Thousands of supporters shut down three lanes of traffic in Downtown LA Monday as they marched through the streets demanding justice in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, a Florida teen who was shot and killed by a community watch volunteer in February.
Billed as the "Million Hoodie March," about 2,000 demonstrators trekked a quarter mile from Pershing Square to City Hall, carrying signs and donning hooded sweatshirts.
Martin was unarmed and wearing a hoodie when George Zimmerman spotted him in a gated community in Sanford, Fla., thought the 17-year-old looked suspicious and started following him.
"There are protests taking place all across the country and I think that is really what is need to bring about justice in this whole situation," said Ollie Bivins, a Cerritos resident at the rally.
Monday’s demonstrations were the latest local expressions of national outrage.
Last week, Santa Monica, Hollywood and Leimert Park were among SoCal rallies that honored Trayvon Martin and called for justice – namely, Zimmerman’s arrest.
"I need to be able to teach my sons, to show them, that they can use their voice in an articulate manner to stand up and voice what they believe to be injustice," said Norida Woods, Long Beach resident who attended Monday’s event, which started gathering momentum around 4 p.m.
Demonstrators chanted, "No justice, no peace;" and called for justice as they marched through Fifth, Olive, Fourth and Spring streets on their way to a vigil and rally in front of City Hall.
Some supporters carried signs that read, “We are Trayvon,” echoing a similar statement made by President Barack Obama’s last week.
"If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon," Obama said.
The Pershing Square rally was the first of two events planned for the evening, as the Black Law Students Association at Southwestern Law School in Downtown LA were slated to hold a candlelight vigil Monday night.
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"I expect them to charge him, and I expect the judicial system to work," said one demonstrator.
LA's demonstration Monday comes on the heels of allegations that Martin had been suspended from school after a baggie containing marijuana resident was found in his backpack. Supporters described the new information as a diversion from the core issue.
"The only comment that I have right now is that they’ve killed my son, and now they’re trying to kill his reputation," said Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s mother.
Thousands gathered in Sanford, Fla., Monday following an emotional city meeting and community forum, where Reverend Al Sharpton spoke.
As national outrage grows, the gunman’s story has started to come out and new details are starting to frame that fatal night.
Friends of Zimmerman, who is reported to be in hiding, said the suspected gunman couldn’t stop crying for days after the incident.
Attorney and friends have held fast to the claim that Zimmerman was acting in self-defense when he reportedly called the police and told them he saw a suspicious person walking in his neighborhood.
They are now claiming that it was Martin who initiated the confrontation – attacking Zimmerman from behind, pushing him to the ground and breaking his nose.
"If George Zimmerman did have an injured nose or any other injuries, it was because he initiated the confrontation," said Benjamin Crump, Trayvon Martin’s family attorney. "Neighborhood watch is to watch and call the police."
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