In the tradition of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., local organizers expect thousands of Atlantans of all races to gather at noon Saturday for a prayer vigil and rally to protest the outcome of the George Zimmerman trial.
Another event takes place later in the day in Marietta.
The Rev. Al Sharpton is organizing rallies in 100 U.S. cities Saturday to call attention to laws like the one in Florida that resulted in the acquittal of Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin last year claiming self-defense.
Georgia is one of several states with “stand your ground” laws, which allow people to claim self-defense in a number of scenarios.
“This case has exposed the ever-present racial tensions that exist today,” said Markel Hutchins, a local civil rights activist. He has reached out to labor, religious leaders and media personalities to get the word out about the rally, which will be held on the steps of the Richard B. Russell Federal Building on Spring Street in downtown Atlanta.
“This community has a rich tradition of healing after a tragedy,” said Hutchins. “Because this is Dr. King’s town, Atlanta will again play a pivotal role.”
“We are not as divided as we are disconnected,” said Hutchins, who expects people of all races to attend. “As Dr. King said, ‘We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.’ ”
Also on Saturday at 11 a.m., the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) will have a youth forum on the issues raised by the Martin case. The event will be held at SCLC headquarters on Auburn Avenue.
The Cobb Coalition will host a march, rally and vigil for “Justice for Trayvon” from 6 p.m.. to 8:30 p.n. Saturday.
The group plans to march from the Cobb Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway, to the Marietta Square. The rally and vigil will follow on the square, and all three events have the goal of racial healing and understanding within the community, churches, law enforcement and government.
The Cobb Coalition is comprised of the Cobb SCLC , the Cobb Immigrant Alliance and other human and civil rights groups.
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