Rep Hank Johnson on Trayvon Martin Case: Justice Dept. Needed

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-District 4)'s office announced Friday that he has joined the chairs of the Congressional Black, Hispanic, Asian Pacific American and Progressive Caucusus in saying that the Department of Justice should get involved in the investigation of Trayvon Martin's death.

Martin was the teen shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman, in a Sanford, Florida gated community in late February. Zimmerman said he shot Martin in self defense. Martin, who was black, was unarmed. Zimmerman is Hispanic, his father told the Orlando Sentinel.

There have been rallies calling for further investigation of the case and Zimmerman's arrest. There are no charges against Zimmerman.

According to the announcement, Rep. Johnson calls on Attorney General Eric Holder to “review the shooting death of Trayvon Martin as a hate crime as the shooter, George Zimmerman, may have been motivated by racial animus when the crime was committed," in a letter signed by 14 Judiciary Committee colleagues.

Johnson went on to say: “In the absence of action by local authorities in Sanford, Florida, the Justice Department needs to step in to uphold the integrity of our justice system and confront this horrific crime.

“It appears that Trayvon was targeted simply because of the color of his skin. It’s chilling to think that a young Black man was gunned down just for walking through a neighborhood while the shooter remains free and uncharged for nearly a month," he continued. "This is an injustice where Trayvon gets killed for walking while Black yet the shooter gets to walk home a free man. I am outraged as a father to a young Black male, only a few years older than Trayvon, and I will personally work to bring justice for the senseless killing.”