Trayvon Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton joined Reverend Al Sharpton, Mayor Eric Adams, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, and other New York leaders at the National Action Network in Harlem on Saturday to commemorate the 10th anniversary of her son’s death.

“Not even the death of my son will separate me from the love of my son,” Fulton said. "When you carry a child for nine months and you see your heart walking outside your body, you never lose that love."

In 2012, 17-year-old Martin was visiting his family at a gated community in Florida. Ten years ago Saturday, Martin was walking home, unarmed, when he ended up in a confrontation with a neighborhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman. Zimmerman shot Martin to death, later saying he felt threatened by him.

Zimmerman was charged with murder for Martin's death, but acquitted at trial after claiming self-defense. Protests in the wake of the killing and subsequent trial triggered protests across the country, including throughout New York City. 

“I thank God for all the Trayvon Martins you don’t know, all the ladies who have been shot and killed and our black and brown boys who have been shot and killed that you don’t know their names,” Fulton said. "Thank you for standing up for them thank you for praying for them.”

Mayor Adams spoke on the importance of the progress made in the ensuing ten years and how Trayvon's death continues to resonate.

“Fighting for Trayvon is fighting against anti-Asian violence. Trayvon was shot and killed because of who he looked like. That is what you are seeing if someone is Asian and they are being murdered because of who they look like,” Adams said. "If we stand our ground for Trayvon, we stand our ground for every group in this city."

Some attendees noted that ten years later the pain is still very raw.

“I’m very sad about that I’m sorry that happened to him. Everybody deserves a life and his was taken so early and unfortunately there is nothing we can do to bring him back,” Cheryl Chapman said. "But we can stop it where other kids his age, their parents don't have to go through the same thing."

“Today is the type of day that is very, very touching,” Shirley Scott said.

The National Action Network donated $10,000 for the Trayvon Martin Foundation to commemorate the anniversary.