Demonstrators gather in Leimert Park to protest Zimmerman verdict
People began gathering in Leimert Park on Saturday night to protest the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, according to police and social media reports.
“We are getting reports that people are starting to gather,” said LAPD Officer Phillip Ahn. “It’s in its infancy.”
Ahn said police units have been dispatched to the scene “to stand by.” He did not have an estimate of how many people were there.
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 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.
Zimmerman stood stone-faced in the Sanford, Fla. courtroom as the verdict was read. He flashed a smile when the jurors left the courtroom.
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Twitter: RobertFaturechi
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