Trayvon Martin's mother moves to trademark phrases that have become rallying cries in wake of son's death
Protesters wearing Trayvon Martin t-shirts joined over a hundred demonstrators who braved heavy rain downpours to demand justice for the killing of teenager Trayvon Martin during a march to Leimert Park in Los Angeles on Sunday.
While Trayvon Martin’s mother accused authorities of smearing her son, her lawyer revealed she’s moved to trademark slogans that have been popularized amid the outcry over his killing.
Sybrina Fulton, the slain teen’s mother, has sought to trademark two phrases: “Justice for Trayvon” and “I Am Trayvon,” attorney Kimra Major-Morris confirmed in an email Monday in which she said the move was not intended to reap a profit, the Associated Press reported.
The two sayings have become like rallying cries since the 17-year-old was shot to death during a still-murky encounter with neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman on Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla.
The shooting of the unarmed boy has sparked a national firestorm over race, gun rights and a Florida law that says a person has no duty to retreat once attacked — as Zimmerman insists was the case.
The trademark applications said the catch phrases could be used on DVDs and CDs — but the mother’s lawyer indicated their use would be to support those who find themselves suffering for the same reasons as Fulton.
In confirming the applications to the AP, trademark attorney Kimra Major-Morris wrote in an email that the grieving mother wants to safeguard intellectual property rights for “projects that will assist other families who experience similar tragedies.”
When a reporter for the wire service asked if the mother had any designs to make a profit, Major-Morris responded, “None.”
News of the trademark applications came as Fulton joined with civil rights leaders in accusing the Sanford police department of leaking information about Trayvon’s background in a bid to sully the teen and justify its decision not to charge Zimmerman.
Trayvon, who had no criminal record, once got suspended from school after being caught with an empty marijuana baggie.
He received another suspension after he was found to be carrying women’s jewelry and a screwdriver that was deemed a possible burglary tool.
“They’ve killed my son; now they are trying to kill his reputation,” Fulton lamented.
While the feds continue to investigate the case, the controversy, and media attention it has generated, have fueled online sales of Trayvon-related merchandise.
One white T-shirt being hawked on eBay includes the following sentence: “I walk and stand in solidarity with the family of Trayvon Martin in their quest to seek justice for the murder of their son.”
The online description of the shirt says 10% of proceeds will be donated to a fund in Trayvon’s name.
Another shirt being sold even includes a depiction of Skittles, the candy Trayvon purchased shortly before his death.
Other Trayvon items available on eBay include stickers, bumper stickers and hooded sweatshirts — the type of garment Trayvon was wearing, hood up, when Zimmerman spotted him coming out of a convenience store and deemed him to be suspicious.
The websites spreadshirt.com and cafepress.com are among the online outlets that are selling Trayvon T-shirts in large quantities.
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Mar 27 - Trayvon Martin's mother moves to trademark phrases that have become rallying cries in wake of son's death - TH
