VOA标准英语2012--Shooting of Unarmed Black Teenager Ignites Protests in Several US Communities

Shooting of Unarmed Black Teenager Ignites Protests in Several US Communities

New details have emerged that offer support to George Zimmerman's claims that he shot and killed Trayvon Martin in self defense¹. 

"George Zimmerman suffered a broken nose and had an injury to the back of his head. He was attacked by Trayvon Martin on that evening," said Craig Sonner, the neighborhood watch volunteer's attorney. 

A friend, Joe Oliver, says Zimmerman gave him a similar account.

"Trayvon came up behind George and asked him what was going on, if he had a problem? After George responded, 'No, I don't have a problem,' as he reached for his phone, that's when Trayvon cold-cocked [surprise punched] him," Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman initially² spotted³ Martin on the night of February 26 walking through this gated community in Sanford, Florida. He called police emergency: 

"This guy looks like he is up to no good or he's on drugs or something," he said in the call.

Police told Zimmerman not to follow the teenager, but later Zimmerman says Martin confronted him. 

Again Zimmerman's friend, Joe Oliver: 

"George had no intention of taking anybody's life. He cried for days after that [the shooting] happened," Oliver said.

Police have not charged Zimmerman with a crime because of a Florida self-defense law that gives people the right to protect themselves with deadly force.

Martin's death has sparked a national outcry. Many protesters wear hooded⁴ sweatshirts, known as hoodies, in memory of the 17-year-old boy. He was wearing a hoodie the night he died.

"That could have been my son. It could have been anybody's son, so you know someone has to be Trayvon's voice because his voice was silenced," said Jamie Jones, a protester from Nashville, Tennessee.

"It tears me apart to sit here and listen to the slander⁵ they are giving my son," said Martin's father.

As the protests have grown in size and intensity⁶ Martin's parents maintain race was a factor in their son's death and say they want George Zimmerman arrested. 

"I know that I cannot bring my baby back but I am sure going to fight for changes so that this does not happen to another family," said Martin's mother, Sabryna Fulton. 

The shooting case has captured the nation's attention. And these protesters say they will continue to demonstrate as a symbolic⁷ sign of solidarity⁸ for Trayvon Martin. 

1 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。

2 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

3 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。

4 hooded   

adj.戴头巾的；有罩盖的；颈部因肋骨运动而膨胀的

参考例句：

• A hooded figure waited in the doorway. 一个戴兜帽的人在门口等候。
• Black-eyed gipsy girls, hooded in showy handkerchiefs, sallied forth to tell fortunes. 黑眼睛的吉卜赛姑娘，用华丽的手巾包着头，突然地闯了进来替人算命。 来自辞典例句

5 slander   

n./v.诽谤，污蔑

参考例句：

• The article is a slander on ordinary working people.那篇文章是对普通劳动大众的诋毁。
• He threatened to go public with the slander.他威胁要把丑闻宣扬出去。

6 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

7 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

8 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。