Thousands of African-Americans, along with a fair sprinkling of whites, took to the streets in more than 100 streets across America on Saturday to demand justice for Trayvon Martin, the slain black teenager, who has become a powerful symbol of revival of the race issue in the country.
Organised by civil rights leader Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, the protesters marched through streets and held vigils, demanding institution of a federal civil rights case of racial profiling against George Zimmerman, the acquitted white-Hispanic neighbourhood watch volunteer. They are also pushing for the repeal of the controversial “Stand Your Ground” law in Florida and several other States that permit use of deadly force on the grounds of self-defence.
Coming as it did a day after President Barack Obama’s candid reflection on the race issue and call to African-American groups to maintain peace even while protesting over the Florida verdict, the rallies remained peaceful. Pop superstar Beyonce Knowles and her husband, hip-hop singer Jay-Z, were among the celebrities to join the protesters in New York City.
Parents of Martin joined the rallies. His mother Sybrina Fulton said in a tweet, “God is healing my heart this very moment. But as I watch so many people come together, he reminds me that we have a lot of work to do.” His father Tracy Martin said at a rally in Miami, “I’d like the world to know that Trayvon was my son... He did nothing wrong.” Surveying the large crowd of protesters, he said, “This is what keeps us going — all of these people that are out here to support us: white, black, brown.” Enthused by President Obama’s remarks, Martin’s parents said in a statement: “We are deeply honoured and moved that President Obama took the time to speak publicly and at length about our son.”