SANFORD, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) -
The group in charge of the upkeep of Trayvon Martin's memorial site is outraged after the city took the memorial down on Monday. Attorney Vera June was one of 3 members of the group that spent 90 minutes meeting with the city on Tuesday. They are most upset that no one from their group or the family was contacted in advance.

"No one from the concerned citizens had been contacted and to my knowledge the family was deferring to the concerned citizens to make that decision."

City manager Norton Bonaparte admitted some kind of mistake was made, and the city plans to get to the bottom of what happened.

"It does seem to be some miscommunication between city staff, and the attorneys for the family."

Vera June thinks 5 months is not enough for the items like crosses and artificial flowers to be taken away, especially since the trial of George Zimmerman has not even started yet.

"A lot of people feel that if the memorial is removed than it is forgotten, and so for the psyche of the community, we need that memorial to be back in that public location so that we can continue to heal."

The answer from City Manager Norton Bonaparte is maybe.

"That's certainly something that's under consideration."

Part of the reason it was removed is complaints from residents of the Retreat at Twin Lakes. For them the memorial is a daily reminder that they are the center of controversy. Imagine trying to sell your home there, or have company over that has never visited. Bonaparte has heard the complaints.

"I've been told that that has become an issue. I think again we need to be respectful of the Martin family, and what their wishes are. We also need to be mindful of the residents of that area and some of them have expressed concern that they felt it was not helpful to them."

The items from the memorial were packed up and sent to the Sanford Museum where they remain in boxes. Vera June says it gives the impression to the community that racism is alive and well in the city even after the killing.

"I grew up in Sanford, and I would say that just like any other community there are the issues, and some, some of those issues are racial yes."

For now the boxes will remain at the Sanford Museum until the city decides what to do next.

Read more: http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/18995626/removal-of-trayvon-martin-memorial-sparks-outrage#ixzz20Hxgln4U

So the city manager is now racist? He is African American.

Maybe they should have left it as a reminder to other potential dead thugs that their next potential victim just might be packin'.

I dont personally know him. I would like people to remove the notion that someones race is the determining factor in what race they may be bigoted against.

I know plenty of Black folks that would love to run with the KKK as they have similar ideas about 'other' black folks (of which they consider themself exceptions)

I know plenty of White folks the same way too about 'other' white folks.

Punks don't care. They only care about what their rap music and gang life and drug dealing glorifies. If they even had the ability to think, they would be punks.

Memorials are silly. If we put up a memorial for everyone who died or got killed, the whole country would be cluttered with them.

That's what cemeteries are for.

if a community want to memorialize something, that is their perogative. IF there are procedures for creating a memoral and people follow them, thats their perogative too.

I didn't say it wasn't "their prerogative."

I just feel it is impractical and pointless.

I understand. I feel that way about alot of things people do out of tradition,, including funerals, but if it helps people mourn and remember,, so be it.

its hard for anyone to lose a loved one, we have memorials for soldiers, whose lives are absolutely valuable

but so is everyone elses to the people they love.

Well why not put up a memorial for Raymond Washington too then?

why should I, I never put a memorial for Treyvon...lol

I never flew a flag in my yard either



but those who wanted to did,,,,

and I dont begrudge them for it,,

Well, he is no different then Raymond Washington.

if they are both dead,, I imagine they have that in common

otherwise, he may have had alot in common with lots of people in his life,, and it would still be irrelevant to anything that matters to me,,,