Saying the laws “allow individuals to shoot first, and ask questions later,” the parents of Trayvon Martin have turned to activism, launching a political committee whose goal is to repeal or change “Stand Your Ground” type laws across the country.
Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton appear in a YouTube video marking the launch of Change for Trayvon, an organization geared at encouraging voters and legislatures to educate themselves on the new and existing laws under which, as Fulton says in the video, “decisions on shootings are made even before a prosecutor can review the case.”
George Zimmerman, the 28-year-old man who shot Martin, 17, on February 26th, as the teen walked to the home of his father’s fiancee in Sanford, Florida, was not arrested for more than 40 days following the shooting. Sanford police and the Seminole County state attorney’s office initially ruled that the shooting constituted self defense under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law. After weeks of protests across the country, Florida Gov. Rick Scott appointed a special prosecutor, who charged Zimmerman with second degree murder in April.
Critics have said “Stand Your Ground” laws like Florida’s are applied unevenly based on the race of the deceased and the shooter, and that they tie the hands of judges and prosecutors.
“Most of the legislators who voted for SYG laws will admit that they never thought SYG would be used as it is being applied,” Martin and Fulton’s attorney Benjamin Crump said in a release about the new organization.
“Stand Your Ground” laws are now being used by the aggressors and agitators. I even had a case where an individual shot his victim in the back and claimed he was “Standing His Ground.” Most people don’t know whether these laws are on the ballot to be reviewed in their state or not.”
According to the Change for Trayvon website, 32 states have “Stand Your Ground” or “Castle Doctrine” type laws on the books, including six which have passed such laws since Trayvon Martin was killed. Another eight states have proposed “Stand Your Ground” laws on the ballot in November. And Florida is considering revisions to its law, after the governor created a task force led by the state’s lieutenant governor, to consider whether changes are warranted in the wake of the Martin case.
“It’s not just about Trayvon,” Crump told theGrio Monday. “They’re really pushing to change these laws so it won’t happen to your children — so they don’t have to suffer the tragedy of being shot.”
Crump added that Martin’s parents are “just trying to do the right thing,” and their effort is not specifically aimed at the National Rifle Association, which along with the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council, has pushed for “Stand Your Ground” laws across the country.
“It’s not against the Second Amendment,” Crump said, “and we think we can all work together to make these Stand Your Ground’ laws better. We need the NRA and anybody else to try and make these laws better so people don’t misapply them.”
The Martins and their representatives say the new organization has a second goal: creating a lasting legacy for their son.
The Martins close the video by thanking those who have supported them, and with Fulton asking for support so that they can help “create change that keeps other parents from experiencing the pain we’ve had to endure.”
“Life is beautiful,” Tracy Martin says in the video, “and together we can make a difference.”
Under Florida election laws, Change for Trayvon is a “committee of continuous existence,” or CCE, which is similar to a political PAC. The ChangeforTrayvon website states that the committee “will support candidates and elected officials who agree that Stand Your Ground Laws should have judicial or prosecutorial oversight.”
It goes on to state that:
“Funds donated to the Change For Trayvon CCE will be distributed to candidates, elected officials and efforts which support the mission of the Change For Trayvon (i.e. revising Stand Your Ground laws across the nation to ensure there is judicial or prosecutorial oversight).
No member of the Martin Family or their attorneys will benefit personally from the funds raised. While we do anticipate some minor overhead costs for keeping everything running smoothly and tracking the evolution of this movement as opportunities emerge across the nation to reform these laws, we pledge that over 90% of the funds raised will go directly to support the mission of Change For Trayvon.”
The Martin family previously started Justice for Trayvon, a nonprofit separate from the new committee, aimed at assisting the parents of murdered children.
The Zimmerman family have also launched fundraising sites, including sites by George Zimmerman and his parents, both aimed at raising money to defray their legal and living expenses, respectively.
Follow Joy Reid on Twitter at @thereidreport