Events

On November 27th, 2012, George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, claiming self-defense under Florida's "stand your ground" law. Could Zimmerman have backed off or de-escalated the situation rather than engaging Martin, who was unarmed? Was his perception of danger distorted by factors like fear, suspicion, or racial bias? And, perhaps most importantly, did Zimmerman’s decision to pursue Martin put him in a position where the use of deadly force was more likely?

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In LACAH VII's trial, participants will consider those very same questions, participating in 4 trials on both prosecution and defense across 2 days. Through the famous case of George Zimmerman, participants will consider the existence of laws as dynamic and even, possibly flawed.