Al Sharpton to visit Clearwater for Markeis McGlockton "stand your ground" shooting protest

CLEARWATER — The Rev. Al Sharpton announced Sunday he plans to protest the shooting death of Markeis McGlockton on Aug. 5 at a Clearwater church.

Sharpton tweeted Sunday morning that he would attend a "Rally for Markeis McGlockton" at St. John Primitive Baptist Church.

I will be protesting the death of #MarkeisMcGlockton next week with the National Action Network, here is the information if you would like to join us. #PoliticsNation pic.twitter.com/qtq9UK2S8h— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) July 29, 2018

I will be protesting the death of #MarkeisMcGlockton next week with the National Action Network, here is the information if you would like to join us. #PoliticsNation pic.twitter.com/qtq9UK2S8h

McGlockton, 28-year-old black man, was fatally shot and killed on July 19 by Michael Drejka, 47, who is white, in a parking lot. Video showed Drejka confronted McGlockton's girlfriend over an accessible parking spot, and McGlockton later shoved the man to the ground. Drejka, a legal firearm owner with a concealed carry permit, shot McGlockton with a handgun seconds later.

Pinellas deputies declined to arrest Drejka. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said that Florida's "stand your ground" law applied to the situation.

The death sparked a statewide debate over the law. Lawyer Benjamin Crump — who previously worked on the case of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford in 2012 — called the death "cold-blooded murder ... by the self-appointed, wannabe cop Michael Drejka."

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Sharpton's announcement came hours before Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a Democratic candidate for governor, planned to speak at a town hall related to the shooting with Clearwater Police Chief Daniel Slaughter, according to a press release from the candidate.

Contact Langston Taylor at 727-893-8659 or ltaylor@tampabay.com. Follow @langstonitaylor.