Trayvon Martin's mother: 'Use my broken heart'

PHILADELPHIA — The mother of slain teenager Trayvon Martin told a National Urban League gathering in Philadelphia on Friday to use her story, tragedy and broken heart to stop the same thing from happening to another child.

Sybrina Fulton spoke Friday at the civil rights organization's annual conference. She said she supports an investigation into whether her son's killer, George Zimmerman, could be charged under federal civil rights laws.

Fulton told the audience that she believes God is using her and her family to make a difference.

A jury acquitted Zimmerman in the slaying of the unarmed 17-year-old. Martin was shot and killed during a confrontation with Zimmerman that has spawned a national debate about self-defense laws in Florida and other states.

Fulton didn't raise her voice or demand answers, and she didn't criticize the jury for their not guilty verdict. But she did say the laws that allowed the not guilty verdict is flawed, saying her son's life was cut way too short.

"No grandkids from Trayvon, all because of a law, a law that has prevented the person, the person who shot and killed my son to be held accountable and pay for this awful crime," she said.

Fulton also didn't speak about juror B29's recent interview, but family attorney Natalie Jackson released a statement on Facebook, saying, "It's devastating to hear the comments from juror B29, comments which we already knew in our hearts to be true; that George Zimmerman literally got away with murder."

The National Urban League's conference runs through Saturday at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

WFTV