Slain teen inspires protest

Demonstrations across the country spurred students to wear hooded sweatshirts and carry Skittles and Arizona Iced Tea, the same snacks that Martin purchased the night of the shooting, and gather in front of Nassau Hall.

Elellee Omar ’14, the primary organizer behind the University’s demonstrations, said in an email that she was motivated by other rallies in New York.

“The idea came about after seeing the Million Hoodie March in New York, and since I and many others were not able to attend, I thought it would still be possible and necessary to act in whatever capacity we can, wherever we are,” she explained.

To Omar, Monday’s protest is an attempt to set a precedent about encouraging students to be more politically active.

“Princeton has a reputation for being politically apathetic, which is quite unfortunate considering many struggle trying to carve out the platform we are automatically given by attending a so-called prestigious university,” she said.

Miriam Araya ’14 said she was proud of the size of the turnout. Araya said she hoped, however, that students don’t lose focus on the shooting.

“I just hope we don’t have a short attention span because this case is one of many around the country, and we can’t forget about it,” she said.

George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Fla., told police he shot Martin in self-defense. Local police say Martin was unarmed and walking back to his father’s girlfriend’s house after purchasing snacks. Zimmerman has not been arrested.

Omar said the shooting was significant because it is a “horrible example” of widespread racial violence. She explained that the point of the campus demonstration, and demonstrations across the nation, is to put pressure on the federal government to address the Martin case.

The protestors questioned the credibility of Zimmermann’s claim that he acted in self-defense.

“How can an armed individual that pursued and killed another unarmed person, after being told not to, claim self-defense?” Omar said.

Another participant in the protest, Dylan Ackerman ’14, expressed hope that the incident would change legislation that he saw as ineffective.

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“I think one of the things that is developing out of this case is some of the more absurd laws and practices that in are place in some states, like the ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws, are finally getting looked at,” he explained.

Florida’s version of the Stand Your Ground law allows for the use of deadly force if a person fears death or great physical harm.

Omar called for Zimmerman to be charged with committing a hate crime, along with second-degree murder or manslaughter.

“I just hope that there’s a fair trial,” Araya said.