BET has announced they will be airing a special entitled Justice for Trayvon: Our Son is Your Son on June 7. The half-hour special will feature exclusive interviews with key players of the trial, journalists and celebrity supporters, according to the Wall Street Journal. News journalist Emmett Miller will be hosting.
Last year’s death of 17 year-old Trayvon Martin sparked controversy over racial profiling and violence. Although he was unarmed, he was shot and killed by 28 year-old George Zimmerman, who was a self-appointed neighborhood watch volunteer according to CNN.
The official BET website reported Zimmerman was not a member of a registered neighborhood watch group, according to ABC News. “He also violated basic neighborhood watch guidelines by carrying a weapon.” Zimmerman claimed self-defense after shooting and killing Martin. Now, over a year later, the trial involving Zimmerman and Martin is still going on. Zimmerman is being accused of second-degree murder.
In addition to the racial profiling issue, this murder has also brought the “Stand Your Ground” laws to attention. Actor Jamie Foxx has voiced his concern over these laws to BET in an interview, stating, “I think that rule or that law needs to be addressed… That’s a slippery slope for people to have that type of power.”
Justice for Trayvon will report the latest developments as well as all evidence involving the trial up to this point “through engaging interviews with the attorneys, analysts and supporters,” reports Indiewire.
The special will air at 7:30 P.M. on BET, this Friday, June 7.