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Trayvon Martin death: US protests over Zimmerman verdict | Trayvon Martin death: US protests over Zimmerman verdict |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Protests have taken place across the US after neighbourhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman, was cleared of murdering an unarmed black teenager. | Protests have taken place across the US after neighbourhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman, was cleared of murdering an unarmed black teenager. |
Most demonstrations were peaceful, demanding justice for the family of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin and questioning the fairness of the justice system. | Most demonstrations were peaceful, demanding justice for the family of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin and questioning the fairness of the justice system. |
The biggest protest was in New York, where a small rally grew into a crowd of thousands. | The biggest protest was in New York, where a small rally grew into a crowd of thousands. |
President Barack Obama has appealed for calm reflection after the verdict. | President Barack Obama has appealed for calm reflection after the verdict. |
He acknowledged on Sunday that the case had elicited "strong passions", but said: "We are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken." | He acknowledged on Sunday that the case had elicited "strong passions", but said: "We are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken." |
The Department of Justice says it is investigating whether a civil case can now be brought against Mr Zimmerman. | The Department of Justice says it is investigating whether a civil case can now be brought against Mr Zimmerman. |
The 29-year-old neighbourhood watch volunteer had faced charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter due to his fatal shooting of the teenager last year. | The 29-year-old neighbourhood watch volunteer had faced charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter due to his fatal shooting of the teenager last year. |
'We have to stand up' | 'We have to stand up' |
After the not-guilty verdict was announced late on Saturday, there were protests in cities across the US - including in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington, Boston, San Diego and Atlanta. | After the not-guilty verdict was announced late on Saturday, there were protests in cities across the US - including in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington, Boston, San Diego and Atlanta. |
In New York City, thousands of people marched to Times Square on Sunday night, chanting "Justice for Trayvon Martin!'' | In New York City, thousands of people marched to Times Square on Sunday night, chanting "Justice for Trayvon Martin!'' |
Police attempted to keep the crowd in controlled lanes, but the demonstrators made their way around the officers into the square. | Police attempted to keep the crowd in controlled lanes, but the demonstrators made their way around the officers into the square. |
"I feel if we don't step it up, we're in trouble," 20-year-old Prince Akeem, from the Bronx, told Reuters. "It's young blacks being targeted and we have to stand up, stand up to the cops." | "I feel if we don't step it up, we're in trouble," 20-year-old Prince Akeem, from the Bronx, told Reuters. "It's young blacks being targeted and we have to stand up, stand up to the cops." |
In Los Angeles, protesters blocked traffic, and several roads were closed. | In Los Angeles, protesters blocked traffic, and several roads were closed. |
Police told the LA Times that most of the protesters were peaceful, but said several splinter groups were more aggressive, reportedly throwing rocks and batteries at police. | Police told the LA Times that most of the protesters were peaceful, but said several splinter groups were more aggressive, reportedly throwing rocks and batteries at police. |
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti urged protesters there to "practise peace". | Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti urged protesters there to "practise peace". |
In Boston, about 500 protesters marched alongside police escorts. "They've been very orderly," Boston police superintendent William Evans told reporters. | In Boston, about 500 protesters marched alongside police escorts. "They've been very orderly," Boston police superintendent William Evans told reporters. |
Trayvon Martin was also remembered in many church services across the country on Sunday. | Trayvon Martin was also remembered in many church services across the country on Sunday. |
At a youth service in Sanford, Florida - where the trial was held - teenagers wore T-shirts wearing his picture. | At a youth service in Sanford, Florida - where the trial was held - teenagers wore T-shirts wearing his picture. |
"Trayvon Benjamin Martin is dead because he and other black boys and men like him are seen not as a person but a problem," the Rev Raphael Warnock, the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, told his congregation. | "Trayvon Benjamin Martin is dead because he and other black boys and men like him are seen not as a person but a problem," the Rev Raphael Warnock, the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, told his congregation. |
'Honouring' Trayvon | |
On Sunday US President Barack Obama called for "calm reflection" over the incident. | On Sunday US President Barack Obama called for "calm reflection" over the incident. |
He said Trayvon Martin's death was a tragedy for America, but that it was "a nation of laws and a jury has spoken". | He said Trayvon Martin's death was a tragedy for America, but that it was "a nation of laws and a jury has spoken". |
"We should ask ourselves if we're doing all we can to stem the tide of gun violence that claims too many lives across this country on a daily basis... As citizens, that's a job for all of us. | "We should ask ourselves if we're doing all we can to stem the tide of gun violence that claims too many lives across this country on a daily basis... As citizens, that's a job for all of us. |
"That's the way to honour Trayvon Martin." | "That's the way to honour Trayvon Martin." |
Mr Obama had commented on the Zimmerman case in March last year, saying: "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon." | Mr Obama had commented on the Zimmerman case in March last year, saying: "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon." |
Civil rights groups in the US have also called for calm, though have expressed their dismay at the verdict. | Civil rights groups in the US have also called for calm, though have expressed their dismay at the verdict. |
Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson told CNN on Sunday that "the American legal system has once again failed justice". | Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson told CNN on Sunday that "the American legal system has once again failed justice". |
But he also appealed for calm, saying anyone seeking to "compound our pain with street justice" would do "damage to the innocent blood and legacy of Trayvon Martin". | But he also appealed for calm, saying anyone seeking to "compound our pain with street justice" would do "damage to the innocent blood and legacy of Trayvon Martin". |
Rights activist Al Sharpton said the verdict was "a slap in the face to the American people". | Rights activist Al Sharpton said the verdict was "a slap in the face to the American people". |
He compared the case to the beating of African-American man Rodney King by police in 1991, which sparked widespread rioting. | He compared the case to the beating of African-American man Rodney King by police in 1991, which sparked widespread rioting. |
Meanwhile Mr Zimmerman's family and representatives have said they are afraid he could fall victim to revenge attacks. | Meanwhile Mr Zimmerman's family and representatives have said they are afraid he could fall victim to revenge attacks. |
His brother Robert said he had received frequent threats on social media and there was "more reason now than ever to think that people are trying to kill him". | His brother Robert said he had received frequent threats on social media and there was "more reason now than ever to think that people are trying to kill him". |
"He's going to be looking over his shoulder the rest of his life," he said. | "He's going to be looking over his shoulder the rest of his life," he said. |
His lawyer, Mark O'Mara, told ABC News on Sunday that Mr Zimmerman had no regrets about having carried a gun on the night of 26 February 2012. | His lawyer, Mark O'Mara, told ABC News on Sunday that Mr Zimmerman had no regrets about having carried a gun on the night of 26 February 2012. |
He said his client would now be entitled to have his weapon returned to him and to carry it, saying there was "ever more reason now, isn't there? There are a lot of people out there who actually hate him, though they shouldn't." | He said his client would now be entitled to have his weapon returned to him and to carry it, saying there was "ever more reason now, isn't there? There are a lot of people out there who actually hate him, though they shouldn't." |
Jorge Rodriguez, a friend of Mr Zimmerman's, said he had told him of his relief. He told Reuters he did not understand the anger at the verdict. | Jorge Rodriguez, a friend of Mr Zimmerman's, said he had told him of his relief. He told Reuters he did not understand the anger at the verdict. |
"Everybody asked for justice, and they got it." | "Everybody asked for justice, and they got it." |
"It was nothing about racism. It was about the community being robbed and broken into, and one man stood up," he said. | "It was nothing about racism. It was about the community being robbed and broken into, and one man stood up," he said. |
"The state should be giving this man an award, and instead they took him to trial." | "The state should be giving this man an award, and instead they took him to trial." |