Trayvon Martin's father: 'Change laws'

Attention and protests have flared anew with the U.S. Justice Department's decision last week not to prosecute the former town-watch volunteer who shot and killed unarmed African American teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012.

"It's good to protest," said Tracy Martin, the victim's father, who spoke at an event Saturday night at Arcadia University in Glenside, "but at some point, the protests have to do more. We have to change laws."

He was participating in a public discussion about his son's legacy at the event, called "Letters to Trayvon: A Celebration of Black Men and Boys," which about 100 people attended.

On Tuesday, the Justice Department said it would not prosecute George Zimmerman, who fatally shot Trayvon Martin, 17, in a gated community in Sanford, Fla., outside Orlando, in a racially charged confrontation.

Zimmerman, who identifies himself as Latino, contended he acted in self-defense.

"I really can't be disappointed in the Department of Justice," Tracy Martin said. He said he was disappointed in how Florida officials handled the case.

A Florida jury acquitted Zimmerman of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges.

"Had they prosecuted the case the correct way," Martin said, "we wouldn't have had to wait on the Department of Justice to make a decision."

"It still hurts to know that that was the last level of justice we could've gotten, and that was denied."

Of Zimmerman, he said: "Have I forgiven him? No, not yet. Not only did he take my son's life but he has taken possible grandchildren from me."

The event was sponsored by the Black Male Development Symposium, the Trayvon Martin Foundation, Mission Inc., and the Pan Africa studies department at Arcadia University.

"We need to have events like this," said Lawanda Horton, 37, Mission's president and CEO, adding that it was important for people of different races, ages, and socioeconomic statuses to come together.

"Black America is as responsible as white America for educating white America on what their experiences are, and white America has the responsibility, all of America has a responsibility, to listen to what experience is being shared."

610-292-6030 @saraiaflores