An ongoing sit-in in the lobby of Gov. Rick Scott's office in protest of George Zimmerman's not guilty verdict and Florida's controversial Stand Your Ground law entered day three Thursday.
Meanwhile, the governor was at the Tampa Film Office Thursday to meet with Visit Tampa Bay CEO Santiago Corrada about the 2014 International Indian Film Academy Awards, which are set to be held in Tampa next year.
But despite being out of the Capitol, the controversy found him anyway.
A reporter during the media appearance asked whether Scott thought the Stand Your Ground law should be repealed. Scott responded that he did not support getting rid of the law, but before he could elaborate, he was rushed out by his media relations team. No follow-up questions were allowed.
The sit-in started Tuesday, when roughly 100 protesters showed up at the governor's office, many with signs reading "Justice for Trayvon," in tribute to 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, who was shot and killed during a struggle with Zimmerman in February 2012. Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder charges late Saturday.
On Thursday, protesters at Scott's office called on supporters in the Tampa Bay area to interrupt the governor's economic development events in Tampa and Bradenton, scheduled for Thursday afternoon. They also began phoning the offices Scott would be visiting Thursday to protest the governor's absence in Tallahassee.
The group wants Scott to call a special legislative session to change or repeal the Stand Your Ground law, which protects people from prosecution if they use lethal force, as long as they had a reasonable fear that their life was in danger. Zimmerman's lawyers initially cited Stand Your Ground, but ended up not using the law in their defense during his trial.
The protesters also want a top-to-bottom review of civil rights violations in Florida.
Even some of the governor's own supporters in Tallahassee said they are beginning to wonder if not engaging the protestors is a wise strategy from a public relations point of view.
The Rev. R.B. Holmes, who acted as vice chair of Scott's Stand Your Ground task force last year, said he would a news conference Thursday afternoon at his Tallahassee church.
The task force, created by the governor amid last year's outcry over Trayvon Martin's death, ultimately ruled that the law works and should not be overturned. The group did recommend that the Florida Legislature look at standards for neighborhood watch groups.