BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

On Thursday, April 19th, the National Bar Association (NBA) will host a town hall meeting. The meeting will take place at Beulah Baptist Institutional Church, 1006 Cypress Street, beginning at 12 noon.

The topic of the town hall meeting is entitled, “Standing Our Ground for Justice.” The meeting will provide an update on the Trayvon Martin case as well as the legal and social effects that have been compounded by the case and led to a nationwide movement for justice.

Guest speakers for the meeting will include: Otis Anthony, (88.5 WMNF); Clinton Paris, (Tampa Organization of Black Affairs); Representative Chris Smith (D-FL); and Carolyn Collins (NAACP-Hillsborough County).

In addition to the guest speakers, Ms. Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, parents of Trayvon Martin, will also attend.

On February 26, Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old unarmed youth was walking in a gated community in Sanford when he was shot and killed.

George Zimmerman, 28, a Neighborhood Watch volunteer, admitted to shooting and killing the teenager. He was charged with second-degree murder last week, more than 40 days after the death of the teenager.

The arrest followed weeks of protests throughout the country and internationally because Zimmerman alleges he defended himself after the unarmed teenager attacked him.

Attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing the Martin Family, as well as National Bar Association leaders John Page (President-Elect) and Tanya Clay-House, Civil Rights Law Section Chairperson, will provide commentary.

CNN’s legal analyst, Sunny Hostin will serve as the forum’s moderator.

NBA President-Elect John Page stated, “As lawyers from around the country converge here at ground zero of stand your ground, victims and their families impacted by its application need to be heard.

“We give voice to their concerns by examining the effects of this law, particularly the increasing justified homicide claims in its wake.”