Skittles, iced tea, and 1,000,000 hoodies for Trayvon Martin
On March 21, 2012, I went to Union Square in New York City where thousands of protesters had gathered for the Million Hoodie March in honor of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old who was shot and killed by a Neighborhood Watch member in Sanford, Florida on February 26.
Photo by Shady Grove Oliver
The majority of protesters were wearing “hoodies” or sweatshirts with hoods which they had pulled up over their heads:
Photo by Shady Grove Oliver
Many of the protesters were carrying bags of Skittles:
Photo by Shady Grove Oliver
…while others carried bottles of Arizona iced tea:
Photo by Shady Grove Oliver
It was reported that Martin was wearing a hoodie and walking home from a convenience store where he had bought Skittles and iced tea when he was shot.
Photo by Shady Grove Oliver
This particular incident has sparked outrage across the country due to the possible racial profiling involved in the lack of action taken by local police to prosecute Martin’s shooter, George Zimmerman. It does not surprise me that such a large protest would take place on the streets of New York. This city is often at the forefront of social movements and with a substantial #Occupy contingent supporting the march, the large turnout was to be expected.
Photo by Shady Grove Oliver
However, as someone fascinated by spontaneous memorialization practices, I was drawn to this march in particular because of how it was dressed.
If I were at a spontaneous shrine for Trayvon Martin, I would expect to find the usual teddy bears, flowers, and candles alongside certain objects specifically for Martin and his particular death. There might be sweatshirts but I am almost certain there would be Skittles and iced tea. Like the shrine for Amy Winehouse where there were bottles of alcohol and cigarettes, the shrine for Martin would have objects people associate with him.
As this was a memorial march [not just a political one], I believe the protesters’ decision to wear and carry these Martin-specific items makes this a mobile shrine of sorts. Like an internet memorial that can be accessed by anyone–even someone far away from a death site–a memorial march/protest creates a memorial space [and place to grieve] that is accessible to these memorializers. It serves the same purpose as any other spontaneous shrine; it calls attention to the circumstances that led to this person’s death and force onlookers to bear witness to the consequences.
As memento mori, these hooded people walking the streets of New York at night ask us all to consider the question:
Photo by Shady Grove Oliver
To see more of my photos from the Million Hoodie March, click here, here or here. To sign the petition written by Martin’s family calling for the prosecution of his shooter, George Zimmerman, click here.
Spontaneous Shrines 
i just finished a piece on this topic as well. Your pictures capture the feelings perfectly of Zimmerman’s evil.
The idea that hoodies, Skittles, and cans of iced tea make this a “mobile memorial” is brilliant. It also underscores the power and poignancy of the march. Thanks for that thought.