Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s Mother, Runs for Office

By N. Jamiyla Chisholm May 21, 2019

Sybrina Fulton, the mother of unarmed slain teenager Trayvon Martin, announced on Sunday (May 19) that she is running to become Miami-Dade County’s district 1 commissioner. “Since 2012, I have advocated tirelessly to empower our communities and make them safer,” Fulton said in an Instagram post.

In 2012, the year 17-year-old Trayvon was killed by George Zimmerman, Fulton became an outspoken advocate for addressing gun violence. She and her family founded the Trayvon Martin Foundation to support families who lost children to violence. After Michael Brown’s public police killing, Fulton wrote an open love letter to the teen’s family in an act of solidarity. And she and Trayvon’s father, Tracy Martin, published the joint memoir, “Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin,” to keep their son’s legacy alive.

For many who have followed Fulton, it’s not surprising that she’s officially stepping into politics. In 2017, Colorlines reported that both of Trayvon’s parents were considering a run, with Fulton expressing interest in starting with local positions and working her way up to federal posts.

But it wasn’t always this way. “At first, I didn’t want to be the voice for Trayvon after he died, but I’ve decided I have no choice,” Fulton says in a campaign video that features personal photos and artwork of Trayvon. “It took my son to be shot down in order for me stand up, but I’m standing now.”

The ad goes on to highlight her 24 years of civic service, including her work with grieving mothers of children lost to gun violence and her desire to fix affordable housing and the cost of living for average Floridians.

Watch Fulton’s video below: