Gainesville, FL – On July 20, 50 activists, faith leader, and community members held a noon vigil outside the Alachua County Courthouse. They gathered to demand the U.S. Department of Justice file charges against George Zimmerman for violating the civil rights of Trayvon Martin. The action was part of the #100citytrayvon initiative by the Reverend Al Sharpton.
San José, CA – A week after the acquittal of George Zimmerman, another rally and march drew more than 250 people, three times the size of the week before. The protest continued to be majority African American with a large number of Chicanos, Mexicanos and Latinos. Many of the protest signs were in Spanish. There were also more middle-aged and older people and a sprinkling of families with children at the rally. At the top of the demand list was that the Department of Justice file civil rights violation charges against George Zimmerman.
St Paul, MN – More than 50 people gathered at the Wednesday Peace Vigil on the Lake Street/Marshall Avenue bridge, July 17, under the call “No U.S. war in Syria – war is not the answer.”
Tallahassee, FL – After three days of occupying the governor’s office in the Florida capitol building, protesters demanding justice for Trayvon Martin finally secured a meeting with Governor Rick Scott, July 19. Scott met for about 45 minutes with several leaders from Dream Defenders, a student activist organization led by Black and Latino youth. He refused to give into any of the protesters’ demands.
According to a July 17 report from the Korean Central News Agency, a spokesperson for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Foreign Ministry stated, “There occurred an abnormal case in which the DPRK trading ship Chongchongang was apprehended by the Panamanian investigation authorities on suspicion of “drug transport,” a fiction, before passing through the Panama canal after leaving Havana Port recently. The Panamanian investigation authorities rashly attacked and detained the captain and crewmen of the ship on the plea of “drug investigation” and searched its cargo but did not discover any drug. Yet, they are justifying their violent action, taking issue with other kind of cargo aboard the ship.”
Green Bay, WI – A group of about 30 protesters, many from the black community, came out to the Brown County Courthouse July 16 to protest the not guilty verdict of George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin killing. Members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Occupy Green Bay were in attendance, along with a diverse group of members of the community.
Salt Lake City, UT – In response to the not guilty verdict for George Zimmerman for the murder of Trayvon Martin, protesters took to the streets here. Rallying at the Matheson Courthouse, over 200 activists and community members came together to express their outrage and frustration with the American justice system.
Minneapolis, MN – Several thousand people rallied and marched in downtown here, July 15, to express outrage at the not guilty verdict given to George Zimmerman for his cold-blooded murder of African American youth Trayvon Martin.
Gainesville demands DOJ file civil rights charges against Zimmerman
Gainesville, FL – On July 15, at 4:00 p.m., 150 activists and community members gathered in Bo Diddley Plaza to demand that the U.S. Department of Justice file charges against George Zimmerman for violating the Civil Rights of Trayvon Martin.
Newark, NJ – Hundreds turned out here, July 14, to protest the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin. The march and rally were called by the People’s Organization for Progress. The not guilty verdict was seen by protesters as a declaration of the right to kill any young Black man for nothing more than suspicion.
Chicago, IL – On July 14, over 400 protesters gathered in downtown here to demand justice for Trayvon Martin after his killer, George Zimmerman, was acquitted. This protest came after a 200 person emergency response rally the evening before. Demonstrators demanded, “Not one more! Justice for Trayvon Martin!”
Oakland, CA – Several thousand protesters marched to demand justice for Trayvon Martin here, during the afternoon of July 14. The protesters began by rallying at Oscar Grant plaza and from there marched through the working-class neighborhood of West Oakland.
San José, CA – On July 14, almost 100 protesters, more than half African American, marched through the streets of downtown San José to protest the acquittal of George Zimmerman, who was on trial for the murder of Trayvon Martin. The protest began at the San José City Hall, where Reverend Houston of the House of San Kofa told the crowd, “It is necessary that our voices be heard!”
Dallas, TX – In the 24 hours since the outrageous verdict of acquittal in the Trayvon Martin case was announced, Dallas has seen at least three protests demanding justice for the young, unarmed black man gunned down in a Florida neighborhood.
Tallahassee, FL – 350 people took to the streets July 13 here for an “Emergency Midnight March” for Trayvon Martin. The tear-marked faces of every person flickered red and blue in the midst of a full police escort. The march was organized and headed by a Black and Brown-led student group called the Dream Defenders, who guided a community outraged over the Zimmerman verdict to the steps of the historic Florida Capitol, where the group held a rally.
_Leonard Peltier and other political prisoners send messages of support _
Washington, DC – 50 people gathered at Columbia Heights Civic Plaza, July 12, to demand compassionate release for Lynne Stewart. Music and speakers rallied the crowd, reaching thousands of passersby at this busy square during evening rush hour. Undaunted by rain, protesters passed out hundreds of flyers and collected petition signatures urging the release of Stewart, imprisoned on bogus terrorism charges for her work as a defense attorney. Although Stewart has stage four cancer and qualifies for early release based on compassionate grounds, the Bureau of Prisons has refused to release her.
Milwaukee, WI – Following the not guilty verdict for George Zimmerman, who stalked and killed Trayvon Martin, emergency demonstrations started the night of Saturday, July 13 and went on into early Sunday morning.
Protesters tell Dayton to quit giving money to billionaires
St Paul, MN – Members and supporters of the Welfare Rights Committee (WRC) protested July 10 in front of Governor Dayton’s mansion to demand that he act now to raise the welfare grants in Minnesota. As things stand, about 70,000 Minnesota children are living in extreme poverty.
Chicago, IL – Protesters gathered for the fourth week in a row to oppose the U.S. sending arms directly to the Syrian rebels. Organizers included the Anti-War Committee – Chicago, Syrian American Forum, U.S. Palestinian Community Network (Chicago), A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition (Chicago), and March 19th Coalition. Nancy Wade, Green Party candidate for the Fifth Congressional District spoke at the rally, saying, “The corporate backed politicians in both parties must stop their wars for profit and meet the needs of the people here for jobs, healthcare, housing and schools!”