One year ago on Feb. 26, a “neighborhood watch volunteer” shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin to death in Sanford, Fla. A year later, Florida State University students rallied in honor of Trayvon Martin and called for a repeal of the Stand Your Ground law, which allows people to use deadly force if they feel a serious threat.
George Zimmerman, who is charged with the death of Martin, is waiting for a hearing on whether he can avoid prosecution under the Stand Your Ground law.
Students at the rally wore hoodies in honor of Trayvon Martin, and they held signs such as, “Repeal Stand Your Ground” and “We have nothing to lose but our chains.”
The group Dream Defenders organized the rally. The ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) has coordinated on events with this coalition for several years.
Spokesperson Michael Sampson said they would work to eliminate the Stand Your Ground law. “Stand Your Ground gives people a reason to kill Black and Brown youth and that’s something we can’t have as a country and as a state, so Stand Your Ground should be repealed,” he said.
A task force appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott issued a report that concluded the Stand Your Ground law was a good law and should not be overturned.
