LAPD on modified tactical alert amid Trayvon Martin protest
The LAPD has declared a modified tactical alert amid a protest in Leimert Park sparked by the George Zimmerman not-guilty verdict in Florida on Saturday night.
The alert applies only to the agency’s South Bureau. In a tactical alert, officers can be held over after their regular shifts and they do not respond to low-priority radio calls.
An LAPD officer, who did not provide his name, said the alert was prompted by the large gathering, but said he had no estimate as to the size of the protest.
Twitter users were posting about the demonstration Saturday night in the historically black neighborhood.
“Just drove thru Leimert Park, they’re having an extremely peaceful rally.” wrote user @dj_RTistic. “News vans are out and a few Black cops are there to patrol it”
Zimmerman’s shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager, in a confrontation in Florida last year touched off a national debate about race and guns.
The jury of six women returned the verdict Saturday evening after more than 16 hours of deliberation over two days. Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder, but the jury had the option of finding him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
ALSO:
Jury in George Zimmerman trial faces tough task
One year anniversary: candlelight vigil for Trayvon Martin
Rodney King on April 11, 2012: ‘I am Grieving’ for Trayvon Martin
Twitter: RobertFaturechi
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
