Al Sharpton announces rally in Florida to protest “stand your ground” killing of Markeis McGlockton
On Sunday, the Rev. Al Sharpton announced that he plans to line the streets with demonstrators in Florida on August 5 to protest the shooting death of Markeis McGlockton.
Sharpton tweeted: “I will be protesting the death of#MarkeisMcGlockton next week with the National Action Network, here is the information if you would like to join us.#PoliticsNation”
The “Rally for Markeis McGlockton” will take place at St. John Primitive Baptist Church.
Last Thursday an argument over a handicapped parking spot ended in 28-year-old Markeis McGlockton being shot and killed in front of his 5-year-old son in Clearwater, Florida.
In video footage, Michael Drejka appears to be confronting McGlockton’s girlfriend over a parking space. When McGlockton emerges from the store he pushes Drejka away from his wife. Drejka fell to the ground and shot McGlockton in the side as he tried to walk away.
Drejka is reportedly using the “Stand Your Ground” law, the notorious Florida law that has allowed George Zimmerman to get away with the murder of Trayvon Martin.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri announced on Friday that they will not arrest Drejka.
Gualteri said that the senseless killing falls under Florida’s “stand your ground” law which gives immunity to those who claim to be in fear of their lives and use force to defend themselves.
“[The shooting] is within the bookends of ‘stand your ground’ and within the bookends of force being justified,” Gualteri said, later adding, “I’m not saying I agree with it, but I don’t make that call.”
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The department will forward the case to the State Attorney’s Office for a final decision, Gualtieri said. The began when Drejka, who according to store regulars had a history of antagonizing and threatening patrons over handicapped spaces, confronted McGlockton’s girlfriend, Britany Jacobs, about parking in a handicap space without a permit.
Jacobs, who had been with McGlockton since they were in high school and is the mother of his three children, fought back tears talking about the killing and says that the shooter instigated the incident by coming up to her car.
She says McGlockton was the one defending her.
“He’s getting out like he’s a police officer or something, and he’s approaching me,” she said to the Tampa Bay Times. “I minded my own business. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
In 2012 a driver accused Drejka of pulling a gun during a road rage incident. Drejka denied he showed the gun, and the accuser declined to press charges.
A couple of months ago, Rick Kelly says he stopped by the store, parking his tanker truck in the same handicap spot. Much like what happened on Thursday, Drejka walks around the truck checking for decals, then confronts Kelly about why he parked there.
Kelly says a fight escalated and Drejka threatened to shoot him.
“It’s a repeat,” Kelly told the Tampa Bay Times. “It happened to me the first time. The second time it’s happening, someone’s life got taken. He provoked that.”
