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February 5, 2025, would have marked the 30th birth anniversary of Trayvon Martin. His death in 2012 sparked a national dialogue on race, justice, and gun violence and gave rise to the Black Lives Matter movement. George Zimmerman, the man who shot and killed him, has since been acquitted.
On February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida, George Zimmerman, 28, shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Martin was unarmed and on his way home from a convenience store when Zimmerman, having seen him, deemed him suspicious and called the police. Upon being told not to pursue Martin, Zimmerman followed anyway, which resulted in a confrontation. A struggle ensued and ended with Zimmerman fatally shooting Martin in the chest.
George Zimmerman claimed self-defense under Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' law. He was arrested for second-degree murder, but a jury acquitted him in July 2013, leading to nationwide protests and hostile debates about racial profiling and gun control in America.
George Zimmerman's life after the trial
After his acquittal, George Zimmerman remained in the public eye amidst many controversies, one of which was in 2013 when he attempted to cash in on his fame by selling a painting of the American flag on eBay for over $100,000, he sold the painting two years later to support a Florida gun store that had banned Muslim customers.
Zimmerman also faced several legal troubles in the years following his trial. He had several arrests owing to allegations of domestic violence and assault, but many of those charges were dropped or dismissed. He faced charges of stalking on accusations of a private investigator who worked on a documentary on Trayvon Martin, for which he was arrested in 2018.
In 2019, Zimmerman filed a $100 million lawsuit against Martin’s family, their lawyer, and others, accusing them of defamation and conspiracy. However, the case was dismissed in 2022.
In 2020, George Zimmerman initiated a defamation lawsuit against Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren following tweets they posted acknowledging Trayvon Martin's 25th birthday during their campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Zimmerman has largely retreated from the public spotlight in recent years. While he is believed to still reside in Florida, details about his current lifestyle remain sparse.
Meanwhile, Trayvon Martin’s family has dedicated their lives to advocating against gun violence and racial injustice. His mother, Sybrina Fulton, founded the Circle of Mothers, an organization supporting women who have lost children to violence.
Bernice King, CEO of Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, wrote a post on his X remembering Trayvon Martin. He wrote:
"Trayvon Martin. He should be turning 30 today. 30. He should have 3 decades behind him and be planning for more. My heart goes out to his parents and family."
Ben Crump, a civil rights advocate, also put out a message on his X. He wrote:
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"Trayvon Martin should be here celebrating his 30th birthday, but his life was stolen too soon. His death opened the nation’s eyes to the injustices young Black men face and ignited a movement. We honor his memory and stand with his family. Happy heavenly birthday, Trayvon."
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