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| Trayvon Martin's parents go to Capitol Hill | Trayvon Martin's parents go to Capitol Hill |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The parents of Trayvon Martin, a black teenager gunned down in Florida last month, have attended a congressional forum on racial profiling. | |
| The Washington DC event, sponsored by Democratic lawmakers, came as police investigate leaks about the case. | |
| The teenager's parents say someone is trying to tarnish his reputation. | The teenager's parents say someone is trying to tarnish his reputation. |
| The shooting has prompted protests around the country and demands for the arrest of the neighbourhood watch volunteer who shot the young man. | The shooting has prompted protests around the country and demands for the arrest of the neighbourhood watch volunteer who shot the young man. |
| Tuesday's forum, backed by members of the House Judiciary Committee, also focused on hate crimes and Florida's "stand your ground" law, which enabled the shooter, George Zimmerman, to claim self-defence. | |
| Mr Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, spoke briefly at the hearing, with Mr Martin confirming that he believed his son had been racially profiled. | |
| "A lot of people can relate to our situation and it breaks their heart like it breaks our heart," Ms Fulton said. | |
| "Trayvon is sadly missed and we will continue to fight for justice for him," Tracy Martin said. | |
| "It is very important that we have independent eyes on this situation," said Corrine Brown, House representative for the area including Sanford, where Trayvon Martin was killed. | |
| "I am hoping we take this as a teachable moment. I am looking forward to how the justice department handles their independent investigation." | |
| Student activists staged a march in front of the White House and Department of Justice on Tuesday to call for the prosecution of Mr Zimmerman. | Student activists staged a march in front of the White House and Department of Justice on Tuesday to call for the prosecution of Mr Zimmerman. |
| Sanford Police Department announced it was launching an investigation to find the source of leaks about the teenager's brushes with authority. | Sanford Police Department announced it was launching an investigation to find the source of leaks about the teenager's brushes with authority. |
| A report in the Orlando Sentinel, attributed to law enforcement authorities, said Mr Zimmerman, 28, who has not been charged, opened fire after he was felled by Mr Martin with a single punch. | A report in the Orlando Sentinel, attributed to law enforcement authorities, said Mr Zimmerman, 28, who has not been charged, opened fire after he was felled by Mr Martin with a single punch. |
| The newspaper said that according to Mr Zimmerman's police statement, his head was slammed on to the pavement by Mr Martin during the deadly confrontation on 26 February. | The newspaper said that according to Mr Zimmerman's police statement, his head was slammed on to the pavement by Mr Martin during the deadly confrontation on 26 February. |
| It emerged on Monday that the teenager had been suspended from school for marijuana possession shortly before his death. | It emerged on Monday that the teenager had been suspended from school for marijuana possession shortly before his death. |
| Meanwhile, the Miami Herald reported that a school police investigator had found women's jewellery and a "burglary tool" in the teenager's bag. | Meanwhile, the Miami Herald reported that a school police investigator had found women's jewellery and a "burglary tool" in the teenager's bag. |
| Florida's Department of Juvenile Justice confirmed to the Associated Press on Monday that Mr Martin did not have a juvenile offender record. | Florida's Department of Juvenile Justice confirmed to the Associated Press on Monday that Mr Martin did not have a juvenile offender record. |
| Mr Martin's mother said on Monday: "They killed my son, and now they're trying to kill his reputation." | Mr Martin's mother said on Monday: "They killed my son, and now they're trying to kill his reputation." |
| Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton said he had warned the parents the authorities might attempt to destroy their son's reputation. | Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton said he had warned the parents the authorities might attempt to destroy their son's reputation. |
| "They will try to make your son a junkie or thief [and] assault everything else before this is over," he said, the Orlando Sentinel reported. | "They will try to make your son a junkie or thief [and] assault everything else before this is over," he said, the Orlando Sentinel reported. |
| Mr Martin was walking home from a local shop carrying a bag of sweets and a can of iced tea when he was approached by Mr Zimmerman. | Mr Martin was walking home from a local shop carrying a bag of sweets and a can of iced tea when he was approached by Mr Zimmerman. |
| The neighbourhood watchman had told a police dispatcher he thought Mr Martin, who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, looked suspicious. | The neighbourhood watchman had told a police dispatcher he thought Mr Martin, who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, looked suspicious. |