Trayvon Martin Rally 2013: Chris Brown, Jay Z, Beyonce Show Support for Teen
Chris Brown sported a t-shirt, which featured Trayvon Martin's image, as he handed out Reebok sneakers to youth at Roy Campanella Park in Compton.
The event, which took place on July 20, was the second of Brown's WE US: Walk Everywhere in Unity's Shoes held this month. Like many who attended rallies across the country on Saturday, Brown showed his support for Trayvon Martin by wearing a t-shirt that featured the hashtag "#ForTrayvon." The R&B star posed for pictures with fans who were also sporting Trayvon Martin t-shirts.
See photos from the event here.
Other celebrities such as Jay-Z and Beyonce also turned out to rallies. The celebrity couple showed their support for the deceased teenage and his family in New York City. The Carters joined Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, and Rev. Al Sharpton to protest the Stand Your Ground law.
The controversial legislation was at the center of the George Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin trial an at least 22 states have similar Stand Your Ground laws to those in Florida, with varying interpretations.
At the rally in New York City, Sharpton acknowledged the presence of Jay-Z and his wife during a speech.
"Jay Z and Beyonce said they didn't want to speak and they didn't come for a photo op," Sharpton said. "Let me tell you, that before a lot of you were down, Jay Z always supported us. Jay Z told me, 'I'm a father. Beyoncé is a mother.' We all feel the pain and apprehension -- the laws must protect everybody, or it doesn't protect anybody. We do not come from hate, we come from love of children."
When his Legends of the Summer tour made a stop at Yankee Stadium on Friday night, Jay-Z dedicated his song "Young Forever" to Martin. Beyoncé also showed support for Martin at her show in Nashville when she called for a moment of silence the night the verdict was handed down, followed by the chorus of "I Will Always Love You."
