Young Jeezy joins the ranks of Pete Rock, Jasiri X, Big Boi and other notable Hip Hop faces that are speaking up on the Trayvon Martin killing.
Hip Hop continues to weigh in on the murder of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old teen that was killed while in a gated Florida community. In a recent MTV interview with Sway Calloway, Young Jeezy offered his thoughts on the matter, encouraging sympathy, unity among racial lines and a call to action for fellow community leaders.
“I feel very deeply as a community leader and as a product of my culture,” Jeezy said. “I feel like we all got to get together and stop this, ‘cause I have a son his age and I just feel like that could’ve been either of our children.”
Martin was shot on February 26. Sanford, Florida police say neighborhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman shot him and claimed to be acting in self-defense. Martin was unarmed, carrying a bag of Skittles candy and an iced tea, according to police reports. A grand jury will convene April 10 to look into the case, but authorities have declined to arrest Zimmerman. Various marches and protests have been organized in Union Square, Washington, DC and Leimert Park in Los Angeles.
“I’m out here trying to feed the fam, and if I heard that I wouldn’t know how to take it,” Jeezy added. “My son is a good kid. Does he do stuff? Of course, that’s what kids do. But nobody’s child should be shot in cold blood for anything…especially if they didn’t hurt or harm another individual. I feel the racial lines and the tension of it. I get it, but we’re gonna stand strong on the black and the brown side on this one. We’re gonna stand together…”