Council Member Jerry Davis wore a 'hoodie,' or a hooded sweatshirt, on Wednesday to show his support of Trayvon Martin, the teen who was shot and killed by George Zimmerman in February.
Critics accuse Zimmerman of racially profiling Martin, and sparking the confrontation that ended with the shooting. But Zimmerman claims the shooting was in self-defense. He was not arrested.
Today Councilman Davis recalled a time he was falsely accused of a robbery when in high school.
"I was arrested, embarrassed at school, my mom and dad had to pay money for a lawyer that we did not have the money to do so, and here we are 20 years later and the investigation is not thorough," Council Member Davis said.
There was a second similar protest today on Capitol Hill.
"Racial profiling has to stop, Mr. Speaker. Just because somebody wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum," said Illinois Democratic Congressman Bobby Rush.
He was kicked off the House floor Wednesday morning for wearing a hoodie in protest of Martin's death because it violates the House dress code. Eventually the sergeant at arms came in and ushered him off the platform.
Congressman Rush says the Martin shooting case reminded him of how his own son was shot and killed in 1999, and how it moved him to be an activist in Congress opposing the proliferation of guns and police brutality.
