U.S. Attorney Gen. Holder addresses NAACP

ORLANDO, Fla. — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder addressed the NAACP's national convention, just a few miles from the courthouse where jurors acquitted George Zimmerman of any crime for fatally shooting Trayvon Martin.

Holder brought up the Trayvon Martin case and blasted stand your ground laws.

The moment Holder began speaking, Martin was on his mind.

"We are all mindful of the tragic and unfortunate shooting death of Trayvon Martin," Holder said.

He used his keynote address at the NAACP's annual convention in Orlando to discuss the shooting, the trial and the verdict.

Holder said he is concerned about the case.

Holder reminded the audience of an investigation launched by the Department of Justice in the spring of 2012.

It continues to examine George Zimmerman's actions to see if he shot Martin because of his race and if he should face federal charges.

The Department of Justice will consider all the available information before determining what action to take.

Federal investigators want to know if Zimmerman killed Martin because he was black.

Zimmerman claimed self-defense and Holder suggested that calls for a hard look at stand-your-ground and self-defense laws in the U.S.

"We must stand our ground to ensure that our laws reduce violence and take a hard look at laws that continue to promote more violence than they prevent," Holder said.

The convention is being held about 20 miles from the Sanford, Fla., courthouse where the jury of six women found Zimmerman not guilty of second-degree murder or manslaughter last Saturday night.

The NAACP is demanding that the Justice Department bring federal charges against Zimmerman, and there have been numerous protests around the country about the outcome of the trial.

The Justice Department is examining evidence in the case and testimony from the state trial to determine whether criminal civil rights charges should be brought.

WFTV