UPDATED: 9:22 a.m. Feb 5, 2021 —
Wednesday, Feb. 5 of this year would have been Trayvon Martin‘s 26th birthday. In response, social media users were taking the time to honor his young life that was taken from the world far too early.
On Feb. 26, 2012, Trayvon was just 17 years old when he was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch vigilante who pursued the teen even after he was told by local police to stand down. Zimmerman was acquitted of the second-degree murder charge in the name of self-defense and walks free to this day.
Since then, Zimmerman has consistently stayed in the media with deplorable behavior. On top of vile interviews, in January of 2015, he was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault and domestic violence, but his girlfriend at the time dropped all charges. He disgustingly attempted to auction off the gun he used to kill Trayvon.
He was accused of criminally stalking a private investigator named Dennis Warren. According to CNN.com, Warren called Zimmerman’s family about a documentary on Trayvon Martin. After that, Zimmerman reportedly called Warren 55 times, left 36 voicemails, sent 67 texts and 27 emails all within nine days from December 16 to Christmas 2017.
Trayvon’s death brought national unrest and the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement. Florida activists fought against the state’s Stand Your Ground Law, and the movement drew the attention of Andrew Gillum when he was running for governor of the state.
“George Zimmerman was able to interpret the very presence of Trayvon Martin to be a threat,” Gillum said back in June as Tallahassee’s mayor when he called for the state to suspend the controversial law. “And because of Stand Your Ground laws, which have no place in civilized society, was able to engage him, snuff out his life and get away with it.”
In 2018, the six-part non-scripted series “Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story,” produced by Jay-Z, aired on the Paramount Network in July. The docuseries was based on the book “Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin,” which was written by Trayvon Martin’s parents.
See a sampling of the social media celebration of Trayvon Martin’s life below:
1.
Trayvon Martin would have been 26 years old today.
— Trending Raps (@TrendingRaps) February 5, 2021
Happy Birthday & Rest In Peace 🎈🕊 pic.twitter.com/IybVE2cQtq
2.
Trayvon Martin would be 26 years old today. Rest in power. pic.twitter.com/34i7Cwh8DH
— Joe Madison (@MadisonSiriusXM) February 5, 2021
3.
Trayvon Martin would have made 26 years old today. As always, thinking of Sybrina, Tracy and Jahvaris. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/O0t2kpBX1i
— Aaron L. Morrison (@aaronlmorrison) February 5, 2021
4.
It’s your 26th birthday.
— The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) February 5, 2021
We remember you.
We mourn. And we work.#TrayvonMartin pic.twitter.com/6AMh3uCMG9
5.
Happy 26th Birthday Trayvon Martin! We remember the impact his death had on the country, the impact his death had on Black communities. May we continue to honor his life by working towards racial justice, spreading love, and building power. #TrayvonMartin #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/uE4Nk452cY
— Black Voters Matter (@BlackVotersMtr) February 5, 2021
6.
Trayvon Martin should have turned 26 today. His memory will always live in our hearts and our movement for justice. pic.twitter.com/jOeg55rV3U
— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) February 5, 2021
7.
Today would have been Trayvon Martin's 26th birthday. pic.twitter.com/hIR0MnUZwQ
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 5, 2021
8.
Happy Birthday to Trayvon Martin he would had been 26 years old today 🙏🏾👼🏽 pic.twitter.com/gFKzfWPI3U
— BlackCultureEntertainment🗣 (@4TheCulture____) February 5, 2021
9.
Forever in our hearts #TrayvonMartin. He would've been 25 years old today. pic.twitter.com/kD8gYqLcg0
— BlackWomenViews Media (@blackwomenviews) February 5, 2020
10.
Trayvon Martin was killed at age 17. Today would have been his 25th birthday.
— Kristen Clarke (@KristenClarkeJD) February 5, 2020
We honor Trayvon’s life by fighting for racial justice, calling out the rise in extremist violence, and pushing back against the proliferation of guns.#TrayvonMartin pic.twitter.com/pHSTZSGix2
11.
Remembering #TrayvonMartin today.
— Nicki Mayo (@nickimayonews) February 5, 2020
❤️Born: February 5, 1995.
💔Killed: February 26, 2012. #BlackLivesMatter
Trayvon Martin would have been 25 years old today. He dreamed of becoming a pilot one day. Keep his parents @SybrinaFulton and Tracy Martin @BTraymartin9 in your prayers🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/SE9q80zbfE
12.
Trayvon Martin should have turned 25-years-old today.#BlackLivesMatter #SayHisName #TrayvonMartin pic.twitter.com/mbtqO9svWz
— Legal Defense Fund (@NAACP_LDF) February 5, 2020
13.
Happy birthday, sweet Trayvon ❤️ #TrayvonMartin pic.twitter.com/8ibRy5cnba
— brittany packnett cunningham has 3 names. (@MsPackyetti) February 5, 2020
14.
Happy Birthday Trayvon Martin. #WeAreTrayvonMartin pic.twitter.com/kdnzN06wdI
— APW Sports YT (@APWSports) February 5, 2019
15.
The actual announcement of the verdict triggered a number of mostly peaceful demonstrations in several cities across the United States, with the ‘hoodie’ sweatshirt becoming a key symbol of the protests. So today, I remember Trayvon Martin.#BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/rhBAIiuJnV
— Memej (@Memej99) February 5, 2019
16.
Feb 5, 1995 - Feb 26, 2012. Trayvon Martin would have turned 24 today. pic.twitter.com/agi2MbXrFn
— Darryl Harrison Ford II (@darrylford) February 5, 2019
17.
Trayvon Martin would have been 24 today.
— Curry with the shot... (@StephBMore) February 5, 2019
2-4 years old.
It’s still unbelievable but Happy Birthday. Rest in power. ✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/mh1Jd3cTjW
18.
I see debates denouncing the dangers of MAGA hats— “it’s just an article of clothing,” I hear. Trayvon Martin could be debating this with the world on his
— Jordan Richardson (@JJRich91) February 5, 2019
24th Birthday today, but he isn’t— because his hoodie WAS dangerous. Rest in Power 🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/0M9798ZqI2
19.
Happy Birthday, Trayvon Martin!
— Steven James (@TheLaunchMag) February 5, 2019
We won't forget! pic.twitter.com/8qIVBc1wvu
20.
Today would have been Trayvon Martin's 24th birthday. pic.twitter.com/HUTxZirdPP
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 5, 2019
21.
Trayvon Martin should have turned 24 today. His memory will always live in our hearts and our movement for justice. pic.twitter.com/W3M7CbRQ4i
— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) February 5, 2019
22.
Trayvon Martin would've been 24.
— Dougiekingxx (DK)✈ (@DougieKingxx) February 5, 2019
The man who killed him was arrest 6 times after he shot em in passing years.
Sold the gun that killed Trayvon Martin to the highest kkk bidder
P.S Zimmerman was told not to chase em and he did anyway. pic.twitter.com/2GhY3fBCX8
23.
Trayvon Martin put on a hoodie, went to the store for Skittles and Arizona Tea. He never returned home. He would have been 24 today. Say his name. 🎂🕯️#SayHisName #TrayvonMartin #HoodiesUp #RipTrayvon #BlackLivesMatter #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/mF7BFcHBuF
— ℰ𝑟𝑖𝑛 🧜♀️ (@pinklionheart) February 5, 2019
24.
Today would have been Trayvon Martin's 24th birthday.
— Bruce Coleridge-Taylor Wright (@bctw) February 5, 2019
Today is also a harsh reminder that killer and career criminal George Zimmerman remains a free man. pic.twitter.com/Jy4bhVWobk
25.
I was 20 when Trayvon Martin was killed and that situation changed my entire worldview. I will definitely never forget taking off the rose colored glasses of naiveness. Happy Birthday and sending love to his family on today.
— 🤷🏾♂️ (@RegalBasil) February 5, 2019
26.
Today, Trayvon Martin would have celebrated his 24th birthday. Let us honor his memory and never stop yelling “Black Lives Matter.” Something needs to be done to make our communities safe for black people #BLACKLIVESMATTER pic.twitter.com/v2mWku7odB
— alejandro (he/him/él) (@salas_alejandr0) February 5, 2019
27.
28.
Day 5 of #BlackHistoryMonth we celebrate and remember the life of Trayvon Martin. Today he would have been 24 years old. pic.twitter.com/rhS9KGgAjN
— D.J. (@deej_collins) February 5, 2019