Trayvon Martin's Mother Speaks To Baltimore Congregation About Her Son's Death
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- Trayvon Martin, 17, was shot and killed by neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in Florida. Martin's mother comes to Baltimore to talk about her son's death.
Derek Valcourt has more on Sybrina Fulton's emotional visit.
Pastors introduced her as the mother of the new civil rights movement, the Rosa Parks of the next generation-- a role Fulton never wanted.
Martin's mother was overwhelmed by support from Empowerment Temple AME Church.
"It's so easy for me to cry everyday but I can't. I've got work to do," Fulton said.
She spoke to the Baltimore congregation nearly three months after the death of her son Martin. The unarmed 17-year-old was shot in Sanford, Fla. by neighborhood watch leader George Zimmerman, who now faces trial for the killing.
"Well, my heart is filled right now just to see all of you. Just to see Baltimore. Just to know your pastor stands behind me," Fulton said.
Empowerment Temple founder Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant spent weeks at Fulton's side following the death of her son, and helped channel the nationwide outrage over Martin's death into protest rallies and marches like the one in Baltimore.
"It's just overwhelming just to see how many people this affected," Fulton said.
Fulton's co-workers donated 34 weeks worth of time off to allow her to continue receiving a paycheck while she deals with the tragedy. She made Baltimore's Empowerment Temple one of her first trips.
"We couldn't think of a better person to rally, give strength to thousands of women across this city on what it means to have God's grace on your life, even in a situation you can't understand," Bryant said.
"I'm speaking for my son. I'm speaking for my family. I'm speaking for myself. I ask God to bless you all. I say, 'Thank you all,'" Fulton said.
Martin's mother made it a point to personally hug dozens of people in the church audience who lost their own family members to violence.
George Zimmerman is free on $150,000 bond but wears an electronic monitoring device while he awaits trial for second-degree murder.
