President Obama on Friday addressed the ongoing investigation into the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. “I can only imagine what these parents are going through,” Obama said in the Rose Garden. “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon.”
Obama said it is “absolutely imperative” to investigate every aspect of the case. “All of us have to do some soul searching to figure out how something like this happened,” Obama added.
Martin’s death has sparked a national outcry. Thousands attended a rally led by Rev. Al Sharpton in Sanford, Florida on Thursday. Martin was shot by George Zimmerman, acting in his role as neighborhood watch. Zimmerman claims he was acting in self-defense, but when he shot Martin on Feb. 26, the 17-year-old boy was only carrying a pack of Skittles and a can of iced tea.
Obama said Friday he had to be careful what he said, because the Justice Department has launched an investigation into the shooting. After receiving a vote of “no confidence,” Sanford police chief Bill Lee temporarily stepped aside from the Martin case.
Watch Obama’s remarks below:
David Taintor
David Taintor is TPM’s News Editor. He contributes to TPM’s Livewire coverage, among other areas. David is from Chanhassen, Minnesota, where, yes, it gets very cold. Reach him at taintor [at] talkingpointsmemo.com
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