For my Methods of Presentation class.

1. Peter Ryan’s
CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC:
Death of Trayvon Martin
SlideShare URL:

2. The Issue
• George Zimmerman of Florida called the police at night to inform them
that there was a suspicious person outside his home.
• While on the phone with the 911 Dispatcher, Zimmerman went outside and
confronted the individual.
• Zimmerman shot and killed the individual with a 9mm handgun.
• The victim was 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
• While staying at a friend’s house to watch football, he made a trip to the
local store to buy iced tea and Skittles.
• Upon passing in front of Zimmerman’s home, Zimmerman emerged and
confronted him.
• Zimmerman followed Martin down the street before shooting him in the
back.

3. Zimmerman’s Side
• Florida’s recently passed Vigilante Act makes
it legal for citizens to attack criminals and
suspicious people with intent to kill.
• The Florida Police have responded that under
the Vigilante Act, it was legal for Zimmerman
to attack Martin if he felt threatened.

4. Zimmerman’s Side
• Zimmerman reported that Martin had a
suspicious object in his hands.
• This is a legal defense under the Vigilante Act,
and as such Zimmerman was not criminally
charged.

5. Zimmerman’s Side
• Zimmerman reportedly regrets his decision to
shoot Martin.
• There are currently no changes planned to the
Vigilante Act.
• Zimmerman’s supporters view the subsequent
protests of the Vigilante Act as unjustified.

6. Martin’s Side
• Members of Martin’s family have accused the
police of a cover-up.
• The audio recording of Zimmerman’s 911 call
was edited to remove what many believe to be
a racial slur.
• One can also hear Martin running from
Zimmerman and telling him to stop following
him before he is shot.

7. Martin’s Side
• Zimmerman had called the police over 40
times in the last three months to report
suspicious activity, and should have been
investigated.
• Zimmerman cried at the scene, and Martin’s
supporters are upset that conservative news
sources are using this to profess his innocence.

8. Martin’s Side
• Martin’s supporters have banded together to
protest the Vigilante Act.
• The protests are also meant to raise awareness
of the situation, in order to turn public opinion
against the Vigilante Act

9. My Opinion

10. Sources
• http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfn
ews13/news/article.html/content/news/articl
es/cfn/2012/3/26/trayvon_martin_frien
• http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012
/03/trayvon-martin-case-timeline-of-events/
• http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/
03/26/10868250-thousands-march-in-protest-
to-florida-hearing-on-trayvon-martin-slaying