Sybrina Fulton, mother of slain black teenager Trayvon Martin, will speak at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary later this month.
Martin was 17 when he was shot and killed in 2012 by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida. He was walking through the neighborhood when Zimmerman called 911 to report a suspicious person. Dispatchers instructed Zimmerman not to approach the teenager, but a scuffle ensued and Zimmerman opened fire.
Zimmerman was charged with homicide and later acquitted.
In the aftermath, Fulton started The Trayvon Martin Foundation, which provides support to families who have lost children to gun violence, and the Circle of Mothers, a retreat for mothers who have lost children to gun violence.
She also wrote a memoir, “Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin.”
The event will come just over seven months after an East Pittsburgh police officer shot and killed 17-year-old Antwon Rose II as he ran from a traffic stop. Former officer Michael Rosfeld, who is white, is charged with homicide. Rose, who was black, was unarmed.
1Hood Media, a nonprofit, is asking for a $20 for tickets to the event, which is funded by the Heinz Endowments.
Megan Guza is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Megan at 412-380-8519, mguza@tribweb.com or via Twitter @meganguzaTrib.
