Thousands took to the streets Friday night to show support for the family of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old Florida teen who was shot to death last month by a neighborhood watch volunteer.
The Million Hoodie March began at 7:17 p.m. (the time that police found Martin’s body in Sanford, Fla. On Feb. 26) with nearly 8,000 participants (according to police crowd estimates) marching from 30th Street Station and down John F. Kennedy Boulevard to Love Park.
Participants wore hooded sweatshirts in support of Martin, who was wearing one at the time of his death. The case, which has caused a national uproar due to reports that Martin - who is black - was stereotyped for wearing the hoodie, has also resulted in an outpouring of support in the form of the “Million Hoodie March,” on social media and more.
"That didn't just happen in Florida it happened across the US, it happened everywhere. We all felt it," Bree Martin told NBC10.
Trayvon's shooter, George Zimmerman, a town watchman, says he shot the teen in self defense and that Trayvon looked suspicious. But police say Trayvon was unarmed, carrying snacks on his way to a basketball game. Zimmerman has not been arrested.
"That is not a good reason to shoot somebody - that's just wrong that he didn't go to jail," Jordan Gyabaah of Jenkintown said.
On Friday, President Barack Obama spoke about the incident, saying "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon."
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No arrests were reported.
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