Updated 9:40 pm: One arrested in LA protests
Numerous witnesses say the La Brea Trayvon Martin march has come to a stop at Santa Monica in WeHo. Traffic blocked… Possible sit-in…
— Andrew Blankstein (@anblanx) July 15, 2013
NBC LA reports that demonstrators clashed with police in Los Angeles. At least one person was arrested.
“Los Angeles Police Department officers fired bean bags at protesters after some people threw objects at officers, LAPD Commander Andrew Smith told NBC4.” (NBC)
A section of the 10 Freeway was closed as marchers walked on to the freeway. Commentator Jasmyne Cannick tweeted along the route with the protests.
The scene out here is getting crazy. Almost got hit with rubber bullet. LAPD surrounding us on all sides. No way out right now. Crowd angry.
— Jasmyne Cannick (@jasmyne) July 15, 2013
George Zimmerman’s trial ended Saturday night when a jury of six women found him not guilty of second degree murder and manslaughter in the shooting of Trayvon Martin. The nation, gripped by nearly three weeks of live trial coverage, is now reacting.
Here in Los Angeles, organizers of Occupy Los Angeles have planned a protest today in South LA. The rally will take place at 4 p.m at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and Crenshaw Blvd.
After news spread following the evening verdict, demonstrators took to the street across the nation to protest the ruling. The Los Angeles Times reports says most of the protests were peaceful, with some violence in Oakland.
President Obama, who, after Martin was killed, said “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon,” released a statement asking the nation to remain calm and pointing to the problem of gun violence.
“The death of Trayvon Martin was a tragedy. Not just for his family, or for any one community, but for America. I know this case has elicited strong passions. And in the wake of the verdict, I know those passions may be running even higher. But we are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken. I now ask every American to respect the call for calm reflection from two parents who lost their young son. And as we do, we should ask ourselves if we’re doing all we can to widen the circle of compassion and understanding in our own communities. We should ask ourselves if we’re doing all we can to stem the tide of gun violence that claims too many lives across this country on a daily basis. We should ask ourselves, as individuals and as a society, how we can prevent future tragedies like this. As citizens, that’s a job for all of us. That’s the way to honor Trayvon Martin.”