Sybrina Fulton , the mother of Trayvon Martin who was killed by George Zimmerman, is hugged as her other son, Jahvaris Fulton, looks on as they attend a service at the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church for the first time since the arrest of Zimmerman on April 15, 2012 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The mother of Trayvon Martin and Democratic lawmakers are calling for the repeal of Florida’s so-called “stand your ground” law but it’s unlikely to go anywhere in the state’s Legislature.
Sybrina Fulton joined state Rep. Alan Williams and state Sen. Dwight Bullard on Wednesday in calling for repeal. Fulton’s unarmed 17-year-old son was fatally shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman last year.
Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder but claims he acted in self-defense under the law, which says people can use deadly force if they feel threatened.
Williams has filed a bill to repeal it, but it’s likely to face opposition from Republicans who control the Legislature. A panel created by Republican Gov. Rick Scott to examine the law has recommended no major changes.
EDITOR’S NOTE: George Zimmerman sued theGrio’s parent company of NBC News on last week, alleging that the network intentionally edited reports on the case to depict Zimmerman as a “racist and predatory villain.” NBC has refuted these claims.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
