North Miami-Dade Street Renamed In Honor Of Trayvon Martin
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Eight years after the death of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old who was fatally shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, his name is still sparking change.
The most recent is on display on a street in northern Miami-Dade.
Thursday morning, NE 16th Avenue from Ives Dairy Road to NE 209th Street was renamed Trayvon Martin Avenue.
The street leads to Dr. Michael K. Krop Senior High where Martin was an 11th-grade student.
"Just to have my son's name on the street, it's heartfelt," Trayvon's father Tracy Martin.
"Our students every morning will come out here and see the name that bears Trayvon's name, his name will continue forever," said the school's Principal, Dr. Adam Kosnitzky.
Martin was visiting his father in Sanford when he died. The teen was unarmed and walking back from a convenience store with candy when he was confronted and shot once by Zimmerman.
Zimmerman was acquitted under Florida's controversial self-defense law. The Black Lives Matter movement emerged after a Florida jury decided to clear Zimmerman in the shooting death in July 2013.
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Miami-Dade Commissioner Barbara Jordan hosted Thursday's official renaming. Also in attendance were outgoing county Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Mayor-elect Daniella Levine Cava.
Trayvon's mother, Sybrina Fulton, called it a good day.
"Although it keeps raining, just know that a brighter day is coming. The sun will shine again," she said. "It's a fight every day so I just thank people for continuing to support and just to know that people are still thinking of Trayvon Martin."
Tracy Martin said getting the street renamed wasn't their main focus, but it is an example of the legacy his son has left behind and the change his son has helped to make.