Student Group Dream Defenders Stage Their Own State of the State

Submitted by Nancy Smith on March 5, 2013 - 4:41pm

Several dozen members of the group Dream Defenders apparently figured Tuesday's busy session opener was their best shot at grabbing lawmakers' attention.

They rallied outside the House and Senate chambers through the morning to give their version of the State of the State.

The Dream Defenders formed to protest Florida's Stand Your Ground law after the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. The suspect in that case is using the law in his defense.

Marie Paul, one of group's spokespersons, said they believe the Stand Your Ground law creates a "hunting season" on minority youths. Immigration policy, she said, unfairly divides families -- and they oppose stricter voting rules in Florida.

Paul asks, Are we still, on March 5, 2013, considered three-fifths human? The America that was spoken about in the Constitution is not the America of today. This is unacceptable.

Reporter/videographer Dave Heller gathered this story.

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