On Thursday morning Trayvon’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, said on national television that she believes the shooting and subsequent murder of her seventeen-year-old son was an accident:
Zimmerman is set to go before Judge Mark Herr at 1:30 p.m. today on a charge of second-degree murder.Asked what she would like to ask to Zimmerman, Trayvon's mother, Sybrina Fulton, said on The Today Show that she wants an apology from him.
"I believe it was an accident. I believe it just got out of control and he couldn't turn the clock back," Fulton said, revealing her opinion about what happened the night her 17-year-old son was shot to death. "I would ask him, did he know that that was a minor, that that was a teenager and that he did not have a weapon."
Fulton said even if Zimmerman is found not guilty, the arrest achieves the goal of their campaign to raise awareness and bring him to justice.
"We just want him to be held accountable for what he done," Fulton said. "We are happy that he was arrested so that he can give his side of the story."
As outlined above, the much-anticipated decision by State Attorney Angela Corey whether or not to prosecute George Zimmerman has been made. As might be expected, the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman will indeed be charged with second-degree murder.
Of course, the death of Trayvon Martin is a tragedy and all possible steps should be taken to uncover what really happened that day. Sadly, however, the mainstream media has seized the narrative, in some instances purposefully distorting the facts of the case to push their own ideological agenda. More recently, the New Black Panther Party is inciting violence with impunity and even the Mayor of New York City – as it turns out – is exploiting the Zimmerman-Martin shooting.
That being said, what struck me most about Ms. Fulton’s comments on the Today Show is that she isn’t trying to politicize her son’s death. She isn’t calling for race riots, retribution or violence. And while we still don’t know all the facts surrounding what actually happened that fateful day, she still went on national television – when she didn’t have to – and spoke candidly about what she believes. I found this remarkably courageous.
All things considered, perhaps those advocating violence, hatred and intolerance in this country will learn from her example. But for now, at least, I won’t hold my breath.