Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, is joined by her son Jahvaris Fulton, left, the Rev. Al Sharpton, right, speaks to the crowd. (EPA)
Protesters carrying a ‘Harlem says JUSTICE FOR TRAYVON’ banner shout as they march across Brooklyn Bridge in protest of a Florida court’s decision to acquit George Zimmerman in the unarmed teen’s death. (Getty Images)
Women holds a sign as they attend a rally honoring Trayvon Martin organized by the National Action Network outside One Police Plaza in Manhattan. (Getty Images)
Maria Lopez, second from left, and her daughter Ashley, 14. listen to speakers at the “Justice for Trayvon” rally today outside One Police Plaza today. (AP)
Singer Beyonce, right, greets a fan as she and husband Jay Z, near center, leave the rally for Trayvon Martin. Members of the crowd urged the star duo to refuse to play concerts in Florida to protest George Zimmerman’s acquittal. (REUTERS)
Beyonce and Jay-Z joined Trayvon Martin’s mother and thousands of New Yorkers rallying today during nationwide demonstrations demanding justice for the slain teen.
Wearing a shirt with the image of her son in a hoodie, Sybrina Fulton, warned a crowd at a pre-rally at the National Action Network in Harlem: “It was my son [that night.] It might be yours tomorrow.”
She vowed to fight for children and victims of gun violence.
It’s been a week since a Florida jury acquitted George Zimmerman of murder and manslaughter charges. He shot Martin dead on February 26, 2012, while on neighborhood patrol.
The verdict has sparked fury over racial profiling, civil rights and self-defense issues. Zimmerman is Hispanic.
Martin, a black teen, had been walking through the Sanford neighborhood with Skittles in his pocket.
“Trayvon was no burglar,” his mom said.
“George Zimmerman started the fight and George Zimmerman ended the fight,” she said.
“My son died without knowing who killed him. He died without knowing who his murderer was.”
Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who came out to support Martin, said it was “civil rights issue.”
“Regardless of how you view the legality of the verdict in isolation, justice here was denied,” Spitzer said. “An innocent young man was shot and killed and that is a tragedy.”
The 101 rallies and vigils across the country, organized by the National Action Network, called for the US Department of Justice to pursue civil rights charges against Zimmerman.
Fulton and the Rev. Al Sharpton left W. 145th Street and headed to One Police Plaza were they were met by the star couple. Jay-Z and Beyonce stood next to Martin’s mom, but did not address the crowd.
“No concerts in Florida!” protesters shouted as Beyonce walked by.
A diverse sea of New Yorkers held placards that read, “I am Trayvon,” “Guilty for stalking and murder,” “I love my hoodie,” “Justice for all Americans” and “Boycott Florida.”
“We love you,” they yelled to his mom.
She teared up.
“Trayvon is not here to speak for himself,” she wept. “Trayvon was a child and sometimes I think that gets lost in the system.”
“I want your voices to be heard but we have to do it in a peaceful manner,” she told the crowd.
Television Judge Greg Mathis criticized stand-your-ground-laws, and said that legislation must be supported to overturn existing regulations in Florida and 29 other states. New York does not have a stand-your-ground law.
“This backward state allows you to shoot first and ask no questions,” he said.
Anger over race issues in America were palpable. In the city, the verdict renewed concerns over the NYPD’s stop and frisk policy and racial profiling.
Steven Shryack, 62, held a sign: “They never stop and frisk old white guys like me.”
The East Village resident said the verdict was ”a horrible injustice.”
“There’s racism going on in our country and everybody tries to blow it off. “
He worried about his grandson who is of mixed race. “What kind of future does he face?” Shryack asked. I have the luxury of being white in this world. I have an unfair advantage.”
On stage Sharpton told the crowd they would not be silent.
“We are going to fight for what is right. They used to say segregation is better than slavery but they never sat in the back of the bus,” Sharpton said.
“This is a movement not a moment.”
The National Action Network’s Rev. Michael A. Walrond, Jr. said history called citizens to this cause.
“If you just got mad Saturday, then you have been sleeping for a long time. We have more than enough reasons to rally together. The only battles we don’t win are the ones we don’t fight.”
“The fight is not over,” he said. “The revolution has just begun.”
Additional reporting by Kevin Fasick