Trayvon Martin's mom calls for gun law review

The mother of an unarmed black Florida teen, who’s killing by a neighborhood watch volunteer set off a storm of protests, released a Mother's Day video calling for a review of lax US gun laws.

"Just like me, 30,000 mothers lost their children this year to senseless gun violence,".

"Nobody can bring our children back, but it would bring us comfort if we can help spare other mothers the pain we will feel on Mother's Day and every day for the rest of our lives."

Martin, 17, was shot to death February 26 in Sanford, Florida, by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who claims he shot the unarmed youth in self-defense.

Fulton called on supporters to lobby against "Stand Your Ground" laws in several US states that allow civilians with weapons to fire if they feel threatened with death or with serious injury.

Local police did not arrest or bring charges against Zimmerman for weeks because of Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, until public outrage led to an investigation by a special state prosecutor. He was arrested April 11 and charged with second degree murder.

Florida Governor Rick Scott announced the creation of a commission to review the self-defense law.

Kent police break up large College Fest crowds after violence

KENT, Ohio -- Police say some of the nearly 3,000 students have also thrown beer bottles at police.

Police are attired in riot gear and, according to students who are tweeting from the scene and the website kentwired.com, using tear gas and "flash-bang" devices to disperse the crowd.

Police in Kent are dispersing large crowds near campus, after fights broke out an at annual event called College Fest. Students attending the large party have tweeted that beer bottles were being thrown and ambulances were dispatched to the scene.

Police from Kent, Kent State University and Hudson are trying to disperse large crowds of students throwing beer bottles after fights broke out during the annual "College Fest" near the KSU campus.

Kent police refused to answer questions about their response at the scene but students report police were trying to clear out a crowd of more than 3,000 with tear gas and flash-bang devices.

The Kent Fire Department was sent to University Driveafter a couch was set on fire near the roadway.

The Kent State student media website, KentWired.com, reported that some students were injured and that participants were throwing beer bottles at police.

Kent State police are assisting the Kent police department but did not release any information.

Muslims to joined peace conference

Muslims to attend peace conference

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri is to issue a declaration for global
peace at the Peace for Humanity event at Wembley Arena

More than 12,000 Muslims are to attend a peace conference at Wembley Arena.

The Peace for Humanity event is to be addressed by a leading Islamic scholar who will call for an end to terrorism and violence.

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, founder of Islamic organisation Minhaj-ul-Quran International, which is behind the London conference, will issue a declaration for global peace, saying: "We reject unequivocally all terrorism because at the heart of all religions is a belief in the sanctity of the lives of the innocent.

Video messages of support from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband will be shown to those attending.

Mr Clegg said: "Your conference today is even more important than usual - coming together to talk openly and candidly about the issues that can divide people but crucially the values that unite us too, tolerance, human rights, peace, and belief in opportunity for all, a faith in young people and their potential to learn from our mistakes, from the mistakes of the past, to help tackle discrimination and prejudice, building communities that are strong, where we take on our problems together."

Mr Miliband said in his message that the "values of tolerance, understanding and of bringing people together" demonstrated by the conference was "exactly what our society needs".
He said: "A month or so ago we saw the terrible riots that affected some of our major cities but what we also saw was the vast majority of people, right across this country, coming out, cleaning up and saying 'no' to the violence that we saw on our streets.

"It's exactly that message of peace, harmony and working together that I know your conference is designed to promote. And indeed the way you come at the issues that you'll be talking about today, your faith, is such an important part of British life."

A collective multi-faith prayer will be said at the event, and a campaign to get a million signatures to back the declaration for peace will be launched.