Thousands of local supporters, with most wearing a hoodie and some carrying a can of tea and a bag of Skittles, gathered in Finlay Park Saturday calling for justice in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
Marches and rallies have been organized across the country to ask for justice and show support for the family of Martin, who was on Feb. 26 shot and killed by George Zimmerman.
Reports say Martin was carrying an iced tea and a bag of Skittles when walking to the house of his father’s fiancée in Sanford when the incident occurred.
Zimmerman reportedly told police he shot Martin in self-defense. He has not been charged.
Through social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, organizers were able to spread the word about the 1K "Hoodie March," which featured several speakers including state Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland; Richland County council members Norman Jackson and Jim Manning; and Chris Sullivan, who is running for District 77 in the state House of Representatives.
The march and rally, which lasted two hours, also included a march around the park with supporters chanting "No Justice, No Peace."
Kyle Green, one of the key organizers of the event, said he was moved by the message Martin's mother, Sabrina Fulton, delivered while attending 'Million Hoodie' March in New York saying her son could have been the son of another parent.
Supporters echoed Fulton's statement thaty the marches and rallies are not about a 'black and white issue, but about a right or wrong issue.'
The rally attendees may not get the type of justice they seek. If the decision goes against what they have been told to believe, what will the shock media incite next?
An eyewitness to the incident told police Martin was beating Zimmerman before he shot Martin. Will that silence Jackson/Sharpton? Probably not, they want to keep up the sensationalism that has surrounded this situation for the past few hours.