Musical artist Stevie Wonder vowed to “never perform” in the state of Florida while the National Rifle Association-backed “stand your ground” law is in effect.
The 63-year-old singer said at a concert in Quebec City, Canada, on July 14 that until the law is abolished in Florida, he will “never” perform there again.
“Wherever I find that law exists, I will not perform in that state or in that part of the world,” Wonder said.
The “stand your ground” law supposedly allows people to use deadly force if they believe their life is in danger. The law led to George Zimmerman's acquittal in the killing of unarmed Black teenager Trayvon Martin.
However, the law does not seem to apply to Black Floridians, critics say, as was the case last year when an African American woman, Marissa Alexander of Jacksonville, Florida, fired warning shots at her husband, wounding no one.
While she feared for her life, she got a 20-year jail sentence instead of an acquittal under the so-called self-defense law.
The Justice For Trayvon movement also got a boost from other artists, including Bruce Springsteen. At a show in Limerick, Ireland, Springsteen performed his song, “American Skin (41 Shots)”, dedicating it to Trayvon.
“I want to send this one out as a letter back home,” Springsteen told the crowd. “For justice for Trayvon Martin.”
riginally released in 2001, “American Skin (41 Shots)” was written by Springsteen after the 1999 shooting death of Amadou Diallo.
Beyonce held a moment of silence for Trayvon at a recent show, and rapper Young Jeezy penned a song in his honor called “It's a Cold World (A Tribute to Trayvon Martin)”.
[Abridged from People's World.]