed in 2012 while sitting in a car with his friends outside a Jacksonville, Florida convenience store, listening to music.
That music was too loud for Michael Dunn. Following an argument over the volume, the 45-year-old man fired his gun into the car full of teenagers, killing Davis. Dunn told his fiancee the teens were playing "thug music."
On the eve of Davis' birthday, a mistrial was declared on the first-degree murder charge. The jury found Dunn guilty of attempted second-degree murder and a count of firing into an occupied car.
While people struggled to make sense of the verdict, Jamie Nesbitt Golden kicked off the #dangerousblackkids hashtag on Twitter, with participants questioning a society where unarmed black kids are often interpreted as threats.
See some of the tweets below:
Jordan was a respectable black kid in the ROTC. All Dunn saw was #DangerousBlackKids in a car. And he shot at all of them.
— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) February 16, 2014
Officer: we got to keep an eye on these two. they're wearing blue. #dangerousblackkids pic.twitter.com/snpkCfn8aT
— Asmaa Lov (@AsmaaLov) February 16, 2014
I think I scared him. He was trying to roll off the bed. Very devious #DangerousBlackKids pic.twitter.com/O4oaTn6k8G
— Lorg Mo Chearta (@BriMonroeCarter) February 16, 2014
Me and my bro stealing goodie bags from your child's birthday party, probably. #DangerousBlackKids pic.twitter.com/Bo1sgJtTVJ
— Ashley Ford (@iSmashFizzle) February 16, 2014
Practicing his choke hold #DangerousBlackKids pic.twitter.com/xWk4mHzHBE
— enoitna (@AntioneJLowery) February 16, 2014
My son. Clearly planning a robbery. #dangerousblackkids pic.twitter.com/qwjd28OYgH
— The MisEddrickation (@edpic_tchalla) February 16, 2014
An intimidating young man. He looks a little thuggish with his hat cocked all hip hop style #dangerousblackkids pic.twitter.com/aMihXi69SM
— Jessi Ramsey (@miss_hellion) February 16, 2014
he's getting aggressive, his temper is flaring, omg I FEEL FEAR!!! #dangerousblackkids pic.twitter.com/oZttyCuuoj
— bahia bahia (@bahiawatson) February 16, 2014
See more tweets here.
