Local group attends speech by Trayvon Martin’s mother

Portland — The National Women’s Coalition Against Violence & Exploitation, an anti-violence national organization headquartered in Vancouver, brought a group of locals to see Sybrina Fulton’s keynote address at the 23rd Annual Inspire Luncheon for the YWCA of Greater Portland on April 14. Fulton is the mother of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old who was killed by George Zimmerman in 2012. Michelle Bart, president of NWCAVE, attended the event along with Vancouver City Manager Eric Holmes, city councilors Anne McEnerny-Ogle and Jack Burkman, and Diana Perez and Carmen McKibben from League of United Latin American Citizens and NWCAVE board members. Vancouver Police officers Charlie Ahn and Rey Reynolds also attended with the group. “We must end all violence in our society, this can only be done by like-minded leaders in our community working together to make this community a better place and a safer place,” Bart said in a release from the organization. “Our police officers are among what’s right with Vancouver.”