Vigils planned in Central Florida for "100 Cities"

Protesters want George Zimmerman charged federally

ORLANDO, Fla. – In a matter of hours, a day of rallies will spread across central Florida and 100 cities across the country.

The vigils and rallies will call for change after the George Zimmerman not guilty verdict, one day after President Obama suggested a review of the Stand Your Ground law, and adding that Trayvon Martin could have been him 35 years ago.

"If a white male teen was involved in the same kind of scenario, that from top to bottom, both the outcome and the aftermath might have been different," said Obama. "Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me."

Lawanna Gelzer rushed to make a last-minute poster for the rally Saturday.

"I think it's a rebirth of the civil right's movement," said Gelzer.

Gelzer is the Orlando chapter organizer for The Reveran Al Sharpton's National Action Network, which is calling for a "Justice for Trayvon" National Day of Action. Like rallies before, vigils will break out in "100 Cities" across the country.

Organizers said these rallies now have a clear purpose: To force the federal government to pursue federal civil rights charges against Zimmerman, and more.

Galzer said she and others hope that the Justice Department takes up the case and went on to say, "But just in case, we need to have a backup plan. We know that our Governor is saying no, that he believes in the Stand Your Ground law... He is a public servant, not a dictator -- so we're just going to vote him out."

At noon Saturday, several groups will host three rallies in central Florida. Among the "100 Cities" vigils held at Federal courthouses across the country, there is one vigil in Orlando.

After the protest outside Orlando's Federal courthouse, ralliers will head to an open forum at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist International Church on Washington Street. There, guest speakers will include local political leaders.

Another vigil will be in Daytona Beach at the Federal Court of Appeals building, and another group is hosting a rally in Sanford at Crooms Academy. Organizers are asking young people to come with a bag of skittles and wearing hoodies.

Trayvon Martin's family will not be at any of the events locally. Instead, his mother and brother will be at the vigil in New York and his father will be in Miami.


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