Rush Congratulates Trayvon Martin's Family

Rep. Bobby Rush late last month was removed from the floor of the House of Representatives for wearing a hoodie in a show of solidarity for Trayvon Martin

Rep. Bobby Rush reacted quickly to news of charges brought forth against a community watchman who shot and killed a Florida teenager 45 days ago.

"The shadow of justice has been revealed," the powerful Democrat said during a Wednesday appearance on the NBC 5 News. "I want to congratulate Trayvon [Martin]'s family, because they certainly deserve this."

Following an investigation by a special prosecutor, George Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder in connection with Martin's Feb. 26 death. Zimmerman told police he shot the boy in self-defense, but the lack of an arrest and charges in the case spawned outrage around the country.

Rush late last month was removed from the floor of the House of Representatives for wearing a hoodie in a show of solidarity for the teen.

After Wednesday's announcement, Rush commended the "young people who really are behind this whole process."

"Justice was at a standstill, paralyzed, not in motion at all, until the young people took it upon themselves and got on the social media and really made the nation see the murder and what had happened to Trayvon ... and force a clear picture of what happened," he said.

Rush then tempered his pleasure with Wednesday's developments, pivoting the attention to Chicago and its violent streets.

"We have families right here in Chicago who are still hurting because no one has been brought to justice in regards to their [cases]," he said. "While we're celebrating justice in Sanford (Fla.), we can't celebrate justice in Chicago."

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