Protesters in U.S. demand
justice for Trayvon Martin and an
end to racist laws

THOUSANDS of people of have joined marches in cities across the United States protesting racism, discrimination, state laws about the use of force and the lack of justice in the case of Trayvon Martin, a Black teenager killed in Sanford, Florida, according to Telesur.

The unarmed 17-year-old Martin was shot by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer on February 26, as the young man was returning from a convenience store.

The case has led to a wave of protest in Black communities across the U.S. and put the spotlight on a controversial law popularly known as "Shoot first" or "Stand your Ground," which gives individuals wide latitude to use deadly force, rather than retreat, if they feel threatened.

The assailant has not been arrested, based on his claim of self-defense. On March 22, almost a month after the crime, Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed a special prosecutor and task force to investigate the murder which will address Zimmerman’s allegation.

Reverend Jesse Jackson of Chicago, once a candidate for the Presidency, said "We as a nation have become much too violent… If it’s black on white, it’s jail time. If it’s white on black, it’s revolt time."

While Trayvon’s father, Tracy Martin, said during a protest in Sanford, "My son did not deserve to die… There is nothing we can say to bring him back, but I’m here to ensure that justice is served so that no more parents have to go through this again."

Students in 31 Miami-Dade schools did not attend classes in a massive protest around the handling of the case, in what the school superintendent described as an unprecedented action, organized through internet social networks and text messages.

The protests have been widely covered in the mass media, including a report on CNN showing images of the Miami Heat basketball team wearing ‘hoodies’ in a clear reference to Trayvon Martin, who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt when he was killed.

Participating in the March 22 protest Reverend Al Sharpton stated, "We did not come here on a leave of absence. We came for permanent justice… Arrest Zimmerman, now." This is the central demand of most protests.