Marin Krause, MavRadio News Director
The University of Nebraska at Omaha featured speaker, Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, in honor of Black History month.
Fulton wanted attendees to view the lecture as a dialogue to inspire university students and community members to become active in addressing the problem of racism and inequality found within America society.
“Collectively it would take all of us to do our part,” said Fulton, “Are you doing your part to make a positive change in your community?”
Fulton urged listeners to connect with nonprofits and organizations within the community that work towards creating affirmative change.
Three years ago this week Fulton’s son Martin was fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Miami Gardens, Florida. Fulton did not address George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer, by name in her lecture.
“I don’t focus on the negative, I focus on the positive. Although I have not forgotten who that person was and I will never forget that who that person is, I don’t let that consume me,” says Fulton.
Zimmerman was found not guilty and basis of the Stand Your Ground Law. According to the Law and Psychology Review, the law protects citizens from their right to resortto deadly force in self-defense if the believe they will be physically threatened.
After her son’s death and the court’s ruling of Zimmerman, Fulton channeled her suffering into creating hope for others with the Trayvon Martin Foundation.
The Foundation’s mission “is to create awareness of how violent crime impacts the families of the victims and to provide support and advocacy for those families in response to the murder of Trayvon Martin.”
Fulton left the UNO community with a call to action.
“We need to be a part of making those positive changes. We need to be apart of bringing awareness and attention to what is going on. We can no longer pretend it’s not happening here in America.”
