Students At Delaware High School Permitted To Wear Hoodies In Honor Of Trayvon Martin
NEW CASTLE, Del. (CBS) - From Love Park, to the House floor, and churches throughout the country, hoodies have become a symbol for Trayvon Martin.
On Friday, students at William Penn High School in New Castle, Delaware were permitted to wear hoodies because of 18-year-old Warren Veney Jr.
"We're hoping as they see people wearing hoodies, they'll say, 'What is this about and what does it stand for,'" said Veney.
"It's highly commendable and noble, that it was done in a dignified and respectful manner," said Principal Jeff Menzer.
Warren worked with the principal and the administrator of academic affairs, to petition for one day in which students could show their support for the 17-year-old Florida teen who police say was shot and killed by George Zimmerman. Zimmerman hasn't been charged with a crime more than a month sense the shooting. He maintains he shot the teen in self-defense.
"To actually have the murderer say he did it and something not be done is crazy and it's not understandable why something wasn't done about it," remarked Veney.
Ninth grader Damire Drummond added an empty skittles bag and a ice tea wrapper to his outfit. That's what police say Martin was carrying before he was gunned down.
Right before an interview with 17-year-old Gabrielle Jamelkowski, a student walked by her and told Jamelkowski she was the only white person wearing a hoodie.
"It made me feel like, 'Why would you say that kind of thing,'" said Jamelkowski. "It's understandable too. I mean, the African-American community is really supportive of it and I've noticed some white people are a little more hesitant towards it."
At a school where more than 50 percent of the students are black, the organizer of the demonstration says it's not about race.
"We're not showing race," said Veney. "We're not choosing a side, we're just choosing the side that something should have been done quicker."
The students at William Penn were able to quietly voice their opinions, joining the millions of others who continue to march, protest, and wear hoodies for Trayvon Martin.
