Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, the parents of dead Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, praised President Barack Obama on Friday for taking the time to discuss the controversial trial and verdict during a White House Press conference earlier in the day.
"We know our family has become a conduit for people to talk about race in America and to try and talk about the difficult issues that we need to bring into the light in order to become a better people," the parents said in a statement. "What touches people is that our son, Trayvon Benjamin Martin, could have been their son. President Obama sees himself in Trayvon and identifies with him. This is a beautiful tribute to our boy."
See video: Obama on Zimmerman Trial: 'Trayvon Martin Could Have Been Me'
"Trayvon Martin could have been me," Obama said during a press conference during which he admitted the country's "history of racial disparity in the application of our criminal laws."
Both parents applauded Obama for encouraging the government to review state and local legislation, such as Florida's Stand Your Ground law, that may promote violent confrontation.
"We seek a future when a child can walk down the street and not worry that others see him as dangerous because of the color of his skin or the clothes on his back," the statement concludes. "We seek a future where our children can grow up and become the people God intended them to be."
See video: Trayvon Martin's Parents: If He Were White, 'This Never Would've Happened'
See the full statement below:
"We are deeply honored and moved that President Obama took the time to speak publicly and at length about our son, Trayvon. The President’s comments give us great strength at this time. We are thankful for President Obama’s and Michelle’s prayers, and we ask for your prayers as well as we continue to move forward.
We know that the death of our son Trayvon, the trial and the not guilty verdict have been deeply painful and difficult for many people. We know our family has become a conduit for people to talk about race in America and to try and talk about the difficult issues that we need to bring into the light in order to become a better people.
What touches people is that our son, Trayvon Benjamin Martin, could have been their son. President Obama sees himself in Trayvon and identifies with him. This is a beautiful tribute to our boy.
Trayvon’s life was cut short, but we hope that his legacy will make our communities a better place for generations to come. We applaud the President’s call to action to bring communities together to encourage an open and difficult dialogue. Our family is committed to this dialogue through the work of the Trayvon Martin Foundation.
We seek a future when a child can walk down the street and not worry that others see him as dangerous because of the color of his skin or the clothes on his back. We seek a future where our children can grow up and become the people God intended them to be."
