Tallahassee, FL – 70 students from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and Florida State University (FSU) gathered at FAMU campus to hold a rally and demand justice for Trayvon Martin on March 19. Led by African American student leaders, the students denounced the racist murder of teenager Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida. Killer George Zimmerman racially profiled and then murdered the African-American youth vigilante style.

On Feb. 26, Trayvon Martin was walking home after purchasing candy from a local store. George Zimmerman called 911 to report the “suspicious behavior” of Trayvon, who was walking and talking to his girlfriend on the phone. Despite the 911 operator’s instructions to leave Trayvon Martin be, Zimmerman chose to confront and then shoot and kill Trayvon Martin, who was unarmed.

At the FAMU rally, students chanted, “Justice for Trayvon! Justice for Trayvon!” Student leaders spoke out against racism and intolerance. One sign read, “1812...1912...2012...We're still yelling help!” – Trayvon Martin’s dying word on the phone to his girlfriend. Another sign said, “Do I look suspicious?” in reference to the daily racial profiling of African Americans.

Students demanded that Governor Rick Scott turn the investigation over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and convene a task force to investigation racist prosecutions and police brutality. The family of Trayvon Martin is demanding justice from the system and equal treatment under the law. The students want President Obama and the federal government to stop racist police and racist prosecutions and to make sure another vigilante murder does not happen.

John Saullo, one of the protesters against the Martin shooting said, “It's our job to fight back against racist police brutality in our state and around the country. Just like SDS at the University of Florida fought back when a racist cop shot Kofi Adu Brempong in the face at his home two years ago. Justice for Trayvon!”

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