Demonstration Held In LA Over Shooting Death Of Florida Teen
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Public outcry over the shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin intensified in Los Angeles Monday night with a large protest outside City Hall.
The protestors rallied together in a show of solidarity, demanding justice for 17-year-old Martin. The unarmed Florida teen was shot and killed last month by volunteer neighborhood watch captain, George Zimmerman, as Martin walked back from a store with tea and Skittles.
Zimmerman has not been charged with a crime.
The march marked the capstone in a series of demonstrations that were held throughout the day across the city.
Activists in L.A. organized the rally, which brought out nearly 1,000 people, according to the organizers. They said their message was that "Injustice anywhere, is injustice everywhere."
"It enraged me that something like this could happen in the United States in 2012," demonstrator Stephanie Gohel said.
"Because there's a Trayvon in every neighborhood and every city and every state and every country," said Zsanae Davis, a demonstration organizer.
Just before 6 p.m. demonstrators marched five blocks through Downtown Los Angeles, ending at the steps of City Hall.
Marchers wore hoodies like Martin was wearing when he was killed.
"When I heard about it, I cried. And every time I think about it, I cry," said Tanayi Seabrook or Burbank, who brought her children.
"I want my kids and I think we all want our kids to have an awareness of what's going on. And it might be a young awareness, but it's an awareness nonetheless," Seabrook said.
Awareness of what has happen has spread across the country. In Florida Monday, massive demonstrations were held, as Martin's parents expressed outrage over information that was leaked about their son being suspended for Marijuana possession.
"They've killed my son. And now they're trying to kill his reputation," said Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton.
In the meantime, Zimmerman's friend spoke out, saying that he had been torn up about the incident.
"This was an incident where someone, who was just trying to do the right thing, ended up in a very, very bad position," he said.
L.A. City Councilman Bernard Parks – a former LAPD police chief – called for further investigation.
The case was in the hands of a special prosecutor in Florida.
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