Sybrina Fulton, Mother Of Trayvon Martin, To Speak At 2016 MLK Jr. Commemoration
Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, will be the distinguished speaker at Penn State’s Martin Luther King Junior Commemoration Week celebration in January. The theme for the week, which was revealed today, is “Keep Moving Forward.”
Fulton and her family were thrown into the national spotlight in February 2012, when Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer named George Zimmerman. Martin’s death sparked national outrage, and protests, rallies, and marches were held following the incident. Martin’s death was also the inciting incident to begin the #BlackLivesMatter campaign. According to Pew’s Research Center for Journalism and Media, Martin’s death was more covered by the media than the 2012 Presidential Election.
Fulton is now a part of the Trayvon Martin Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to create awareness for violent crimes and offer support and advocacy for the victims’ families. Fulton is also a strong advocate for gun control and the awareness of violence towards the African American community. In a recent interview with New York Magazine‘s “The Cut,” Fulton said, “If you want change, it starts with you. I can’t expect anybody else to make change if I’m not doing anything. That’s why I try to do my part, I try to do what I can to help my community, and what I can to help other families.”
MLK Jr. Commemoration week will begin on January 18, 2016. In addition to Sybrina Fulton’s speech, the celebratory week will include a day of service, an oratorical competition, and a community showcase. The commemoration week will also use the hashtag “#takethenextstep.”
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