Trayvon's mom shares pain, hopes for progress

THE ITINERARY for the National Urban League's annual conference predicted that Sybrina Fulton would deliver "uplifting remarks" during a luncheon yesterday inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center's grand ballroom.

The words called to mind the kind of buzzword-heavy speeches that practiced politicians can phone in with their eyes closed.

But when the applause died down, and Fulton stepped to the microphone, alone under the heavy glare of stage lights, it was immediately clear that she was anything but another speaker with some slogans.

Trayvon Martin's mother was, quite simply, a shattered and heartbroken woman.

"At times, I feel like I'm a broken vessel. At times, I don't know if I'm going or coming," Fulton said, her voice trembling, as it did often during her 10-minute speech.

"But I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is using me, that God is using my family to make a change, to make a difference."

Fulton made only a passing reference in her remarks to the controversial trial of George Zimmerman, the 29-year-old Florida man who was accused of fatally shooting Martin, 17, during an encounter on Feb. 26, 2012.

A jury acquitted Zimmerman earlier this month on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges, although one juror earlier this week told ABC News that she believed Zimmerman had gotten away with murder.

"The absolute worst telephone call you can receive as a parent is to know that your son, your son, you will never kiss again," she said.

"Wrap your mind around no prom for Trayvon, no high-school graduation for Trayvon, no college for Trayvon, no grandkids coming from Trayvon, all because of a law that has prevented the person who shot and killed my son to be held accountable and to pay for his awful crime."

Fulton encouraged those in the packed hall to get involved with the nonprofit foundation that she created in her son's name to advocate for crime victims and their families, and to educate youth on conflict resolution, among other goals.

"We need your help, your support, and more importantly, your voice, so that there are no more Trayvon Martins again," she said.

Many of the conference attendees who sat through Fulton's speech said they were impressed with her poise - and her willingness to bare her still-raw emotions.

"She's not a public speaker. She's a mom, and I think she handled it very well," said Emma Chappell, 70, of Wynnefield. "The average person would have broken down. I know the rest of us felt like breaking down."

"You can see the hurt still. Everybody sympathized with her," said Sherry Allen, 45, of Sacramento, Calif.

"She went through so much, but she's trying to make sure something like this doesn't happen again," Allen said. "It's touching."