kristina
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| Since: | 11/30 07 |
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| Country: | USA |
14 Apr
For more on the investigation into the Florida teen's shooting death, watch "Trayvon Martin Killing" at 7 ET Saturday night on CNN.
Sanford, Florida (CNN) -- President Barack Obama spoke out Friday for the first time on the growing controversy over the shooting of an unarmed African-American teenager in Florida, saying that the incident requires national "soul-searching."
"When I think about this boy, I think about my own kids," Obama said. "And I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this and that everybody pulls together, federal, state and local to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened."
Trayvon Martin, 17, died February 26. Police say he was shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Florida, who said he was acting in self-defense. Martin was unarmed, carrying a bag of Skittles candy and an iced tea, according to police.
Although a grand jury is scheduled to convene April 10 to look into the case, authorities so far have declined to arrest the volunteer, George Zimmerman, sparking a national debate over Florida's "stand your ground" deadly force law amid concerns about racial profiling.
Opinion: What every black mother fears
Did police fully investigate shooter?
Florida lawmaker on Martin case: It's racial
Who is George Zimmerman?
Friend: Zimmerman not racistMartin's family asserts that race was a factor in the teenager's death.
A police report describes Zimmerman as white; his family says he is Hispanic and that he has been wrongly described as a racist.
Obama's unexpected comments brought a new dimension to a case that has generated intense response from across the country, elevating what the White House had previously described as a matter for local law-enforcement into one deemed worthy of presidential comment.
Obama praised Florida Gov. Rick Scott's decision to create a task force to review the "stand your ground" law and said that it would be important to "examine the laws and the context for what happened as well as the specifics of the incident."
"But my main message is to the parents of Trayvon," Obama said.
"I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americas are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves and we will get to the bottom of exactly what happened," he said.
And he obliquely addressed the racial component of the case, saying it struck home for him because, "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon."
The teenager's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, said in a statement that it was "humbling that President Obama took time from his busy scheduled to talk about Trayvon."
"The president's personal comments touch us deeply and made us wonder: If his son looked like Trayvon and wore a hoodie, would he be suspicious too?"
Martin was wearing a hoodie, or hooded sweatshirt, the day he died.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said no particular development prompted Obama to speak out. He said the president had been monitoring the situation and was prepared to answer a question if he received one.
GOP presidential candidates also spoke up on Friday.
"There needs to be a thorough investigation that reassures the public that justice is carried out with impartiality and integrity," Mitt Romney said.
GOP rival Newt Gingrich said that while he believes in the right to self-defense, it appeared Zimmerman was "overreaching."
"The question here is: Was this guy attacked or was he the attacker? And that is what the grand jury will lead to. I mean if they decide he was the attacker, I suspect they'll indict him," Gingrich said.
And Rick Santorum told reporters on Friday that Zimmerman's actions looked starkly different from those protected by "stand your ground" laws.
"It's horrible case. I mean it's chilling to hear what happened. And of course the fact that law enforcement didn't immediately go after and prosecute this case is another chilling example of horrible decisions made in this process," Santorum said.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, also weighed in on Friday. He declined to comment on a possible review of "stand your ground" laws, but said he is glad the case is under investigation.
"Well it was an incredible tragedy of huge proportions. I'm glad it's being investigated and we'll take a look at it as the investigation moves along," he said.
Neighbors call watch leader caring, polite
The case began February 26 when Zimmerman, who was patrolling the neighborhood, saw Martin walking in his gated community. He called 911 and reported what he described as a suspicious person. Moments later, several neighbors called the emergency number to report a commotion outside.
Police arrived to find Martin dead of a gunshot wound.
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