ALBANY — Citing "demonizing stereotypes," a group of mostly African-American and Hispanic state lawmakers wore hooded sweatshirts into the legislative chambers on Monday in solidarity with the family of Trayvon Marton, the Florida teenager gunned down a month ago by a neighborhood watch officer who had told police the youth was acting suspicious.

The group included Assembly members Karim Camara and Marcos Crespo as well as state Sens. Eric Adams, Bill Perkins, Kevin Parker, Shirley Huntley, Mike Gianaris and Daniel Squadron.

Several of those who spoke to reporters said the killing reflected a law enforcement culture in New York and elsewhere that stigmatized young male minority members. "These incidents don't always lead to death, but they happen every day in urban communities throughout our state," said Camara.

Perkins referred to the cases of the youths convicted and then exonerated in the 1989 rape of a jogger in Central Park, plus the deaths of Amadou Diallo and other fatalities or injuries resulting from police action.

"This condition is so deep-seated that it impacts every aspect of life for blacks," Perkins said, pointing to causes as disparate as substandard education and unemployment to "stop and frisk" techniques that critics charge single out young minority members.

"Each of these things contributes to a mentality of compromising black men, of perpetuating the myth of the mad, bad and dangerous black guy," Perkins said.

Adams was angered by what he saw as a creeping effort to cast Martin as aggressive or intoxicated on the night of the shooting. "I know the games of smearing victims — the person we should look at ... is the individual who shot the gun," he said.

"President Obama stated if he would have had a son he would have looked like Trayvon," Adams said. "I have a son; he looks like Trayvon."

"My son looks like Trayvon," Perkins chimed in.

"He wears a hoodie," Adams said.

"My son wears a hoodie," Perkins said.

"He dressed like the children of today," continued Adams, who has been an outspoken critic of the sagging-pants fashion among urban youth.

" ... It was born here in New York city and now it has cascaded all the way down to the southern coast of Florida," Adams said, echoing Perkins' theme that New York's policies had spread across the country and into the civilian population.

"It has never been a crime in America to carry Skittles and goddamned ice tea," Adams said, referring to the snacks found on Martin, who was returning from the grocery store when he was approached. " ... The shadows people see in the dark are their own fears and insecurities and stereotypes."

Gianaris noted that a bill similar to the so-called "stand your ground" law in effect in Florida and 20 other states has been introduced by Senate Republicans. Such laws justify the use of force by individuals who fear imminent death or great bodily harm to themselves or others. Critics have called them a license to shoot first and ask questions later.

A few hours after the news conference, almost two dozen Senate Democrats signed a letter sent to Republican Sen. George Maziarz, the sponsor of that legislation. "We urge you to immediately withdraw this dangerous bill," the letter states in part.

Maziarz did not return a request for comment left with his office.

cseiler@timesunion.com • 518-454-5619 • @CaseySeiler