- Local
- Community
- Journalism
Support the independent voice of South Florida and help keep the future of New Times free.
Trayvon Martin's family gathered together with hundreds of others in the state Capitol on Monday to urge legislators to either repeal or change Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law.
Martin's family was joined by family members of Marissa Alexander, who is facing 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot at her husband who had previously beaten her.
Also in attendance was the Rev. Al Sharpton.
Before the march began, Sharpton called Florida "ground zero" for the fight against the stand your ground law.
See also: Marissa Alexander Is About to Get Screwed by Florida's Ridiculous Gun Laws
Protesters marched as they carried signs that read "Standing Our Ground." Others wore shirts that read, "We are not a threat," while still others carried signs with pictures of Martin on them.
Also in attendance was the mother 17-year-old Jordan Davis, who was shot and killed by Michael Dunn. Dunn claimed he had gotten into an argument with teens in a car who had been playing their music too loud. Dunn -- who is white -- opened fire into the car, killing Davis, who was black.
Last week, a jury in Jacksonville convicted Dunn of attempted murder but not murder.
Before the march, Davis' mother, Lucia McBath, addressed the crowd, saying, "I'm here to accuse the state of Florida and 25 other states of creating legislation that is nothing more than permission to kill."
Trayvon's mother, Sybrina Fulton, also addressed the crowd.
"Florida is failing our young men and women," she said. "Florida has to change this law now!"
Capitol protesters target Scott, stand your ground http://t.co/sbLfcpKjl2 pic.twitter.com/V2ruxMoPCr
— Palm Beach Post (@pbpost) March 10, 2014
Congresswoman Corrine Brown speaks at Stand Your Ground march on state Capitol @wjxt4 pic.twitter.com/YWI0m8Ppk5
— Hailey Winslow (@WJXTHailey) March 10, 2014
Had to post this in Support of The March in Tallahassee Florida against the stand-your-ground law. Monumental. Epic! pic.twitter.com/E9X0CJz1Ib
— Cristal Hawthorne (@PastorCristAnn) March 10, 2014
#StandYourGround March and Rally lead by @NationalAction @TomJoyner awesome. Time to stand up! #neveragain pic.twitter.com/NkWztePuDs
— EmmettTillLegacyFdn (@EmmettTill) March 11, 2014
Send your story tips to the author, Chris Joseph. Follow Chris Joseph on Twitter
Keep New Times Broward-Palm Beach Free... Since we started New Times Broward-Palm Beach, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of South Florida, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering South Florida with no paywalls.
