Dream Defenders "Take Over" Fla. Capitol Demanding Justice For Trayvon
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) – Protests over George Zimmerman's acquittal in the Trayvon Martin case continue in South Florida and across the nation.
In Tallahassee Tuesday, a student group known as the Dream Defenders, is holding a rally at the Florida Capitol.
Called a statewide "Day of Action", the group dedicated to social change through non-violent civil disobedience, is asking Gov. Rick Scott to call a special session of the legislature to review the Stand Your Ground law, among others.
The students began a sit-in at Gov. Scott's office and said they would stay until they get to speak with the governor. However, Scott was in New York and planned to go later in the day to New Jersey for an television appearance.
On its website, the group posted, "Dream Defenders demand that Governor Rick Scott call a special session of the Florida legislature to address the issues at the center of the Trayvon Martin tragedy: stand your ground vigilantism, racial profiling and a war on youth that paints us as criminals and funnels us out of schools and into jails."
The group says many state laws disproportionately affect minority youth.
The website states, "We are here to honor the memory of Trayvon Martin and pay respects to his family. This tragedy serves as a vivid reminder of the pain felt by our communities, in which we are profiled, criminalized and targeted. Unless we take action nothing will change. Saturday's verdict showed the world that Florida has no value for the life of its children. This is an opportunity for Governor Rick Scott and the Florida legislature to prove their commitment to the next generation of Floridians."
"Together we are united in ensuring Trayvon's unjust death was not for nothing. Our anger in the face of gross injustice has led us to take action but it is the love of our people and our community that pushes us forward. We are here because Trayvon can't be."
The controversial "Stand Your Ground" law gives a person immunity from prosecution for using deadly force if the person reasonably believes he or she is in danger.
George Zimmerman did not use the Stand Your Ground law defense at his trial, he used self-defense.
Zimmerman was cleared of all charges in the case, and went free on Saturday. His whereabouts are unknown.
