Protestors are taking to the streets in more than 100 cities today—exactly one week after George Zimmerman’s acquittal—to push for civil rights charges against the neighborhood watch captain.
Civil rights “leader” Al Sharpton's National Action Network has organized the “Justice for Trayvon” rallies across the nation. Martin’s parents are set to lead demonstrations in Miami and New York. Via Reuters:
Sharpton, who will lead one rally Saturday along with Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, outside police headquarters in New York, has said he hopes continued public pressure will force the Justice Department to bring a civil rights case against Zimmerman.
A planned demonstration in Miami, near the home where the 17-year-old Martin lived, was due to be led by his father.
Federal prosecutors have said they were pursuing an investigation into whether Zimmerman, who is part Hispanic, violated civil rights laws. Lawyers with expertise in civil rights have said they think new charges are unlikely, however.
Krauthammer noted on Friday that the president’s remarks “legitimized the protests tomorrow which are all going to be assuming it was about race when in fact he should have said the facts are it was not—we have racial issues in the country—but it’s not what the case here was about.”
At the very least let’s hope the rallies remain peaceful.
Update: Surprise, surprise--Beyonce and Jay-Z joined Martin's mother at the New York rally today. Or, as Sharpton would say:We are headed to the NAN NY vigil w/ Trayvon's mother. Jay Z and Beyonce is joining us there.
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) July 20, 2013
Join the conversation as a VIP Member