Community, Civil Rights Leaders Call for Justice in Trayvon Martin Shooting

African-American pastors, community leaders and concerned citizens across Central Florida, called today for swift action and justice in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

At the Allen Chapel AME Church in Sanford, civil rights organizations joined the chorus in calling for a thorough investigation of Martin’s death.

Central Florida Urban League’s (CFUL) president and chief executive officer Allie L. Braswell, Jr., was among those calling for immediate action leading to justice for the teen.

“We fully support the community’s cry in Sanford for the release of the 9-1-1 transcripts, and for a thorough investigation into the shooting death of Trayvon Martin,” Braswell said.

Added Braswell, “This is an unfortunate and especially tragic incident given that a youth’s life was lost. A private citizen taking law enforcement into his own hands is not and cannot be condoned. Our society cannot allow this return to vigilantism to have any inference of support from our elected or law enforcement officials.”

Braswell said, if it is found that a crime has been committed, then the shooter must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Martin, a black teen, was fatally shot on February 26, by a gun-toting neighborhood watch member, George Zimmerman, in a gated community in Sanford. He had gone to a nearby convenience store and was less than 70 yards from his father’s home when he was shot and killed.

Sanford police said yesterday their investigation into the shooting had been turned over to the State Attorney’s Office for review and further action, if any.