Over 1,000 people, including the families of Trayvon Martin, Kendrick Johnson, and Jordan Davis, marched at the Florida Capitol to protest the state's Stand Your Ground law. Speakers at the rally like Rev. Al Sharpton and Congresswoman Corrine Brown argued the law has done more harm than good. Brown urged participants to get involved in upcoming committee meetings and elections to enact change. State Representative Alan Williams acknowledged flaws in the law's aggressor language and pledged to work on reforms, while stressing the significance of the community rally.

1. Vol. 40, No. 11 Section 01 Tallahassee, Florida March 13-19, 2014
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More than 1,000 Band Together to Rally
Against the ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law
By Aldranon
English II
Outlook Staff Writer
Rev. Al Sharp-
ton and several re-
nowned individuals
led a march of hun-
dreds to the state
Capitol Monday to
protest Florida’s
self-defense doc-
trine notoriously
known as the “Stand
Your Ground” law.
Among the partici-
pants were the par-
ents of slain teenag-
ers Trayvon Martin,
Kendrick Johnson
and Jordan Davis.
Family members
of Emmitt Till, who
was murdered at 14
years-old during the
1950s, were also on
hand. They joined
family members of:
Fruitvale Station
victim Oscar Grant
III, Air Force vet-
eran Michael Giles
and recently released
mother of three Ma-
rissa Alexander –
who was sentenced
to 20 years for firing
a gun near her es-
tranged husband.
The event beck-
oned many influen-
tial figures including
radio personalities
Tom Joyner and Joe
Bullard. Others in-
cluded Leon County
Rev. R.B. Holmes
Jr.
Tom Joyner
Bishop A.J.
Richardson
U.S.
Congresswoman
Corrine Brown
Rev. Al Sharpton
Photos by Aldranon English II
Rev.Al Sharpton and other local representatives rally with the community against the “Stand
Your Ground” Law. Hundreds gathered at the state’s capitol to witness history in the making
as they are encouraged to vote in elections in November.
State Rep.
Alan Williams
City of Tallahassee
Commissioner
Andrew Gillum
Leon County
Commissioner
Bill Proctor
see RALLY, page 2

2. www.capitaloutlook.com Capital Outlook March 13-19, 2014 2
Commissioner Bill
Proctor, City of Tal-
lahassee Commis-
sioner Andrew Gil-
lum, local attorneys
Benjamin Crump
and Daryl Parks
along with Florida
A&M University
Student Govern-
ment President Elect
Tonette Graham.
Florida law dic-
tates that people, not
involved in illegal
activity, have the
right to stand their
ground and meet
force with force – in-
cluding deadly force,
if they reasonably
believe it is neces-
sary to avoid death
or great bodily harm.
Florida U.S. Con-
gresswoman Corrine
Brown states that the
law has done more
harm than good in
several states includ-
ing Florida.
“In 2005, Florida
passed the expan-
sion of ‘Stand Your
Ground’ to 24 other
states,” said Brown.
“Since its expansion,
the law is like a can-
cer that needs to be
eradicated.”
Brown strongly
urged the commu-
nity to participate in
the committee meet-
ings later that day as
well as the upcoming
elections in Novem-
ber.
“You have to
march over to the
committee meetings
as well to the voting
polls,” said Brown.
“Florida is ‘stuck on
stupid,’ you have to
show up people in
Tallahassee and you
have to represent on
a daily basis.”
Rep. Alan Wil-
liams states that
self-defense laws
were already in
place before “Stand
Your Ground,” but
understands the im-
portance of changing
the aggressor lan-
guage portion of the
law.
“As members of
the Legislature, we
cannot appeal it out-
right now, but we are
going to repair it,”
said Williams.
Williams stressed
the significance of
the march and the
goal at hand for the
community as well
as for the entire na-
tion.
Photos by Aldranon English II
Participants held banners and signs throughout the march displaying their sentiments over the “ Stand Your
Ground” Law. Rev. Al Sharpton along with several
renowned individuals spoke at the rally.
RALLY CONTI-