WASHINGTON (AP) — The mother and fiancée of two men fatally shot by New York City police officers are expressing solidarity with the family of Trayvon Martin.

Kadiatou Diallo and Nicole Paultre Bell appeared Saturday at a Washington forum hosted by the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Diallo’s son, Amadou Diallo, was shot at 41 times in 1999 after he reached into his pocket for a wallet. Sean Bell, who was also unarmed, was killed in November 2006 on what was to have been his wedding day.

Paultre Bell and Diallo shared their stories with the audience, saying it’s important that they all work together to create change.

The forum at Howard University was held just days after a special prosecutor in Florida charged neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman with second-degree murder in Martin’s death.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.