Pro-Trayvon Group to Convene the 'People's Session'

The Dream Defenders, a group of young activists and professionals in Florida, will convene a "People's Session" in front of Gov. Rick Scott's office on Tuesday, July 30, in support of "Trayvon's Law" — proposed legislation that confronts a trifecta of issues that are believed to have led to the death of Trayvon Martin and the exoneration of his killer, George Zimmerman. The Florida governor has refused to call a special session of the state Legislature to consider the law.

The grassroots organization will present expert testimony and anecdotal evidence to advance the pro-Trayvon Martin legislation, which would address "zero-tolerance school discipline policies, stand your ground vigilantism, and racial profiling," the group said in a statement released to the press.

“In failing to step up and provide real leadership on the very real crisis we’re dealing with, the Governor is saying the lives of young black and brown Floridians do not matter to him,” said Phillip Agnew, Executive Director of Dream Defenders. “When we have a hurricane or tornado, he doesn’t sit on his hands and suggest prayer will fix the problem. He takes action. That’s what we expect him to do here.”

Over the next several weeks, the group of mostly youth and young professionals will hear from experts and people with personal experience who will testify in committee hearings focused on each of the issues. “We want to do the hard work of collecting evidence and analyzing expert testimony,” political director Ciara Taylor said. “So when the legislature does finally have an opportunity to consider Trayvon’s Law, we’ve made their job as easy as possible.”

The Dream Defenders will continue their occupation of the Capitol while the “People’s Session” takes place over the coming weeks.

Read more at DreamDefenders.org.

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