Local Protests Continue Over Zimmerman Not Guilty Verdict
By Community Affairs Reporter Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Community outrage over the not guilty verdict in the second-degree murder trial of George Zimmerman is evolving into something more. Part of the evolution will be discussed Saturday in Philadelphia at two separate rallies.
Nearly a week has passed since an all female Florida jury read the not guilty verdict, making George Zimmerman a free man while pushing a social justice movement into full gear.
"What we're trying to do is build momentum, not just a moment of outrage or an expression of how sick we feel on a given afternoon when we get a horrible verdict," says Jerry Mondesire, President of the Pennsylvania NAACP.
He says they've teamed up with the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus to hold a prayer vigil Saturday at noon at Bright Hope Baptist Church at 12th and Cecil B. Moore Avenue.
Mondesire says the focus will be on next steps following the Zimmerman verdict.
"We've got to teach our young people that they can become involved, that they can influence public policy."
The Philadelphia chapter of the National Action Network is holding a separate rally at noon at 6th and Market Streets. Both groups are pushing the Department of Justice to continue its civil rights probe into the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
For more the NAACP's petition for the probe, go to www.naacp.org/trayvon.
