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Black Prolife Leaders, King, Gardner, Broden: 'Senseless Killing' of Trayvon Martin Calls for Justice, Nonviolent Action

Contact: Eugene Vigil, King for America, 757-593-9982

ATLANTA, March 27, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- "Trayvon Martin's death is senseless, and we are deeply grieved that a young man's future has been aborted and hidden under a cloak of Florida's 'Stand Your Ground law,' says Dr. Alveda King, daughter of slain civil rights strategist Rev. A. D. King, and his widow, Mrs. Naomi King.

King whose father was also a victim of a violent death in 1969, says that she is "praying for the family of young Trayvon." The youth was killed in Florida by George Zimmerman, a man who has sidestepped arrest so far by citing the Stand Your Ground law in Florida.

This law gives citizens license to claim self defense in wielding a firearm. King, who recognizes the constitutional provision to bear firearms for protection of individuals and their families, is admittedly concerned about "motives of those who shoot at will."

"After all, my uncle, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and my grandmother, Mrs. Alberta King were shot to death by firearms."

Trayvon's case has sparked controversy across America. Some have gone so far as to suggest that that Trayvon may have opened himself up as a target by wearing a hooded sweatshirt. For others, this argument touches on gang war violence, where youths are slain because of the colors they wear or where they choose to walk in their neighborhoods.

"To place the blame on a youth for wearing a 'hoodie' is to play over into potential racial profiling if we aren't careful," says King.

Other members of the Black Prolife Community are also concerned about the death of the Florida youth.

"All too often, people say that the Black Prolife Community is only concerned about the issue of aborted babies. Nothing could be further from the truth," said leaders. "We mourn Trayvon's death because his life has been struck down in his prime."

Day Gardner, founder of the National Black Prolife Union added: "Our hearts go out to the family of Trayvon, his young life cut so short. As we pray for other lives lost, including those in the womb, it is important for us to remember that every life is sacred, from conception and fertilization until natural death. There was nothing natural about the killing of Trayvon, and we are saddened."

Pastor Stephen Broden of Fairpark Baptist Church, Houston, TX explained: "The future of our community resides with our youth. We cannot allow our children to be victimized by stereotyping and fear. However, we must allow the legal system to investigate the facts of this tragic situation and at the same time allow that same system to exact justice appropriate to the evidence."

King, Gardner and Broden belong to the National Black Prolife Coalition. They are calling for soul searching nonviolent peaceful conflict resolution as justice is sought for Trayvon Martin, "a young Black man who is now denied his freedom to experience life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

"Senseless killing from the womb to the tomb must cease. Trayvon is yet another example of the slaying of an endangered species: America's youth," said King.