The National Council of Negro Women held a vigil last Sunday to reflect on the death of Trayvon Martin.

Myracle Clay-Bennett, President of the National Council of Negro Women has been aware of just how intricate race relations between the government and its people have been for some time. To raise awareness, her organization held a vigil for Trayvon Martin, and afterwards showed the documentary “13th”.

“13th” outlines the history of anti-black rhetoric and mass incarceration in our nation’s past and how it has permeated the present. According to the documentary, large corporations have an astounding amount of input in legislation.

“Many people are ignorant to the fact, and it’s very important to know since the people who the laws affect are the same ones giving their money to these corporations,” said Bennet.

One such law was the Floridian “Stand Your Ground” law, a law found to be “inconsistent” with the right to life according to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

“I do believe this documentary will open some minds and hearts, but I don’t believe it will open everyone’s,” said Kimberly Clark, 2nd Vice President. “The country has been trained to dehumanize and reduce the African American community through propaganda, media and ideologies passed down from society.”

The “Stand Your Ground” legislation was the defining moment in the Trayvon Martin case and is how George Zimmerman was proven not guilty.

The law was introduced by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a company that writes template legislation for politicians, and numerous corporations have a hand.

If you happened to miss the vigil and are curious, you can still find the documentary on Netflix.

For the National Council of Negro Women, this vigil and documentary was the voice of so many they felt suffered from indignities of the legal system.