People in Los Angeles walk in a silent protest march on April 9, 2012, to demand justice for the killing of Trayvon Martin. David McNew/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption David McNew/Getty Images Analysis America Reckons With Racial Injustice Trayvon Martin's killing 10 years ago changed the tenor of democracy February 26, 2022 The Black teen's killing on Feb. 26, 2012, helped spark Black Lives Matter. Though the movement has seemingly yielded some cultural change, it comes at a time when hope for legal change is tenuous.