They are marching from Daytona Beach to Sanford seeking justice for Trayvon Martin.
About 30 college students have have joined a student led “Dream Defenders” group to march 40 miles this weekend in remembrance of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, who was killed in a controversial shooting in Sanford on Sunday, February 26.
Students hope their journey will become a historical march.
“I've never been the type of person who just wants to sit back and let things happen to you. I feel I've always been the type of person that felt that even on my own I have power. So I know there's power in numbers,” said FAMU Student Charmaine Thomas.
The students will make the three-day journey with a police escort along State Road 17-92, which is a busy thoroughfare that cuts through Daytona Beach, DeLand and Sanford.
Most of the students are from colleges and universities in Florida but some have come from as far away as Atlanta to be a part of history.
“Once we heard that students were leading this protest here, this demonstration. We had to come down and support it,” said Morehouse College Student Steven Green.
Jeff Johnson is not a college student. However, he has worked as the National Youth Director for NAACP, a correspondent for Black Entertainment Television and the Vice President of the Hip Hop Summit Action Network.
“When you begin to see young people saying, 'we want to do a movement for ourselves', that's exciting,” Johnson said.
Johnson said he's been in the Sanford area numerous times because of the Trayvon Martin case and he's happy to be walking every step of the 40 miles to Sanford, as a way to support the student led movement.
“I'm here because I believe in the potential of young leadership and these young people are showing the kind of leadership that our country needs to see and support,” Johnson continued.
Meanwhile, students admit the idea of walking 40 miles in three days is daunting but they believe every step will be worth it.
“I'm probably going to get a little bit tired but just seeing everybody so happy for us being out there is what makes me keep going,” said Florida State University Student Cecelia O'Brien.
“We can stand united and hopefully the aftermath after this is even... it's not that Trayvon isn't significant but it's an even bigger picture after this,” added FAMU Student Terell DePina.
DePina continued that the bigger picture is getting people registered and out to vote. DePina said it is important that the student activism on display concerning Trayvon Martin becomes more than a trend.
He believes the surge in activism can lead to a new standard of thinking as well as action.
The student marchers walked 10 miles Friday, another 14 miles on Saturday and approximately another 14 miles on Sunday. They hope to reach Sanford by 7 p.m. Sunday.
During their journey, they will be spending the night at local African Methodist Episcopal Churches, including Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church on Friday night.