‘Justice for Trayvon’ rallies in 100 cities across USA

The searing heat of July was not enough to deter 60-year-old Terri White from joining Saturday’s “Justice for Trayvon” rally at high noon outside the federal courthouse here.

“I have two African-American sons and grandsons and I want to see things change for them,” White said as protesters chanted “No justice, no peace.”

Thousands gathered Saturday at rallies in more than 100 cities nationwide to remember Trayvon, to press for federal civil rights charges against the man who shot him, and to attack stand-your-ground self-defense laws. The Justice Department is investigating whether Zimmerman, 29, violated Martin’s civil rights when he shot the 17-year-old during a February 2012 confrontation in Sanford, Fla.

Although Zimmerman ultimately did not use a “stand your ground” defense, the case brought stand-your-ground laws into the spotlight. At a rally in New York City, civil rights activist Al Sharpton took aim at those laws, which in more than a dozen states generally give people wide latitude to use deadly force if they fear serious bodily harm. “We are trying to change laws so that this never, ever happens again,” Sharpton, who organized the nationwide rallies through his National Action Network, told the crowd.

Read More: