George Zimmerman, the Florida man who killed teenager Trayvon Martin, is suing Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and former South Bend, Indiana. Mayor Pete Buttigieg, accusing them of defamation, Newsweek reports.
Zimmerman, who was acquitted of murder in 2012, has filed a lawsuit in federal court accusing the two Democratic presidential candidates of acting with malice or “at a minimum a reckless disregard for the truth” when they tweeted about Martin’s death on the date of what would have been his 25th birthday.
"My heart goes out to [Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton] and Trayvon's family and friends. He should still be with us today," Warren tweeted on Feb. 5. "We need to end gun violence and racism. And we need to build a world where all of our children, especially young Black boys-can grow up safe and free."
Buttigieg included a Black Live Matter hashtag and wrote: "Trayvon Martin would have been 25 today. How many 25th birthdays have been stolen from us by white supremacy, gun violence, prejudice, and fear?"
Zimmerman’s lawsuit objects to the use of the phrase “gun violence,” since Zimmerman says that he shot Martin in self-defense, and claims that the candidates’ messages are furthering their "political agenda to garner votes in the black community."
"It is high time that the cheap and harmful use of the race card by politicians of all stripes be made to cease and desist," said Larry Klayman, who is representing Zimmerman. "Their despicable 'race tactics' are not only causing great harm to persons such as my client George Zimmerman, but also are damaging relations between black and white Americans who are all brothers.”
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
© 2023 Newsmax. All rights reserved.