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Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

California Protests To George Zimmerman's Acquittal

Eric Parra |
July 14, 2013 | 7:42 a.m. PDT

Executive Producer

People from all over have been protesting for the sake of Trayvon Martin (creative commons)
People from all over have been protesting for the sake of Trayvon Martin (creative commons)
On Saturday night, news of George Zimmerman’s complete acquittal over his charges of second degree murder and potential manslaughter against Trayvon Martin were all dropped, hitting the country by storm.

READ MORE:  George Zimmerman Not Guilty In Death Of Trayvon Martin

For many, the decision was responded to with outrage and protest. While rallies of people with signs protested near the trial itself, there was a bigger stir in California areas. Oakland was one of the areas that started out as a peaceful demonstration that quickly escalated when citizens began to break windows and riot.

From Associated Press

“The Oakland police dispatch office said about 100 people protested, with some in the crowd breaking windows on businesses and starting small fires in the streets. As the protest wound down with the crowd dispersing, the office said that as of 2 a.m. PDT it had no word of any arrests.

Local media reports said some Oakland marchers vandalized a police squad car and police formed a line to block the protesters' path.

The Oakland Tribune said some windows on the newspaper's downtown offices were broken, and footage from a television helicopter show people attempting to start fires in the street and spray painting anti-police graffiti.

Protesters also reportedly burned an American and a California state flag and spray painted Alameda County's Davidson courthouse.”

This protest, however, had followed a seperate rally from San Francisco that was just as loud, but much more peaceful, and eventually disbanded by 10 P.M.

A reported number of 200 people also gathered in Leimert Park of Los Angeles for a peaceful vigil while a smaller group of 40 surrounded Sacramento City Hall chanting, "What do we want? Justice. When do you we want it? Now. For who? Trayvon."

 

Read all of Neon Tommy's coverage of George Zimmerman and the trial here.

Reach Executive Producer Eric Parra here.



 

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