This Boise-area hotel canceled event after learning George Zimmerman was featured speaker

After learning George Zimmerman was scheduled to speak at The Riverside Hotel this weekend as part of a multiday conference, the hotel canceled the event.

Zimmerman was listed as featured speaker at the “Lethal Force Gun Laws 2021 Tactics & Strategies Conference.” It was scheduled to take place Friday through Monday.

In 2012, Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black teenager, and was later found not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter after claiming self-defense. The shooting in Florida sparked a national conversation on racial profiling and so-called Stand Your Ground laws.

“We recognize the immense pain that George Zimmerman has inflicted on many of our guests, team-members and community,” the Garden City hotel’s ownership group said in a statement. “With their respect and safety as our priority, we have canceled the event. We are unequivocally opposed to providing George Zimmerman a platform and he is not welcome at The Riverside Hotel.”

The hotel learned of Zimmerman’s participation via social media, according to its statement. The hotel “is not usually provided a list of event speakers” in advance and said it had no idea who would be featured. “As soon as we were aware of the incendiary details, we made the decision to cancel the event.”

The event appeared to be organized by Old School Gun School, which is based in Washington state. Old School Gun School did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Admission to the event was listed as $3,995 for “limited early bird seating” or $4,995. The website for the event has since been taken down.

“Have you ever wondered what really happened that night?” the event’s website read. “The only person that knows the absolute truth of what really happened is George Zimmerman, himself. George will join us at our November Gun Law Conference in Boise, Idaho and describe the events of that night in a chronological, step-by-step narrative. You will hear exactly what happened, directly from George.”

In the future, The Riverside said it plans to require a full list of speakers for events it hosts.

“This is not the first time we have canceled events or speakers out of respect and safety for our guests, team-members and community and it certainly will not be the last,” the hotel’s statement read. “We will always stand up for what we believe is right.”

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