Trayvon Martin: parents hit back

The shooting of unarmed Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, by a neighbourhood watch volunteer who claims self-defence has sparked an international outcry.

Now the family of the dead 17-year-old say they're being forced to defend their son's reputation.

His mother says media reports of his suspension from school after marijuana residue was found in his bag are irrelevant to his death.

SOUNDBITE: SYBRINA FULTON, TRAYVON MARTIN'S MOTHER, SAYING (English):

"They've killed my son and now they're trying to kill his reputation."

The killing of Martin by neighbourhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman has triggered a wave of protest rallies like this one in Los Angeles.

Zimmerman says was defending himself during a scuffle.

Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' law gives immunity from arrest if there's no evidence of malice.

Civil rights activist, the Reverend Al Sharpton, is questioning why the victim's past is in the spotlight.

SOUNDBITE: REVEREND AL SHARPTON, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, SAYING (English):

"Let's not play this double standard of trying to demonise who is dead and sanitise who was the cause of the death."

Protesters have turned out in their thousands sporting hooded tops similar to that worn by Martin when he died.

Martin was African American, Zimmerman is white hispanic but the protesters insist race is not the issue.

SOUNDBITE: RICKY JONES, PROTESTER, SAYING (English):

"This is not about a black, white, hispanic thing. This is about humanity, a life, a life that was taken by someone who's not being punished."

Zimmerman's told police he fired the fatal shot after he was knocked to the ground and had his head slammed into the pavement by Martin.

Paul Chapman, Reuters