Harry Belafonte joins Dream Defenders protesting ‘Stand your ground’ Law in Florida
Singer and entertainer Harry Belafonte called on Florida Gov. Rick Scott to listen to protesters who are asking for a special legislative session to examine the state’s Stand Your Grounds laws after the acquittal of George Zimmerman.
photo Rodrigo Fernandez
Protesters have occupied the Florida Capitol since July 15 – or three days after a jury cleared Zimmerman of charges in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
Belafonte, who says he’s never been to Tallahassee previously, joined the protest saying the sight of the protesters “makes my autumn heart dance like it was spring.”
“At the moment all of this is governable, all of this is in a place where it can be debated and analyzed and discussed in a very peaceful, calm, productive way,” said Belafonte.
The singer was not predicting violence but said the amount of protests of the state could mount and make the state come to a “grinding halt.”
The main group leading the Capitol protests – the Dream Defenders – have maintained a constant presence for 11 straight days. While protesters come and go during the workday, a small band of them has spent every night sleeping in the hallways since the protest began.
So far police have allowed them to remain.
