Editor’s note: Dem’e Davis, a staff writer for SNN, the newspaper and website of Lakewood High’s journalism program, conducted this interview with Alicia Martin, the stepmother of Trayvon Martin, for SNN a few days before George Zimmerman was arrested in Trayvon Martin’s killing. Martin, who lives in Miami, was visiting friends in St. Pete Beach. The  complete interview can be heard at bit.ly/HYhRSu.

BY DEM’E DAVIS   |   LAKEWOOD HIGH

Where were you when you heard that Trayvon had been killed?
I was at work, and I called a friend, a mutual friend of Trayvon’s father. He told me he just got off the phone with my husband and said that Trayvon had got killed Sunday night.

What did you think?
That is wasn’t true. That it can’t be true, and then it set in that it was, and I couldn’t work anymore.

What was Trayvon like?
He was a good son. Trayvon was very outgoing, he loved sports. . . .  Very obedient. … He loved children. He just was a good boy.

How do you feel about the police not arresting Zimmerman (immediately)?
I feel that they didn’t do their job. That they gave Zimmerman special privileges because of his father, and they all should lose their job.

How are you dealing with it?
I just pray on it. I have my good days and I have my bad days … family and friends comfort me when I’m down and out … and with God, definitely God.

What do you think about the media’s coverage?
They build us up, they break us down … it wasn’t a surprise to me. I knew they were going to do this … it’s not like they’re just doing it to us, it’s anybody that’s fighting for justice. It’s wrong, because what he did before Feb. 26 has nothing to do with him getting killed …it’s not going to matter, so they can say what they want to say.

Describe Trayvon.
(He was) fun to be around, it didn’t take much to make him laugh. You could count on him if you needed something done … he would do it. He didn’t ask for much, he didn’t require much. You know, he didn’t want Jordans, he didn’t have to have all this different stuff.

What do you think of the Trayvon Martin rallies?
I think it all is for a good cause. We shouldn’t just lay down and just let people kill our children.

Do you feel left out? (Alicia Martin separated from Trayvon’s father early this year, before the shooting.)
I feel left out on everything. I raised him 15 years, and for them to shut me out, it hurts, it hurts real bad. I don’t look at the news or follow it anymore, it’s just too painful.

What was your favorite thing about Trayvon?
I used to love to hear him laugh. I never told him that but … he had this unique laugh. And I loved the way he loved his nephews. (We had) a basic mother and son relationship.

How did the rallies make you feel?
It was overwhelming . WOW, that’s all I could say was WOW.

What would you say to Zimmerman if you could talk to him?
If I could talk to him, there’s not much I would say to him but why? You know, just tell the truth, because I know (Trayvon) didn’t do the things that (Zimmerman) said he did. He didn’t.

When was the last time you saw Trayvon?
Trayvon was to the house three weeks before he got killed.

What would you say to the media?
I would tell them that Trayvon was my son, how much I love Trayvon … that he was my son.