The day started early at New Light Christian Center as Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee took her visitor on a whirlwind tour of six of the city's churches.
The congregations were both warm and attentive as he talked about the past week.
"And when my client said to us, as she finished crying on that Sunday and Monday, she said the verdict won't stop us, the verdict won't stop us," Parks said. "It was tough; we were devastated. I can't tell you the level of emptiness we went to bed with on Saturday night."
Parks sat down with Eyewitness News later and talked about the family's response to the verdict, the rallies taking place around the country and even the president's personal words.
"The whole experience has blown them away," he said. "It often takes a lot to move our people. And when you see them stand up in the rain, in the heat, waving signs and considering their future and their hope, when you see them saying that defeating this would give them hope, it's a good thing."
He's talking about the stand-your-ground laws in dozens of states. He's pushing to change them. So is Lee. And she believes that the verdict may have actually helped their cause.
"I think all this came together tragically, and I know those parents would rather be hugging Trayvon right now," the congresswoman said. "But if it had to happen, all these things came together for a time such as this."
Parks would not say whether the family will file a civil suit against Zimmerman, only that they are "considering" it. But he did say Martin's parents plan to come to Houston soon.
Find Melanie on Facebook at ABCMelanieLawson or on Twitter at @melanielawson13.
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