Beyonce and Jay Z attend a "Justice for Trayvon" rally in NYC, pictured with Trayvon Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, right center, and the Rev. Al Sharpton, far right.
Platinum-selling power couple Jay-Z and Beyonce appeared Saturday at a “Justice for Trayvon Martin” vigil after the slain teen’s mother proclaimed her son’s innocence. “Trayvon was no burglar,” a stoic Sybrina Fulton told a Harlem rally with the Rev. Al Sharpton. “He had a drink and some candy. He had every right to be in that area.” Former N.Y. Gov. Eliot Spitzer also attended the demonstration.
Entertainers Beyonce and Jay-Z stand in support at a rally organized by Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network called "Justice for Trayvon" rallies and vigils outside outside the Federal offices building at 1 St. Andrews Place in Lower Manhattan.
Sharpton and Fulton went from the Harlem gathering to a lower Manhattan protest — one of scores scheduled nationwide one week after George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the shooting of Martin.
Rapper Jay-Z and his wife turned out for the Manhattan demonstration. Other events were set for Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta.
Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin speaks at the National Action Network headquarters in Harlem on Saturday.
Fulton defended her son and placed the blame for his death directly on the Florida man cleared of any guilty in the fatal incident.
“George Zimmerman started the fight and George Zimmerman ended the fight,” Fulton said. “My son died without even knowing who his killer was ... Today it was my son. Tomorrow it might be yours.”
Sharpton, speaking at the Harlem rally, called for a fight against “Stand Your Ground” laws in Florida and elsewhere. He also called for federal charges against Zimmerman in the case.
“We’re going to make sure there is an aggressive civil rights investigation,” Sharpton promised. “We are trying to get justice, not get something off our chests.”
Fulton echoed Sharpton’s call for another prosecution of Zimmerman, 29.
“We have moved on from the verdict,” she said. “Of course, we’re hurting. Of course we’re shocked and disappointed. But that just means we have to roll up our sleeves and fight.”
Neighborhood watch volunteer Zimmerman insisted that he shot the 17-year-old Martin in self-defense. The teen was unarmed when fatally shot inside a gated community on Feb. 26, 2012.
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