Following the not-guilty verdict last night in the controversial George Zimmerman trial, riots have erupted from coast to coast, some violent, others not.
Many people were shocked that the jury of six women believed Zimmerman’s self-defense plea, letting him walk free. Zimmerman, a 29-year-old Hispanic man, shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin claiming that the unarmed African-American boy attacked him and it was an act of self-defense.
The case has turned into a racial profiling case with disagreements over what really constitutes self-defense, causing a media frenzy.
Protests are planned in many large cities such as Boston, New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco. Non-violent demonstrations have already happened in cities such as Atlanta and D.C.
Daily Mail reports that violent protests erupted in Oakland, California. Many angry protestors burned garbage and flags, started fires in the streets, vandalized cars, and broke windows. One group even destroyed a police vehicle.
On the other hand, peaceful demonstrations took place in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Groups gathered in Leimert Park, a historically black neighborhood of Los Angeles, and partook in a candlelight vigil.
Police have tried to keep a close eye and tight security on all of the protests, peaceful or not, in case things turned violent.
According to Wall Street Journal Reverend Jesse Jackson, Reverend Al Sharpton, and other prominent civil rights leaders say they also disagree with the decision of the legal system but urge protestors that violence is not the answer.
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