Parks Urges Respect for Legal Process in Trayvon Martin Shooting

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Some of the pastors here at McCoy Memorial Baptist Church on 46th Street wore hooded jackets to express their solidarity with Martin -- who was wearing a hoodie when he was shot.

As the twenty-odd churchgoers held hands in mourning, pastors called for the arrest of George Zimmerman, who says he shot Martin in self-defense.

But Councilman Parks urged respect for the legal process.

"I don't think we right a wrong by having no investigation. I think the investigation will clarify in everyone's mind what actually occurred and will then become the basis of what happens in court."

The shooting, on February 26th in Sanford Florida, has sparked a national debate about so called "Stand Your Ground" laws.

Here in California, you can only use deadly force to protect yourself in your own home, and only when an intruder is threatening you with severe injuries or death.

But in Florida, where Martin was shot, you can also stand your ground in a vehicle or public place. So if the investigation concludes that Martin initiated the violence, then Zimmerman was legally allowed to use his gun to defend himself.

But Councilman Parks believes that even calling the law "Stand Your Ground" is confusing.

"When you hear these little slogans like "Stand Your Ground," it defeats the whole purpose of explaining the law. So I don't think people are interpreting the law, as what I can see the intent is, because I've heard variations that say, you can just be frightened and shoot. I don't know of any law on the books that says you can indiscriminately shoot people."

The case has spurred civil rights protests across the country, as well as here in Los Angeles. This morning, a group of more than a hundred students from Fremont High School in south L.A. marched to demand justice for Trayvon Martin.