Hundreds Upset With Zimmerman Verdict March Through Center City
By Dan Wing, Elizabeth Hur
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Hundreds of protesters held demonstrations in Philadelphia's Love Park Sunday (see related story) to voice their frustrations over the verdict in the George Zimmerman murder trial. The group then took their message mobile, marching through the city streets to Independence Hall.
Marching around City Hall and down Market Street, protesters of all ages and races in a show of solidarity shared messages for the jury that acquitted George Zimmerman.
"You are parents, how can you allow someone to get away with taking the life of a human being? Regardless of any color, he was a 17-year old boy. Imagine that being your child. You should be ashamed of yourself," this protester said.
The group shut down traffic en route to the Liberty Bell site before heading to the Federal Courthouse where protesters shared opinions on what they view as an injustice.
"We are Trayvon Martin and each one of us is Trayvon Martin in that we honestly feel their pain and no one should go through this," protester Chris Norris said.
One compared Trayvon Martin's death to that of Emmett Till:
"His killers were acquitted. 58-years later, and we still haven't learned."
The massive group of marchers then made their way back up Market Street to LOVE Park.
In Center City, there were some people who understand the disappointment, but viewed the verdict as just.
"It's horrible. Nobody wins but I think, you know, I trust our justice system," Dan Powell said.
Police were on hand just as a precaution, but say they did not need to make one arrest as everyone who did come out voiced their disappointment peacefully.
