VOA标准英语2012--Killing of Unarmed Black Teenager in Florida Sparks Racial Tensions

Killing¹ of Unarmed Black Teenager in Florida Sparks Racial Tensions

 

The U.S. Justice Department is investigating possible hate crime charges in connection to a fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white neighborhood watch leader in the southern U.S. state of Florida last month.

Police have not arrested the shooter or charged him with a crime. A state grand jury will meet April 10 to consider all of the evidence. Meantime, tensions are running high in Sanford, Florida, the community where national attention has focused the spotlight² on issues of racism³ and self defense⁴.

The volunteer, George Zimmerman spotted⁵ Trayvon Martin as he walked to his father's home on a rainy night in the gated community. Zimmerman called police emergency, which recorded the conversation: 

Zimmerman: "This guy looks like he is up to no good, or he's on drugs or something. These [unintelligible] always get away. 

Dispatcher: "Are you following him ?"

Zimmerman: "Yes."

Dispatcher: "OK, we don't need you to do that."

But Zimmerman apparently⁶ followed Martin anyway. A short time later neighbors heard screams - then gunfire. 

Zimmerman says he shot Trayvon Martin in self defense after being attacked. Police have not charged him with a crime because of a Florida law known as "Stand Your Ground.’’ It gives people the right to protect themselves with deadly force, even outside of their homes. Martin's parents reject the self-defense claim. They say their son was targeted because he was black.

"If he had been white, he would not have been stopped. He would have not been approached at all," said Tracy Martin, the victim's father. 

Zimmerman's family says he is not a racist⁷. But many African Americans say the case is about stereotypes⁸ of young black men as violent criminals. 

"How can you justify⁹ that shooting," asked one man.

The Sanford, Florida Police Department is under fire for its investigation¹⁰. .

"If there were mistakes made we are going to handle that. We are going to act accordingly," said the city's mayor, Jeff Triplett

Authorities admit they overlooked evidence of what some believe was a racial slur¹¹ that Zimmerman allegedly made before shooting Martin. "One certainly may argue that the statement coupled with the other evidence may cause the state attorney's office to start looking at a hate crime," said legal analyst¹² Bill Schaefer.

Officers also failed to interview Martin's girlfriend. Phone records show she spoke¹³ to him moments before his death. She says he told her he was trying to get away from someone. 

"This claim that Trayvon Martin was the aggressor is preposterous¹⁴, and it cannot be allowed to stand because we have all of the evidence now," said Martin family attorney Ben Crump.

Tensions in the small community are on the rise as civil rights leaders hold protest marches. Social media also are attracting national attention to the case. More than a million people have signed an on-line petition demanding Zimmerman's arrest. 

"I don't understand why this man [Zimmerman] hasn't been arrested. At least charge him and let a judge and jury decide if he is guilty," said Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's mother.

That won't bring her son back. But as federal and state authorities investigate the killing of Trayvon Martin, some lawmakers are questioning the law that allows people to defend themselves with deadly force. 

1 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

2 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

3 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

6 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

7 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

8 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 justify   

vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护

参考例句：

• He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
• Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗？

10 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

11 slur   

v.含糊地说；诋毁；连唱；n.诋毁；含糊的发音

参考例句：

• He took the remarks as a slur on his reputation.他把这些话当作是对他的名誉的中伤。
• The drug made her speak with a slur.药物使她口齿不清。

12 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

13 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

14 preposterous   

adj.荒谬的，可笑的

参考例句：

• The whole idea was preposterous.整个想法都荒唐透顶。
• It would be preposterous to shovel coal with a teaspoon.用茶匙铲煤是荒谬的。