The neighborhood watchman who was acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin five years ago is now sending violent threats to one of the world’s biggest rappers for bringing the slain teen’s story to life.
According to the website The Blast, George Zimmerman is reportedly angry with JAY-Z — who is producing the six-part docuseries Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story — and how production crews have been treating his family. According to the website, Zimmerman, 34, said that anyone who messed with his family would be fed to alligators.
“I know how to handle people who f–k with me,” he said. “I have since February 2012.”
On February 26, 2012, Zimmerman — who prosecutors said was a “wannabe cop” — followed the 17-year-old Martin in the Florida housing development where his father lived. Martin, who was coming back from a 7-Eleven run to pick up snacks, told a friend on the phone that someone was following him. In a 911 call made to police, Zimmerman claimed that Martin looked suspicious, saying: “this guy looks like he’s up to no good, or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining, and he’s just walking around.”
A short while later, Zimmerman left his vehicle against the advice of the 911 dispatcher to confront Martin. A struggle ensued and the unarmed teenager was shot and killed by Zimmerman. The watchman claimed he feared for his life, evoking the controversial Stand Your Ground law, and was acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges in July 2013 by a majority White jury. Martin, the teenager who loved space camp and video games, was found dead with just an Arizona ice tea and Skittles in his pockets.
Martin’s death sparked what we now know as the Black Lives Matter movement, or the movement for Black lives, started by Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi in 2012. His death marked the beginning of a stream of highly publicized incidents of violence or fatal encounters with police or self-proclaimed vigilantes when it came to Black people. And in the wake of his death — which occurred just a few months before the fatal shooting of another Black teen, Jordan Davis — gun laws in Florida and Stand Your Ground states are being examined by those looking to amend such harmful legislation.
For Zimmerman, who has been embroiled in legal and racial issues — and pulled over multiple times by the police since his acquittal — his threats to JAY Z didn’t go unnoticed.
“If one hair on jays hair is touched that’s when the revolution will b televised,” Snoop Dogg wrote in an Instagram post.
“We one and to thank the system let the Bitch ass muthafucca get away with murder try it again Trayvon Martin Gone but not forgotten.”
