Sybrina Fulton, whose son, Trayvon Martin, was killed by a neighborhood watch captain in February, has released a Mother’s Day video message via an advocacy group.
In the video, posted to the Martin family’s JusticeTM website, an emotional Fulton, her voice sometimes wavering, says that Sunday will be her first Mother’s Day without her son, and she says her faith and family will pull her through.
“On Sunday, I’m going to say a prayer for other mothers across the country who share this unbearable pain,” Fulton continues.
WATCH SYBRINA FULTON’S MOTHER’S DAY MESSAGE HERE:
[youtubevid http://youtube.com/watch?v=m_4HHcOHBfU]
She cites statistics, saying she will pray on Sunday for the 30,000 mothers who, like her, have “lost their children to senseless gun violence,” and she calls on people to “join Florida by calling upon the governor of your state to re-examine similar Stand Your Ground laws throughout the nation, to keep our families safe.”
The video was produced for something called Second Chance on Shoot First Campaign, whose website lists its partners as New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the NAACP, National Urban League, National Action Network, led by MSNBC host Rev. Al Sharpton, Color of Change, VoteVets.org, and the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights. The Campaign describes itself on its website as “a coalition of civil rights leaders, elected officials, law enforcement professionals and other Americans committed to raising awareness about Shoot First and other unsafe, reckless gun laws.”
Transcript:
“I’m Sybrina Fulton. This will be my first Mother’s Day without my son, Trayvon. I know it will be hard, but my faith, family and friends will pull me through. On Sunday, I’m going to say a prayer for other mothers across the country who share this unbearable pain. Just like me, 30,000 mothers lost their children this year to senseless gun violence. Nobody can bring our children back, but it would bring us comfort if we can help spare other mothers the pain that we will feel on Mothers Day and for the rest of our lives. I’m asking you to join Florida by calling up on the governor of your state to re-examine similar “Stand Your Ground” laws throughout the nation, to keep our families safe. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Happy Mother’s Day.”
Follow Joy Reid on Twitter at @thereidreport