photo credit: Carl Stewart
Say What?!
George Zimmerman, the man who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, and later aquitted by claiming self-defense, is suing Democratic candidates Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg for their tributes to Trayvon on what would have been his 25th birthday.
He is accusing the two candidates of defamation. According to the Washington Times, the lawsuit accuses the two of “maliciously defam[ing]” Mr. Zimmerman, using the killing “as a pretext to demagogue and falsely brand Zimmerman as a white supremacist and racist to their millions of Twitter followers.”
The Washington Times reports that the lawsuit accuses Ms. Warren and Mr. Buttigieg of actual malice, “a prerequisite to win a libel case if one is a public figure.”
“Both defendants, Buttigieg and Warren, are alleged in the complaint to have acted with actual malice, as it is widely known that Zimmerman was acquitted of murder based on self-defense,” the announcement said, according to the Washington Times.
Zimmerman is seeking $265 million.
Trayvon Martin would have been 25 today.
How many 25th birthdays have been stolen from us by white supremacy, gun violence, prejudice, and fear?#BlackLivesMatter
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) February 5, 2020
My heart goes out to @SybrinaFulton and Trayvon's family and friends. He should still be with us today.
We need to end gun violence and racism. And we need to build a world where all of our children—especially young Black boys—can grow up safe and free. https://t.co/9lXXlRnvzL
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 6, 2020
Source: Fox 35 Orlando