Carrick High School in Pittsburgh originally dedicated one day during their homecoming week to slain teen Trayvon Martin, but due to complaints, it has been cancelled.
Seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in February 2012. Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder and found not guilty.
Since Martin’s death, the hooded sweatshirt he was wearing the night he died has been a symbol of his supporters.
Carrick High School homecoming committee and students voted, selecting ‘Trayvon Martin Day’ as part of their homecoming week celebrations. Students planned to wear hoodies, commemorating Martin’s death.
The entire Miami Heat basketball team and Jamie Foxx, as well as other celebrities, have posted photos of themselves wearing hoodies.
Jennifer Kagel, a parent of one of the Carrick students, told KDKA, “I am a little worried about that with the different people, how they’re going to react.”
While another parent, Bruce Bergener said, “If they want to wear the hoodies to represent him and the kind of person he was, they should do it.”
“It brought up some controversy to the point where there were people giving mixed signals about it,” said homecoming committee member Javon Jordan.
The day dedicated to Martin has been replaced by ‘Bucco Day,’ celebrating Pittsburgh’s Major League Baseball team, the Pirates.
Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.