Ibn Akbar from Boston, Mass., right, joins a “Justice for Trayvon -100 City Vigil” Saturday, July 20, 2013, as they demonstrate in front of the federal court in Washington.
Kathryn Hoffman shouts with fellow protesters during a “Justice for Trayvon” vigil at the Edward N. Cahn U.S. Courthouse & Federal Building in Allentown, Pa. on Saturday, July 20, 2013.
Jaden Purcell, 7, holds a sign during a “Justice for Trayvon” rally on the grounds of the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. United States Federal Courthouse in downtown Miami on Saturday, July 20, 2013.
Showyn Walton raises his fist during a rally in support of Trayvon Martin in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, July 20, 2013.AP Photo DCMC101, NY119, GAATH104, FLMIH104, PAEAS102, FLMIH102, PAEAS103, LAGH207, NVJJ101, LAGH105, NYMA101, LAGH106, NJJC107, NJJC103, NJJC101, GAATH102, PAEAS101
ATLANTA – One week after a jury found George Zimmerman not guilty in the death of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin, people gathered for nationwide rallies to press for changes to self-defense laws and for federal civil rights charges against the former neighborhood watch leader.
The Florida case has become a flashpoint in separate but converging national debates over self-defense, guns, and race relations. Zimmerman, who successfully claimed that he was protecting himself when he shot Martin, identifies as Hispanic. Martin was black.
“It’s personal,” said Cincinnati resident Chris Donegan, whose 11-year-old son wore a black hoodie to the rally, as Martin did when he died. “Anybody who is black with kids, Trayvon Martin became our son.”
Hundreds of people gathered Saturday at rallies in Nashville and Memphis to call for federal civil rights charges against George Zimmerman, the former neighborhood watch leader who was found not guilty of all charges in the fatal shooting of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin.