Fake: Photo of George Zimmerman
The Claim
George Zimmerman sold pictures of Trayvon Martin for a large profit.
News posted on
Emerging story
In mid-July 2020, users on social media began circulating a claim that George Zimmerman is selling photos of Trayvon Martin for profit. The picture accompanying the claim shows Zimmerman with a picture of Martin’s body, or with a painting of Martin.
The claim has been made before as early as 2014.
Misbar’s Analysis
Zimmerman first made national headlines after shooting and killing Trayvon Martin February 26, 2012. Zimmerman was acquitted on July 13, 2013 on the grounds of self defense.
Misbar conducted a reverse image search and found that the image was manipulated. In the original photo, Zimmerman is holding a painting of a confederate flag he painted to support a Florida gun supplier.
The caption on the recent meme is an altered retelling of a 2014 meme claiming Zimmerman was selling a painting he had made of Martin. The first image of Zimmerman holding up the painting was posted online by News Nerd in 2014 but the article has since been removed. The other image of Zimmerman holding up the blown up crime scene photo was shared July of 2020 during a period of racially charged civil unrest.
