Posted on 04/14/2015 3:22:44 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN 6) — Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, spoke in Portland Monday night about the loss of her son and the message she hopes his legacy will instill in others.
The free event was sponsored by the YWCA of Greater Portland at Marantha Church on Northeast 12th Avenue.
Fulton, whose teenage son was shot and killed by George Zimmerman in an incident that sparked a nationwide debate about race, talked about transforming the tragedy into social change.
“It’s not a speech, it’s not a lecture,” Fulton said. “It’s a message.”
The mother of two shared the experience of losing a son to the large crowd Monday night. After Trayvon was shot, Fulton said she didn’t feel like she was going to make it.
“I didn’t feel like I was going to have a normal life or a regular life after my son had been murdered,” she said. “I just want my life back.”
But after grieving, Fulton said she finally reached a breaking point. She said she realized it was her time to stand up for what she believed in.
“I told myself, you can do better than this, you can do better than just cry,” Fulton said. “I decided at that moment that I had to do more, I had to be the voice for my son.”
Fulton has since created the Trayvon Martin Foundation, which aims 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,” the nonprofit’s website states.
She said her son’s death was a reminder of the ugliness that still lives on in American society.
“I, too, wanted to believe that we had come much further than we did,” she said. “You cannot tell me that it was my son’s hoodie… so if I take the hoodie out of the equation, what do we have left? We have the color of his skin.”
Fulton reminded the audience that issues regarding race relations in America are nothing new. She said because it’s an ugly, uncomfortable subject, it’s often swept under the rug. But that’s something she hopes to change.
Trayvon’s mother urged Portlanders to get involved in local politics and reach out to nonprofit organizations when they feel passionately about an issue.
“There’s something you can do,” Fulton said. “When you are upset about a story, a case, a tragedy that’s going on, I will challenge you to connect with one of those organizations.”
She said registering to vote, and voting in small, local elections, can make a big impact when it comes to societal issues.
“Make sure that you’re lending your voice, make sure that you’re lending your talent,” she said. “Because if you really want to make a difference and you really want to make a change, that change will start here with you.”
Trayvon Martin was 17 when he was shot in 2012. Zimmerman claimed he shot Martin in self-defense, although Martin was unarmed at the time, and was found not guilty after a high-profile trial.
If you want your life back.. stop the BS about your ‘good’ son, who was attacking George Zimmerman, who is Hispanic. You didn’t raise your son...
Not Sabrina, but Sybrina...
Both of you are correct in terms of Trayvon.
She still doesn’t get it.
I just asked you if YOU like to be followed around your own neighborhood with a gun.
Fruit? He must be a fruit or a nut. What a typical black family that is...
Oh yes, she did.
He wasn't following him around? That's what he said on tape.
M didn't know GZ was armed until after he initiated the assault.
How do you know what happened? Do you have a video?
Nice of Trayvon’s sperm donor to impregnate his new egg donor while grieving the loss of Fruit, Jr. Did Fruit get a future Thug or whore by egg donor?
I think that is so.
True points...
In her fantasy world, she thinks Disney World’s Fantasyland is real.
No he didn't. He observed a suspicious person from a distance while he reported to the police. He got out of the vehicle when he lost sight of TM and the dispatcher asked where TM had gone.
How do you know what happened? Do you have a video?
No, I followed the trial and heard the EVIDENCE.
So what are you trolling for?
A) He was the head of the neighborhood watch there, even though he was on his way to the grocery store and (B) he is & was a state-licensed concealed weapons carrier (CCW) and did not brandish his weapon to Trayvon Martin and (C) it is perfectly legal to follow behind in your vehicle or on foot if you think something is suspicious. There had been numerous break-ins, burglaries and other crimes there.
No, he has the sworn testimony that I alluded to earlier.
Amazing how she travels out west now stirring up the race hustlers. Her son was over 200 miles north from her section 8 housing in the Miami area visiting his father while suspended from school. Now, the father who claimed he was so torn up, too, was living off his girlfriend in an area that was going downhill. That is why Zimmerman was doing what he was as the area was going downhill. Regardless, these folks want to blame everyone except themselves for being terrible role models. This is the welfare state where they blame others as they have no job and do not accept responsibility except to hold their hands out and bitch.
Travon was coming home with the 2/3rds of the components for lean so he could get high with his brother and watch the game. He knew he was being followed and was on the phone with Rachel Jeantel talking about Zimmerman, the "creepy ass cracker". He doubles back and attacks Zimmerman. We know the rest.
Rachel Jeantel, on the stand, talks about deliberately avoiding the funeral AND Travon's mother. To me a key question is: WHY?
This is pure speculation on my part, but this is what I suspect:
As I recall, she testified something about Travon wanting to protect his brother from a suspected pedophile. Travon already had an aggressive attitude from the side effects of "lean" use. The autopsy showed the extensive liver damage. He was known to participate in fights and knew how to handle himself. Jeantel stated that the "cracka" comment refered to a cop or a security guard, so their mindset about Zimmerman was clearly not in the direction of him being some sort of gay stalker.
I think the conversation happened, as stated, up to a point. Then Jeantel suggested Travon go kick his ass. One small verbal push may have been all that was needed. She absolutely could NOT tell that on the stand. If she told the truth Zimmerman would go free because he was attacked by Travon. She would be the person who got her friend killed. All of the bad things that were being said about Travon would have the support of the truth. Jackson and Sharpton would be shown for who they are. Oh, no no no no. So she came up with the pedo lie to cover up what was really said on the cell phone.
After that she didn't go to the funeral or see his mother because she could not face all of those people when she knew the truth: if she had not urged him to attack Zimmerman, he would still be alive today. He would probably be looking for a new liver at taxpayer expense, but he would be alive.
Did this happen? Only one person beyond G-d knows.
Again, this is my own speculation to explain something that doesn't seem to fit the testimony.
But is it plausible? Absolutely.
Lastly, something most important - we need to hold these people up in prayer. I don't know what Travon's family have felt or are feeling. But I know what it is like to loose a child; there is no good way for that to happen. If I was confronted with with what was in front of them I cannot say how I would react. I hope and pray I never find out. And I pray they find peace.
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