NAACP President Had "Huge Impact" on Central Florida
Monday, September 9, 2013
By: Matthew Peddie

September 9th, 2013 | WMFE- NAACP national president Benjamin Jealous will step down at the end of the year to teach and spend time with his family. Jealous became a familiar sight in Central Florida during protests over the shooting of Trayvon Martin.

Jealous led the nation’s largest civil rights organization for 5 years.

He paid several visits to Central Florida in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin as the NAACP joined in protests over the initial police handling of the case and called for reform of the state's stand your ground self defense laws.

Seminole County NAACP president Turner Clayton Jr. says he’s sorry to see Jealous go.

“He’s definitely had a huge impact in the Sanford area, Seminole County as well as throughout the state of Florida," said Clayton.

"Especially getting involved with the issue that we brought to the forefront which is the Trayvon Martin issue.”

In a statement the chair of the NAACP board of directors Roslyn Brock thanked Jealous for his leadership.

Brock said the organization’s goals include restoring section 4 of the voting rights act and implementing Trayvon’s Law- a set of bills which aim to end racial profiling and repeal stand your ground laws.

A jury found Zimmerman not guilty of second degree murder in July in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin.