Celebrities to attend peace walk, talk today to honor Trayvon Martin
The parents of Trayvon Martin were scheduled to host a “peace walk and peace talk” Saturday at Crenshaw High School through a foundation they set up in memory of their son.
The unarmed 17-year-old was shot to death by a neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, Fla., as he walked from a store carrying a bag of candy on the night of Feb. 26, 2012. Zimmerman was acquitted of murder in the case.
A six-person jury accepted Zimmerman’s argument that he had acted in self-defense when he shot Martin after a confrontation. Zimmerman said he fired his handgun after Martin attacked him.
The prosecution argued that Zimmerman had profiled Martin, who was black, as the teen was returning from a convenience store.
The killing sparked demonstrations across the country and prompted Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, Trayvon’s father, to help launch the nonprofit Trayvon Martin Foundation. The purpose of the foundation is “to create awareness of how violent crime impacts the families of the victims and to provide support and advocacy for those families,” according to its website.
Rapper Nipsey Hussle and KPWR-FM deejay Big Boy are among the celebrities expected to attend Saturday’s event at the high school, 5010 11th Ave.
More information is available by calling (305) 600-8810.
Follow @jeanmerl for local news.
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