Social Justice
Trayvon Martin’s parents make impassioned plea to change ‘Stand Your Ground’ law
Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, the parents of the 17-year-old unarmed teenager who was murdered by a neighborhood watch captain, made an impassioned plea to change Florida’s Stand Your Ground law saying it encourages vigilantism.
Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, the parents of the 17-year-old unarmed teenager who was murdered by a neighborhood watch volunteer, made an impassioned plea to change Florida’s Stand Your Ground law saying it encourages vigilantism.
George Zimmerman claimed he shot their son, Trayvon Martin, in self-defense. He wasn’t arrested on the spot due to Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, which allows people to use deadly force when they feel threatened. The law permitted him to walk away free. Zimmerman was charged 45 days later with second-degree murder.
As reported by the Palm Beach Post:
“I believe my son was standing his ground…He was afraid,” Fulton told reporters outside the mega-church where the public is now addressing the task force for the first time since Scott created it after a national outcry over a delay in the arrest of Zimmerman. Authorities arrested Zimmerman two months after the Feb. 26 shooting in Sanford. “They do need to review these laws. “He was afraid…This is personal. They do need to review these laws.”
The parents also gave 375,000 online petitions collected by Second Chance on Shoot First, a national campaign co-founded by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
“This is definitely personal to us. Our son has been sacrificed,” Tracy Martin said. “It’s a bad law. These laws are set up basically for the shooter to take an innocent life.”
Tracy Martin also disputed Zimmerman’s claim of self-defense, saying he ignored 911 operators instructions to remain in his vehicle and not to pursue Martin.
“He was defending himself against what?” Martin said.
The law gives the message that “it’s OK to be a vigilante in our society today,” Martin said. “The public is not going to stand around for it and we certainly aren’t going to stand around for it.”
Discover more from Unheard Voices Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
-
Crime & Justice1 week ago
Alabama mother sues state workers after 3-year-old son dies in scorching hot car
-
Police23 hours ago
Mississippi mother demands justice after teen son fatally struck by a police cruiser
-
Community2 weeks ago
New Jersey mourns Esiyah Dixon-Waheed, pageant queen, HBCU alumna, killed in Missouri drunk-driving crash
-
Crime & Justice1 week ago
Virginia man sentenced to life for murder of New Jersey councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour
-
Community1 week ago
Burger King employee who went viral for running restaurant alone for 12 hours says she was fired; GoFundMe launched
-
Community2 days ago
GoFundMe for Georgia Officer David Rose Surpasses $590K as Community Honors His Legacy
-
Crime & Justice3 days ago
New York’s Mom’s PhD Graduation Turns Tragic as Teen Daughter Struck by Stray Bullet
-
Crime & Justice3 days ago
Comedian Reggie Carroll tragically shot and killed while on tour in Mississippi