‘Justice for Trayvon’ rally underway in downtown Los Angeles

Demonstrators participating in a nationwide “Justice for Trayvon” rally are gathering outside the federal building in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday morning as part of a 100-city campaign to push for a federal investigation into Trayvon Martin’s death.

Similar rallies will be held throughout California to protest a Florida jury’s acquittal July 13 of George Zimmerman, 29, on charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the shooting death of the unarmed African American teenager last year. Following Zimmerman’s acquittal, dozens of street protests around the country during the last week turned violent.

Los Angeles police declared a citywide tactical alert after protesters briefly shut down the 10 Freeway on Sunday, threw rocks at police and engaged in acts of vandalism. Extra officers will be on hand Saturday to monitor the downtown rally and ensure things remain peaceful.

Photos: George Zimmerman verdict protests

Rallies are also planned in Riverside, Palmdale, Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland as well as New York, Miami and elsewhere.

Zimmerman had been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of Martin on Feb. 26, 2012, in Sanford, in central Florida.

The neighborhood watch volunteer maintained that he shot Martin in self-defense when the teenager attacked him. Prosecutors argued that he had profiled and stalked Martin, 17, who was returning from a convenience store after buying Skittles and a soft drink. Wearing a hoodie sweat shirt, Martin was walking in the rain back to the home where he was staying in the Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford.

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carlos.lozano@latimes.com