In Longwood, Florida today, the parents of Trayvon Martin are expected to appear before a statewide task force studying what to do about Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.
STORY: Do Your Part! Trayvon’s Parents Call For Repeal On Florida’s Shoot First Law
Trayvon family attorney, Benjamin Crump, said in a tweet:
“The parents of #TrayvonMartin and I will host a brief press conference at 12:30pm, prior to addressing the Stand Your Ground Taskforce.”
Outside the Northland Church, Trayvon’s parents are expected to deliver 300,000 signatures collected for a petition on the website Change.org, calling for Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law to be repealed or amended.
Their aim is to replace the law with a new one, dubbed “Trayvon’s Law,” which would remove part of the language referring to the initial aggressor.
At the press conference, Crump said that they are calling for an amendment to Stand Your Ground saying: “You cannot be the pursuer.”
Trayvon’s family is asking for the “Trayvon Martin” amendment, which would state that “you can’t pursue or start a fight and use the law.”
The task force, created by Gov. Rick Scott, aims to shed light on the controversial law after Trayvon was fatally shot Feb. 26 in Sanford by George Zimmerman, who told police he acted in self-defense.
The task force, headed by Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, is holding its second meeting today, the first at which it will take public comment at a Longwood mega church, Northland, A Church Distributed, near U.S. Highway 17-92.
Protesters are planning on demonstrating outside the Church, demanding repeal or major changes in the law.
Speaking to reporters before the meeting began, Carroll said, “This is not about the Zimmerman case.”
The task force is concentrating on fairness and inequities in the way the law is applied, saying:
“I haven’t heard any of the board members say they like it the way it is.”
The task force has no authority to change the law. It will make recommendations to the Florida Legislature and Scott.
Any changes will be up to the Legislature, she said.
During the noon hour, a newly formed Washington-based advocacy group has announced plans for a rally outside.
The group, Second Chance on Shoot First, says it will deliver 340,000 petition signatures, asking that the law be revoked or reformed.
A group spokesman, Christopher Brown, estimated 50 to 100 people would be at the rally.
Zimmerman is awaiting trial on a charge of second-degree murder, but a judge could throw out the case if Zimmerman challenges his arrest under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.
