SANFORD, Florida (AP) — One year after the shooting of an unarmed black teenager thrust this small central Florida city into the national spotlight, life in Sanford is returning to its regular rhythm.
After the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin at the hands of a neighborhood watch leader, civil rights leaders warned that Sanford risked its upscale reputation and could become a 21st century version of civil rights flashpoints like Selma, Alabama.
It seems that Sanford’s reputation has been maintained — at least for now. Downtown is abuzz with the activity of 1st Street shops and restaurants, not the sounds of marching protesters.
Literature lovers peruse Maya Books & Music. Craft beers are poured at The Imperial, a bar that doubles as a furniture store. At Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Cafe, patrons feast on sauerbraten and listen to the house polka band.
But beneath the usual pace of life lurks the memory of what happened a year ago Tuesday in a nearby gated community.
h/t USA Today
