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Sybrina Fulton Speaks at Florida Stand Your Ground Hearing

Sybrina Fulton has responded to the Florida state Senate Judiciary Committee's 7-2 vote for a bill that made some important changes to the Stand Your Ground law Tuesday.

Although the Florida Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-2 for a bill that would make some important changes to the state's Stand Your Ground law Tuesday, the parents of Trayvon Martin, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, say that the fight is nowhere over in getting justice for their son.

"The work here is not done and we fear an uphill battle going forward to achieve real change in our son's name," Fulton said in a statement. "We encourage everyone to visit www.changefortrayvon.com and help us ensure that real change for Trayvon occurs in Florida and other states across the country."

Stand Your Ground laws, which have allowed people to use deadly force in instances where they feel threatened, came into spotlight during the second-degree murder trial of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin.
The changes to the law include ensuring proper investigations are conducted even when a person claims Stand Your Ground as a defense and "tightening" the use of the law when aggressors claim it. It also adds that police departments be involved in training neighborhood watch programs.
Since Martin's death, Fulton has traveled around the country speaking out against the law. In September, she was set to testify at a Senate hearing on Stand Your Ground laws, which was postponed due to the Washington Navy Yard shootings. She gave remarks at the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington ceremonies in August and the National Urban League conference in July.

Benjamin Crump, the family's attorney, says the decision by the Florida State Senate was the first compromise reached in reforming the law. "I see this as an important first step in making sure that Florida's Stand Your Ground law properly protects victims and applaud the committee for taking this first step," Crump said.
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(Photo: Joe Skipper/REUTERS)

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