'Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago:' Obama says history of racism in America has made George Zimmerman's acquittal especially painful for blacks

Obama made the remarks Friday in a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room

It was the first time he has addressed George Zimmerman's 'not guilty' verdict in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin

Obama described, as a young American male, hearing car doors lock when crossing the street and being followed in department stores

He said there is a history of racial bias in the judicial system that affects how black Americans view the Trayvon Martin case

Martin's parents responded to Obama's address saying it was 'a beautiful tribute to our boy'

 

President Obama said Friday that
Trayvon Martin, the unarmed 17-year-old shot dead last year, could have been him as a young man.'You know, when Trayvon Martin was first shot, I said that this could have been my son. Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me, 35 years ago,' Obama said in a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room.
Speaking for the first time about the outcome of the Trayvon Martin case, Obama said black Americans feel pain over George Zimmerman's acquittal for Martin's murder because of a history of racism that 'doesn't go away.

President Barack Obama speaks about the Trayvon Martin case in the press briefing room at the White House in Washington, July 19, 2013

 

 

 

Jurors ruled that George Zimmerman (left) was acting in self-defense when he shot Trayvon Martin (right)

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2370572/Obama-says-history-racism-America-