Speak Out: Baltimore Residents Rally Over Zimmerman Verdict. Do You Agree?

By Sonia Su

After a jury of six women found George Zimmerman not guilty on Saturday in the death of unarmed Florida teen Travyon Martin, hundreds of Baltimoreans gathered throughout the area to protest the verdict.

About 100 protestors rallied on Sunday afternoon at McKeldin Square in Baltimore, according to WBAL-TV, while the Baltimore Sun reports about 300 or 400 people gathered at the Inner Harbor.

Representatives from the Baltimore-based NAACP and a pastor of Baltimore's Empowerment Temple were among those protesting the verdict, according to the Sun.

The NAACP told the paper that it quickly gained several hundred thousand signatures for a petition pressing for action by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Many protesters disagreed with the verdict but others questioned the basis for the protests.

"Why is everyone getting up in arms over one murder when there are hundreds a day," Ben Morris of Franklin, MA, wrote on the NAACP's Facebook page. "Zimmerman's head was being bashed into the street, he acted in self defense. Don't make this something it doesn't have to be."

President Obama released a statement, calling Martin's death a tragedy and asking Americans "to respect the call for calm reflection."

But Twitter user Papa Doolie of Baltimore questioned Obama's involvement.

"Why is Obama stepping in to this Zimmerman thing? #Priorities Kids are shot in Baltimore everyday, where u at Barack?!" he tweeted.

The case has captured national attention since Zimmerman, who was a neighborhood watch coordinator, fatally shot the 17-year-old Martin last February.

Baltimore People's Power Assembly planned another rally Monday at 5 p.m.

TELL US: Do you agree with the verdict?