Why the Washington Post Cannot 'Correct' Its Trayvon Tribute

On February 26, the Washington Post commemorated the ten-year anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s death with a loving and outrageously dishonest video tribute to the fallen 17-year-old. Even more troubling, columnist Charles Blow enlisted former president Barack Obama in this mendacious rewrite of recent history. On Friday morning, March 4, I sent an email to “corrections.” I sent the same email to managing editor Sally Buzbee and several other relevant editors. What follows is what I wrote:

Before listing the problems, let me establish my credentials to comment. I attended George Zimmerman's trial and wrote a book on the subject: If I Had a Son: Race, Guns, and the Railroading of George Zimmerman. I have since gotten to know George and his family well. In 2019, I edited Joel Gilbert's brilliantly researched book (and film), The Trayvon Hoax. I have a Ph.D. in American studies from Purdue.

Now for the problems:

Charles Blow tells us, “The contemporary civil rights movement unfolded directly in response to the murder of Trayvon Martin.” George Zimmerman was rightfully acquitted of murder. To launch a civil rights movement on a lie is a bad way to start one.

Barack Obama expressed his outrage at “the idea that this teenager who was walking down the street could be considered so threatening that a private citizen could initiate a confrontation resulting in that teenager’s death.”

Well, Trayvon wasn’t walking down the street. He was lurking in the shadows on a rainy night in a housing development plagued with break-ins and home invasions by young black men, and Zimmerman did not initiate the confrontation.

In the Post video, we hear George Zimmerman’s edited call to the dispatcher. What follows is the actual exchange:

Read more: HERE