A small group turned out locally yesterday afternoon to protest the acquittal of the man who killed Trayvon Martin in Florida.
The rally on Bailey Avenue near the East District Police Station, sponsored by the Pan-African group Fight the Power, brought together a diverse array of different protest groups.
They were protesting the power structure as well as the Florida jury acquittal of George Zimmerman. There was also concern about street violence and the need to end Black on Black violence.
Marsha McGill compared the Zimmerman verdict to the way Paula Deen is being punished for racial speech.
McGill says Deen has been castigated "for talking the way that a lot of people talk behind closed doors. And, someone who actually murders someone in cold blood escapes with no punishment whatsoever. So, clearly there is disparity."
Carol Meadows was one of the speakers at the rally on Bailey Avenue near the E-District police
"I think it is important that we recognize this issue is some much bigger than Trayvon," said Meadows.
William Jamal Richardson from Fight the Power says the rally was scheduled before the verdict came in to have a discussion about violence and punishment and the need to prevent more young people dying as did Trayvon Martin.
"We need to get the people out to have a conversation to be able to move forward form this trial and do the work of preventing another Travyon from happening," said Richardson. "There's a chance to save these other youths that are out here with us and that needs to be our focus going forward."