Actor Jamie Foxx led a candle-lit vigil to slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin in New York on Tuesday (26Feb13) to mark the one-year anniversary of the high school student's death.

The Ray star was among the crowds gathered in New York City's Union Square in honour of the African American youngster, who was shot dead by a neighbourhood watchman in Miami, Florida on 26 February, 2012.

Foxx joined Martin's parents Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin in a candlelight vigil, during which they called for Florida's 'stand-your-ground' law to be repealed.

In footage obtained by CNN, the actor tells the assembled crowd, "Don't think about the colour of the child. Think about that child going to school, think about that child hanging out with his father, with his mom. Skiing, skateboarding, doing all these fun things that a 17-year-old child does, and then think about this child on his way home to see his father and then all of a sudden that child has his life taken from him."

The controversial stand-your-ground statute allows residents to use deadly force in self-defence if they feel threatened, and initially protected Martin's shooter, George Zimmerman, from arrest. Zimmerman has since been charged with second-degree murder.

Foxx previously joined Martin's parents on a peace walk in Miami, Florida earlier this month (Feb13).