Peaceful Rallies Planned To Protest Zimmerman Verdict
MIAMI (CBSMIAMI) – A number of rallies and prayer services are being planned to protest the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the death of 17-year old Trayvon Martin.
It took a jury of six women in Sanford 16 hours and 20 minutes to find Zimmerman not guilty in the February 2012 shooting which claimed the Miami Gardens teen's life.
Jury Acquits George Zimmerman In Trayvon Martin's Death
Sunday morning at the Impact Miami Church in North Miami, community Baptist Pastor Jack Hakimian expressed his disappointment concerning the Zimmerman verdict.
Hakimian called people to protest peacefully concerning Stand Your Ground law and will present some simple practical solutions.
Miami area pastors will gathered Sunday afternoon. for a prayer vigil at North Miami City Hall.
There will also be a prayer vigil Sunday evening at 6 p.m. at the Torch of Friendship at Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami.
Dr. Marcus D. Davidson, Senior Pastor of New Mount Olive Baptist Church and local elected officials, and law enforcement leadership will host a Community Peace Rally on Tuesday, July 16th in the Main Sanctuary of New Mount Olive Baptist Church, located at 400 NW 9th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale at 7:00 p.m.
"This rally is not for the sake of bashing George Zimmerman or any vigilante justice. This rally is for the sake of understanding regardless the verdict; we must ensure that peace prevails among our people and our community. This is not just a Peace Rally for Florida; this is a call for peace nationally. Dr. Davidson is encouraging the community our youth and parents of youth to participate," according to a statement from Davidson.
The Dream Defenders and student, youth and community supporters In Tallahassee issued a statement after the verdict and called for a statewide day of action this Tuesday.
"Our thoughts are with Trayvon Martin's family, who unfortunately will never have their son back. This is a true American tragedy for every child, mother, father, brother and sister in the nation. This is a reminder that our communities still find themselves profiled, targeted and oppressed each day," according to the statement. "The battle for true Justice in an unequal society is never simple. Florida has taken another one of ours. We must hold on to our anger in the face of the injustice and let the feelings of love for our community push us forward in fixing our broken society. We will never forget his name."
The Coalition for Justice for Trayvon has also called calling for nationwide protests.
"The protests will look toward a New America, where black and brown youth are protected by the justice system and racial oppression is ended," according to a statement from the group. "The organizers feel that the entire system has failed to bring justice, and that the youth have gained a new resolve to move beyond this case and to end racial oppression for good."
The coalition, which is made up of student groups and community members from across the state, plan to hold a rally in front of the courthouse in Sanforda at 3 p.m.
The group "Act Now To Stop War And End Racism" (ANSWER) took to the streets of San Francisco Saturday night to protest the verdict. The march grew and grew, with eventually over 450 people taking the entire street from sidewalk to sidewalk, as the community came out of their homes and stores to stand for justice for Martin.
"The verdict is a travesty, a continuation of the complicity of the racist, so-called criminal justice system that refused to treat the murder as a crime and has now left a vigilante free to roam the streets. The system of racist brutality carried out against poor people and people of color in communities from Florida to New York to California to Texas and elsewhere is on the offensive," said Peta Lindsay, an organizer with the ANSWER Coalition.
They are calling for rallies nationwide on Sunday to protest the verdict.
San Francisco
Sunday, 4pm
Powell and Market
Oakland
Sunday, 4pm
Oscar Grant Plaza
San Diego
Sunday, 5:30pm
Highland Park in City Heights near Fairmont Ave and Wightman Street next to the library and across from the police station.
Sacramento
Sunday, 12 noon
Federal Building (5th and I Street)
Boston
Sunday, 6pm
Dudley Square Station (Washington St. at Dudley St.), Roxbury, Mass.
New York City
Sunday, 6pm
Union Square
Bronx, NY
Monday, 7pm
Hunts Point Plaza, South Bronx
