Protesters at Union Square Park
By Isseu Diouf Campbell and Utibe MBagwu
Translation in French by Aisha Dabo
On Sunday, July 14, 2013, crowds around the world took to the streets to protest George Zimmerman’s acquittal for the shooting of 17-year-old teenager Trayvon Martin.
In New York, rallies were held in the city, at Union Square, Times Square, Brooklyn’s Borough Hall, and the Harlem State Building.
The rally in Union Square Park began in the late afternoon and carried on until the park closed at midnight. The plaza was overrun with supporters of Trayvon Martin, who chanted, sung, and blazoned signs of dissent while others took turns to address the members of the large audience.
While in the center of the gathering, Brooklyn resident, Davis Morey exclaimed his growing apprehension for her black youth after hearing Florida’s court ruling.
‘What this case has shown above all else is worth of the black body in the United States. So yes, this is a case about race, this is a case about racial profiling, and this is a case about who exactly is [deemed] human enough to get justice.”
Afterwards, another speaker led a quick rendition of American Civil Rights anthem, “We Shall Overcome.”
But perhaps the most compelling address was from a young woman whose brother had been slain by a cop.
“This [rally] is important, but what is more important is that we don’t forget…because the media moves on, the newscasters move on, and eventually people do as well. But if we want to see real change, we have to be the ones to set it in motion and keep it moving.”
Volunteer neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman shot unarmed Trayvon Martin following an altercation on February 26, 2012 in the state of Florida.
Photos of the event
