Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland organizes 'Hoodie on the Hill' event to call for justice in Trayvon Martin case

Published: Tuesday, April 03, 2012, 6:21 PM Updated: Wednesday, April 04, 2012, 9:21 AM

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State Rep. Ronald Waters D-Delaware and Philadelphia counties
other lawmakers held a "Hoodies on the Hill" rally in support of justice
and equality Tuesday, April 3, 2012.
JOHN C. WHITEHEAD/The Patriot News

A band of representatives and senators gathered on the Capitol steps on Tuesday to call out for justice in the shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Delaware, who organized the “Hoodies on the Hill” event, was joined by a crowd that at one point swelled to about 50 people who demanded truth and justice in that case.

“A young boy’s life was cut short simply because he did not know the rules. He didn’t know the rules. No one told him by wearing a hoodie in certain neighborhoods was a fatal flaw ... No one told him the rules of this dangerous game called hate,” Kirkland said.

Several legislators laid the blame for Martin’s death on Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law that gives people the right to use deadly force without retreating in instances where they believe their life is in danger. Pennsylvania adopted a similar law last summer. Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Philadelphia, announced that she plans to introduce legislation to rescind the law and called on all lawmakers to sign on to the bill.

Hoodies on the Hill State Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Delaware and other lawmakers held a "Hoodies on the Hill" rally in support of justice and equality Tuesday, April 3, 2012.