Rev. Al Sharpton Pledges To Work On The Marissa Alexander Case

Civil rights activist says he and others will take up battered woman’s “Stand Your Ground” case

Just days after the announcement of charges in the Trayvon Martin case, Rev. Al Sharpton is keeping justice in his crosshairs.

The civil rights activist and MSNBC host told Loop 21 that he would soon be working on the “Stand Your Ground” case involving Marissa Alexander, the Florida wife and mom who shot at her abusive husband in self-defense, but did not get the protection of the controversial law afforded to Martin’s killer, George Zimmerman.

In Alexander’s case, Alexander’s husband was not injured in the incident and a judge determined she had the duty to retreat.

“We’re definitely going to get involved in that, because I think she’s a glaring example of how they apply Stand Your Ground based on who you are, rather than what ground you’re standing,” Sharpton said in a phone interview.

[ALSO READ: “Why Didn’t Stand Your Ground Protect Marissa Alexander?"]

Sharpton said radio host and author Michael Baisden contacted him about Alexander, as the Martin case began to pick up steam. Conversations about taking up Alexander’s case took place as recently as Tuesday morning, Sharpton said.

Baisden could not immediately be reached for comment.

In 2010, Alexander found herself in a violent confrontation with her husband, according to a blog pleading her case. While she sits in jail, facing a possible 20-year prison sentence, Alexander’s sister and first husband have been trying to draw attention to the case.

And it appears they’ll soon get the attention of more media. Sharpton told Loop 21 that his ability to garner attention is one of several skills that yield results for the causes he takes up.

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