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Trayvon Martin: Protests across US at Zimmerman verdict | Trayvon Martin: Protests across US at Zimmerman verdict |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Protests have taken place in more than 100 US cities, a week after George Zimmerman was cleared of murdering unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin. | Protests have taken place in more than 100 US cities, a week after George Zimmerman was cleared of murdering unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin. |
Demonstrators demanded federal charges to be brought against Mr Zimmerman, 29, over the February 2012 incident. | Demonstrators demanded federal charges to be brought against Mr Zimmerman, 29, over the February 2012 incident. |
A Florida jury agreed that the neighbourhood watch volunteer killed the 17-year-old in self-defence. | |
In comments on Friday, President Barack Obama admitted many black men in the US experienced racial profiling. | |
The protests against the court's decision were led by the National Action Network, headed by civil rights activist the Reverend Al Sharpton. | The protests against the court's decision were led by the National Action Network, headed by civil rights activist the Reverend Al Sharpton. |
"We are not coming out with violence, we are coming to denounce violence. The violence that was perpetrated on an unarmed, innocent man named Trayvon Martin," Mr Sharpton told at a rally in New York. | "We are not coming out with violence, we are coming to denounce violence. The violence that was perpetrated on an unarmed, innocent man named Trayvon Martin," Mr Sharpton told at a rally in New York. |
Thousands gathered for "Justice for Trayvon" protests in at least 100 other cities across America, including Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami. | Thousands gathered for "Justice for Trayvon" protests in at least 100 other cities across America, including Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami. |
Mr Sharpton told supporters on Saturday morning that he wanted to see the scrapping of "stand your ground" self-defence laws, such as that in force in Florida. | Mr Sharpton told supporters on Saturday morning that he wanted to see the scrapping of "stand your ground" self-defence laws, such as that in force in Florida. |
"We are trying to change laws so that this never, ever happens again," he said. | "We are trying to change laws so that this never, ever happens again," he said. |
The teenager's mother, Sybrina Fulton, told the crowd: "Today it was my son. Tomorrow it might be yours." | The teenager's mother, Sybrina Fulton, told the crowd: "Today it was my son. Tomorrow it might be yours." |
Rapper Jay Z and his wife, the singer Beyonce, appeared on stage at the New York rally. | Rapper Jay Z and his wife, the singer Beyonce, appeared on stage at the New York rally. |
In Miami, Trayvon Martin's father, Tracy Martin, was among those who gathered to the words of the civil rights song We Shall Overcome. | In Miami, Trayvon Martin's father, Tracy Martin, was among those who gathered to the words of the civil rights song We Shall Overcome. |
'Could have been me' | 'Could have been me' |
In an unexpected press call on Friday, Mr Obama said very few black men in the US had not experienced racial profiling. | In an unexpected press call on Friday, Mr Obama said very few black men in the US had not experienced racial profiling. |
Mr Obama said the pain that African-Americans felt around the case came from the fact that they viewed it through "a set of experiences and a history that doesn't go away". | Mr Obama said the pain that African-Americans felt around the case came from the fact that they viewed it through "a set of experiences and a history that doesn't go away". |
He said African Americans were also keenly aware of racial disparities in the application of criminal laws. | He said African Americans were also keenly aware of racial disparities in the application of criminal laws. |
"That all contributes to a sense that if a white male teen was involved in the same kind of scenario, both the outcome and the aftermath might have been different," Mr Obama said. | "That all contributes to a sense that if a white male teen was involved in the same kind of scenario, both the outcome and the aftermath might have been different," Mr Obama said. |
"When Trayvon Martin was first shot, I said that this could have been my son. Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me, 35 years ago." | "When Trayvon Martin was first shot, I said that this could have been my son. Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me, 35 years ago." |
He shared his experiences of being racially profiled in the past, such as being followed while out shopping. | He shared his experiences of being racially profiled in the past, such as being followed while out shopping. |
"There are very few African-American men who haven't had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. | "There are very few African-American men who haven't had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. |
"There are very few African-Americans who haven't had the experience of getting on an elevator and a woman clutching her purse nervously and holding her breath until she has a chance to get off," he said. | "There are very few African-Americans who haven't had the experience of getting on an elevator and a woman clutching her purse nervously and holding her breath until she has a chance to get off," he said. |
Mr Obama called for the protests to remain peaceful, saying any violence "dishonours what happened to Trayvon Martin". | Mr Obama called for the protests to remain peaceful, saying any violence "dishonours what happened to Trayvon Martin". |
He said that although criminal matters and law enforcement were traditionally dealt with on a state and not a federal level, it would be useful to examine some state and local laws to see if they encourage confrontation in certain situations. | He said that although criminal matters and law enforcement were traditionally dealt with on a state and not a federal level, it would be useful to examine some state and local laws to see if they encourage confrontation in certain situations. |
On Wednesday, US Attorney General Eric Holder cited the case as he urged a nationwide review of the "stand your ground" laws, which permit the use of deadly force if a person feels seriously threatened. | On Wednesday, US Attorney General Eric Holder cited the case as he urged a nationwide review of the "stand your ground" laws, which permit the use of deadly force if a person feels seriously threatened. |
The issue was never raised during the trial, though the judge included a provision about the law in her instructions to the jury, allowing it to be considered as a legitimate defence. | The issue was never raised during the trial, though the judge included a provision about the law in her instructions to the jury, allowing it to be considered as a legitimate defence. |
Trayvon Martin was shot dead by Mr Zimmerman after an altercation in a gated community in Sanford, Florida. | Trayvon Martin was shot dead by Mr Zimmerman after an altercation in a gated community in Sanford, Florida. |
Last Saturday, the all-female jury of six found him not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter. | Last Saturday, the all-female jury of six found him not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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