Zimmerman: Stevie Wonder To Boycott Florida Jul 16th 2013, 21:50
By Sky News US Team
Stevie Wonder has said he will not perform in Florida and other states with a "stand your ground" law following the controversial verdict in the George Zimmerman trial.
In a video posted on YouTube, the 63-year-old singer said at a concert in Quebec City, Canada, "that until the stand your ground law is abolished in Florida, I will never perform there again".
Wonder added: "Wherever I find that law exists, I will not perform in that state or in that part of the world."
The "stand your ground" law allows people to use deadly force if they believe their life is in danger.
The not guilty verdict sparked protests around the country Zimmerman claimed he fired his gun in self-defence when he shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin during a confrontation in Sanford, Florida, in February 2012.
A six-member jury acquitted Zimmerman of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges on Saturday.
The acquittal has sparked protests around the country.
Meanwhile, US Attorney General Eric Holder has strongly criticised stand your ground laws in an address to a civil rights convention.
Referring to the Zimmerman case, Mr Holder said: "Separate and apart from the case that has drawn the nation's attention, it's time to question laws that senselessly expand the concept of self-defence and sow dangerous conflict in our neighbourhoods".
The attorney general said the country must take a hard look at laws that contribute to "more violence than they prevent".
Mr Holder said such laws "try to fix something that was never broken".
The Justice Department is going through trial testimony, interviews and other evidence to determine if Zimmerman violated Trayvon's civil rights when he shot the black teenager.
Former Miami federal prosecutor David S Weinstein said it will likely be months before a decision is made on whether to bring charges.
The key to charging the former neighbourhood watch volunteer lies in whether evidence exists that he was motivated by racial animosity to kill Trayvon.
No evidence surfaced during the state trial that Zimmerman had a racial bias.
Scott Foresman Science
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