The mother of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old whose death in Florida
earlier this year ignited a controversy over "Stand Your Ground"
self-defense legislation, taped a Web video in time for Mother's Day to advocate for policy change.
In the video, released Friday by the Second Chance on Shoot First
campaign, Sybrina Fulton urges viewers to send Mother's Day cards to
governors nationwide, particularly in the 26 states that have passed
"Stand Your Ground" laws, urging them to "re-examine" the legislation.
"This will be my first Mother's Day without my son, Trayvon," Fulton
says in the video. "On Sunday, I'm going to say a prayer for other
mothers across America who share this unbearable pain. Just like me,
30,000 mothers lost their children this year to senseless gun violence.
Nobody can bring our babies back, but it would bring us some comfort
if we can spare other mothers the pain that we will feel on this
Mother's Day, and every day for the rest of our lives."
In the wake of Martin's death in late February, many Democrats called
for a review of the Florida legislation that allowed his killer,
Neighborhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman, to avoid arrest for six
weeks following the shooting. Zimmerman argued self-defense and the
"Stand Your Ground" law in Florida allows the use of force in cases
where "reasonable belief" of a threat exists.
Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the head of the Democratic
National Committee, called for a repeal of the law, and the
Congressional Black Caucus introduced a resolution in the House to do
so.
Many Republican leaders defended the law, while allowing that
injustices existed in the case of Martin. "Stand Your Ground" laws
have been signed into law by both Republican and Democratic governors
since Florida passed its in 2005.
Zimmerman's arrest for second-degree murder in April did little to
calm the outcry. He was released on bail later in the month and will
face trial next year.
The Second Chance on Shoot First campaign will continue to work
against the now high-profile legislation — which it has re-dubbed
"Shoot First" — in the meantime, with support from the Rev. Al
Sharpton, National Urban League, the NAACP, and New York City Mayor
Michael Bloomberg.
