This Is What Trayvon Solidarity Looks Like

The tradition of visually memorializing black men killed in disturbing violence has taken on particular resonance in Trayvon Martin's death. Hatty Lee rounds up images of solidarity.

By Hatty Lee Apr 03, 2012

There’s a long tradition of marking the violent deaths of young black men through visual, communal memorials–street art, crowd-sourced shrines and even clothing design. Clothing and other visual markers played uniquely large roles in the narrative of Trayvon Martin’s death–the hoodie, the Skittles, the iced tea. So those visual symbols have also become uniquely resonant elements of public protest over the case. From state legislatures to Congress, from churches to social media, people have donned hoodies in critique of the racial profiling that led to Martin’s killing. And as communities all over the country gather in solidarity with Martin’s family, many people are literally wearing their emotions on their sleeves. 

–Editors

Devin Girtman (L), Curtis Woods (C) and Daniel Byers hang Skittles candy boxes
in support of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images)

(Photo: Creative Commons/Damoses)

Tamarii Cummings and his mother Patricia Cummings, who are related to Trayvon Martin, pray along with other supporters as they gather during a rally in Trayvon’s honor. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

(Photo: Creative Commons/brads651)

(Photo: Creative Commons/calvinfleming)

(Photo: Creative Commons/Damoses)

A parishioner wears a t-shirt reading ‘Enough is Enough’ regarding the Trayvon Martin killing during Sunday services. (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)