CNN "CNN Newsroom" - Transcript

Interview

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COSTELLO: Congresswoman Wilson joins us now live from Washington. Thank you for being with us.

WILSON: Thank you. Thank you for having me.

COSTELLO: Thanks for being here again.

The family of the shooter, the family of George Zimmerman, the shooter, denies race was a factor here, saying, you know, he has many minority friends and family. He's of mixed race himself.

How do you respond to that?

WILSON: Well, the more I hear the evidence coming through -- and Trayvon is my constituent, his family are friends. I've known them all of their lives. I have been speaking with them over and over.

And everything I hear sounds racist to me. It has racial overtones. Even the conduct of the police and the investigation has racial overtones. It took the family three days to get the body released from the coroner's office to be shipped back to Miami for the funeral and the burial. I mean, just the things that they have done. It's unconscionable.

COSTELLO: The NAACP is calling for the Sanford police chief to resign. Would you like to see it happen?

WILSON: Not only would I like to see it happen, but I'm joining to make sure that it happens.

COSTELLO: How are you going to do that?

WILSON: I represent Miami-Dade County. That's where Trayvon lives. That's where his family lives.

And the people there are outraged. They are collecting signatures. They told me they need one million signatures.

They are outraged. They are seeking justice. They want justice to be delivered for Trayvon.

So, I will join in with whatever cause for resignation of the police chief because I think and all of the evidence and all of the conversations I've had with the family members, that's where it began, with the police chief and Mr. Zimmerman who I believe was racially profiling Trayvon and then he murdered him.

COSTELLO: We know that federal prosecutors and the FBI are now investigating this case. A grand jury in Seminole County, Florida, is convening in three weeks. It seems the wheels of justice, although they move slowly, they are moving now.

Do you think that charges will eventually be brought against this Mr. Zimmerman?

WILSON: Let's hope that charges will be brought against him. I think with the involvement of the Justice Department and the FBI, charges will probably be brought against him.

But I'm not sure about that grand jury. I have to make sure that the grand jury at least represents some people who look like Trayvon and then I'll have some faith in the grand jury and the kind of indictment that they will bring forth from their convening.

That particular -- Florida has a history of racial profiling of young black boys. I've buried too many.

COSTELLO: The last question I would like to ask you about is this controversial state law. This "Stand Your Ground" gun law, which allows people to meet force with force if they feel they or someone else is in danger.

What's your opinion of that law?

WILSON: I think that law does not apply in this particular incident. I don't think that they can convince anyone with good common sense, any of the Justice Department, that "Stand Your Ground" law has anything to do with this. This is racial profiling. And this is murder.

COSTELLO: But do you think -- some people are calling for the law to be revoked. The governor of the state of Florida says we need to look over this law and see if it works or not.

WILSON: I think that's always important in laws. When you put new laws on the book and they don't work and they work against the people, I think it should be looked at and repealed, and perhaps that bill started out as a bill called the Castle Doctrine. As it moved through the House and the Senate, things were added onto it. I think that too much was put into this legislation and it probably needs to be repealed.

I think the Florida legislature is already discussing that and the governor is discussing it. So in Florida or any other state where laws have passed, there's always a mechanism to repeal them.

COSTELLO: Congresswoman Wilson, thank you for joining us this morning.

WILSON: Thank you. Thank you for having me.

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