Rachel Jeantel was the last person to speak with murdered teenager Trayvon Martin, and she called “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show” and gave listeners a chance to get to know her. In addition to talking about possible majors and her career plans now that she’s been offered a scholarship to the HBCU of her choice from Tom Joyner, she spoke about the verdict she expected from the George Zimmerman trial.
Now that many people feel justice was not served for her deceased friend Trayvon Martin, Rachel Jeantel intends on fighting for justice. In this interview, she offers insight into what Trayvon was really like. Plus, her lawyer speaks on jurors disregard of Rachel’s testimony in the trial of George Zimmerman.
Listen to the interview right here, and read the full transcript of the on-air conversation below. Hear more interesting interviews on “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show” weekdays from 6-10 am EST.
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RICKEY SMILEY: The Rickey Smiley Morning Show. I want you all to welcome to the show, y’all probably know from the Trayvon Martin case, she’s a friend of Trayvon Martin, the last person to talk to him. We got Rachel Jeantel on the phone. Y’all probably seen her on the Reverend Al Sharpton Show yesterday, and she was on CNN and everybody’s familiar with Rachel Jeanteal. Rachel, good morning.
RACHEL JEANTEL: Good morning. Rickey Smiley.
RS: What you doing?
RJ: I just got (laugh), I just got out of bed.
RS: Oh, okay. Hey, thank you for being on with us this morning.
RJ: You’re welcome.
RS: Yeah. And everything has been going good with you?
RJ: Yes.
RS: Yeah? And I know you’ve been prob—been real busy since the trial. Uh, you went to New York to do the Reverend Al Sharpton Show. Did you have a good time in New York?
RJ: Yes, I did.
RS: I know you did.
EBONY STEELE: All right, Rachel Jeanteal, of course her attorney Rod Vereen is on the phone as well. Star witness in the trial prosecuting the man who murdered her best friend, Trayvon Martin. So, Rachel, so many questions that we, everybody wants to ask because you’re just so intriguing. And at the end of the trial what was the first feeling that you felt? Maybe an obvious question when the verdict came down. What did you feel like was going to happen? And how did you feel when it did?
RJ: Um, before the verdict I thought uh, justice will be served.
ES: Right?
RJ: And after the verdict justice did not serve. Um, I worked so hard and so focused to this case and this happened and I was upset, so. It’s what it is. So I got to still keep fighting for justice for Trayvon.
ES: That’s right.
RS: Now being like, you know, one of Trayvon Martin’s best friends, could you describe like what kind of person Trayvon Martin was? Because, you know, they really try to vilify him in the media. And like in most of the pictures you see of him you can see like he’s having a good time, always hanging out with, you know, with his siblings. Like what kind of person was he?
RJ: Oh, he was a family guy. A family guy. I loving person, a good friend. And just somebody to talk to when you need help.
ES: Right. And so many people have come to your defense and uplifted and supported you, one of those being Tom Joyner who has offered a full scholarship for you to go to college. Congratulations on that. He went to Tuskegee University, and so yes, I hope you Tuskegee, but that’s okay, as long as you …
RS: And the Rickey Smiley Morning Show is gonna buy your first semester of books.
RJ: (Laugh) Oh, thank you so much. Thank you, Rickey.
RS: You’re welcome, baby. We don’t have Tom Joyner money, but we’ll get them books for you though.
ES: We’ll get them for you.
RS: And we’re going to take you to Target to get you, you know, drawers, deodorant, shampoo.
ES: I’m not — would you stop saying drawers?
M: It’s not like she’s going to need them if she’s getting ready to go to college.
ES: They’re panties. They’re underwear. Don’t say drawers.
RS: Okay, ain’t that right. Rachel? Right?
RJ: Yes, Rickey.
RS: (Laugh)
RJ: (Laugh)
ES: So Rachel, in that, what, what, because, in one of the interviews last night I saw that, uh, they were talking about, of course, the past year and a half of your life has been a whirlwind. You have not yet completed high school but you want to do that so that you can go to college, correct?
RJ: Yes, I am.
ES: And what do you want to major in?
RJ: Law enforcement. Or I’ve been thinking about an attorney, becoming an attorney. You never know.
RS: I’m sure this case right here is definitely an inspiration. You know?
ES: Right.
RS: We have, uh, what’s your attorney, uh …
ES: Oh, we got Rod Vereen on the phone. Hello, Rod.
RS: Rod, good morning.
ROD VEREEN: Good morning.
RS: Hey, what up Dog T? You good?
RV: Yeah, what’s happening?
RS: (Woof, woof) Hey, so what’s next for the, you know, what are we trying to change? The laws? Or, you know, trying to change the law. What’s the next step for everybody?
RV: Well Rickey, here’s the situation, there are about 30 states that have the stand your ground statute on the books that permits individuals to claim self-defense in situations normally where they would not be able to. There’s always been a castle doctrine in the State of Florida, meaning that a person does not have to retreat inside their own home. Because the statute got so rampant across the nation, several states decided to have a statute that allowed an individual, probably in the streets, to have the same type of defense that they would have in their home. Like, for instance, you’re sitting in a restaurant and you are accosted by an individual, you don’t have to, you know, even if you have a real clear chance to get away, the law now says that you don’t have to run from this person. You can stand right there and fight, you know, violence with violence, and you know, the statutes have tried, most of them are written in a way that they do not, uh, tell you the level of violence that you’re allowed to use in order to defend yourself. They just said you figure it in reason to save your life you can use deadly force, okay?
RS: So there’s no clear understanding?
RV: No clear understanding. If they, in this application, and that’s where I think a lot of people, when we talk about it, you know, while the stand your ground appears on its face to be a good statute, when you look at its application. It’s not. It’s vague. And that’s a problem that we’re having with the statute. And the government doesn’t want to change it. Al Sharpton and the coalition, they will be on their way, they’re going across the country to get to Washington, D.C., to try to fight and get this statute either modified or just struck down in its totality. So that’s how we’re going to continue this fight for Trayvon Martin.
SPECIAL K: Okay, Attorney Vereen, we’re talking to Rachel Jeanteal, and her attorney Rod Vereen, Attorney Vereen, this is coming in special, let me ask you a question; as an attorney, how does it make you feel with Juror B37 coming out and saying all the things she’s been saying on CNN. How does it make you feel knowing that the jury just completely disregarded Rachel’s testimony as being the last person who spoke to Trayvon making her, I guess you would call it an ear witness to the situation.
RV: Well, you know, as a person on the outside of the jury deliberation room you don’t get an opportunity to hear what’s going on inside. But when the Juror opened her mouth and started talking about what they thought about what they said in the deliberation it gives you a better view and a better glimpse of what they did and did not do. When you talk about second degree murder you’re talking about ill will, spite, evil intent. How can you go over that statute talking to yourself about that knowledge and not just discussing the issue concerning evil intent, motive and a depraved mind? So I was flabbergasted, she said, oh, Rachel never even came up. That means you did not deliberate.
RS: Dog, she said all, all of those little racial undertone, those people.
RV: Yeah, you know, and then when they said that they just completely disregarded what she said, we found her un-credible and we felt sorry for her because she didn’t want to be there. But that’s not what you’re there to do. You are there to listen to the testimony. Okay? And decide whether or not the testimony or not should, now Rachel’s testimony wasn’t clear because she was the only witness that can testify as to what took place.
RS: She said, Dog she said on the stand and made it very clear that Trayvon Martin felt threatened and scared and was walking away. And was trying to get away from George Zimmerman.
RV: Yeah.
RS: I tell you man, I think it’s the new Emmett Till, or whatever, and it’s going to get a civil rights movement started to change the laws, but like I tell everybody, when it come down to the end of the day, if we don’t go out and vote during midterm election, because when you put these judges on the bench and they do all these redistricting that they do, it just messes it up for everybody and this is a result of not going out voting during the midterm election.
RV: I agree. I agree. That’s one of the things I think everybody needs to do, everybody that’s qualified to register to vote should do that. And I can’t understand how you can be a citizen of this country and not exercise your right to vote.
RS: Hey, Rachael, you know what we want to do for you. Dog T, you got my number, right?
RV: Yes, sir.
RS: All right, Dog. Hit me up, let me know what day Rachel want to come up, we’re going to fly her up, and we’re going to take her out.
ES: We’re going to get you ready for school. And we’re going to spend some time. Let me tell you one of the things people did not do to me. They just automatically looked at Rachel and never asked, you know, they said, you know, the way she talks or speaks, or whatever they had to say, but never said, what do you feel? What do you want to do? Besides this case, who are you? And Rachel, I want to tell you personally, that I want to get to know who you are. I want you to come here, I want us to talk. I would like to mentor you, and let’s talk about going to school, changing your life, doing things, let’s find out. And one of my favorite quotes is never to be bullied into silence. Don’t allow yourself to be a victim and accept no one’s definition of your life but define yourself. So I’d love to have the opportunity to work with you. Because the only difference between …
RS: You’re going to take her to the spot where they be massaging your feet and stuff?
ES: Absolutely.
RV: (Laugh)
RJ: (Laugh)
ES: And we will do that and let’s have a good time.
RS: Hey, Rachel, we’re going to show you a real good time when you come up here. So you let us know when you want to come and we’re going to take care of you.
ES: Ricky gonna buy the ticket.
RJ: Okay.
RS: Okay, I’m for real now.
RJ: (Laugh) All right, thank you.
ES: Rachel, good luck with everything. And we love you, we support you, and you have a team of people behind you, you don’t even know, we don’t even call it a team; it’s family. We love you and support you, girl.
RS: They dogged down on TV, but guess what, she belongs to us, and we take care of ours. She ain’t thrown away. That’s what my grandma used to say. She ain’t thrown away. She belong to us. She gonna go to college get an education and she gonna be straight and she gonna look nice when she go. Hey, make us proud, so we’ll see you in a few weeks whenever you decide to come. Okay?
RJ: Oh, thank you.
ES: You were beautiful on all your interviews. She had her hair on one shoulder last night. I said, get it, Rachel, she was gone, this girl.
RS: Yeah, she’s trying to shine on Reverend Al’s show. She let it all hang down on her right shoulder. I said, okay, then. That’s what she was giving them.
M: She was giving you cascade hair.
RS: There you go.
ES: Yo, one time, Rachel Jeanteal. (Applause, cheers). Rod Vereen, thank you so much.
RJ: Thank you.
RV: All right. You guys take care.
RS: Thank you, Dog. The Ricky Smiley Morning Show.
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