Why Was 17-Year-Old Trayvon Martin Shot? Plus, Kathy Bates
Thursday, March 22, 2012
It's a story causing a national uproar... a Florida teen was shot on his way home from a convenience store. Why was this young man killed? Why is the shooter still free? Is racial bias involved?
In a daytime exclusive, Sybrina and Tracy, parents of slain 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, join Anderson in the studio to investigate the issues surrounding the case. Start the conversation early by tweeting your thoughts using hashtag, #TrayvonMartin, #Anderson.
Then, Kathy Bates, Academy Award winner and star of "Harry's Law," joins Anderson for a candid interview about her love life, overcoming ovarian cancer, and appearing naked with Jack Nicholson.
Community Questions
Why was Trayvon Martin killed? Why is the shooter still free? Is racial bias involved?
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TREYVON MARTIN - I come from a family of law enforcement officers, my late father a Chief of Police. Despite that, or perhaps because of it, I feel that the Chief of Police in the Treyvon Martin case, who did not do a drug/ alcohol test on the shooter, much less retaining his clothing and a background check, should be fired. Had this boy been white, this case would never been treated like this. I also wonder if they did a drug test on Trevon, and because it came back clean, are hiding that as well. After all, the shooter took him for a druggie. A huge spotlight needs to be shined on this case. If there was ever a need for transparency, it is surely here.
I just read the comment by Janet Boyd that had owned a small bar & liquor store on Hwy. 46 in Sanford, Florida. This is pretty clear to me that the police department in that city are what she stated as rednecks which a lot of her customers were. Thank you for letting the public know what you had dealt with when you were robbed by a black man & the police did nothing. I am a 60 + female white woman & the innocent young man that was shot & killed, Trayvon Martin makes me angry, God be with the family, my heart was breaking as I watched his mother on Anderson Coopers show today. Justice needs to be served. RIP Trayvon Martin.
My heart and soul is heavy with saddness and my mind is confused and filled with worry, for my own children.
Please, to Trayvon's admirable parents, so soon after the traumatic loss of thier beautiful son Trayvon... Please stay strong, and maintain your truthful innate endurance, as you continue to seek justice and truth for your fallen angel. I do not know your son, and I have caught some clips of your horrable situation. I immediately, began prayer for Trayvon's parents, and have not stopped praying, that something good will become of this horrific tragedy.
Please, God is our amazing creator, and God...knows already what happened, and what will prevail, from the loss of his beautiful child Trayvon. Believe..in the truth of whom your son was, and still is in heaven..he is now being nurtured by our Savior and Lord. My daily prayer for both mom and dad, and Trayvon's entire circle of family and friends, is to stop daily and talk to our LORD and creator, and know prayer..is the most powerful source of strenght, truth and justice and will...ridd the devil from continuing the racial hate, and hate crimes that many humans harbor in thier hearts, mind and souls.
Zimmerman's life is still left to live, Trayvon is with our Lord & Savior, and humanity is again left to determine truth and justice. To Trayvon's parents..fight for your son, and remember to hold the tranquility of our LORD in your heart, as you fight for justice, for your son.
My blessings to everyone, whom are struggling with this story, as I am..I am a white american woman, raising an africian american son..and whom prays daily..for equality for all God's children. I pray daily, that we human being's STOP the hate amongst each other, and learn the amazing growth we can experience with sharing diversity, life's challenges and evan pain, that we encounter.
I so wish there was something more, I could do for Trayvon's family, especially mom and dad, and if there is any missionary act that I could do for them...I know, I would do it in a heartbeat, especially if I could become a better prson.
I would love to learn more about who Trayvon Martin is..and one day I know, I will meet him in Gods kingdom. God Bless Trayvon's family.
Anderson your show was so wonderful, inspite the heartache it inflicted, on the family and viewers..I am certain it will support healing and truth for many. Our time living on earth is best spent in relationship with God, our Savior, and his words he offers everyone for better living our lives with grace, love and prosperity.
Arrest this man already; quit trying to cover your footsteps because we all know that you have already messed up the investagation! In Illinois ,our police force would not have released this man before drug tests and confiscating his personal effects, if this is not your(I know it isn't) standard prosedure, you should check into making it a new law in Florida. So get up off your back-end, and do your job already! Bring this man to justice and give this family the respect they deserve; after all he will have his chance in court to prove weather or not he is guilty or innocent, something this 17 year old will never get the chance to do! The good Lord is our judge and he will bring his justice with a fury on whomever is in the wrong! Signed a concerned citizen of the USA, DJCarter
It is funny when the victims are white and the assalants are black there is not as much outrage. Where was the media outrate on the followin?
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fworth-reading-blog.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fknoxville-horror-channon-christian.html&h=SAQHAja_XAQGifs7vGqoDLhMEbUXtVzva44H4i2OuGSq9bQ
I continue to keep up on this story, my interest being such as it is. I came across this link and think every one should read it! Doesn't surprise me that this was released. This man was never properly trained/taught, because the NW program was non existent!
http://www.lawofficer.com/article/news/national-sheriff-s...
I live in a gated park in new port richey, we had a patrol which was in place to work with the sheriff's department, but to be on the patrols you had to take a class that the sheriff;s dept gave. I had ask the officer in charge about carry a gun while on patrol, I was told that the patrols were not allowed to carry any type of weapon while in the act of the inforceing the duty of the patrol, also we were told by the sheriff;s dept when you come up and think that a person is in the park that does not belong there you are to call the sheriff;s dept and not to confront the person in question. Now I don't know know if the patrol that this person was invouled in was connected with the sheriff's dept, but most gated parks around here are. I am so sorry that this young man had to lose life,and again I do not know if that patrol was connected with the sheriff's dept. I want to thank you for allowing to air my though on this matter. Also to be on the park patrol you had to have a back ground check, alot of people did not like that, but you have take certain steps to ensure that the people on the patrol do not have a record. thank you again for allowing me to express my thhoughs.
I thought that Mrs. and Mr. Martin were very strong to speak out about their personal tragedy. This is such a sad and obvious case of racial profiling.
anderson, i just loved the show with kathy bates.i wanted to see if you can confey a message to miss bates. i love her so much and she had been an inspiration to me. i have tried every means possible to contact her myself but can not get in touch with her to let her know what she has done for me. thanks for your time. sincerely, lynn bills
As a founding member of one of the largest Neighborhood watch programs in upstate NY. I watched this show with great interest. I can assure all of you, that being a NW member does NOT make anyone an instant vigilant. Being a NW member in turn makes you the eyes and ears to your local police dept. When you see or hear something amiss in your neighborhood, you are to take notes ie., license plates numbers, makes & models of cars, descriptions of possible suspects, etc. then call 911., You are told at each and every meeting NEVER to take matters in to your own hands. This man was told by the 911 operator "not to follow" Trayvon and he continued to do so! Leading to such a travesty; that should have been avoided; Had he just listened. At no time are any of us armed, due to NY's stricter weapons laws. We hold open meetings with our local police force, there are always uniformed officers present. Each meeting revolves around different topics, to keeping your community safer. I wonder was he really part of a "true neighborhood watch program", or was he a 'self appointed vigilante' with nothing better to. This is simply not the kind of bad rap any Neighborhhod watch program wants, as this is not the way they operate! There are rules in place for a reason.
Anderson, maybe it's time to do a show on a true Neighborhood Watch program ? Shed some light on the good they really do.
i believe there was a verbal confrontation. i also believe the neighborhood watch guy was looking for a fight. Evidence produced on your show is now saying they were on the ground. Maybe 1 or both of them were having a bad day that got out of hands..but i prefer to think if your eating skittles and dring tea, your the mellower dude!
This is such a tragedy. My heart goes out to the family of Trayvon. I hope and pray for justice. And I also hope and pray for the family of David James, who died in front of his 8 year old daughter, protecting teens on a basketball court. David James was my friends brother. He also lives in Florida and this so called "stand your ground" law is ludacris. I want justice for his family as well. My prayers go out to both of these families and they deserve justice and this law needs to be changed before more tragedy occurs. I guess I just don't want people to forget the family of David James which is why I felt I needed to comment.
I hope justice is served for this family. I pray to give them strength through this hard time. I hope that someone is held accountable for all the mistakes that were made in this case. That police department needs to be investigated as well. The guy that shot Trayvon need to be sitting in JAIL where he belongs not out free on the streets. May God bless this family. I am so sorry for you loss….
i pray that justice be given to the victim and family.
I pray for the family.