George Zimmerman, the man who killed Trayvon Martin, is now threatening Jay-Z
George Zimmerman, the man who killed Trayvon Martin in 2012, is now threatening violence against a celebrity. The accused (and acquitted) shooter has threatened to beat Jay-Z and feed him to an alligator.
Jay-Z is currently producing a six-part documentary about the killing of Martin called Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story. According to The Blast, Zimmerman expressed outrage that members of the documentary’s crew had visited his parents and uncle at their homes and asked them to speak on camera. In response, Zimmerman claimed this was harassment and threatened to beat Jay-Z and “feed him to the alligators.”
Zimmerman also made a dark reference to Martin’s death when speaking with The Blast.
"I know how to handle people who f-k with me," he said. "I have since February 2012."
Zimmerman was a member of the neighborhood watch when he shot 17-year-old Martin in February 2012. Zimmerman claimed Martin attacked him and that he had shot Martin in self-defense. Martin was unarmed at the time he was killed. Zimmerman was acquitted of Martin’s death in July 2013. Martin’s death ignited a national debate about police brutality and sparked the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
After Zimmerman’s threat, fellow rapper Snoop Dogg defended Jay-Z on Instagram.
"If one hair on jays hair is touched, that's when the revolution will b televised," he wrote. "...Trayvon Martin Gone but not forgotten."
Jay-Z’s documentary is based on two books: Suspicion Nation by attorney Lisa Bloom, and Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin, written by Martin’s parents. Bloom’s book details her experience covering Zimmerman’s trial and what she believes led to his not-guilty verdict, while Rest in Power recounts Martin’s life. The series will air in 2018 on the Paramount Network.
Zimmerman’s threats toward Jay-Z and his references to Martin’s death are despicable. Jay-Z has every right to make this series, and we’re so happy that he is.