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Trayvon Martin Killing: Hip-Hop and R&B Artists Join Fight for Justice

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Many in the hip-hop and R&B community are up in arms about Trayvon Martin, the unarmed 17-year-old boy who was shot and killed in his father's gated community in Florida on Feb. 26. Martin was gunned down by an unregistered neighborhood watch member named George Zimmerman, who has yet to be charged.

Over a half million people have signed an online petition, which requests that Zimmerman be prosecuted for Martin's murder. The petition, created by social action website Change.org, has been circulated by artists like Talib Kweli, Ghostface Killah, Janelle Monae, Wyclef Jean, Big Boi, Killer Mike and many more.

"I'm gonna keep sending this out until justice is served. Racial profiling on our people has got to end," Janelle Monae tweeted, with a link to the online petition.

"This is real Trayvon martin was only 17 years old! if we let this slide they will keep killin 17 year olds your kid will be next!" wrote Wyclef. "Warriors lets go to work!"

Trayvon Martin was shot by Zimmerman as he walked home from a convenience store with a pack of Skittles and Iced Tea in his hand. He was on his way to continue watching the NBA All-Star Game.

Newly released 911 tapes from seven eyewitnesses at the scene paint Zimmerman, 28, as the aggressor, while the supposed neighborhood watchman's own 911 call -- one of 50 he made over the past year, mostly false alarms -- appears to be the most condemning, as he sounds intoxicated, claiming the unarmed 17-year-old "a--hole" looked like he was "up to no good or on drugs or something."

While Zimmerman has still yet to be charged, it appears that the hip-hop and R&B community's outrage has at least provided some movement, as the investigation has been turned over to the Justice Department and the FBI, as a potential hate crime.

To sign Change.org's petition, or for more information, please click here.

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11 Comments

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ride34co

no way? a 5ft 9in slightly overweight 28 year old "white hispanic" male ran down and assaulted a physically fit 6ft 17 year old black male?

sure.

May 02 2012 at 5:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ride34co

are you serious? it was a mixed community? well it must have been a mixed community full of racists.

May 02 2012 at 5:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ride34co

im shocked to hear that a 12 year old was "murdered" for the crime of being black in a white community... what? he wasnt 12 as he appears in your picture. what? he was caught with 12 pieces of womens jewelry in his school bag. what? he had swung at a school bus driver weeks before his death.

ignore all this, it has nothing to do with his character, he wouldn't hurt a fly.

May 02 2012 at 5:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
alexuskeys

ugggh......ii hopee hee die in jail!!!!!!!! wyi thee **** you gon goo kill this black guy and hee aint didi nun what sooh eva.>** shitt crazii butt hee nedz tew get plentii years iin prison and NEVER GET OWT!!!! datz how ii feel boutd itd shitt

April 10 2012 at 2:01 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to alexuskeys's comment
ride34co

please dont procreate

May 02 2012 at 5:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
motowngirl1

@ white man thats why people like YOU need disappear!!

March 26 2012 at 3:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Opinionated Girl

@THE WHITE MAN ...... I dont even blame you. I blame the seed that hit your mothers womb. THEN we wouldnt have to deal with you. If ONLY your mother swallowed you. It would have been a BEAUTIFUL thing :) *sigh* Wishful thinking huh!

March 21 2012 at 9:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
THE WHITE MAN

THIS KID WAS ON HIS WAY TO PRISON HE JUST DID US TAXPAYER A FAVOR THANK YOU CAN U KILL MORENIGGAS

March 21 2012 at 12:30 AM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
THE WHITE MAN

TO BAD THIS BLACK KID WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD SLAVE

March 21 2012 at 12:28 AM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
Phyllis Hench

I just dont understand how police are saying that the man shot Trayvon in self defense if Trayvon was shot in the back??? That poor kid weighed 140-150lbs and the man weighed over 200lbs and he had a weapon… HOW WAS IT SELF DEFENSE??? HE went after Trayvon!!! This is just terrible! They have all they need to arrest this man.. Why is he still free??! -- http://bit.ly/x1JVFj

March 20 2012 at 9:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Babu G. Ranganathan

Read the Internet story: THE RACIST GERMAN SHEPHERD AND THE BULLDOG. Just google the title to access the story. Read it and pass it on!

March 20 2012 at 5:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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