#Trayvon Martin’s mother running for public office in Florida

Trayvon Martin’s mother says she’s ready to run for public office in Florida, eight years after her unarmed 17-year-old son’s shooting death sparked a national outcry.

Sybrina Fulton announced this week that she will run for the Miami-Dade Commission District 1 seat currently held by outgoing Commissioner Barbara Jordan, she announced on Twitter.

“At first, I didn’t want to be the voice for Trayvon after he died,” Fulton said on her campaign website. “But I decided I have no choice. Now I’m called to act and called to serve.”

“It became clear to me there’s an opportunity to turn our family’s tragedy into something positive for many other families,” she said. “It took my son being shot down in order for me to stand up. But I’m standing now.”

Fulton, of Miami Gardens, became an advocate for gun control after Martin, who was black, was shot and killed in February 2012 by George Zimmerman, a white Hispanic neighborhood watch member. Zimmerman was charged with murder in the case but was later acquitted by a Florida jury.

Martin’s death led to national outrage over racial violence targeting black residents and thrust Fulton into a career of public advocacy through the Trayvon Martin Foundation.

His mother’s run for office comes as worldwide demonstrations against the death of George Floyd while being pinned down by Minneapolis police has sparked a new — and more widespread — outcry for social justice.

Fulton first announced her intention to run in May 2019, and now says she’s “qualified” to run for the District 1 seat.

According to romper.com, she’ll be running against Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert.