A Sanford, Florida couple says they were forced from their home because of a Twitter message claiming their address belongs to the neighborhood watchman who shot Trayvon Martin.
“I love this home but we can’t stay in it,” said Elaine McLain. “Because we don’t know what’s going to happen.”
ZIMMERMAN FAMILY FEARS FOR SAFETY AFTER HOME ADDRESS IS TWEETED
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Spike Lee re-tweeted a tweet from a California man with her mother-in-law’s address, saying that’s where George Zimmerman lives. Some of Lee’s 250,000 followers have suggested violence towards people at that address.
McLain said the Twitter post caused her so much trouble, she and her husband moved into a hotel. “I don’t know if I have words,” said McLain. “Scary, it’s really scary and we are afraid for our lives.”
McLain, 70, has a son named William George Zimmerman, who use to live with her but doesn’t any longer. However, McLain’s son is not the same Zimmerman involved in the case. They are not related. “They’re calling him with nasty phone calls,” said McLain. “It’s just making the whole family scared.”
Neighbors said they are upset about everything that is happening to McLain and her son. “It doesn’t matter if it’s Spike Lee or anyone,” said Yvonne Picard. “We just all need to be sympathetic right now.”
McLain said she is meeting with an attorney to explore what her legal options are after being forced from her home. Trayvon Martin was shot and killed inside a gated Sanford community on February 26. The watchman who shot him claims self-defense and has not been arrested.