http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2119615/Trayvon-Martin-New-witness-tells-police-George-Zimmerman-provoked.html
Protests over Trayvon Martin's death sweep across America as anonymous witness claims teen attacked his killer George Zimmerman before fatal shooting
- March in New York demands justice for 17-year-old
- Unarmed teen was 'beating up' gunman, according to anonymous witness
- Zimmerman's attorney says he is not racist and calls shooting a 'tragic thing'
- Friends paint picture of considerate teenager who didn't get in fights
- Killing has sparked national uproar as shooter has escaped prosecution
- Black Panthers put $10,000 bounty for Zimmerman's capture and are actively recruiting up to 5,000 new members
- Rev Al Sharpton calls for 'sustained protests' and says activists planning 'wave of civil disobedience'
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A new wave of protests has swept the U.S. as the national uproar over the killing of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin by a Neighborhood Watch captain continues.
Protesters gathered in New York bolstered by campaigners from Occupy Wall Street, and marched from Zuccotti Park to Union Square, with many activists dressed in hoodies to represent the clothes Martin was wearing when he was shot dead by George Zimmerman.
Other marches were planned for Washington, Tampa, Dallas and Chicago.
The protests come the day after an anonymous witness to Martin's death claimed that he may have attacked Zimmerman before the shooting at a gated community in Florida.
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Killing: Trayvon Martin, left, was shot dead by George Zimmerman, right, in a gated community in Florida
Capitol protests: In Washington today, hundreds gathered in Freedom Plaza demanding justice for Trayvon
Defiance: Protests have demanded that George Zimmerman be prosecuted over the shooting
March: A seven-year-old protester eats Skittles at a demonstration in Washington, D.C. Trayvon Martin had gone to buy a bag of Skittles when he was shot by Zimmerman
The witness, known only as John, told Sanford police that he saw Martin on top of George Zimmerman shortly before the fatal shot that has led to a national outcry, including a huge 'hoodie' march in Philadelphia last night. He recounted the details to Fox 35 News in Florida.
Meanwhile, the Rev Al Sharpton said today that activists are planning a ‘wave of civil disobedience.’
Speaking outside of his New York City headquarters today, Rev Sharpton said that it is important to show ‘sustained indignation’ over Martin's death.
He also appeared on the Today show this morning and said that the legal system failed Trayvon Martin and his family.
In reaction to Mr Obama’s comment, he said: ‘He expressed himself when asked a question as the president.’
No bias: Speaking on CBS, Zimmerman's attorney Craig Sonner said that the Neighbourhood Watch volunteer isn't racist
Chants: The rally chanted their frustration with racism and discrimination believed to have led to the teen's death
Rev Sharpton’s projection isn’t far from truth. Already, thousands of people across the country have joined rallies and protests – many of these demonstrations are encouraging protesters to wear a hoodie like Martin was when he was shot.
In addition, members of the Black Panther Party are offering a $10,000 reward for Zimmerman’s ‘capture,’ the Orlando Sentinel reported.
Leader Mikhai Muhammad said at a Sanford protest today after the group called for 5,000 new recruits to capture him.
The group chanted: ‘Justice for Trayvon!’ as well as ‘Black Power!’
Mr Muhammad told the paper that the group would commence their search in areas that Zimmerman was known to have work ties – in Jacksonville and Maitland.
Distraught: A demonstrator weeps in New York's Union Square at the end of a march from Zuccotti Park
Hoodie: Martin's choice of attire has been mentioned as one possible reason he attracted suspicion
The witness told FOX 35 in Orlando that he saw evidence of a fight between Martin and Zimmerman, which could lend credence to the gunman's claim that he was acting in self-defence.
'The guy on the bottom who had a red sweater on was yelling to me: "Help, help… and I told him to stop and I was calling 911,' he said.
Zimmerman was wearing a red sweater; Martin was in a grey hoodie.
He added: 'When I got upstairs and looked down, the guy who was on top beating up the other guy, was the one laying in the grass, and I believe he was dead at that point.'
This account is drastically different from the portrait painted of Martin by his friends and acquaintances.
Sustained protests: Rev Al Sharpton today called for civil disobedience and more protests to show outrage over the case; he is pictured speaking at a rally yesterday
Anger: Thousands of protesters joined a 'Million Hoodie March' in Philadelphia on Friday night
Friends of the slain 17-year-old say they cannot imagine him getting involved in a fight, and insist that he was not violent.
'There's no way I can believe that, because he's not a confrontational kid,' said Jerome Horton, who was one of Martin's former football coaches and knew him since he was a small child.
'It just wouldn't happen. That's just not that kid.'
Meanwhile, the attorney hired to represent Zimmerman is echoing claims of the Neighbourhood Watchman’s father – that he’s not racist.
Speaking on CBS This Morning: Saturday, attorney Craig Sonner said: ‘I don’t believe there’s any racial motivation on the behalf of George Zimmerman… That’s the issue that we wanted to address today, is that this was not a racial issue in what happened that day.
'Basically, Mr Zimmerman claims he was attacked by Trayvon Martin and he was defending himself. That’s the gist of the investigation.’
Tribute: The Miami Heat team donned black hoodies in remembrance of Martin, as shown in this photo posted on Twitter by LeBron James
Memorial: James also chose to remember Martin with a message on his shoe as the Heat faced the Detroit Pistons on Friday
He also noted that he is at the moment only advising Zimmerman, as he has not been criminally charged.
Though he has remained resolutely silent throughout the ordeal, even as national protests are held calling for his arrest, Zimmerman did place a call to a neighbour nearly a month after the incident, thanking him for his support.
In the call, the Neighbourhood Watch captain left a message for Frank Taaffee, one of Zimmerman’s most vocal supporters to date.
Martin was slain in the town of Sanford on February 26 in a shooting that has set off a nationwide furor over race and justice.
Neighborhood crime-watch captain Zimmerman, whose father is white and mother is Hispanic, claimed self-defense and has not been arrested, though state and federal authorities are still investigating.
Since his death, Martin's name and photographs - in football jerseys, smiling alongside a baby, and staring into the camera in a gray hoodie - have been held up by civil rights leaders and at rallies stretching from Miami to New York demanding Zimmerman's arrest.
On Friday, President Barack Obama called the shooting a tragedy, vowed to get to the bottom of the case, and added: 'When I think about this boy, I think about my own kids.'
That sentiment was echoed by NBA star by Dwyane Wade, who along with his Miami Heat teammate LeBron James tweeted photos of themselves in hoodies in a show of solidarity.
'As a father, this hits home,' said Wade, who has two sons, aged ten and four.
A voicemail left by Zimmerman for his local supporter George taff has also been released.
Mourning: Sheryl Moore, right, cries at a prayer vigil for Trayvon Martin at Allen Chapel AME church yesterday in Sanford
Connected: Supporters hold hands during the Sanford prayer vigil
‘Hey, Mr Taaffee. This is George. Um, first and foremost, I wanted to say I am very sorry for the loss of your son, and, um, I can't imagine what you must be going through.
'Um, secondly, I wanted to thank you for doing everything you've been doing.
'Um, I know you don't have to, and I appreciate it, and you're truly setting an example for me for the future of, uh, doing the right thing even when it's tough, and, uh, I appreciate it.
'I'll talk to you soon,’ Zimmerman said in the message.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson said Friday that Martin's killing reflects 'the classic struggle of our time' and said it echoes the slaying of Emmitt Till, a 14-year-old from Chicago who was murdered in 1954 while visiting Mississippi by a group of white men.
No one was ever convicted, but Till's killing galvanized the civil rights movement.
Rev. Jackson said he will speak at a Sanford-area church Sunday and then attend a rally in the city Monday.
An Orlando criminal defense attorney who says he represents Zimmerson told CNN on Friday that his client isn't racist and the facts will show he acted in self-defense after a fight with the teen.
Crowd: The Philadelphia march demanded that Zimmerman be brought to justice
Chants: The protest was attended by at least 5,000 people joining in the nationwide outcry
'I don't believe that George Zimmerman's a racist or that this was motivated by a dislike for African-Americans,' said Craig Sonner.
Since the slaying, a portrait has emerged of Martin as a laid-back young man who loved sports, was extremely close to his father, liked to crack jokes with friends and, according to a lawyer for his family, had never been in trouble with the law.
The son of divorced parents, he grew up in working-class neighbourhoods north of Miami's downtown.
He and his father, a truck driver, were active in the Miramar Optimist Club, an organization that runs sports and academic programs for young people. Tracy Martin, the teen's father, coached his son's football team.
The boy was a swift athlete, according to a friend, and played a range of positions up to about age 14.
After he stopped playing, he remained active in the organization, volunteering six days a week from June through November of last year to help run the team's concession stand.
Martin cooked hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken wings alongside his father at the stand. He loved talking to the kids, asking them what position they played and whether they were good, Horton recalled.
He would call the mothers 'Ma'am,' and if they had a stroller or an item they needed help with, Martin stepped in. 'Everyone out there loved him,' Horton said.
Students: These Florida high school pupils showed their solidarity with the dead teen during a rally
Audience: Thousands turned up to a memorial event in Sanford, the town where Martin was shot
Martin was tall and lanky - only 140 pounds, according to the family's attorney - and his nickname was 'Slimm.'
The teen spent a big part of his week living with his father in a one-story, peach-colored home.
Neighbor Fred Collins Jr. said he would see Trayvon Martin outside every week mowing the lawn and trimming the trees. The teen also helped Mr Collins' son learn how to ride a bike.
'He was coaching him, giving him words of advice, encouragement,' Collins said.
Tracy Martin often recounted how his son saved his life. The elder Martin had begun heating up some oil to fry fish and fell asleep. The grease caught fire, and when Tracy Martin awoke and tried to put out the flames, he spilled the oil on his legs, severely burning himself.
Trayvon Martin pulled his father out of the home and called 911.
Martin's parents kept a close eye on him, but they didn't have to be too strict, since he stayed out of trouble, Mr Collins said.
However, he had recently been suspended from school for five days for tardiness, his English teacher, Michelle Kypriss, told the Orlando Sentinel. School officials did not respond to a request for comment.
Martin's father was not happy and grounded the teen for the duration of the suspension.
Trayvon 'knew he was wrong,' Horton said.
Trayvon 'knew he was wrong,' Horton said.
Under state privacy law, only serious felonies appear on juveniles' public criminal records, and Martin did not have one. Citing the same law, Sanford police Sgt. David Morgenstern said he could neither confirm nor deny the family's statement that Martin had never gotten in legal trouble.
Martin dreamed of becoming a pilot. He had flown on school vacations to various places around the country with his mother, skiing in Colorado one year, going off to Texas another.
Final stop: Trayvon shopped at this 7-Eleven in Sanford before he was shot by Zimmerman; he bought Skittles and an iced tea
Place of death: The area behind Twin Trees Lane, where slain teenager Trayvon Martin's body was found
Residence: The home of George Zimmerman at the Retreat of Twin Lakes neighbourhood
'There's no little black kids that want to be pilots,' Horton joked with him when he was about 13.
'Well, I'll be the first one,' the teen replied.
'Well, I'll be the first one,' the teen replied.
At Dr Michael M. Krop High School, where Martin was a junior, he was on the quiet side, but he would sit in the middle of the classroom, participate in class and especially liked math.
Schoolmates remembered his humorous side.
'Brrrrian!' he would call out, rolling his r's as is done in Spanish, whenever 16-year-old Brian Paz got a phone call from his Colombian mother, the friend recalled.
'I'd just burst out laughing,' Mr Paz said.
Mr Paz and other friends said Martin liked rap music and funny movies. He had written some lyrics, though he hadn't had a chance yet to perform them.
Martin was especially a fan of a student musical group at his school called Bison. He had two of the group's pins on his backpack and helped spread the word about shows.
John Emmanuel, 17, said the group was about encouraging young men to be strong, independent leaders.
Speaking out: President Obama spoke out on Martin's death yesterday, saying: 'If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon'
'That's how we liked to think of ourselves,' Mr Emmanuel said.
Martin had gone up to Sanford to visit his father's fiancée, who lived there with her young son.
Friends said Martin regarded the boy as his little brother and had been looking forward to watching the NBA All-Star game with him that weekend.
On that Sunday, Martin went out to get candy and an iced tea at a convenience store and was walking back to the fiancee's townhouse. Zimmerman, 28, spotted him and told a police dispatcher: 'This guy looks like he is up to no good - he is on drugs or something.'
After the shooting, Zimmerman claimed that Martin attacked him as he was returning to his truck.
But Martin's friends said they find that hard to believe. They said they had never seen him fight at all.
But Martin's friends said they find that hard to believe. They said they had never seen him fight at all.
'As far as attacking the guy without him attacking him, no way,' Horton said.
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