This bench appeared at a bus stop at 66th Avenue and 128th Street, in Surrey, B.C., early this summer after the conclusion of the Zimmerman trial.
The bench at the bus stop at 128th Street is like no other. Unlike the typical green benches at most Surrey bus stops, it is clearly store bought. What sets it most apart, however, is the message carved into the white wooden plaque on the backrest: In loving Remembrance of Trayvon Martin.
The brown wooden bench showed up this summer at the stop on 66th Avenue, soon after George Zimmerman was found not guilty of Martin’s murder, after a trial in Florida. It’s previously pristine condition has now worn down with the winter weather and one of it’s metal armrests is now missing.
None of the residents living near the stop know who put the bench there. The most common answer from both neighbours and commuters who frequent the stop was, “It just showed up.”
Translink, the City of Surrey and the bench company, T-Bench, have no idea who might have put the bench there.
“It just appeared here one day,” a neighbouring resident said. “We walk by here everyday,” she said, gesturing at the two children she was holding hands with.
Resident, Veeta Rodgers, 70, who lives across from the bus stop, has some ideas.
“I think that they were trying to help the family; to see if everybody is agreeing for what happened,” she said. Rodgers thinks that Martin may have friends or family living in Surrey, and they want the public to be aware of his story. “I think the case did not go the way they think it would have gone.”
Martin lived in Miami Gardens, Florida, was 17, when he was shot by Zimmerman.
Isabela and Gabriela
Nice piece! I didn’t know about this story and it made me research about it! Also, this habit is interesting! In Brazil people don’t usually make benches in memory of people…
Samantha Lego
It’s a mystery. I wonder if the city is going to leave it there?
Chloe Smith
I would love to know if you dig up any other leads after doing this story.. I suppose it could be something just a simple as someone who was affected by Tryvon’s story and wanted to do something for him?
Danielle Himbeault
It is incredible how much of an impact the Martin/Zimmerman story has had on people everywhere. Even though I like to believe that Canadians have a little more civility and intelligence when it comes to race relations (and gun-laws that are heaps better than Florida), racism is still an issue here. So, when something like the Zimmerman trial ends the way it does, people can feel like that has an impact on their lives too. It’s too bad the bench sounds like it’s in pretty rough shape, hopefully someone can maintain it.
Roshini Sakhrani
it’s nice to see that someone put a bench up to commemorate Martin’s death. it’s interesting because, you don’t normally see these things.
nice job sheetal!