Residents reportedly trying to block permanent Trayvon Martin memorial

As memorials to Trayvon Martin continue to pop up in the Florida town where the teen was killed earlier this year, some residents in Sanford are reportedly trying to block a permanent memorial.

WKMG-TV reports that a petition is being circulated by some local residents to block a permanent memorial to honor the teen killed by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman on Feb. 26. And although a proposal for such a memorial doesn’t exist, Orlando Mayor Jeff Triplett confirmed to the station that a discussion on the matter occurred last week with Martin supporters.

Frank Taafe, a former neighbor and supporter of Zimmerman, began gathering signatures from neighbors on Monday in a pre-emptive strike to prevent the potential memorial from moving forward.

"We've no problem with memorials. If they want to place one in downtown Sanford, fine. Just don't put it in front of our place here," Taafe told the station. "I just hope and pray that everyone realizes that a tragedy did happen here and no one's gloating over this."

Zimmerman, who has been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of the unarmed Martin, has pleaded not guilty, saying he acted in self-defense.

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