The four-day program also trained a national spotlight on Stand Your Ground laws and racial profiling, which drew protests among the public in the aftermath of the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman.
“The time has come when we have to address these equity issues front and center,” said Jackie Williams, an adjunct college professor who traveled from New York City to attend the conference. “I’m here looking for real solutions to real problems. I want to engage with political leaders about the problems that confront our people. I’m tired of the talking.”
