The parents of Trayvon Martin have launched a new website and political committee aimed at ending “Stand Your Ground” laws in Florida and elsewhere in the country.
Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton have set up a new Committee of Continuous Existence, or CCE, called “Change for Trayvon” that will work to end the controversial laws that allow individuals to shoot if they feel threatened.
The CCE has set up a website, ChangeForTrayvon.com, that will collect funds to “be distributed to candidates, elected officials and efforts which support the mission of… revising Stand Your Ground laws across the nation to ensure there is judicial or prosecutorial oversight,” according to the site. The site also contains a message from Martin and Fulton voicing a need for action.
“Something has to change, which is why we created the change for Trayvon Martin movement, to shine the light on stand your ground laws across the nation,” Fulton said in the video.
In addition to the message from Trayvon Martin’s parents, the new website has a PayPal link for donations.
“These laws allow individuals to shoot first and ask questions later,” adds Tracy Martin.
CCEs are rare in terms of nonprofits. Traditionally they are used by governments or military organizations or for NGOs, schools or universities.
According to the website, no “member of the Martin family or their attorneys will benefit personally from the funds raised,” and 90 percent of what’s donated “will go directly to support the mission of Change For Trayvon.”
Trayvon was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a self-appointed neighborhood watchman who’s claiming self-defense under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. He has been charged with second-degree murder, but is currently free on bond.
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