By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
As you all know, we usually refrain from giving our opinions and prefer to let you all come to your own conclusions when it comes to what we report. But when it comes to the murder (yes, we said MURDER) of Trayvon Martin, the whole staff is still and will remain to be completely devastated the jury found George Zimmerman as “not guilty” of the slain teen’s death. Personally, I cried all last night and my husband could say little to console me as he was heartbroken himself, and he was speechless for hours. I woke up and cried for the first half of the morning, and I still remember the very sad phone call I got last night from our Managing Editor Taren as she wept and told me numerous times it could have very well been her little brother. My older sister is an attorney and questions today what she can do with her law degree to make an impact. And that is when I realized that although all of us are hurting, there’s still more work to be done. And by the reactions of some of the celebs who tweeted last night about the verdict, just maybe most of us are all gearing up to keep our hoodies on.
Here are some of the reactions from some of today’s biggest black celebrities following the verdict:
Nicki Minaj: And our taxes paid for that trial. We just paid to see a murderer walk free after killing an innocent unarmed little boy. #GodBlessAmerica
Gabrielle Union: Help! What’s the proper procedure when you’re followed by a random armed nutbag returning home from getting candy & iced tea?
Chris Brown: The revolution will be televised!
Rihanna: A child was gunned down for no reason! And nothing about that sounds like murder? My baby brother is 17, this rocked my whole sh*t! #thesystemisandhasalwaysbeenphucked
Marlon Wayans: N*ggas are official “sport”. Rabbit season, duck season, nigga season”.
Solange Knowles: Is this not what our ancestors, grandfathers and fathers fought for…? Now I will be fighting for my son…
Q-Tip: Can’t be surprised… Black life has no value in this country
Beyonce didn’t tweet or post anything on Instagram since the verdict was read, but the singer dedicated a moment of silence for Trayvon last night during her Nashville leg of the Mrs. Carter Show.
In related news, the NAACP is already moving forward to encourage the Obama Administration to file civil rights charges with the Department of Justice against Trayvon’s murderer George Zimmerman. To sign the petition, go here. It’s also been talk from some sources suggesting the Martin family may consider filing a civil lawsuit against George Zimmerman to make sure he won’t profit from killing their son by writing books and becoming another puppet of Fox News.
If you’re still wanting justice for Trayvon, you can do more than tweet by donating money to the Travyon Martin Foundation. Let’s give Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin the help they need to keep fighting. The laws in Florida need to be changed. Apparently killing kids is legal there and it shouldn’t be. The voting issues, Casey Anthony and George Zimmerman are proof that whole state is corrupted.
Here’s the tweets from Sybrina and Tracy.
Sybrina Fulton: Lord during my darkest hour I lean on you. You are all that I have. At the end of the day, GOD is still in control. Thank you all for your prayers and support. I will love you forever Trayvon!!! In the name of Jesus!!!
Tracy Martin: Thanks to everyone who are with us and who will be with us so we together can make sure that this doesn’t happen again
We’re still going to fight for a change, how about you?
I woke up with swollen eyes. That’s how much I’ve been crying. Jesus help us all.
Zimmerman might have gotten off, but he’ll still be a murder in the eyes of half of the population. So honestly, he’s not really free. He has to look over his shoulder for the rest of his pathetic life. Now he will see what it feels like to be a black man. Fat f-ck.
Trayvon had to look over his shoulders before he was MURDERED that night. Now Zimmerman has to look over his for killing him. Oh the irony.
I’m still in shock. I guess I was stupid to think Florida would actually get something right. That whole state has Trayvon’s blood on its hands.
If FL doesn’t value our kids, then we need to stop giving it our tourism money. #BanFlorida!
Agreed. I am done with that entire state. You don’t get to legalize killing black kids and keep getting my money.
Agreed!
I’ve already cancelled my trip to Florida.
RIP baby boy as God cradles you in his arms.Your death will not be in vain.I am Trayvon Martin.For those of you who are parents of young Black men…Nevermimd I have no words only tears and prayers for the family and our country
The streets will get justice for Trayvon. Know that. Zimmerman is a walking target and he deserves to be.
F-CK ZIMMERMAN AND HIS DUMB AZZ BROTHER!
His flaming a-s brother has a lot of nerve being racist, he’s gay! I don’t get that!
That meme in the post is so powerful. I’m saving it. Keep your head up everyone. I’m mad as hell too but all it’s done is made me aware of why black people need to come together.
I wanted to hop through the TV and slap the sh-t out of Zimmerman when he smiled after they read the verdict. Fat bastard. Kid killer!
Somebody is going to kill that fool. And I won’t shed not one tear either.
You really blew it Florida. We’ll be hearing about Zimmerma again when he kills another innocent person.
It’s funny how they keep calling Trayvon a thug but Zimmerman’s the one that has a domestic violence past and even fought a cop. I guess you have to be black to be a thug tho…
I’m so done with this country.
Zimmerman’s daddy got him off yet again. So what is he going to do when daddy dies and can’t save his fat a-s anymore?
Sadly, Zimmerman started a fight he couldn’t finish and killed Trayvon for it. His ego is why he killed that child, not fear for his life.
I am still trying to figure out how all these people are now self defense experts. If you can shoot everyone who you got into a scuffle with, it would be a lot of deaths. Aren’t people taught that guns aren’t the answer to man up and use your hands if it does come down to it? Secondly, the person who was on trail here was Trayvon martin, they painted the boy like he was a violent druggy with superhuman powers. George Zimmerman did not fear for his life or safety, he was stunned by the outcome of him trying to be “super neighborhood watch man” and cowardice caused him to shoot an unarmed teen because he knew what state he was in.
In my opinion. Zimmerman was already convicted when the story came out. There’s a lot of people who hate this man and want him dead. He will never have a normal/peaceful life again. He might even have to live in protective custody. That’s justice.
I have been crying on and off from last nights verdict. But one thing is for certain Trayvon young prince you will not be forgotten nor will your death be in vain. Now it is our time to fight for you and every other black and brown child the struggle continues as we fight against injustices. Sleep young prince the fight is not over!!!!
Karma will come for George Zimmerman. Our “justice” system has no justice in it.
Real talk, this is the kind of stuff that makes me want to become racist myself. Smh.
You can’t be racist if you’re black because you aren’t in a position of power. Your hate won’t keep people from getting jobs, being protected from laws, etc.
I am also raising two Black young males and am deeply sad. Been praying for this family and will continue. So scared for my own sons…
So disgusted with the value America places on people of color. Especially black boys. We must continue to fight for justice. Think about MLK and how he would lead us. Please understand that we have the power to make a change. Be sure to know who your voting for
IN FACT NEVER STOP VOTING!!!!! Know the laws in your state and use your God given right to make a lasting change for the generations to come. In closing, continue to educate and talk to your kids cause they are still BLACK IN AMERICA!!!””