WASHINGTON
US Attorney General Eric Holder has defined murder of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin (17) by a neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman (29) as 'tragic and unnecessary'.
Holder attended an event in Washington and commented on decision of court for George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the shooting dead of Trayvon Martin, which occurred in Sanford, Florida on February 26, 2012.
Attorney General Eric Holder stated, “I believe that this tragedy provides yet another opportunity for our nation to speak about the complicated and emotionally-charged issues that this case has raised”, adding that he also believed the victim’s parents set a notable example surrounding how it should be approached.
A Florida jury on July 13 found Zimmerman not guilty in death of black teen, and several protests broke out in US. After releasing of the verdict of acquittal, some groups rallied in two different points in New York. Thousands of people rallied in Bronx where mostly black Americans reside and requested justice defining acquittal of Zimmerman as 'racism'.
A protest march was held in Hunts Point Plaza after speeches lasting two hours and many people attended the march. Activists of 'Occupy Wall Street' also supported the protest.
Policemen took broad security measures during the protests and closed the traffic where the protestors passed, but the policemen did not intervene the protest.
The six-person all-female jury unanimously found Zimmerman not guilty and it was understood that there were differences of opinion at first. Three opinions were reported to be verdict of 'not guilty', two were 'manslaughter' and one verdict was 'second-degree murder'.
A member of the jury talked to Andersoon Cooper on CNN with 'B37' code, concealing her face and identity said that they examined all evidences and court records and it was a difficult process to verdict as the laws about this issue perplexed them. She also added that they found no any other alternative that Zimmerman protected himself in self-defense, expressed Zimmerman's voice record on 911 calling for help was effective and they believed in his voice.
Pacifist demonstrations continue all over the country
Protests continue after the acquittal of white-hispanic George Zimmerman murdering Trayvon Martin. Protests have taken place since the verdict was released in Los Angeles. It was stated that during the protests on Monday, a group closed the traffic flow, policemen used plastic bullets and a hotel was damaged.
A big protest is planned to be held under the name of 'Peace March' on Friday especially in Long Beach, Los Angeles. Meanwhile, in Chicago, especially priests and non-governmental organizations call for holding pacifist protests.
About 200 hundred people walked to courthouse in Cleveland, Ohio, having 'skittles' candy with them which Martin kept in his hand on the day murdering and the protestors left these candies in front of the courthouse.
In addition, protests took place in Kansas of Missouri, Newark city of New Jersey and Miami city of Florida and also in Houston of Texas. Hundreds of protestors closed the traffic for a while in Houston.
New protests are envisaged to be held on Tuesday in Oakland and Orlando. Also, big protest calls are made for Saturday all over the country.
During the protests held in Los Angeles, 13 people were reported to have been detained and the police called for prudence from the protestors.
